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…

Now it that is in the song called, Regina coeli letare. &c. (namely: Whom thou deservedest to bear. And in another song: Whom thou werest worthy to bear) is nothing to purpose. For the same words are also song of the holy cross, the which not withstanding was a tree, and could deserve nothing. And even so is this also to be understand. If it than of necessity must have ben the mother of God it was required again, that it should have ben a woman kin, a virgin, of the tribe or kindred of Judah, and to believe the message of the angel, that judged her apt to the same, as the scripture had witnessed of her. The preciousness or worthiness of the wood was none other, save that it was mete to be a cross, & was ordained of God to the same use: Even so had the holy virgin ⟨image 38⟩none other worthiness to be the mother of God, save that she was comely and ordained thereto: that so it might be a mere grace and no deserving or duty, that in no case it were prejudicial and minishing ether the favour or the glory of God. It is more seemly to abate to much from her, than from the glory of God. Ye there can not be abated to much from her, seeing that she (as all other creatures) is created of nought. But unto the grace of God is to much derogated, the which is dangerous, neither is the mother well apayed therewith. It is needful also, that we pass not the marks that Gods glory doth admit, in usurping of calling her: as when we greet her a queen of heaven, yet is she not an idol thereby, that ether she may give or help, as they do, which call upon her, desire her to be gracious, and finally fly unto her rather than unto the rich treasures of God. She giveth nothing, only God giveth all as it followeth: He that is mighty, wherewith she robbeth all creatures of their strength & power. O what great hardiness is this, and what spoils of so tender and young maiden? which can make destitute all mighty and strong men of their strength, all puissant men of their power, ⟨image 38⟩all wise men of their wit, and all boasting and glorious men can she bring to shame, attributing all strength, noble acts, wisdom and glory unto God only. For the saying: He that is mighty, is so much to say, as there is no man that can do ought, save only God, as witnesseth S. Paul saying in the .i. chapter to the Ephesians:

Now it that is in the songe called, Regina coeli letare. &c. (namely: Vvhome thou deseruedest to beare. And in another songe: Vvhome thou vverest vvorthy to beare) is nothynge to purpose. For ye same wordes are also songe of the holy crosse, the whiche not wythstandynge was a tre, and coulde deserue nothynge. And euen so is thys also to be vnderstande. Yf it than of necessite must haue ben the mother of God it was requyred agayne, that it shulde haue ben a woman kynne, a virgine, of the tribe or kynred of Iuda, and to beleue the message of the angell, that iudged her apte to thesame, as the scripture had wytnessed of her. The preciousnesse or worthynesse of the woode was none other, saue that it was mete to be a crosse, & was ordyned of God to thesame vse: Euē so had the holy virgine