l into the sea. Where it appeareth, that
the devil studieth and seeketh all manner of ways to hurt us, either in
soul, or else in body. But for all that, let us not despair, but rather
lift up our hearts unto God, desiring his help and comfort; and no doubt,
when we do so, he will help: he will either take away the calamities, or
else mitigate them, or at the leastwise send patience into our hearts,
that we may bear it willingly.

Now you know, at a great feast, when there is made a delicate dinner, and
the guests fare well, at the end of the dinner they have _bellaria_,
certain subtleties, custards, sweet and delicate things: so when we come
to this dinner, to this wedding, and feed upon Christ, and take his
sauces which he hath prepared for us, at the end cometh the sweetmeat.
What is that? Marry, remission of sins, and everlasting life; such joy,
that no tongue can express, nor heart can think, which God hath prepared
for all them that come to this dinner, and feed upon his Son, and taste
of his sauces. And this is the end of this banquet. This banquet, or
marriage-dinner, was made at the very beginning of the world. God made
this marriage in paradise, and called the whole world unto it, saying,
_Semen mulieris conteret caput serpentis_; "The Seed of the woman shall
vanquish the head of the serpent." This was the first calling; and this
calling stood unto the faithful in as good stead as it doth unto us,
which have a more manifest calling. Afterward Almighty God called again
with these words, speaking to Abraham: _Ego ero Deus tuus et seminis tui
post te_; "I will be thy God, and thy seed's after thee." Now what is it
to be our God? Forsooth to be our defender, our comforter, our
deliverer, and helper. Who was Abraham's seed? Even Christ the Son of
God, he was Abraham's seed: in him, and through him, all the world shall
be blessed; all that believe in him, all that come to this dinner, and
feed upon him. After that, all the prophets, their only intent was to
call the people to this wedding. Now after the time was expired which
God had appointed, he said, _Venite, parata sunt omnia_; "Come, all
things are ready."

But who are these callers? The first was John Baptist, which not only
called with his mouth, but also shewed with his finger that meat which
God had prepared for the whole world. He saith, _Ecce Agnus Dei qui
tollit peccata mundi_; "Lo, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of
the world