Chapter I

Cleanness discloses fair forms. God is angry with the unclean worshipper, and with false priests. The pure worshipper receives great reward. The impure will bring upon them the anger of God, Who is pure and holy. It would be a marvel if God did not hate evil. Christ showed us that himself. St. Matthew records the discourse. The clean of heart shall look on our Lord. What earthly noble, when seated at table above dukes, would like to see a lad badly attired approach the table with “rent cockers,” his coat torn and his toes out? For any one of these he would be turned out with a “big buffet,” and be forbidden to re-enter, and thus be ruined through his vile clothes. The parable of the “Marriage of the King’s Son.” The king’s invitation. Those invited begin to make excuses. One had bought an estate and must go to see it. Another had purchased some oxen and wished to see them “pull in the plough.” A third had married a wife and could not come. The Lord was greatly displeased, and commanded his servants to invite the wayfaring, both men and women, the better and the worse, that his palace might be full. The servants brought in bachelors and squires. When they came to the court they were well entertained. The servants tell their lord that they have done his behest, and there is still room for more guests. The Lord commands them to go out into the fields, and bring in the halt, blind, and “one-eyed.” For those who denied shall not taste “one sup” to save them from death. The palace soon became full of “people of all plights.” They were not all one wife’s sons, nor had they all one father. The “brightest attired” had the best place. Below sat those with “poor weeds.” All are well entertained “with meat and minstrelsy.” Each with his “mate” made him at ease.

II. The lord of the feast goes among his guests. Bids them be merry. On the floor he finds one not arrayed for a holyday. Asks him how he obtained entrance, and how he was so bold as to appear in such rags. Does he take him to be a harlot? The man becomes discomfited. He is unable to reply. The lord commands him to be bound, and cast into a deep dungeon. This feast is likened to the kingdom of heaven, to which all are invited. See that thy weeds are clean. Thy weeds are thy works that thou hast wrought. For many faults may a man forfeit bliss. For sloth and pride he is thrust into the devil’s throat. He is ruined by covetousness, perjury, murder, theft, and strife. For robbery and ribaldry, for preventing marriages, and supporting the wicked, for treason, treachery, and tyranny, man may lose eternal bliss.

III. The high Prince of all is displeased with those who work wickedly. For the first fault the devil committed, he felt God’s vengeance. He, the fairest of all angels, forsook his sovereign, and boasted that his throne should be as high as God’s. For these words he was cast down to hell. The fiends fell from heaven, like the thick snow, for forty days. From heaven to hell the shower lasted. The devil would not make peace with God. Affliction makes him none the better. For the fault of one, vengeance alighted upon all men. Adam was ordained to live in bliss. Through Eve he ate an apple. Thus all his descendants became poisoned. A maiden brought a remedy for mankind.