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…

Humility do we call commonly a will to small and despised things. Now are there many that bring water to the well, namely they, that alway cumber their minds with vile clothing, persons outward gestures, towns, words and places, upon them do they think, in them is their conversation, but to that intent, that by the same they ⟨image 23⟩might be counted and esteemed great, rich, learned, holy, ye also God, as such that love to be conversant in lowly things. But if they knew, men did not set thereby, they would right soon leave them. This is a feigned lowliness, for their wicked eye beholdeth nought save the reward, avail and praise of humility. Neither behold they the vile things, not looking for reward and profit, no more than a kook doth to roost meat that doth not drop: wherefore when the reward and praise do no more appear, than hath humility done with them. Such have no affection to the vileness, because they be not of one heart and mind in vile things, they have only the thoughts, hands, mouth, clothing and outward behaviour in vileness, but their heart looketh to high things, to the which they do imagine to come: and such are they that count themselves lowly holy saints.

Humilite do we cal communely a wyl to smal and despysed thynges. Now are ther many that brynge water to the wel, namely they, that alwaye cōbre theyr myndes wyth vyle clothyng, persons outwarde gestures, townes, wordes and places, vpon them do they thynke, in them is theyr conuersacion, but to that intente, that by thesame they ⟨image 23⟩myght be counted and estimed greate, rych, learned, holy, yee also God, as such that loue to be conuersaunte in lowly thynges. But yf they knewe, mē dyd not set thereby, they wolde ryght soone leaue them. Thys is a fayned lowlynesse, for theyr wycked eye beholdeth nought saue the rewarde, auayle and prayse of humilite. Nother beholde they the vyle thynges, not lokynge for rewarde and profite, nomore than a kooke doth to roost meate that doth not droppe: wherfore whan the rewarde and prayse do nomore appeare, than hath humilite done with thē. Such haue no affection to the vylenesse, because they be not of one harte and mynde in vyle thynges, they haue only the thoughtes, handes, mouth, clothynge and outward behaueoure in vylenesse, but theyr harte loketh to hygh thynges, to the which they do imagine to come: and such are they that counte themselues lowly holy sayntes.