from his table. So when one and other were dead, the poor man,
full of sores, was carried away, he saith, into Abraham's bosom,
for thus he describeth the habitation of the righteous -- but the
rich man was delivered to the fire of bitter torment in hell. To
him said Abraham, `Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good
things, and likewise Lazarus his evil things, but now he is
comforted, and thou art tormented."

"And otherwhere he likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a certain
king which made a marriage-feast for his son and thereby he
declared future happiness and splendour. For as he was wont to
speak to humble and earthly minded men, he would draw his
parables from homely and familiar things. Not that he meant that
marriages and feasts exist in that world; but in condescension to
men's grossness, he employed these names when he would make known
to them the future. So, as he telleth, the king with high
proclamation called all to come to the marriage to take their
fill of his wondrous store of good things. But many of them that
were bidden made light of it and came not, and busied themselves:
some went to their farms, some to their merchandize, and others
to their newly wedded wives, and thus deprived themselves of the
splendour of the bride chamber. Now when these had, of their own
choice, absented themselves from this joyous merriment, others
were bidden thereto, and the wedding was furnished with guests.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man
which had not on a wedding garment, and he said unto him,
"Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding
garment?" And he was speechless. Then Said the king to the
servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast
him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of