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…

Therefore now prayeth Paul & sayeth: The very God of peace sanctify you throughout. Not only in one part; but through out, that the spirit, soul, body, and altogether be holy. Here were many things to be spoken, of the cause of this prayer, but I will briefly rehearse some of them: If the spirit be not holy, there shall nothing else be holy. Than is the most jeopardy and busyness in the holiness of the spirit, which consisteth only in a pure faith: that is, if the spirit be not cumbered with comprehensible things, as it is said. In the mean time than come false teachers, which entice the spirit forth of it, when the one seeketh to be righteous by these works, another by that way and manner. If the spirit be not here well provided and wise, then falleth it out and followeth, and cometh to lean upon outward works & costumes, whereby it imagineth to be saved. Lo so soon is faith lost, & the spirit dead before God.

Therfore now prayeth Paule & sayeth: The very God of peace sanctifye you thorowout. Not only in one parte; but thorowe out, that the sprete, soule, bodye, and altogether be holy. Here were many thynges to be spoken, of the cause of thys prayer, but I wyl brefely rehearse some of them: Yf the sprete be not holy, ther shall nothynge els be holy. Than is the moost ieoperdy and busynesse in the holynesse of the sprete, whych consysteth only in a pure fayth: that is, yf ye sprete be not combred wyth comprehensible thynges, as it is sayd. In the meane tyme than come false teachers, whych entyse the sprete forth of it, whan the one seketh to be ryghteous by these workes, another by that waye and maner. Yf the sprete be not here wel prouyded and wyse, then falleth it out and followeth, and cōmeth to leane vpon outward workes & costumes, whereby it imagineth to be saued. Lo so soone is fayth lost, & the sprete dead before God.

Upon this grew sects and orders, so that the one becometh a Charterhouse monk, another a Grayfrere: the one endeavoureth ⟨image 11⟩to be saved with fasting, the other with praying, & another by this manner & fashion: one by this & another by the work procure to fly everlasting damnation. And yet are they all even but mens inventions, even such as one mans choosing hath founded. Read thereof the treatise of orders & sects. Neither are they commanded by God, but invented by men: about the which the vain janglers have no respect of faith, but teach alway the confidence of works, so long till they be at variance within themselves: Every man will be nearest the mark, & despise the other, as our observants do now a days swell and heave themselves. Against these workers and good men in sight, or rather hypocrites doth Paul pray, saying: that God is the God of peace, of whom these varying hypocrites, & haters of peace are not partakers, nor having him, can hold the same, without they bid farewell their statutes, rules & ceremonies, & be all one minded in faith & spirit, knowlegynge that works cause variance, sin & dissension, & only faith maketh honest, one minded & peaceable men, as witnesseth the .lxvii. Psal, saying: He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in the house. And again in the .C.xxxii. Psalm: Behold […]