130. WEDDING BANQUET (THE)
Sister Miriam Terese Winter. 
©1965 Medical Mission Sisters, 77 Sherman St., Hartford, CT 06105. UBP
4/4 time

                  C
CHORUS: I can not come!
                 F                         C
        I cannot come to the banquet, don't trouble me now,
                G                      C
         I have married a wife, I have bought me a cow,
                F                           C
         I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum,  
              G                          C
         Pray hold me excused,  I cannot come!

             F                      C
1. A certain man had a feast on his fine estate in town
      G                        C
   He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown
           F                  C
   He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide
       G                             C
   But when the meal was ready, each one of them replied

2. The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
   Said, "Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
   Fetch the peasant and the pauper for this I have willed--
   My banquet must be crowded and my table must be filled!"

3. When all the poor had assembled, there still was room to spare,
   So the master demanded, "Go search everywhere,
   To the highways and the byways and force them to come in,
   My table must be filled before the banquet can begin!"

4. Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind,
   If we're slow in responding, He may leave us behind,
   He's preparing a banquet for that great and glorious day,
   When the Lord and master calls us, be certain not to say: