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…

Of like fashion speaketh. Paul .i. Corin. i. saying: That foolish is before the world hath God chosen, that he might confound the wise: and that weak is before the world hath God chosen, that he might confound the mighty: and the vile and despised before the world hath God chosen, ye and that which is nothing, that he might destroy that, which is ought, that no flesh should rejoice in his presence. By this means maketh God the world foolish, with all his wisdom and strength, and giveth another wisdom and power. Seeing than that this is the mind of God, to look downward, and to the things that are nothing therefore have I Englished the word Humilitas ⟨image 21⟩for a thing of no price or regard, so that this be the mind of Mary: God hath wended his eyen upon me that aim a poor, vile and a maiden of no regard, which might easily have found rich, renowned, noble queens and of great linage, ether might he have chosen the daughters of princes & great estates, ye he might have chosen the daughters of Annas or Caiaphas rulers of this con try: But he hath fastened upon me the eyes of his mere goodness, and used me that aim so vile and despised an handmaiden, because none should boast herself to have ben worthy of such an office: & I also must needs grant that it is only of pure grace and goodness that such doth happen unto me and not for my merits or worthiness, whereof I aim bare.

Of lyke fashion speaketh. Paule .i. Corin. i. sayenge: That folysh is before the worlde hath God chosen, that he myght confounde the wyse: and that weake is before ye worlde hath God chosen, that he myght confounde the myghty: and the vyle and despysed before the worlde hath God chosen, yee and that which is nothynge, that he myghte destroy that, whiche is ought, that no fleshe shulde reioyce in hys presēce. By thys meanes maketh God the worlde folysh, with all hys wysedome and strengthe, and geueth another wysedome and power. Seyng than that thys is the mynd of God, to loke downwarde, and to the thynges that are nothyng therfore haue I englyshed ye word Humilitas ⟨image 21⟩for a thynge of no price or regarde, so that thys be the mynde of Mary: God hath wended his eyen vpon me that ame a poore, vyle and a mayden of no regarde, which myghte easyly haue founde ryche, renowned, noble quenes and of great lynage, ether myght he haue chosen ye doughters of prynces & great estates, yee he myght haue chosen ye doughters of Annas or Cayphas rulers of thys cō try: But he hath fastened vpon me the eyes of hys mere goodnesse, and vsed me that ame so vyle and despysed an handmayden, because none shulde boaste herselfe to haue ben worthy of such an office: & I also muste nedes graunte that it is only of pure grace and goodnesse that such doth happē vnto me and not for my merites or worthynesse, wherof I ame bare.