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.”  Also Christ himself called, saying, Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis; “Come to me, all ye that travail and labour, and I will refresh you.”  Likewise the apostles cried, and called all the whole world; as it is written, Exivit sonus eorum per universam terram; “Their sound is gone throughout all the world.”  But, I pray you, what thanks had they for their calling, for their labour?  Verily this:  John Baptist was beheaded; Christ was crucified; the apostles were killed:  this was their reward for their labours.  So all the preachers shall look for none other reward:  for no doubt they must be sufferers, they must taste of these sauces:  their office is, arguere mundum de peccato, “to rebuke the world of sin;” which no doubt is a thankless occupation. Ut audiant montes judicia Domini, “That the high hills,” that is, great princes and lords, “may hear the judgments of the Lord:”  they must spare no body; they must rebuke high and low, when they do amiss; they must strike them with the sword of God’s word:  which no doubt is a thankless occupation; yet it must be done, for God will have it so.

There be many men, which be not so cruel as to persecute or to kill the preachers of God’s word; but when they be called to feed upon Christ, to come to this banquet, to leave their wicked livings, then they begin to make their excuses; as it appeared here in this gospel, where “the first said, I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused.  Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.  The third said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”  And these were their excuses.  You must take heed that you mistake not this text:  for after the outward letter it seemeth as though no husbandman, no buyer or seller, nor married man shall enter the kingdom of God.  Therefore ye must take heed that ye understand it aright.  For to be a husbandman, to be a buyer or seller, to be a married man, is a