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…

First doth it fellow by these words, that all the world, except Christ, was in thraldom and danger of sin, damnation and curse with all his works and conning. For when he sayeth, that not some, but all nations shall be blessed in Abraham's seed, it is manifest, that without the same seed; there shall be no bless. What needed God to promise the bless with so earnest, so great and so precious, an oath, if the bless and not rather the curse had ben in the world? Out of this place have the Prophets sucked and concluded many things ⟨image 66⟩as namely: that all men are evil, vain, liars, feigners, blind and briefly Godless or without Godliness: so that it be no worship in scripture to be called a man. For that name is no more worth by God, than if a man were called before the world a liar or perjured. So wholly did he perish by Adams fall, that the curse being borne with him, was near hand become one nature with him.

Fyrst doth it fellowe by these wordes, that all the worlde, excepte Christe, was in thraldome and daunger of synne, damnacion and curse wyth all hys workes and connynge. For whan he sayeth, that not some, but all nacions shalbe blessed in Abrahams sede, it is manifeste, that wythout thesame sede; ther shalbe no blesse. What neded God to promyse the blesse wyth so earneste, so greate and so preciouse, an oth, yf the blesse and not rather the curse had ben in the worlde? Out of thys place haue the Prophetes sucked and concluded many thynges ⟨image 66⟩as namely: that all men are euell, vayne, lyars, fayners, blynde and brefely Godlesse or wythout Godlynesse: so that it be no worshyppe in scripture to be called a man. For that name is nomore worth by God, than yf a man were called before the worlde a lyar or periured. So wholy dyd he perysh by Adams fall, yt the curse beynge borne wt hym, was nearehāde become one nature wt hym.

Secondly it followeth, that that seed of Abraham needed not to be borne by natural seed of man and wife: For such birth is cursed, and bringeth forth cursed fruits, as is said even now. If now all the world was to be delivered from this curse by Abraham's seed and to be blessed, it was required that the seed were blessed before, and untouched or undefiled of such a curse, and to be a mere bless, full of grace and truth. Again, if God that is no liar doth promise (and that with an oath) a natural seed unto Abraham, that is a natural and lawful child, which shall be borne of his flesh and blood: it was necessary that such one should be a true natural man, borne of the flesh and blood of Abraham. Now do these two things strive together: To be the natural flesh and blood of Abraham,