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…

By this is it likely that the songs which are now used in churches every where were first institute of the fathers for this intent: namely, so to declare & boldly to exercise openly the inward faith. For it is manifest that we have no commandment concerning this in all the new testament. And for this cause ought we Christians to have such songs and ballads now also, wherewith the name of God be advanced and magnified, and not dishonoured nor blasphemed.

By thys is it lykely that the songes whiche are nowe vsed in churches euery where were fyrst institute of the fathers for thys intēt: namely, so to declare & boldlye to exercyse openly the inwarde fayth. For it is manifest that we haue no commaundemēt concernynge thys in all the new testament. And for thys cause ought we Christians to haue such songes and ballades now also, wherewyth the name of God be auaunced and magnifyed, and not dishonoured nor blasphemed.

But alas this costume is not only come to such misuse, that Christs honour is not uttered therein, but also that Lucifer the prince of this world hath thereby confirmed and fortified his kingdom: so that there is nought used therein now save only the bishop of Romes fairs: and the thing wherein the service ⟨image 73⟩and honour of God was supposed to have consisted, have ben occupied with nothing save buying and selling, chopping and changing, ye plain usury. Even as Isaiah doth featly prophecy of them, speaking in the person of almighty God on this wise: It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard, the robbery of the poor is in your house &c. upon whom Christ also giveth a fearful sentence full of dreadful curses, saying: Woe unto you scribes & pharisees, ye hypocrites, that devour widows houses, and that under the colour of praying long prayers: therefore shall ye receive the greater damnation. As though he would say: with your great howling do ye deceive the poor innocents, of whose sweat and blood ye fill your paunches, so full that one would think ye had eaten even the poor innocents houses also. But seeing they study nothing so earnestly as to serve their God the belly, therefore do not they care for the word of God, but do ruffle it upon an heap: ye & sell Christ and his word, as it may be well perceived of them that take diligent heed unto it. But what need more words hereof, seeing we see daily one bait after the other put at the angle to catch and to seduce the simple people