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…

Then was the interpretation of that sight showed unto the woman. The first virgin signifieth the uncleanly spirits, seeking their own, unto whom God must give many good things, and rather accomplish their mind and will, then his own, which will want nothing, and ever have comfort and pleasure of God, not being sufficed with the goodness of God. The second signifieth those spirits, which ⟨image 17⟩have begun to serve God, and can suffer some scarceness, yet nevertheless are not without love of themselves and their profit. Unto them must he sometime show a smiling countenance, letting them assay his goodness, that thereby they might learn to love his bare goodness, and highly to praise it. The third virgin, poor, wretched and clean forsaken hath nothing but misery & smart, she seeketh no profit she is content therewith that God is good, though she should never assay it (the which nevertheless can not be) the same abideth of one fashion and of both the sides, ether to love or to praise the goodness of God, as well wham it is felt, as wham it is not felt: neither doth she fall upon the goods wham they fall to her, nor falleth from them wham they fail. And this is the true spouse of Christ, which sayeth to him: I will not it that thine is, but thyself: I love the no better while all things go prosperously, than I do hate the while it goeth contrary with me.

Then was the interpretacion of that syght shewed vnto the woman. The fyrste virgyne signifieth the vnclenly spretes, sekynge theyr owne, vnto whome God muste geue many good thynges, and rather accomplysh theyr mynde and wyll, then hys owne, whyche wyll wante nothynge, and euer haue comforte and pleasure of God, not beynge suffised wyth the goodnesse of God. The second sygnifieth those spretes, whych ⟨image 17⟩haue begonne to serue God, and can suffre some scarcenesse, yet neuerthelesse are not wythout loue of themselues and theyr profyte. Vnto them muste he sometyme shewe a smylynge countenaunce, lettynge them assaye hys goodnesse, that thereby they myght learne to loue hys bare goodnesse, and hyghly to prayse it. The thyrde virgine, poore, wretched and cleane forsaken hath nothyng but mysery & smarte, she seketh no profyt she is content therwyth yt God is good, though she shulde neuer assaye it (the whych neuerthelesse can not be) the same abydeth of one fashion and of both the sydes, ether to loue or to prayse ye goodnesse of God, as wel whā it is felt, as whā it is not felt: nother doth she fal vpon ye goodes whā they fal to her, nor falleth frō thē whā they fayle. And this is ye true spouse of Christe, whych sayeth to hym: I wyll not it that thyne is, but thyselfe: I loue the no better whyle all thynges go prosperously, than I do hate the whyle it goeth cō trary wyth me.