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…

With such manner of spirits is it fulfilled that is written: Thou shalt not turn from the right way of God, neither to the right, nor to the left hand. That is, Ye shall love & praise god aright & straightly, neither ⟨image 18⟩bended to your selves, nor your profits. Such spirit had David, when he being driven from Jerusalem by his son Absalom, was of that mind▪ that he being cast away for ever, would never look for to come again, neither in the kingdom, nor in the favour of God, so that he said (as it is written in the second book of Samuel the fifteenth Chapter:) If I shall find grace before the LORD, he shall fetch me again, and let me see it (meaning the Ark) and the house of it. But if he say thus: I have no pleasure to thee, behold, here am I, let him do with me as it pleaseth him. O what a pure spirit was that, which did not cease to love, praise and to obey the pleasure of God, no not in extreme necessity. Such spirit also doth the holy mother and virgin Mary show, when she ebbing and flowing in the middest of all overflowing and excellent goods did not stumble nor fall at them, neither seeketh her own, but keepeth her spirit pure and without blame in the love and praise of the mere goodness of God, glad and willing to take in good worth, if God will spoil her of the same again, and leave her a poor, naked and failing spirit.

Wyth such maner of spretes is it fulfylled that is wrytten: Thou shalte not turne from the ryghte waye of God, nother to the ryght, nor to the left hande. That is, Ye shal loue & prayse god aryght & straightly, nother ⟨image 18⟩bended to your selues, nor youre profytes. Suche sprete had Dauid, whan he beynge dryuen from Ierusalem by hys sonne Absalon, was of that mynde▪ that he beynge cast awaye for euer, wolde neuer loke for to come agayne, nother in the kyngdome, nor in the fauoure of God, so that he sayde (as it is wrytten in the seconde boke of Samuel the fyftenth Chapter:) Yf I shal fynde grace before the LORDE, he shall fetch me agayne, and let me se it (meanynge the Arke) and the house of it. But yf he saye thus: I haue no pleasure to the, beholde, here am I, let hym do wyth me as it pleaseth hym. O what a pure sprete was that, whych dyd not ceasse to loue, prayse and to obey the pleasure of God, no not in extreme necessite. Suche sprete also doth the holy mother and virgine Marye shewe, whan she ebbynge and flowynge in the myddest of al ouerflowynge and excellent goodes dyd not stomble nor fall at them, nother seketh hyr owne, but kepeth hyr sprete pure and wythout blame in the loue and prayse of the mere goodnesse of God, glad and wyllynge to take in good worth, yf God wyll spoyle her of the same agayne, and leaue her a poore, naked and faylynge sprete.