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…

In this other part of the song is declared and set forth the office of John baptist. Neither is it declared with vain dreams, but with the words that the prophet Malachi, and the angel that appeared unto Zechariah did testify of him. Thou (sayeth he) child shalt be called a prophet of the Highest? That is, thou shalt be the chief ⟨image 90⟩preacher in Gods church or congregation, for of the hath Malachi prophesied on this wise: Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. And again: He shall turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the heart of the children unto the fathers: & for this cause shalt thou go before the LORD, that is, before that Christ do openly begin his office, thou shalt do thine appointed busyness. For what intent? First, that thou prepare the way unto Christ. Now hath John prepared the way unto Christ, as is said above, not only in that he rebuked the people of their since, but rather because he declared openly that this is the true Christ, and sent his disciples unto the same Christ, saying: Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the since of the world. Secondly, that thou give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of their since. That is, that thou with thy doctrine show unto the people the true way and manner, where by they may obtain salvation, the which consisteth not in the deliverance from the tyranny of the Romans, neither in the felicity or happiness of this world, but in the ⟨image 90⟩remission of since. Though thou warest rid of all tyrants and enemies in this world, and hast obtained all the felicity of this world: yet art thou in the devils daū ger, an enemy most cruel, and not only his, but also of Death and Hell, which are utter destructions: Thou art in danger of them by reason of sin, for Paul sayeth unto the Romans the .v. Chapter: that by one man sin entered in to the world and death by the means of sin: even so went death also over all men, in so much as they all have sinned. Wherefore, that we may be delivered from the cruelty of the devil, and from the power of death and hell, it is required that we be delivered first of all from sin. John was the first that preached Jesus Christ, that we for him only have the forgiveness of since, by the faith in him.

In thys other parte of the songe is declared and set forth the offyce of Ihon baptiste. Nother is it declared wyth vayne dreames, but wyth the wordes that the prophete Malachy, and the angell that appeared vnto Zachary dyd testifye of hym. Thou (sayeth he) chylde shalte be called a prophete of the Hyghest? That is, thou shalte be the chefe