An exposition upon the song of the blessed virgin Mary, called Magnificat Where unto…An exposicion vpon the songe of the blessed virgine Mary, called Magnificat Where vnto…

After that Mary the mother of God had finished the praise of God, and of his goodness toward her, she wandereth now all among the works, which God worketh generally in all men, and singeth of them also, teaching us featly to know the works, kind, nature and will of God. Many ingenious and witty philosophers have attempted the same also, that they might know what God were, writing much of the same, the one thus, another so. But they were all blind in that behalf, and could not perceive the true shining. And verily the greatest thing, both in heaven and earth, is to ⟨image 42⟩know God aright, if it do befall unto any man. And that doth the blessed virgin teach very properly by her own ensample, as is showed above. But how can he be known more easier or better than by his works? for he that perceiveth this duly, the same must needs know his nature, will, heart & mind: Wherefore it is conning to know his works. And that we might mark it the better, she rehearseth orderly in these four verses six godly works in six kinds of men, and parteth the world in two, setting on each side three manner of works, and three kinds of men so, that a continual debate doth remain among the parties, by reason of the feat opposition one against the other: whereby she doth describe him so goodly, as can not be amended.

After that Mary the mother of God had fynished the prayse of God, and of hys goodnesse towarde her, she wandreth nowe al amonge the workes, whych God worketh generally in all men, and syngeth of them also, teachyng vs featly to knowe the workes, kynde, nature and wyll of God. Many ingenious and wytty philosophers haue attēpted the same also, that they myght knowe what God were, wrytynge much of the same, the one thus, another so. But they were all blynde in that behalfe, and coulde not perceaue the true shynynge. And verely ye greatest thynge, both in heauen and earth, is to ⟨image 42⟩knowe God aryghte, yf it do befall vnto ony man. And that doth the blessed virgine teach very properly by hyr owne ensample, as is shewed aboue. But how can he be knowen more easyer or better than by hys workes? for he that perceaueth thys duely, the same must nedes knowe hys nature, wyll, harte & mynde: Wherfore it is connynge to knowe hys workes. And that we myghte marke it the better, she rehearseth orderlye in these foure verses syxe godly workes in syxe kyndes of men, and parteth the worlde in two, settynge on ech syde thre maner of workes, and thre kyndes of men so, that a continuall debate doth remayne amonge ye partyes, by reason of the feate opposition one agaynst ye other: wherby she doth descrybe hym so goodly, as can not be amended.