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…

Here doth the blessed virgin sing at once and in a seemly order all the works that God hath wrought in her. In the last verse hath she song of the looking graciously of God and his bounteous and merciful will toward her: the which is the chief and principal part of mercy and grace (as is said:) and here she singeth of gifts and works. For God though he give many one great gifts, and strew his goods in commune, yet doth not he therefore straight way look upon and behold them. The worldly and temporal goods are good: but the grace, favour and sight of God, are the heritage that doth last ever: as saith Paul Ro. vi. The gift of God is everlasting life in our LORD Jesus Christ. In the goods giveth he that is his, but in the sight and grace doth he give himself. In the goods is his hand received, but in the sight of grace upon the heart, his spirit, mind and will are received there in. Wherefore the holy virgin doth give the most thanks unto the sight of God. Neither sayeth she first: All child's children shall call me ⟨image 35⟩blessed, because he hath done so great things unto me, whereof this verse maketh mention: But because he hath looked upon me that am vile and of no reputation, and to my low degree, whereof the first verse doth specify. Where a gracious beholding is, there are gifts also, but not contrary wise is there a gracious sight, where gifts are. For this cause doth this verse or part of this song duly follow the first verse. After this manner do we read Genesis .xxv. that Abraham gave gifts unto the children of the concubines, but unto Isaac his true and lawful son by Sarah his lawful wife, he gave the whole heritage. After this manner is it the mind of God, that his children take no consolation of the gifts, ether spiritual or temporal, be they never so great, but of him and his goods, yet not despising the gifts.

Here doth the blessed virgine synge atonce and in a semely order all the workes that God hath wrought in her. In the laste verse hath she songe of the lokynge graciously of God and hys bounteous and mercyfull wyll towarde her: the which is the chefe and principall parte of mercy and grace (as is sayde:) and here she syngeth of gyftes and workes. For God though he geue many one greate gyftes, and strowe hys goodes in cō mune, yet doth not he therfore strayght way loke vpon and beholde them. The worldly and temporall goodes are good: but the grace, fauoure and syghte of God, are the heretage that doth last euer: as sayth Paule Ro. vi. The gyfte of God is euerlastynge lyfe in oure LORDE Iesu Christe. In the goodes geueth he that is hys, but in the syght and grace doth he geue hymselfe. In the goodes is hys hande receaued, but in the syght of grace vpon ye harte, hys sprete, mynd and wyll are receaued there in. Wherfore the holy virgine doth geue the mooste thankes vnto the syghte of God. Nother sayeth she fyrste: All chyldes chyldren shall call me