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…

Zechariah doth bless and thank God, which (according to the promise made unto the holy men in old time) did send Christ the Saviour of Israel, whereby he doth also strengthen the weaklings in faith and feeble hearted. And with this singing & openly confessing of his name is he well apaid if the heart and mouth do accord. Though he do call God the God of Israel, it is not therefore to be understand that he is not the God of the Gentiles, but he is so called, first because of the promise made unto Abraham in the .xvii. chapter of Genesis, where God said unto him: I will make wy covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, through out their posterities, that it may be an everlasting covenant, so that I will be the God of the, and of thy seed after thee. &c. Secondly, because he gave them, Patriarchs, Prophets, the law, the Gods service, and the promises of Christ that was to come. Thirdly, because that of this people should Christ be borne after the flesh: But after that Christ was come, he was no more ⟨image 84⟩called Israel truly, that was borne of that kindred, and of the flesh of Israel: but he that is borne by the faith of Jesus Christ. Wherefore, though the LORD by his power and rule be the LORD of all nations yet is he properly called the God of them that believe in Jesus Christ, because that them only be knowledgeth for the heirs of his kingdom.

Zachary doth blesse and thanke God, which (accordynge to the promyse made vnto the holy mē in olde tyme) dyd send Christ the Saueoure of Israel, whereby he doth also strenghten the weaklynges in fayth and feble harted. And with thys syngynge & opē ly confessynge of his name is he wellapayed yf the harte and mouth do accorde. Though he do call God the God of Israel, it is not therfore to be vnderstande that he is not the God of the Gētyles, but he is so called, fyrst because of the promyse made vnto Abraham in the .xvii. chapter of Genesis, where God sayde vnto hym: I wyll make wy cōuenaunt betwene me and the, and thy sede after the, thorowe out theyr posterites, that it may be an euerlastynge conuenaunte, so that I wyl be the God of ye, and of thy sede after the. &c. Secondly, because he gaue them, Patriarkes, Prophetes, the lawe, the Gods seruice, and the promyses of Christe that was tocome. Thyrdly, because that of thys people shulde Christe be borne after the flesh: But after that Christe was come, he was nomore ⟨image 84⟩