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…

For this cause doth she add and say: And holy is his name. That is: As I do not take the work to me, even so do not I ascribe the honour thereof unto me neither. For he only ought to have the praise & name, that fulfilleth the work. It is unseemly ye one shall do the work, and another shall draw the name and praise thereof unto himself. As for me, I aim the workhouse only, where in he worketh, and therefore is no praise nor honour due unto me, that I aim the mother of God, but God and his excellent work are to be praised and honoured in me. It is enough for me that I rejoice with him, and say: Happy aim I, that God hath separate me, in whom it hath pleased him to accomplish such his works.

For thys cause doth she adde and saye: And holy is hys name. That is: As I do not take the worke to me, euen so do not I ascribe the honour thereof vnto me nother. For he only ought to haue ye prayse & name, that fulfylleth ye worke. It is vnsemely ye one shall do the worke, and another shall drawe the name and prayse thereof vnto hymselfe. As for me, I ame the workehouse only, wher in he worketh, and therfore is no prayse nor honoure due vnto me, that I ame the mother of God, but God and hys excellent worke are to be praysed and honoured in me. It is ynough for me that I reioyce with hym, and saye: Happy ame I, that God hath separate me, in whome it hath plased him to accomplysh such hys workes.

Lo how purely doth she wend all to Godward, how wholly doth she draw no honour, no work, no glory to herself, and behaveth herself as before when no such thing had happened unto her, setting no more ⟨image 40⟩•••are, or making more search for honour, than she did before: neither doth she swell, advance, or cry out that she is become the mother of God: neither doth she finally require any worship therefore, but goeth her way, and doeth her busyness as before, milketh the kine, dyghteth the meat, washeth the dishes, sweepeth the house, and doeth all that a handmaiden or housewife becometh to do in such vile works, as though such plenteous gifts of grace did not pertain unto her Among women & her neighbours was she esteemed no greater, than she was afore, she required no more neither, and remained a poor citizen among the commune people. O what a simple & poor hart is that? O what wonderful virgin? what great things are hid under a lowly behaviour? How many have felt her, spoken to her, eaten and drunken with her, which perchance have counted her to be despised, of the commune sort, a poor and simple citizen, which would have be nabasshed and marvelled, if they had ben aware of such in estimable gifts in her: and that is his name to be holy. For holy is it called, that is sundered and appropriate to God, which no man may touch nor defile, but worship