Two sermons preached by Master Henry SmithTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith

Reproof is the necessariest office, yet is it least regarded, yea most abhorred. For now we think if one reprove us, he hateth us. But the Lord saith, Leviticus 19. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, thou shalt ⟨image 54⟩¹reprove him, & suffer him not to sin: noting thereby, that if we flatter any in their sin, or see them sin, and not reprove them for it, it is a manifest sign that we do it of hatred, how great love and good will soever we pretend toward them: seeing the matter tends to the hurt of their souls, and the offence of God.

Reproofe is the necessariest office, yet is it least regarded, yea most abhorred. For now wee thinke if one reproue vs, he hateth vs. But the Lord saith, Leuiticus 19. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, thou shalt ⟨image 54⟩¹reproue him, & suffer him not to sinne: noting thereby, that if we flatter any in their sinne, or see them sinne, and not reproue them for it, it is a manifest signe that we doe it of hatred, how great loue and good will soeuer wee pretend toward thē: seeing the matter tends to the hurt of their soules, and the offence of God.

1. 1Le. 19. 17.

Yea, if a Preacher reprove sin, he is thought to do it of hatred, or of some particular grudge: and to be too busy, too bitter, too sharp, too rough, and therefore say, he should preach Gods love and mercy, for he is a Preacher of the gospel, he tells us of, & threatens with the law, and so throws us down too low, some to despair: as though we preached the law only, or chiefly, and not the Gospel also continually, to them that loath and strive against their sins, though they sin grievously. Others, as though they were galled, will say, let him keep his text, or they will say, he is beside his book: as though no text in Scripture reproved sin, and so of all doctrines, the doctrine of reproof and reprehension of sin, is most contemned, and least esteemed. But let a Preacher preach dark mysteries, or profane speeches, or unprofitable fables, or frivolous questions, or curious inventions, or odd conceits, or brain-sick dreams, and any of these will be more welcome unto them then reprehension, which is most profitable and necessariest of all. Balaam's Ass never spake but once, and then he reproved. Then if Balaam's Ass reproved Balaam, how much more ought Balaam to reprove