This song hath .iii. verses, & it was song what time Christ was borne, to the consolation of Mary and Joseph, with diverse other elect. Moreover, like as Zechariah and Mary, and before them Moses, Debora, Anna the mother of Samuel, David & diverse other did utter their thankfulness toward ⟨image 94⟩God with songs, nor could find more pleasing thing to thank him for his benefits, than such open praises, wherein the glory of Gods name is recited: Even so doth here Simeon by the holy ghost burst out in a song, wherewith he declareth his thank full mind toward the goodness of God. He setteth forth Christ in this song, & decketh him with great praises goodly titles. He teacheth also by his own ensample whereof the true peace of conscience doth come, and whereby it cometh that we look readily and gladly for death, ye even overcome death. Now (sayeth he) LORD lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy promise. That is, I have nought in me, whereof I may boast at thy judgement, save only this, that thou art my LORD, & I thy servant: not such one that have done all thy will, but such one, as seeing I have not done thy will, & ought therefore worthily to have ben condemned, yet nevertheless am graciously saved of thee. It was verily a fervent prayer and desire that the righteous & dreading God sage Simeon praised God with as he saw the LORD in the temple, and toke him in his arms. The heart of the aged man rejoiced so sore at that time, that he could ⟨image 94⟩keep the praise of God no longer hid in his heart: ye if it had ben possible, the heart would have brusten for joy, saying: LORD, now lettest thy servant depart in peace according to thy promise. As though he would say: Let me now depart, I aim now glad to dye, death shall be now acceptable unto me for it is fulfilled, that was promised unto me. It might also be understand, that Simeons desire was not only to be delivered of the bodily death, but also from all pining and unquietness of conscience, the which can be appeased with no works, before we have seen the anointed of the LORD, that is: before that our conscience knoweth Christ aright. For than waxeth a man first merry, than dyeth a man gladly, and than driveth the holy ghost away all grief of conscience also, which maketh a man restless.
THis songe hath .iii. verses, & it was songe what tyme Christ was borne, to the consolaciō of Mary and Ioseph, wyth diuerse other electe. Moreouer, lyke as Zachary and Mary, and before them Moses, Debora, Anna the mother of Samuel, Dauid & diuerse other dyd vtter theyr thankefulnes towarde ⟨image 94⟩God wyth songes, nor coulde fynde more pleasynge thynge to thanke hym for hys benefites, than such open prayses, wherein the glory of Gods name is recyted: Euē so doth here Simeon by the holy goost bruste out in a songe, wherewyth he declareth hys thanke full mynde towarde the goodnes of God. He setteth forth Christe in thys songe, & decketh hym with great prayses goodly tytels. He teacheth also by hys owne ensample wherof the true peace of conscience doh cōme, and whereby it cōmeth that we loke readely and gladly for death, yee euen ouercōme death. Novv (sayeth he) LORD lettest thou thy seruaūt departe in peace, accordynge to thy promyse. That is, I haue nought in me, wherof I may boast at thy iudgemēt, saue only thys, that thou arte my LORD, & I thy seruaunte: not suche one that haue done all thy wyl, but such one, as seynge I haue not done thy wyll, & ought therfore worthely to haue ben condemned, yet neuerthelesse am graciously saued of the. It was veryly a feruent prayer and desyre that the ryghteous & dredynge God sage Simeon praysed God with as he sawe the LORDE in the temple, and toke hym in hys armes. The harte of ye aged man reioyced so sore at that tyme, yt he could ⟨image 94⟩kepe the prayse of God no longer hyd in hys harte: yee yf it had ben possible, ye harte wold haue brusten for ioye, sayeng: LORD, novv lettest thy seruaunt departe in peace accordynge to thy promyse. As though he wolde saye: Let me now departe, I ame now glad to dye, death shalbe now acceptable vnto me for it is fulfylled, yt was promysed vnto me. It myght also be vnderstāde, yt Simeons desyre was not only to be delyuered of ye bodyly death, but also frō all pynyng and vnquietnesse of conscience, the which can be apeaced with no workes, before we haue sene the anoynted of the LORDE, that is: before that our conscience knoweth Christ aryght. For thā waxeth a man fyrst mery, thā dyeth a man gladly, and than dryueth ye holy goost awaye all grefe of conscience also, whyche maketh a man restlesse.
