That we may the better understand this song of praise, it is to be marked that the laudable virgin Mary speaketh by her own experience, where by she is taught & illumined of the holy ghost. For no man may perfectly understand the word of God, without he have it of the holy ghost without any means. And no man can have it of the holy ghost, without he prove and search it: and in the same trying and searching doth the holy ghost teach, as in his school. Without the which there is nought taught save only a shadow, words and multiplying of words. Even so likewise (when the blessed virgin had proved by herself that God had wrought so great things in her, which not withstanding was vile, poor and despised,) did the holy ghost teach her this rich doctrine and wisdom, namely: that God is such a LORD which hath nought to do save to exalt it that is low, to depress & to put down that is exalted, to break it that is made, and to make it that is broken. For as in the beginning of all creatures ⟨image 5⟩God did create the world of nought: (whereof he is called a creator and almighty) even so abideth the same nature in him still unchanged. And all his works have ben, & shall be done so unto the worlds end, that he shall make of the which is nothing, vile, despised, small, miserable and dead in comparison, some special, costly, honourable, healthful and living thing. And again all that is somewhat, costly, honourable, lively, to make it nought, small despised, miserable, mortal and transitory. After which fashion and manner no creature can nor may work, that is, of nought to make ought, so that his eyen are toward the depth, and not to the height as the .iii. children said, Daniel the third Chapter. Blessed be thou that lookest through the deep, and sittest upon the Cherubins. And also David Psalm. C.xxxvii. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: as for the proud he beholdeth him afar of. Item Psalm. C.xi. Who is like unto the LORD our God, that hath his dwelling so high, which humbleth himself to behold that is in heaven and earth? For seeing he is the supreme and most highest of all, and nothing above him, therefore may he ⟨image 6⟩not look above him: neither may he look besides him, seeing none is to be compared with him. Thus must he needs behold himself, & look under him.
THat we maye the better vnderstāde thys songe of prayse, it is to be marked that ye laudable virgine Mary speaketh by hyr owne experiēce, where by she is taughte & illumined of the holy goost. For no man may perfectly vnderstande the worde of God, wythout he haue it of the holy goost wythout ony meanes. And no mā cā haue it of the holy goost, wythout he proue and searche it: and in the same tryenge and searchynge doth the holy goost teach, as in hys scoole. Wythout the whyche ther is nought taughte saue onely a shadowe, wordes and multiplyenge of wordes. Euen so lykewyse (whan the blessed virgine had proued by herselfe that God hadde wrought so great thynges in her, whych not wythstandynge was vyle, poore and despysed,) dyd the holy goost teach her thys ryche doctrine and wysedome, namely: that God is such a LORDE whych hath nought to do saue to exalte it that is lowe, to depresse & to put downe that is exalted, to breake it that is made, and to make it that is broken. For as in the begynnynge of all creatures ⟨image 5⟩God dyd create the worlde of nought: (wherof he is called a creatoure and almyghtye) euē so abydeth the same nature in hym styll vnchaunged. And all hys workes haue ben, & shalbe done so vnto the worldes ende, that he shal make of ye whych is nothyng, vyle, despysed, small, myserable and dead in comparison, some specyall, costly, honorable, healthfull and lyuynge thynge. And agayne al that is sōwhat, costly, honorable, lyuely, to make it nought, small despysed, myserable, mortall and transitory. After whych fashion and maner no creature can nor maye worke, that is, of nought to make ought, so that hys eyen are toward the depth, and not to the heyght as the .iii. chyldren sayde, Daniel the thyrde Chapter. Blessed be thou that lokest thorowe the depe, and syttest vpon the Cherubins. And also Dauid Psalm. C.xxxvii. Thoughe the LORDE be hyghe, yet hath he respecte vnto the lowly: as for the proude he beholdeth hym afarre of. Item Psalm. C.xi. Who is lyke vnto the LORDE our God, that hath hys dwellynge so hyghe, whyche humbleth hymselfe to beholde that is in heauen and earth? For seynge he is the supreme and moost hyghest of all, and nothynge aboue hym, therfore maye he ⟨image 6⟩not loke aboue hym: nother maye he loke besydes hym, seynge none is to be cōpared wt hym. Thus must he nedes behold hymself, & loke vnder hym.
