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…

She beginneth at the greatest, namely, at the spiritual or inward goods, which ⟨image 44⟩make men here upon earth the most proudest, hyghmynded and hardnecked. There is no rich man, no mighty lord so proud or high minded, that is not overcome of such a wise man: the which perceiveth and doubteth not at all that he doth pleat or defend a just cause, understand the matter well, and that he is wiser than other folk. Specially, when it is come so far that ether he must avoid, or else knowledge his cause to be unjust, than becometh he so rash and void of the fear of God, that he will not be ashamed to boast and say, that he can not err, that God is with him, and other be accursed, ye he is not ashamed to call the judgement and day of dome to witness: and if occasion be joined to his power, than breaketh he forth with his malapertness where it pleaseth him, he pursueth, judgeth, vexeth, slayeth, driveth away and waisteth all them that withstand him, and this affirmeth he to be done to the praise, glory and service of God. And is so sure of a great deserving and plenteous grace by God, that the angels of heaven be scarce so sure. O what a great burble is this? O how much doth the scripture treat of such kind of men? how dreadful things doth she threaten them? ⟨image 44⟩but they feel it less than the anuylt doth the hammer strokes. And this thing is rife and plenteous of matter.

She begynneth at the greatest, namely, at the spirituall or inwarde goodes, whyche ⟨image 44⟩make men here vpon earth the moost proudest, hyghmynded and hardnecked. Ther is no rych man, no myghtye lorde so proude or hygh mynded, that is not ouercome of such a wyse man: the whych perceaueth and douteth not at all that he doth pleate or defende a iuste cause, vnderstande the matter well, and that he is wyser than other folke. Specially, whan it is come so farre yt ether he must auoyde, or els knowlege hys cause to be vniust, than becommeth he so rash and voyde of the feare of God, that he wyll not be ashamed to boast and say, that he can not erre, that God is wyth hym, and other be accursed, yee he is not ashamed to call the iudgement and daye of dome to wytnesse: and yf occasion be ioyned to hys power, than breaketh he forthe wyth hys malepartnesse where it pleaseth hym, he persueth, iudgeth, vexeth, slayeth, dryueth away and waisteth all them that wythstande hym, and thys affirmeth he to be done to the prayse, glorye and seruice of God. And is so sure of a great deseruynge and plenteous grace by God, that the angels of heauen be scarce so sure. O what a great burble is this? O how much doth ye scripture treate of such kynde of mē? how dredfull thynges doth she threaten thē?