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…

But that the Jews had a law given them afterward, that is not like unto this promise, for it was done therefore, that by the light of the law they might know their cursed nature, and that they should more fervently and with more hotter desire sigh and long for this promised seed of blessing in the which they had a prerogative before all nations on earth. But they have turned the prerogative into hurt and damage, & have thought to accomplish and fulfil the law by their own strength, and therefore ⟨image 68⟩have not they seen their wretched misery. And after this manner have they shut the door to themselves, so that the seed promised must needs go by them, in the which opinion they remain yet, God give it be not long. Amen. This hath ben the debate that all the Prophets have had with them, for seeing the Prophets knew well enough the meaning of the law, namely: that thereby the wickedness of our nature should be known, and to learn how Christ should be called upon, therefore refused they all the works & lives of the Jews, that went not in that way: for the which cause the Jews conceived an anger against them, & slew them, as those that refused the gods service, good works, and the good living, as the hypocrites and graceless saints d• sometime. Of whom there were not a little to be spoken.

But that the Iewes had a lawe geuen them afterwarde, that is not lyke vnto thys promyse, for it was done therfore, that by ye lyght of the lawe they myghte knowe theyr cursed nature, and that they shulde more feruently and wyth more whoter desyre sygh and longe for thys promysed sede of blessyng in the whiche they had a prerogatiue before all nacions on earth. But they haue turned the prerogatiue into hurte and dammage, & haue thought to accomplysh and fulfyll the lawe by theyr owne strength, and therfore ⟨image 68⟩haue not they sene theyr wretched mysery. And after thys maner haue they shut ye dore to themselues, so that ye sede promysed muste nedes go by them, in ye which opiniō they remayne yet, God geue it be not longe. Amē. Thys hath ben the debate that all the Prophetes haue had wyth them, for seynge the Prophetes knew wel ynough the meanyng of the lawe, namely: that thereby the wyckednesse of our nature shulde be knowē, and to learne how Christe shulde be called vpon, therfore refused they all the workes & lyues of the Iewes, that wente not in that waye: for the whych cause the Iewes cōceaued an anger agaynst thē, & slew thē, as those that refused ye gods seruice, good workes, and the good lyuyng, as ye hypocrytes and graceles sayntes d sometyme. Of whome ther were not a lytle to be spoken.