Simeon might with few words have uttered the cause of his joy, and said: Therefore lettest thou me depart in peace, because I have seen Christ. But that he might declare the majesty of Christ more clearly, he leaveth the name of Christ, and in stead thereof he setteth three titles, wherewith Christ is set forth most plainly, and his use is showed most manifestly. The first title that Christ is declared with, is, Saviour, saying: Mine eyen have seen thy Saviour, ⟨image 98⟩whom thou hast prepared before all people. This saying seemeth Simeon to have taken out of the .lii. Chapter of Isaiah where he sayeth: The LORD will make bare his holy arm, & show it forth in the sight of all the Gentiles, and all the ends of the earth shall see the saving health of our God. That Isaiah doth prophecy for to come, that sayeth Simeon to be now fulfilling. That is, that our LORD Christ which as the true Saviour is showed in the flesh, and set up therefore, that he might be showed unto all nations, both the Jews and Gentiles. If the since do rack our consciences, and cast them to the everlasting damnation, than is Christ our Saviour, the wholesome plaster, which laid to the sores of our since, doth so dry up, cleanse & heal the etter of them, that although he feel himself grieved with since, and yet do believe in Christ, yielding himself wholly to his cure, yet is he for all that reckoned clean from all sin, righteous and holy. And if Christ be wholesome to cleanse and heal since, it followeth also that he is wholesome in all adversities, troubles, griefs and pains of death and hell. For if any man be pained, or grieved, than is Christ wholesome ⟨image 99⟩unto him. For in forgiving since, he maketh the same grief to be no instrument or occasion of misery unto him. If any man be cast before death and hell in his conscience, Christ is a Saviour unto him, the which seeing he hath satisfied his father for our sins, he changeth the fear of death and hell in a way, not unto perdition, but unto life & ever lasting salvation. Let us therefore embrace this Saviour of God, the which Simeon did bear in his arms, and let us likewise bear him by faith, that we may be let go in peace likewise.
Simeon myght wyth few wordes haue vttered the cause of hys ioy, and sayd: Therfore lettest thou me depart in peace, because I haue sene Christe. But that he myght declare the maiesty of Christe more clearelye, he leaueth the name of Christ, and in steade therof he setteth thre tytles, wherewyth Christ is set forth moost playnly, and his vse is shewed moost manyfestly. The fyrst tytle that Christ is declared wyth, is, Saueoure, sayenge: Myne eyen haue sene thy Saueoure, ⟨image 98⟩vvhome thou hast prepared before all people. Thys sayenge semeth Simeon to haue taken out of the .lii. Chapter of Esaye where he sayeth: The LORDE wyll make bare hys holy arme, & shewe it forth in the syght of all the Gentyles, and all the endes of the earth shall se the sauynge health of oure God. That Esaye doth prophecy for to come, that sayeth Simeon to be now fulfyllynge. That is, that our LORDE Christ whych as the true Saueoure is shewed in ye fleshe, and set vp therfore, that he myghte be shewed vnto al nacions, both the Iewes and Gentyles. Yf the synnes do racke oure consciences, and cast them to the euerlastynge damnacyon, than is Christ oure Saueoure, the wholsome playster, whyche layed to the sores of our synnes, doth so drye vp, clense & heale the etter of them, that although he fele hymselfe greued wyth synnes, and yet do beleue in Christe, yeldynge hymselfe wholy to hys cure, yet is he for all that rekened clene from all synne, ryghteous and holy. And yf Christe be wholsome to clense and heale synnes, it followeth also that he is wholsome in al aduersites, troubles, grefes and paynes of death and hell. For yf ony man be payned, or greued, than is Christe wholsome ⟨image 99⟩vnto hym. For in forgeuynge synnes, he maketh the same grefe to be no instrumēt or accasion of misery vnto hym. Yf ony mā be cast before death and hell in hys cōscience, Christ is a Seueoure vnto hym, the whych seynge he hath satisfyed hys father for our sinnes, he chaungeth the feare of death and hell in a waye, not vnto perditiō, but vnto lyfe & euer lastynge saluacion. Let vs therfore embrace thys Saueoure of God, the whych Simeon dyd beare in hys armes, and let vs lykewyse beare hym by fayth, that we maye be letten go in peace lykewyse.
