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…

After than that the mother of God had in such wise praised her God and Saviour with a bare pure spirit, & ascribed none of the goods to herself, and therefore had song truly unto him of his goodness: now doth she finally and orderly go to the praise of his works & goods. For (as we have said before) we ought not to run headlynges to the goods of God, neither ought we to ascribe and draw them to us: but by them as by steppes we must pierce unto the author & cause of all goodness, we must cleave unto him only, and make much of him. And after that praise and thank him in his works, wherein he hath showed us such goodness, that we may trust, love and praise him: so that his works are nothing save a great ⟨image 27⟩occasion to love and to thank the mere goodness that reigneth over us.

After than that the mother of God had in such wyse praysed hir God and Saueour wyth a bare pure sprete, & ascribed none of the goodes to herselfe, and therfore had sōge truly vnto hym of hys goodnesse: now dothe she fynally and orderlye go to the prayse of hys workes & goodes. For (as we haue sayd before) we ought not to rūne headlynges to ye goodes of God, nother ought we to ascribe and drawe them to vs: but by thē as by steppes we muste pearse vnto the author & cause of all goodnesse, we must cleue vnto hym onely, and make much of hym. And after that prayse and thanke hym in hys workes, wherin he hath shewed vs suche goodnesse, that we maye truste, loue and prayse hym: so that hys workes are nothyng saue a great ⟨image 27⟩occasion to loue and to thanke ye mere goodnesse that raygneth ouer vs.

She beginneth first with her self, and singeth what God hath done for her, wherein she teacheth us two things: First, must every man mark diligently what God worketh with him, more than all the works that he doth with other. For thy bless consisteth not in that he worketh with other, but with thee. As (John the .xxi. Chapter) when Peter said of S. John: LORD, but what shall he do? Christ said unto him: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. As though he would say: Ihons works shall not avail thee, thou must go to thy self, and take heed what I will do with thee. Nevertheless a great misuse of selling good works doth reign in the world now a days. For some presumptuous spirits will help other, chiefly such as live and dye without Gods own working: even as though they had to many good works. Where Paul .