nd man
did eat angels' food, and had honey given him out of the rock. And then
the table was entertained with some curious and delightful riddles that
were made upon the King Himself, upon Emmanuel His Son, and upon His wars
and doings with Mansoul; till, altogether, the state of transportation
the people were in with their entertainment cannot be told by the very
best of pens. Nor did He, when they returned to their places, send them
empty away; for either they must have a ring, or a gold chain, or a
bracelet, or a white stone or something; so dear was Mansoul to Him now,
so lovely was Mansoul in His eyes. And, going and coming to the feast, O
how graciously, how lovingly, how courteously, and how tenderly did this
blessed Prince now carry it to the town of Mansoul! In all the streets,
gardens, orchards, and other places where He came, to be sure the poor
should have His blessing and benediction; yea, He would kiss them; and if
they were ill, He would lay His hands on them and make them well. And
was it not now something amazing to behold that in that very place where
Diabolus had had his abode, the Prince of princes should now sit eating
and drinking with all His mighty captains, and men of war, and
trumpeters, and with the singing men and the singing women of His
Father's court! Now did Mansoul's cup run over; now did her conduits run
sweet wine; now did she eat the finest of the wheat, and now drink milk
and honey out of the rock! Now she said, How great is His goodness, for
ever since I found favour in His eyes, how honourable have I ever been!

1. Now, the beginning of it all was, and the best of it all was, that
Emmanuel Himself made the feast. Mansoul did not feast her Deliverer; it
was her Deliverer who feasted her. Mansoul, in good sooth, had nothing
that she had not first and last received, and it was far more true and
seemly and fit in every way that her Prince Himself should in His own way
and at His own expense seal and celebrate the deliverance, the freedom,
the life, the peace, and the joy of Mansoul. And, besides, what had
Mansoul to set before her Prince; or, for the matter of that, before
herself? Mansoul had nothing of herself. Mansoul was not sufficient of
herself for a single day. And how, then, should she propose to feast a
Prince? No, no! the thing was impossible. It was Emmanuel's feast from
first to last. Just as it was at the Lord's table in this house this
morning. You did no