Now ye have heard what shall be the chiefest dish at this marriage, namely, the body and blood of Christ.But now there be other dishes, which be sequels or hangings-on, wherewith the chief dish is powdered: that is, remission of sins; also the Holy Ghost, which ruleth and governeth our hearts; also the merits of Christ, which are made ours.For when we feed upon this dish worthily, then we shall have remission of our sins; we shall receive the Holy Ghost.Moreover, all the merits of Christ are ours;his fulfilling of the law is ours; and so we be justified before God, and finally attain to everlasting life.As many, therefore, as feed worthily of this dish, shall have all these things with it, and in the end everlasting life.St.Paul saith, Qui proprio Filio suo non pepercit, sed pro nobis omnibus tradidit illum, quomodo non etiam cum illo omnia nobis donabit? "He which spared not his own Son, but gave him for us all, how shall he not with him give us all things also?" Therefore they that be in Christ are partakers of all his merits and benefits; of everlasting life, and of all felicity.He that hath Christ hath all things that are Christ's.He is our preservation from damnation; he is our comfort; he is our help, our remedy.When we feed upon him, then we shall have remission of our sins: the same remission of sins is the greatest and most comfortable thing that can be in the world.O what a comfortable thing is this, when Christ saith, Remittuntur tibi peccata, "Thy sins are forgiven unto thee!" And this is a standing sentence; it was not spoken only to the same one man, but it is a general proclamation unto all us: all and every one that believeth in him shall have forgiveness of their sins.And this proclamation is cried out daily by his ministers and preachers; which proclamation is the word of grace, the word of comfort and consolation.For like as sin is the most fearful and the most horriblest thing in heaven and in earth, so the most comfortablest thing is the remedy against sin; which remedy is declared and offered unto us in this word of grace and the power to distribute this remedy against sins he hath given unto his ministers, which be God's treasurers, distributers of the word of God.For now he speaketh by me, he calleth you to this wedding by me, being but a poor man; yet he hath sent me to call you.And though he be the author of the word, yet he will have men to be called through his ministers to that word.Therefore let us give credit unto the minister, when he speaketh God's word: yea, rather let us credit God when he speaketh by his ministers, and offereth us remission of our sins by his word.For there is no sin so great in this world, but it is pardonable as long as we be in this world, and call for mercy: for here is the time of mercy; here we may come to forgiveness of our sins.But if we once die in our sins and wickedness, so that we be damned, let us not look for remission afterwards:
for the state after this life is unchangeable.But as long as we be here, we may cry for mercy.Therefore let us not despair: let us amend our lives, and cry unto God for forgiveness of our sins; and then no doubt we shall obtain remission, if we call with a faithful heart upon him, for so he hath promised unto us in his most holy word.
