This song of Zachary the prophet, the father of John baptist wash occasioned to sing for joy that he was restored again to his speech, the which he lost, because he did not believe the angel showing him of his son John baptist that should be borne of him: so that (as the angel said unto him) the token whereby he should be assured there of was, that he should be dumb, until the time of the child's nativity. Wherefore at his nativity being restored again unto his speech, he is forthwith filled also with the holy ghost, and prophecieth: not that he was not filled afore with the ⟨image 83⟩spirit of Gods children, whereby he walked unblameably in the commandments and righteousnesses of God: but that than he was even ravished and specially filled with the spirit, so that Luke the Evangelist (who doth describe these words in his .i. chapter) sayeth: that he was filled with the holy ghost and prophesied. Now is to prophecy, to utter things, ether to come, or that he paste already, or else to open the scriptures and prophecies, the which all this song doth contain, and is divided in .xii. verses and two parts. In the first doth Zechariah commend and praise the truth of Gods promises, that God doth keep & fulfil those things, which he did promise by his prophets of Christ. In the second doth he declare the office and service of John baptist. Let us therefore keep and handle this song of Zechariah, not only as a rehearsal and abridgement of all such promises as are spoken of Christ, but also as a large commentary and utterance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But alas this song is heinously abused, even as is also the song of praise that Mary the blessed virgin did sing, called Magnificat, seeing it is roared out daily rather than song without faith or devotion. God avenge his word from ⟨image 84⟩the blasphemies of the wicked. Now let us go to the song:
THys songe of Zacharye the prophete, the father of Ihon baptiste washe occasioned to syng for ioy that he was restored agayne to hys speche, the whych he lost, because he dyd not beleue the angell shewynge hym of hys sonne Ihon baptiste that shulde be borne of hym: so that (as the angell sayde vnto hym) the token whereby he shulde be assured ther of was, that he shulde be domme, vntyll the tyme of the chyldes natiuite. Wherfore at hys natiuite beynge restored agayne vnto hys speche, he is forthwyth fylled also wyth the holy gooste, and prophecyeth: not that he was not fylled afore wyth the ⟨image 83⟩sprete of Gods chyldren, wherby he walked vnblameably in the commaūdementes and ryghteousnesses of God: but that than he was euē rauyshed and specially fylled with the sprete, so that Luke the Euangelist (who doth describe these wordes in his .i. chapter) sayeth: that he was fylled with ye holy gooste and prophecyed. Now is to prophecy, to vtter thynges, ether to come, or that he paste already, or els to open the scriptures and prophecyes, the whiche all thys songe doth conteyne, and is diuided in .xii. verses and two partes. In the fyrste doth Zachary cōmende and prayse the truth of Gods promyses, that God doth kepe & fulfyll those thynges, which he dyd promyse by hys prophetes of Christe. In the seconde doth he declare the office and seruice of Ihon baptiste. Let vs therfore kepe and handle thys songe of Zachary, not only as a rehearsall and abrygmente of all suche promyses as are spoken of Christe, but also as a large commentary and vtteraunce of ye gospell of Iesu Christe. But alas thys songe is haynously abused, euen as is also ye songe of prayse that Mary the blessed virgine dyd syng, called Magnificat, seynge it is roared out dayly rather than songe wythout faythe or deuocion. God auenge hys worde from ⟨image 84⟩the blasphemyes of the wycked. Now let vs go to the songe:
