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…

Neither doth the mother of God rehearse any goodness severally, but with one word doth she comprehend them all, saying: He hath done great things unto me, that is, all that he hath done unto me is great. Whereby she teacheth us, that the higher the contemplation in spirit be, the less words ought we to make. For she feeleth well ⟨image 35⟩enough that she can not utter with words the thing, that she thinketh in her mind, and would fain express. Wherefore such few words of the spirit are sometime so weighty and profound, that no man can understand them, without he somedeal feel the same spirit. But unto them that be void of the spirit do such words seem very slight and clean without sweetness or tayst, which dispatch their tax with many words and great noise. Christ in the .vi. Chapter of Matthew, teacheth us to eschew the multiplying of words in our prayer, seeing the Heathen men do even the same, which thereby do think to be heard. As now a days also in many churches there is plenty of ringing of bells, playing on organs and other instruments of music, of singing, crying, and reading: but scarceness of praising of God, the which is to worship God in spirit and truth. Joh. iiii.

Nother doth ye mother of God rehearse ony goodnesse seuerally, but wyth one word doth she comprehende them all, sayenge: He hath done great thynges vnto me, that is, all that he hath done vnto me is greate. Whereby she teacheth vs, that the hygher the contemplaciō in sprete be, the lesse wordes ought we to make. For she feleth well ⟨image 35⟩ynough that she can not vtter wyth wordes the thynge, that she thynketh in hyr mynde, and wolde fayne expresse. Wherfore such fewe wordes of the sprete are sometyme so weyghtye and profounde, that no man can vnderstāde them, wythout he somdeale fele the same sprete. But vnto them that be voyd of the spret do such wordes seme very sleght and clene wythout swetnesse or tayst, which dispatch theyr taxe wyth many wordes and greate noyse. Christe in the .vi. Chapter of Mathew, teacheth vs to eschue the multiplyenge of wordes in oure prayer, seynge the Heythen men do euen the same, whyche therby do thynke to be herde. As now a dayes also in many churches ther is plenty of ryngynge of bels, playenge on organes and other instrumentes of musyke, of syngynge, cryenge, and readinge: but scarcenesse of praysynge of God, the whyche is to worship God in sprete and truth.