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…

Let your highness call this to mind, namely: That God never suffered one Gentile king or prince in all the scripture to be commended, no not sense the world was created, but caused them alway to be rebuked: the which is a dreadful ensample unto all superiorities. Neither did he find moreover ⟨image 69⟩any laudable and blameless king among his peculiar people of Israel. Besides all this among the Jews, which were the chief and head of all mankind, lifted up and beloved above all creatures, were but a few, neither above six kings praised. Finally that dear part and precious prince David, which left none neither behind nor by him that was like him in worldly policy: the which though he being full of the fear & wisdom of God, did rule and judge all things by the only commandment of God, and not by his reason, yet nevertheless stone bled sometime. So the scripture also, because she could not blame his governance, and yet must recite the hurt of the people, where by David was cloyed, did not impute it unto David, but unto the people, saying: That God was wroth with the people, and suffered David the holy man to be steered of Satan, which gave him in his mind to number the people, for the which deed .lxx. thousand men did dye of the pestilence.

Let your hyghnesse call thys to mynde, namely: That God neuer suffred one Gentile kynge or prince in all the scripture to be cōmended, no not sence ye worlde was created, but caused them alwaye to be rebuked: the whiche is a dredefull ensample vnto all superiorites. Nother dyd he fynde moreouer ⟨image 69⟩ony laudable and blamelesse kyng amonge hys peculyare people of Israel. Besydes all thys among the Iewes, whych were ye chefe and heade of all mankynde, lyfted vp and beloued aboue all creatures, were but a fewe, nother aboue syxe kynges praysed. Finally that deare part and precious prince Dauid, whych left none nother behynde nor by him that was lyke hym in worldly polycye: the whych though he beynge full of the feare & wysedome of God, dyd rule and iudge all thynges by the only cōmaūdement of God, and not by hys reason, yet neuerthelesse stō bled sometyme. So ye scripture also, because she coulde not blame hys gouernaunce, and yet must recyte ye hurte of the people, where by Dauid was cloyde, dyd not impute it vnto Dauid, but vnto ye people, sayenge: That God was wroth wyth ye people, and suffred Dauid the holy man to be steared of Sathā, whyche gaue hym in hys mynde to nōbre ye people, for the whych dede .lxx. thousand mē dyd dye of the pestilence.