that in some places they go with the corses grinning and flearing, as though they went to a bear-baiting. Which thing no doubt is naught: for like as too much weeping is naught, so to be asooyos, without affection, is naught too; we > should keep a measure in all things. We read in L holy Scripture, that the holy patriarch Abraham mourned for his wife Sarah. So likewise did Joseph for his father Jacob. Therefore to weep charitably and measurably is not ill, but good, and allowed in God's word. So likewise in the New Testament, when that holy man St. Stephen was stoned to death, the text saith, that the church "fecerunt planctum magnum," made great lamentation and weeping over him. Here I might have occasion to speak against those women which so soon forget their husbands that be departed; which thing I cannot very well allow, for it is a token of imperfect love. It was a law among the Romans, that no woman should marry again before twelve months were expired; which no doubt was an honest law. A SAUCY FELLOW. You have heard now who is the maker of this feast or banquet; and again you have A SAUCY FELLOW. 287 heard what meat is prepared for the guests; what a costly dish the house-father hath ordained at the wedding of his son. But now ye know, that where there be great dishes and delicate fare, there be commonly prepared certain sauces, which shall give men a great lust and appetite to their meats, as mustard, vinegar, and such like sauces. So this feast, this costly dish hath its sauces; but what be they? Marry, the cross, affliction, tribulation, persecution, and all manner of miseries; for, like as sauces make lusty the stomach to receive meat, so affliction stirreth up in us a desire to Christ. For when we be in quietness we are not hungry, we care not for Christ. But when we be in tribulation, and cast in prison, then we have a desire to him, then we learn to call upon him; then we hunger and thirst after him; then we are desirous to feed upon him. As long as we be in health and prosperity, we care not for him; we be slothful, we have no stomach at all; and therefore these sauces are very necessary for us. We have a common saying amongst us, when we see a fellow sturdy, lofty, and proud, men say, this is a saucy fellow; signifying him to be a high-minded fellow, which taketh more upon him than he ought to do, or his estate requireth; which thing, no doubt, is naught and ill; for every one ought to behave L himself according unto his calling and es tate. But he that will be a christian man, that intendeth to come to heaven, must be a saucy fellow; he must be well powdered with the sauce of affliction and tribulation; not with proudness and stoutness, but with miseries and calamities; for so it is written, "Omnes qui pie volunt' vivere in Christo, persecutionem patientur," Whosoever will live godly in Christ, he shall have persecution and miseries: he shall have sauce enough to his meat. 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 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 sweet meat; 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. THE END. |