The first was, greate Faithe,
[ 1] giuing Credit to the Wordes of the Angell, and beleeuing that shee might bee a Mother, and a Virgin, imagining highly of the Omnipotencye of God.
The second was,
[ 2] profounde Humillitye in the midst of those Greatenesses that were offered her, calling herselfe the Handmaide of our Lord: and consequently judging herselfe vnworthy to bee his mother, placing herselfe, as much as lay in her, in the Lowest place, as is that of the Handmaides.
The third was, greate Obedience,
[ 3] and Resi∣gnation into the Handes of God, offering herselfe to fullfill what the Angell saide, and all what∣soeuer God should commaunde.
O most prudent Virgin, who hath instructed thee, to conioine with such excellencye things so farre distant? If thou beleeuest, that thou art to be the Mother of God, why callest thou thyselfe his Handmaide? And if thou holdest thyselfe for a Handmaide, why doest thou offer thyselfe to bee the mother of God? What hath a mother to doe with beeing a Handmaide? And how are they compatible, a Faithe of such basenesse, with a Faithe of so greate Highnesse? and so profounde an Humillitye with so exalted a magnanimitye? O Heigth of the Wisdome of God! O miracles of his Omnipotencye! Thine, o Lord, are these Meruailes, and thou art hee that hast knowledge, and abillity to conieine Mother, and Virgin: Handmaide, and Mother: Humillitye, and Magnanimitye: and Faithe of all this, with Humane Vnderstanding. O Heauenly Father,
thou that hidest thy Secrets from the Prowde, and reuealest them to the Humble; and therefore where Humillitye is, there dwelleth thy VVisdome: teache mee to choose with Humillitye the lowest place on Earthe, and to pretende with Magnanimitye the