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…

The first work of God toward the holy virgin doth she confess to be the looking upon her, the which also is the chefest, of the which all the rest hang & flow. For if it be come so far that God wend his sight to any man to behold him, that is nothing but grace and mercy, and there must needs follow all gifts and works. As we read Gene. iiii. that God did look upon Abel and his gifts, and not so upon Cain nor his offering. Of this come the prayers commonly in the psalter, that God will lighten his countenance upon us, and not hide his sight, but direct it upon us, and such like. And that she doth think this to be the chefest, she doth sufficiently show, saying: Lo, for this beholding of me shall all child's children call me blessed.

The fyrste worke of God towarde the holy virgine doth she confesse to be the lokynge vpon her, the which also is the chefest, of the which al the reste hange & flowe. For yf it be come so farre that God wende hys syght to ony man to beholde hym, that is nothynge but grace and mercy, and there must nedes followe all gyftes and workes. As we reade Gene. iiii. that God dyd loke vpon Abell and hys gyftes, and not so vpon Cayn nor hys offerynge. Of thys come the prayers cōmunely in the psalter, that God wyll lyghten hys countenaunce vpon vs, and not hyde hys syghte, but directe it vpon vs, and such lyke. And that she doth thynke thys to be the chefest, she doth sufficientlye shewe, sayeng: Lo, for thys beholdyng of me shall al chyldes chyldren call me blessed.

Mark the words, she sayeth not yea her praises shall be spread abroad, yea her virtues ⟨image 31⟩shall be commended, that her virginity or humility shall be extolled, or that her excellent deeds shall be song and uttered with some song or ballad, but she doth only often repeat and say: that God hath looked upon her, and that thereby she shall be called blessed. And that is to give the honour and praise to God so holily and purely, that there is no thing more holy nor pure. And therefore pointing upon the beholding or looking upon of God, as with a finger she sayeth: Behold from hence forth now shall they call me blessed. That is, from the time that God hath beholden my vileness, I shall be called happy. Wherein not she, but the grace of God in her is praised: ye she is made little, and maketh herself little, when she sayeth that her vileness is looked upon of God. And for this cause doth she first advance her salvation, before she recite the works of God declared toward her, and attributeth the looking upon her vileness all together unto the sight of God.