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…

Here might some body say: How shall this agree? shall we not keep the laws? shall we let go the truth? Is it not commanded us even to dye in the truths quarrel & righteousness? have not the holy martyrs of God suffered much for the Gospel? Would not Christ himself have right? For it chanceth ⟨image 46⟩ofttimes, that such men defend a just quarrel, (ye and before God also, as they do boast,) and that they handle themselves righteously and truly. I Answer: Here is it due to have the eyes opened, and also necessary, here is the knot: It resteth only in that, that a man have the true learning in the law. It is true verily that we must suffer much for the truth and righteousness, & not to deny the same, how slender soever she be. Moreover, it may be that the other part have right, but they do amiss in that they execute the law unjustly, and handle not the matter with fear, neither have they God before their eyen, but think it to be enough that the matter is right, and therefore he both will and must proceed by his power, and make an end of the game: where by they make of their right, wrong, though it were true in deed and unblameable. But it is most perilous, when they think themselves to be in the right way, and yet be not sure what ought to be done in matters that concern God and his judgements. But we will first speak grossly and set forth a commune and blunt ensample:

Here myght some body saye: How shall thys agre? shal we not kepe the lawes? shall we let go the truthe? Is it not commaūded vs euen to dye in the truthes quarell & ryghteousnesse? haue not the holy martyres of God suffred much for ye Gospel? Wolde not Christ himselfe haue ryght? For it chaūceth ⟨image 46⟩oftymes, that such men defende a iuste quarell, (yee and before God also, as they do boaste,) and that they handle themselues ryghteously and truely. I Answere: Here is it due to haue the eyes opened, and also necessary, here is the knot: It resteth only in that, that a man haue the true learnynge in the lawe. It is true veryly that we must suffre much for the truthe and ryghteousnesse, & not to denye thesame, howe slender soeuer she be. Moreouer, it maye be that the other parte haue ryght, but they do amysse in that they execute the lawe vniustely, and handle not the matter with feare, nother haue they God before theyre eyen, but thynke it to be ynough that the matter is ryghte, and therfore he both wyll and must procede by hys power, and make an ende of the game: wher by they make of theyr ryght, wronge, though it were true in dede and vnblameable. But it is mooste perrillous, whan they thynke themselues to be in the ryght waye, and yet be not sure what oughte to be done in matters that concerne God and hys iudgementes. But we wyll fyrst speake grosly and set forth a commune and blonte ensample: