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…

Christ hath not subdued or overcome the Egyptians, or Babylonians, or the Romans, (though the Jews had ben partly oppressed, & partly were yet so oppressed of them, that they could not quietly use the service of God commanded in the law in their own land, although they should not have obtained the true health nor righteousness thereby, had they ben delivered of their enemies,) but he overcame and delivered his people from these enemies, whereof Paul speaketh Eph. vi. saying: We wrestle not against flesh & blood, but against rule, against power, namely: against the rulers of the world, of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness under the heaven. Among these enemies is the chefest of all Satan, the which as he is a murderer▪ even so goeth he ever about roaring like a Lion, seeking whom he may devour. The second is Sin, wherein Adam, by the enticing of the devil did fall, the which is cropen in all mankind from Adam, whereby also they be provoked unto all manner of wickedness. The third ⟨image 88⟩enemy are: Afflictions, Death, and Hell. These are the most heinous enemies that can be. Neither is it to be thought that these enemies although they do envy men in deed, yet are they far from them, but it is to be marked that these enemies have men wholly in their claws. For naturally are we the children of wrath, that is, the devils own, borne in sin, and by reason of sin, we be in danger of troubles of this world, bodily death & also hell. These enemies hath Christ so overcome (though they sometime do repine and gnash, threatening men many things) that they can in no wise hurt them that believe in Christ Jesus. Moreover Christ hath not restored his people unto such sureness and tranquillity, wherein they might use at Jerusalem their service, prescribed unto them in the third book of Moses called Leviticus, (for that service, as it was to be observed and kept for a season only, as the law witnesseth: even so was it only an introduction and civil holiness to Christwarde,) but he forgave them their sins. By the which knowledge, the conscience is so quieted by faith, that she now feareth neither the devil, death, nor hell.

Christ hath not subdued or ouercome the Egipcians, or Babiloniās, or ye Romanes, (though the Iewes had ben partely oppressed, & partely were yet so oppressed of them, that they coulde not quietly vse the seruice of God cō maunded in the lawe in theyr owne lande, although they shulde not haue obtayned the true health nor ryghteousnesse thereby, had they ben delyuered of theyr enemyes,) but he ouercame and delyuered hys people frō these enemyes, wherof Paul speaketh