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…

It might be suffered if they did pray for other, or brought their works as means & intercessions to god. But seeing they come to ⟨image 28⟩God therewith, as with some gift or present it is a wicked and heinous intent. And (that most abominable is) they deal and give their works unto other, the which nevertheless they know not how acceptable they be unto God. For God doth not behold the works, but the heart and faith, by the which he worketh with us. Whereof they do not force, leaning upon the works only, with the which they do deceive themselves and other also. And so far is the matter come, that they persuade men that be at the point of death, to put on a friars raiment, saying: that if any man dye in so holy an habit, all his since shall be forgiven him, and get eternal bless. Thus do they not only save men with strange good works, but also with strange garments. I think (if there were no heed taken thereto) that the devil would bring such men so far, that they would think to bring the people to heaven with religious meats, dwelling, and burying. Good LORD how feleable is this darkness, namely: that a cool or religious habit may justify and save a man? for what needeth faith than? Let us than become all friars, let us all dye in friarly habits: & by that means shall cloth want to make friars. ⟨image 28⟩Beware, beware of wolves, walking in such sheep's clothing, for they do beguile the & tear thee, & think that God doth work with thee, & thy salvation, & that by the work that he worketh in thee: neither put thy trust in any other as thou seest the holy virgin Mary do here. And though thou doest use to this the intercession of other, thou doest not evil: for we all ought to pray the one for the other. And no man shall trust unto other mens works, without the own & proper works of God: but with great diligence take heed to thyself & Gods works, even as though God & thou were one in heaven & earth, and though God did work with no man but with thee, and so forth look upon other mens works also.

It myght be suffred yf they dyd pray for other, or brought theyr workes as meanes & intercessiōs to god. But seyng they come to ⟨image 28⟩God therwyth, as wyth some gyfte or presēt it is a wycked and haynous intent. And (that moost abominable is) they deale and geue theyr workes vnto other, the whych neuerthelesse they knowe not howe acceptable they be vnto God. For God doth not beholde the workes, but the harte and fayth, by the whych he worketh wyth vs. Whereof they do not force, leanynge vpon ye workes only, wyth the whych they do deceaue themselues and other also. And so farre is ye matter come, that they perswade men that be at the poynte of death, to put on a freres rayment, sayenge: that yf ony mā dye in so holy an habyte, al his synnes shalbe forgeuē hym, and get eternall blesse. Thus do they not only saue men wyth straūge good workes, but also wyth straunge garmentes. I thynke (yf ther were no hede taken therto) that the deuell wolde brynge such men so farre, yt they wolde thynke to brynge the people to heauē wyth religious meates, dwellynge, and buryenge. Good LORDE how feleable is thys darknesse, namely: that a coole or religious abyte may iustify and saue a man? for what nedeth fayth than? Let vs thā become al freres, let vs all dye in frerely abites: & by that meanes shall cloth wante to make freres.