wickedness to the very end of
their lives. But we cannot pronounce this sentence against any man, for
we know not the hearts of men: he that sinneth now, peradventure shall be
turned tomorrow, and leave his sins, and so be saved. Further, the
promises of our Saviour Christ are general; they pertain to all mankind:
he made a general proclamation, saying, _Qui credit in me, habet vitam
aeternam_; "Whosoever believeth in me hath everlasting life." Likewise
St. Paul saith, _Gratia exsuperat supra peccatum_; "The grace and mercies
of God exceedeth far our sins." Therefore let us ever think and believe
that the grace of God, his mercy and goodness, exceedeth our sins. Also
consider what Christ saith with his own mouth: _Venite ad me, omnes qui
laboratis, &c_. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are laden, and I
will ease you." Mark, here he saith, "Come all ye:" wherefore then
should any body despair, or shut out himself from these promises of
Christ, which be general, and pertain to the whole world? For he saith,
"Come all unto me." And then again he saith, _Refocillabo vos_, "I will
refresh you:" you shall be eased from the burdens of your sins.
Therefore, as I said before, he that is blasphemous, and obstinately
wicked, and abideth in his wickedness still to the very end, he sinneth
against the Holy Ghost; as St. Augustine, and all other godly writers do
affirm. But he that leaveth his wickedness and sins, is content to amend
his life, and then believing in Christ, seeketh salvation and everlasting
life by him, no doubt that man or woman, whosoever he or they be, shall
be saved: for they feed upon Christ, upon that meat that God the Father,
this feast-maker, hath prepared for all his guests.

You have heard now who is the maker of this feast or banquet: and again,
you have 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 hung