'Every one of us may sing the Magnificat': Bishop Bull on reverence of the Blessed Virgin

Continuing with extracts from a sermon by Bishop Bull (d.1710) entitled 'The Blessed Virgin's low and exalted condition', on the text Luke 1:48-49, we see how Bull defends the use of the Magnificat at Evening Prayer - a practice Hooker also had to defend against the same objections - by emphasising that the canticle rejoices in "our common salvation", the salvation we share with the Blessed Virgin. This is a particularly significant emphasis, rather beautifully expounding what it means to say or sing the Magnificat at Evening Prayer and powerfully reminding us that Our Lord's Mother does not stand apart from that "common salvation":

In a word, the Son of God, therefore, honoured the blessed Virgin so far, as in and from her to become man, that He might advance human nature, by assuming it into the unity of His divine Person; and that being born of her, He might procure, not only hers, but our common salvation. So that every one of us may sing the Magnificat, and bear a part in this divine anthem, and, mutatis mutandis, say, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of us vile and mortal men, His poor servants and vassals. For behold, from henceforth, and upon the account of the incarnation of the Son of God, the whole creation, yea, the very angels themselves, shall and do proclaim us blessed. For He that is mighty hath magnified us in the highest degree, by uniting Himself to our nature, and therefore holy is, and for ever blessed be, His name." And therefore the holy Virgin, presently after my text, celebrates the mercy shewn to her, as common to all the sons of men in all ages, that do not, by their disobedience and ingratitude, render themselves utterly unworthy of it. "And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation, or throughout all generations."

Wherefore, most lamentable is the ignorance and folly of our dissenters, who despise the use of this excellent song in the daily service of our Church, as unedifying, as impertinent, and not belonging to them, and proper only to the blessed Virgin, and therefore refuse to stand up and bear a part in the rehearsal of it. Certainly they are very ill taught and instructed, who understand not that all Christians may and ought most heartily to join in this divine hymn.

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