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…

But (LORD God) what pride skulketh under the vileness of clothing, words and behaviour? whereof the world now a days is full. The which visors and dissemblers do so submit themselves, that they will be despised of no man: they do so fly honours, that they notwithstanding will be chased therewith: they do so shone high things, that nevertheless they be not mispraised, nor their possessions minished, the which ⟨image 26⟩they covet always to have of the best and picked out. But this virgin uttereth nothing but her vileness, wherein she lived & abode willingly, she never coveted nor thought upon honour and height, neither did she consider and behold her lowliness. This humility is so fair and precious, that she can not abide her own countenance but that image is reserved unto the face of God, as witnesseth the .C.xii. Psalm, saying: Who is like unto the LORD our God that hath his dwelling so high, which humbleth himself to behold that is heaven and earth. For he that can behold his lowliness, the same can judge himself worthy of eternal bless, & so were Gods judgement at an end, seeing we know surely that God doth save the lowly ones. Therefore must God reserve and keep the same for himself to know and to judge, and hide them from us with the fence of exercise in lowly things, by beholding of the which we also do forget ourselves. To this now serve many persecutions, deaths & all kind of trouble on earth, in the which is travail & pain, yea with them we may put out the false & deceitful eye.

But (LORDE God) what pryde skoulketh vnder the vylenesse of clothynge, wordes and behaueoure? wherof the world now a dayes is full. The whych visures and dissemblers do so submytte themselues, yt they wyll be despysed of no man: they do so flye honours, that they notwithstandynge wyll be chaced therwyth: they do so shone hyghe thynges, yt neuerthelesse they be not myspraised, nor theyr possessions mynished, ye whych ⟨image 26⟩they couet alwayes to haue of the best and pycked out. But thys virgine vttereth nothynge but hyr vylenesse, wherin she lyued & abode wyllynglye, she neuer coueted nor thought vpon honoure and heyght, nother dyd she consyder and behold hyr lowlynesse. This humilite is so fayre and precious, that she can not abyde hyr owne countenaunce but that image is reserued vnto the face of God, as wytnesseth the .C.xii. Psalme, sayenge: Who is lyke vnto the LORDE oure God that hath hys dwellynge so hygh, which humbleth hymselfe to beholde that is heauē and earth. For he that can beholde hys lowlynesse, the same can iudge hymselfe worthy of eternal blesse, & so were Gods iudgement at an ende, seyng we know surely that God doth saue the lowlyones. Therfore muste God reserue and kepe the same for hymselfe to knowe and to iudge, and hyde them from vs wyth the fence of exercyse in lowly thynges, by beholdynge of the whych we also do forget ourselues. To thys now serue many persecucions, deathes & al kynde of trouble on earth, in ye which is trauayle & payne, ye wt thēwe may put out ye false & deceatful eye.