Who should be his spouse? To whom was he married?
To his church and congregation: for he would have all the world to come
unto him, and to be married unto him: but we see by daily experience that
the most part refuse his offer. But here is shewed the state of the
church of God: for this marriage, this feast, was begun at the beginning
of the world, and shall endure to the end of the same: yet for all that,
the most part refused it: for at the very beginning of the world, ever
the most part refused to come. And so it appeareth at this time, how
little a number cometh to this wedding and feast: though we have callers,
yet there be but few of those that come. So ye hear that God is the
feast-maker; the bridegroom is Christ, his Son, our Saviour; the bride is
the congregation.
Now what manner of meat was prepared at this great feast? For ye know it
is commonly seen, that at a marriage the finest meat is prepared that can
be gotten. What was the chiefest dish at this great banquet? What was
the feast-dish? Marry, it was the bridegroom himself: for the Father,
the feast-maker, prepared none other manner of meat for the guests, but
the body and blood of his own natural Son. And this is the chiefest dish
at this banquet; which truly is a marvellous thing, that the Father
offereth his Son to be eaten.
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