A Confutation of the Song Called Salve Regina, Proving by Scriptures Laid to It, That It Is Rather Idolatry Than Lawful to Be Sung by True Christian Men

Grace, mercy and strength of spirit that comes of God the Father and our LORD Jesus Christ do I wish to the gentle reader.

Seeing well-beloved brothers and sisters that now by the bounteous goodness and mercy of God, the most clear and shining light of the Gospel is declared to us again in this present world, therefore may we right well thank and praise God that he has vouchsafed us to come to the right understanding and knowledge by the power of his living word: namely, that we know perfectly now how and after what fashion we ought to praise and to thank God, and how to utter and declare thankfully our faith, (which neither can, nor ought be sluggish) not only inwardly, but also outwardly, (as David the prophet did) thanking and praising the LORD Jesus with songs and melody: as Paul exhorts his Colossians (Colossians 3) to do. For if a man believe from the heart, he shall be made righteous: and if a man confesses with the mouth, he shall be saved (Romans 10).

By this is it likely that the songs which are now used in churches everywhere were first instituted by the fathers for this intent: namely, so to declare and boldly to exercise openly the inward faith. For it is manifest that we have no commandment concerning this in all the New Testament. And for this cause ought we Christians to have such songs and ballads now also, wherewith the name of God be advanced and magnified, and not dishonored nor blasphemed.

But alas this custom is not only come to such misuse, that Christ's honor is not uttered therein, but also that Lucifer the prince of this world has thereby confirmed and fortified his kingdom: so that there is nothing used in it now save only the bishop of Rome's fairs: and the thing wherein the service and honor of God was supposed to have consisted, has been occupied with nothing save buying and selling, chopping and changing, indeed plain usury. Even as Isaiah does aptly prophesy of them, speaking in the person of almighty God on this wise: It is you that have burned up my vineyard, the robbery of the poor is in your house, etc. Upon whom Christ also gives a fearful sentence full of dreadful curses, saying: Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, that devour widows' houses, and that under the color of praying long prayers: therefore shall you receive the greater damnation. As though he would say: with your great howling do you deceive the poor innocents, of whose sweat and blood you fill your bellies, so full that one would think you had eaten even the poor innocents' houses also. But seeing they study nothing so earnestly as to serve their god, the belly, therefore they do not care for the word of God, but do ruffle it upon a heap: indeed and sell Christ and his word, as it may be well perceived of them that take diligent heed to it. But what need more words hereof, seeing we see daily one bait after the other put on the hook to catch and to seduce the simple people the more, which now is partly delivered from the Babylonian captivity. For the pardons (whereby they were wont to scrape a good sum of pence) that once were refused begin now to press in again in another hue and visor, namely that they shall be had freely. Nevertheless the end will declare to what intent this is instituted.

I counsel therefore every Christian brother and sister, that desires to be a member of Christ, to abide by their head Jesus Christ looking for the true pardons of his merits, sucking the pardoning and forgiving of their sins out of his passion and wounds only. I will pass over to speak of this matter at this time, for it is not now my intent so to do, lest I go too far from my purpose: that is, that I would have every man to give diligent heed to the songs that are usually sung in our churches or temples, and especially of one, the which by the inspiration of the devil is so rife and so corrupted, that God is thereby deprived of his honor, (contrary to the first commandment) and it is given to a creature. This may be proved in the song of praise that is sung to the blessed virgin Mary the mother of Christ, wherein we imagine to do her high service and worship, which notwithstanding is pitifully dishonored and mocked therewith: for therein is great idolatry, so that no greater spite can be done to her, than to sing such songs of praise to her, wherein her son Jesus Christ, by whom she received all mercy, grace, virtue, goodness and holiness, according to her own confession (Luke 1), saying: My soul magnifies the LORD. And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked upon the low degree of his handmaiden. Behold, henceforth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is his name, etc.

In the which words she confesses God to be her Savior, who must save us all also, or else we shall be damned forever. We ought therefore to go to him asking mercy and grace of him, for he is our hope, advocate and salvation.

Will you therefore worship Mary aright, worship her in Jesus Christ her son, thanking and praising him for working so wonderful power (which he before had promised to the fathers) in that vessel. Now if your contemplation or inward devotion does chance upon the maiden, (who through her constant faith did bring forth our Savior the Son of God, without any spot of nature, only by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, remaining pure virgin and mother as the Scripture does plainly bear witness) then may you salute her with the same salutation, that the angel Gabriel saluted her: but you shall worship God only in the Trinity of persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doing, you shall do the highest worship to Mary that can be done, according to the judgment of Scripture.

And that we may be the more assured and certified of this, we will compare this song of Salve Regina with Scripture, and see how they accord. But if it does not agree with God's word, I require you for the honor of God to leave it, and cleave to the word of God: and so doing you shall be the brothers and sisters of Christ, according to his own witness (Luke 8). And whatever is not his, that is against him, and venom of the soul, for the which we ought earnestly to beware, lest after this transitory life we be robbed of the eternal glory, the which God omnipotent reigning forever grant us all. Amen.