A68425:188
An exposition upon the song of the blessed virgin Mary, called Magnificat Where unto are added the songs of Salve regina, Benedictus and Nu[n]c dimittis. Translated out of latin into English by John Hollybush.An exposicion vpon the songe of the blessed virgine Mary, called Magnificat Where vnto are added the songes of Salue regina, Benedictus and Nu[n]c dimittis. Translated out of latine into Englysh by Ihon Hollybush.
Southwark : J. Nicholson, 1538
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The contrary to this witnesseth Christ himself Joh. xiiii. saying: I am the way, the ⟨image 77⟩truth and the life. &c. And Isaiah sayeth like wise in the .xlv. Chapter in the person of God: Turn you unto me all the ends of the world, and ye shall be saved: for I am God, and there is else none. To this agreeth also Paul .i. Cor. iii. saying: Other foundament can no man lay, than that which is laid already, which is Christ Jesus. These comfortable words do we neither keep nor believe, seeing we confess with our mouths, and with the deed seek another life or salvation than the true and only life and salvation, namely Jesus Christ. Ye thus doing we make not God true in his promise, that he ether can not or will not do for us as he sayeth every where in the scripture: or else do not we believe the saying of the book of wisdom the .xv. Chapter, where it is thus written: Thou (our God) art sweet, long suffering, & true, & in mercy orderest thou all things, & so forth. And Christ speaking of him self Joh. vi. sayeth: Who so cometh unto me, him will not I cast out. And again in the x. chapter he sayeth: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them everlasting life, & they shall never perish. Where is any such word of comfort, life, hope or sweetness spoken of ⟨image 77⟩in the scriptures of God of the blessed virgin Mary or any creature? and if there be not, what madness is it of us ether to call or to take them for our hope and refuge, which do so lowly alway submit themselves both to God and his creatures? If we would a little ponder these words of the salutation of Mary, conferring them with the saying of David Psalm. C.ii. where he sayeth: Like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the LORD merciful unto them that fear him: we should easily see how far & abtrunnynge we be both from God and his true word. We see than well-beloved brethren and sisters, that if we believed these foresaid words aright, we should need none other salvation, hope nor live save only Christ, which is given us of the father to be a mediator between him & us, as ye shall hear hereafter. But alas it is come to the point with us, that we ask life of them, that do not live themselves, as Solomon sayeth in his book called the book of Wisdom, the .xiii. Chapter.
The cōtrary to thys wytnesseth Christ hymselfe Ioh. xiiii. sayeng: I am ye waye, the ⟨image 77⟩truth and the lyfe. &c. And Esaye sayeth lyke wyse in the .xlv. Chapter in the persone of God: Turne you vnto me all ye endes of ye worlde, and ye shalbe saued: for I am God, and ther is els none. To thys agreeth also Paule .i. Cor. iii. sayenge: Other foundamēt can no man laye, than that whyche is layed already, whych is Christ Iesu. These confortable wordes do we nother kepe nor beleue, seynge we confesse wyth our mouthes, and wyth the dede seke another lyfe or saluacion thā the true and only lyfe and saluacion, namely Iesus Christe. Yee thus doynge we make not God true in hys promyse, that he ether can not or wyll not do for vs as he sayeth euery where in the scripture: or els do not we beleue ye sayenge of ye boke of wysedome the .xv. Chapter, where it is thus written: Thou (our God) arte swete, longe sufferynge, & true, & in mercy ordrest thou al thinges, & so forth. And Christ speakynge of hym selfe Ioh. vi. sayeth: Who so cōmeth vnto me, hym wyll not I cast out. And agayne in the x. chapter he sayeth: My shepe heare my voyce, and I knowe them, and they followe me, and I geue them euerlastyng lyfe, & they shal neuer perysh. Where is ony such worde of comforte, lyfe, hope or swetnesse spoken of ⟨image 77⟩in the scriptures of God of the blessed virgine Mary or ony creature? and yf ther be not, what madnesse is it of vs ether to cal or to take them for our hope and refuge, which do so lowly alway submitte themselues both to God and hys creatures? Yf we wolde a lytle ponder these wordes of the salutation of Mary, conferrynge them with the sayeng of Dauid Psalm. C.ii. where he sayeth: Lyke as a father pytyeth hys owne chylderen, euē so is the LORDE mercyfull vnto them that feare hym: we shulde easyly se howe farre & abtrunnynge we be both from God and his true worde. We se than welbeloued brethrē and systers, that yf we beleued these foresayd wordes aryghte, we shulde nede none other saluacion, hope nor lyue saue only Christe, which is geuen vs of the father to be a mediatour betwene him & vs, as ye shal heare hereafter. But alas it is come to ye poynte wyth vs, that we aske lyfe of them, that do not lyue themselues, as Salomon sayeth in hys boke called the boke of Wysedome, the .xiii. Chapter.
God sayeth in the .li. chapter of Isaiah: I aim he that in all things giveth you consolation. What art thou than that fearest a mortal man, the child of man, which goeth away as doth the floor? and forgettest the LORD that made thee? In the book of wisdom the xvi. chapter it is thus written: It is thou O LORD that haste the power of life and death, thou leadest unto deaths door, and bringest up again. This is he in whom only ye ought to hope, & to have confidence, him only shall ye fear, to him only must ye sigh & sob: for there is but one only that is most highest creator of all things, most puissant and mighty, that is greatly to be feared and dreaded, as Jesus Sirach exhorteth us to do, in the first chapter of Ecclesiasticus, saying: There is one, even the Highest, the maker of all things, the Almighty, the king of power (of whom men ought to stand greatly in awe,) which sitteth upon his throne, being a God of dominion, and so forth. Thank therefore & praise him only, fear and dread him, and than shall not ye be deceived. For if ye trust in men, or any creature, calling upon them, than verily shall ye be deceived, unhappy & accursed as testify both Jeremiah in the .xvii. chap. ⟨image 78⟩and David in the .C.xiii. Psalm saying: Cursed be the man, that putteth his trust in man. Let therefore them that fear the LORD, put their trust in him: for he is their succour and defence, and think, ye be assured, this kind of worship to be nought but a device and imagination of men only, the which are idle and vain as sayeth Jeremiah in the .x. chapter. And Christ also sayeth Mathe. xv. that he is worshipped in vain, while they teach such doctrines as are nothing but the commandments of men. Though they approach near unto me with the Pater noster, callynge me father, LORD and God: yet do they run to other fathers, gods and saviours in this vale of tears. Draw therefore back good brethren and sisters your straying steppes & wend them in the ways of the LORD, yielding you rather to him and his word: for ye have more assurance to be heard when ye call to him, if ye so do, than ye have of following mans voice. David sayeth Psalm. xlix. in the person of God: Call upon me in the time of trouble, so will I hear thee, that thou shalt thank me.
God sayeth in the .li. chapter of Esay: I ame he that in al thynges geueth you consolatiō. What arte thou than that feareste a mortall man, the chylde of man, which goeth awaye as doth the flore? and forgettest the LORD that made the? In the boke of wysedome the xvi. chapter it is thus written: It is thou O LORDE that haste the power of lyfe and death, thou leadeste vnto deathes dore, and bryngest vp agayne. This is he in whome only ye ought to hope, & to haue confidence, hym only shall ye feare, to hym only muste ye sygh & sobbe: for ther is but one only that is mooste hyghest creatoure of all thynges, moost puyssaūt and myghty, that is greatly to be feared and dradde, as Iesus Sirak exhorteth vs to do, in the fyrst chapter of Ecclesiasticus, sayenge: Ther is one, euen the Hyghest, the maker of all thynges, the Almyghty, the kynge of power (of whome men ought to stande greatly in awe,) whiche sytteth vpon hys trone, beynge a God of dominion, and so forth. Thanke therfore & prayse hym only, feare and drede hym, and thā shall not ye be deceaued. For yf ye trust in men, or ony creature, callynge vpon them, than veryly shal ye be deceaued, vnhappy & accursed as testifye both Ieremy in the .xvii. chap.
Where is there any such promise or comfortable word in all the scripture of the blessed virgin, or any other […] ⟨image 79⟩name, he shall give it you. If ye therefore believe these words steadfastly, than need ye none other mean. Or think ye that he will lye ether for you, or for your since, which only is the truth himself, and hath taken a way the since of the world, as Isaiah doth expressly write of him in the .liii. chapter, and John baptist doth by mouth?
Where is ther ony such promyse or comfortable worde in all ye scripture of the blessed virgine, or ony other 〈…〉 ⟨image 79⟩name, he shall geue it you. Yf ye therfore beleue these wordes stedfastlye, than nede ye none other meane. Or thynk ye that he wyl lye ether for you, or for youre synnes, whych only is the truth hymselfe, and hath taken a waye the synnes of the worlde, as Esaye doth expressely wryte of hym in the .liii. chapter, and Ihon baptiste doth by mouth?
If you will have her to show you Jesus, than must ye first let him show you her in this misery and hear what she said Luke in the first chapter, where it is written: He remembereth mercy, and helpeth up his servant Israel. Even as he promised unto our fathers, Abraham and to his seed for ever. Here sayeth Mary that unto Abraham and his seed was promised salvation through Christ Jesus, which thing is ⟨image 79⟩plainly declared in Genesis the .xxii. Chap. where God said to Abraham: In thy seed shall all nations be blessed: and Abraham believing this was saved thereby. And Genesis. xvii. was Isaac promised unto Abraham and Abraham believing the same likewise was saved thereby. Unto David was like promise made .ii. Regum the .vii. chapter on this wise: When the time is fulfilled that thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise thy seed after thee. I will be his father, and he shall be my son, and will stablish the seat of his kingdom for ever. This did David believe, and was also saved. Behold, thus hath now Abraham received his child sayeth Mary, as it was promised unto Abraham and his posterity. Will ye now therefore be also saved, then must ye let Jesus be showed unto you, as Mary doth show him here in the Magnificat: namely that he is the blessing of all nations, and so to believe & faithfully to trust in Jesus Christ only: for by this faith only shall ye be saved. Ye must have this faith only in him in this veil of tears, and so see him here: and not let him be showed unto you by other means after this miserable exiling, as it is sung in this song of praise. Thus must we have him ⟨image 80⟩showed unto us in this veil of tears, as he was showed unto the patriarchs, and prophets, that we may know him in this mortal life & believe in him, as they have done: and than surely shall he show himself well enough after this exiling and banishment. If else his words be true that he hath spoken. Joh. xi. I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth on me, shall live, though he were dead already. And Joh. iii. He that believeth on me shall not be condemned. Thus must thou than know Jesus Christ as one that taketh away thy since, dying the bitter death for them. But if ye know him not here, than may he not be showed you after this parting of body and soul, neither of Mary, nor of any body else.
These words were wont to be cried out loud, but Baals priests cried out louder, whereof it is written in the third book of the kings the .xviii. Chapter of this manner: And they cried loud and provoked them ⟨image 80⟩selves with knives and •otkens (as their manner was) till the blood followed, but no answer was heard. Wherefore the prophet Elijah mocking them said: Cry loud. For he is a God, peradventure he is musing, or hath somewhat to do, or is gone some journey, or haply he sleepeth, so that he would be waked up. &c. They cried farther yet: ye that even their throat seemed to have brasten asunder, but what they obtained thereby, that may ye read there. And much less shall ye obtain with your loud blaring. For God giveth no ear to loud crying, but to love and mercy. Besides this ascribest thou sweetness, goodness, and righteousness unto a creature which is to be referred unto none but unto God only. Of this sweetness sayeth scripture in the book of wisdom the .xii. Chap. on this wise: O LORD how gracious and sweet is thy spirit in all things. And Joel in the .ii. Chapter: Turn you unto the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful long suffering and of great compassion, and ready to pardon wickedness and to forgive since. &c. David doth likewise exhort us in the .xxxiii. Psalm, saying: Tayste and see how friendly the LORD is, happy is ⟨image 81⟩the man that trusteth in him. Mark well now that ye must seek and look for all goodness, sweetness, mercy and virtue at him only, if ye shall obtain ought, and that ye can do nought without him. This confirmeth the prayer of Anna the wife of Helcana in the first doke of the kings, the second chapter, where she sayeth: There is no man holy as the LORD, for without thee is nothing and there is no comfort like unto our God. And even so no man can, nor may be holy or come to the father, but through the son Christ Jesus as he witnesseth himself.
These wordes were wonte to be cryed out loude, but Baals prestes cryed out louder, whereof it is wrytten in the thyrd boke of the kynges the .xviii. Chapter of thys maner: And they cryed loude and prouoked thē ⟨image 80⟩selues wyth knyues and •otkens (as theyr maner was) tyll the bloude followed, but no answere was herde. Wherfore the prophete Elias mockyng them sayd: Crye loude. For he is a God, peraduēture he is musynge, or hath sōwhat to do, or is gone some iourney, or happly he slepeth, so that he wolde be waked vp. &c. They cryed farther yet: yee that euen theyr throte semed to haue brasten asū der, but what they optayned thereby, that maye ye reade there. And much lesse shal ye optayne wyth your loude blaryng. For God geueth no eare to loude cryenge, but to loue and mercy. Besydes thys ascrybest thou swetenesse, goodnesse, and ryghteousnesse vnto a creature whyche is to be referred vnto none but vnto God onely. Of thys swetenesse sayeth scripture in the boke of wysedome the .xii. Chap. on thys wyse: O LORDE how gracious and swete is thy sprete in all thynges. And Ioel in the .ii. Chapter: Turne you vnto the LORDE youre God, for he is gracious and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of great compassion, and ready to pardon wyckednesse and to forgeue synnes. &c. Dauid doth lykewyse exhorte vs in the .xxxiii. Psalme, sayeng: Tayste and se howe frendely the LORDE is, happye is
To conclude good brethren and sisters I beseech you for the unspeakable mercy of God to remember and to think that God is wiser than ye: and so doing give your wit and wisdom captive unto the word of God, and than shall happen unto you both health and salvation. But alas it is happened unto us (God amend it) that is spoken of in the .xiiii. Chapter of the book of wisdom, namely that through the beauty of the work, the commune people was deceived, insomuch, that they toke him now for God which a little afore was but honoured as man. Like unto this may ye read Deuteronomy ⟨image 81⟩the .vi. Baruch the last, and in the book of wisdom the .xiii. and .xiiii. chapters besides other places innumerable mo in the bible. If ye look upon these places, ye shall easily see what Idolatry is used daily in Christendom before the painted blocks & stocks. Which I trust shall once be redressed by the power of the word of God, though to some it seem to be unpossible by the reason of the deep rooting of it in some superstitious hearts. But let such call to mind the power of God specified in these words of God by his prophet Isaiah in the .l. chapter Why would no man receive me when I came? and when I called, no man gave answer. Was my hand clean smitten of, that it might not help? Or had I not power to deliver? Send therefore the pure & plain understanding of thy Godly word into our hearts, that the light of the clear understanding of thy word may drive out the darkness of Idolatry and so thine honour be restored unto the again. AMEN.
To conclude good brethren and systers I beseke you for the vnspeakeable mercy of God to remembre and to thynke that God is wyser than ye: and so doynge geue youre wytte and wysedom captiue vnto the worde of God, and than shal happen vnto you both health and saluacion. But alas it is happened vnto vs (God amende it) that is spoken of in the .xiiii. Chapter of the boke of wysedome, namely that thorowe the bewty of the worke, the commune people was deceaued, insomuche, that they toke hym now for God whyche a lytle afore was but honoured as man. Lyke vnto thys maye ye reade Deuteronomy ⟨image 81⟩the .vi. Baruch the laste, and in the boke of wysedom the .xiii. and .xiiii. chapters besides other places innumerable mo in the bible. Yf ye loke vpon these places, ye shall easely se what Idolatrye is vsed daylye in Christendome before the paynted blockes & stockes. Whych I truste shall once be redressed by the power of the word of God, though to some it seme to be vnpossible by the reasō of the depe rootynge of it in some supersticious hartes. But let suche call to mynde the power of God specifyed in these wordes of God by hys prophete Esaye in the .l. chapter Why wolde no man receaue me whan I came? and whan I called, no man gaue answere. Was my hande clene smytten of, that it myght not helpe? Or had I not power to delyuer? Sende therfore the pure & playne vnderstādynge of thy Godly worde into oure hartes, that the lyght of the clere vnderstandynge of thy worde maye dryue out the darkenesse of Idolatry and so thyne honoure be restored vnto the agayne. AMEN.
Hail Jesus Christ king of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope, hail. Unto the do we call the wretched children of Eva: unto the do we call and sigh, weeping & wailing in this valley of tears. Turn therefore thy merciful eyen to us ward thou spechman and advocate of ours, and show us the visage of thy blessed father in the everlasting glory, as thou hast promised us, O gracious, O sweet Christ and son of the virgin Mary.
HAyle Iesu Christ kynge of mercy, oure lyfe, our swetenesse and oure hope, hayle. Vnto the do we call the wretched chyldren of Eua: vnto the do we call and syghe, wepynge & waylynge in thys valley of teares. Turne therfore thy mercyfull eyen to vs warde thou spechman and aduocate of oures, and shewe vs the visage of thy blessed father in the euerlastynge glory, as thou hast promysed vs, O gracious, O swete Christe and sonne of the virgine Mary.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for he hath redeemed and visited his people.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for he hath redemed and visited hys people.
Yf you wyll haue her to shewe you Iesus, than must ye fyrste let hym shewe you her in thys mysery and heare what she sayd Luke in the fyrst chapter, where it is wryttē: He remembreth mercy, and helpeth vp hys seruaunte Israel. Euen as he promysed vnto oure fathers, Abraham and to hys sede for euer. Here sayeth Mary that vnto Abraham and hys sede was promysed saluacion thorowe Christe Iesu, which thynge is ⟨image 79⟩playnly declared in Genesis the .xxii. Chap. where God sayd to Abraham: In thy sede shall all nacions be blessed: and Abraham beleuynge thys was saued thereby. And Genesis. xvii. was Isaac promysed vnto Abraham and Abraham beleuynge the same lykewyse was saued thereby. Vnto Dauid was lyke promyse made .ii. Regum the .vii. chapter on thys wyse: Whan the tyme is fulfylled that thou shalte slepe wt thy fathers, I wyll rayse thy sede after the. I wyll be hys father, and he shalbe my sonne, and wyll stablysh ye seate of hys kyngdome for euer. This dyd Dauid beleue, and was also saued. Beholde, thus hath now Abraham receaued hys chylde sayeth Mary, as it was promysed vnto Abrahā and hys posterite. Wyll ye now therfore be also saued, then must ye let Iesus be shewed vnto you, as Mary doth shewe hym here in the Magnificat: namely that he is the blessynge of all nacyons, and so to beleue & faythfully to trust in Iesu Christ only: for by thys fayth only shall ye be saued. Yee must haue thys fayth only in hym in thys vayle of teares, and so se hym here: and not let hym be shewed vnto you by other meanes after this myserable exilynge, as it is sunge in thys songe of prayse. Thus must we haue hym ⟨image 80⟩shewed vnto vs in thys vayle of teares, as he was shewed vnto ye patriarkes, and prophetes, that we maye knowe hym in thys mortall lyfe & beleue in hym, as they haue done: and than surely shall he shewe hymselfe wel ynough after thys exilynge and banyshmēt. Yf els hys wordes be true that he hath spoken. Ioh. xi. I am the resurreccion and ye lyfe. He that beleueth on me, shall lyue, thoughe he were dead already. And Ioh. iii. He that beleueth on me shal not be condēned. Thus must thou than knowe Iesu Christe as one that taketh awaye thy synnes, dyenge ye bytter death for them. But yf ye know hym not here, than maye he not be shewed you after thys partynge of bodye and soule, nother of Mary, nor of ony body els.
