The second title that Simeon decketh Christ with, is, the light. For he sayeth: A light for the lightening of the Heathen, he shall not only be a Saviour, but also a light to lighten the Heathen, that is: He is a light that shall not only shine among the Jews, but also, among the Gentiles, and lighten them, that they also may come to the eternal bless out of the darkness of death and hell. This part of the song seemeth to be taken out of the .xlii. Chapter of Isaiah, where he prophecieth of Christ on this wise I will give thee for a covenant of the people, and to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest open the eyes of the blind, ⟨image 99⟩and let out the prisoners, and them that sit in darkness out of the dungeon house. And Christ sayeth thus of himself, in the viii. chapter of John: I aim the light of the world, He that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. What are than those darknesses that Christ the light doth drive out? The darkness are first all mans power, wisdom, and righteousness, the which, though they glister and shine before men, yet to obtain the grace of God thereby, to appease gods wrath to make satisfaction for our since, and to get the true bless with them, they are but even darkness. Secondly are the darkness all doctrines of philosophers, all laws, ether of the Heathen, or of Moses. For those though they be profitable, and be necessary to redress manners by them, and to repress the wicked, yet to put away sin with them and to get the true righteousness before God, they are even darkness. Only Christ is the light, because that whoso believeth his gospel, hath the cleansing and remission of since through him, the which is our righteousness, consisting in the judgement of God. Finally are our since, death and hell darkness, but Christ is the true light, […] ⟨image 100⟩For if God hath not spared the natural branches, let us beware, lest he spare not us also. God refused the Jews for their wickedness, how much more shall he refuse us Gentiles, if we be like unto them in wickedness? He refused the Jews, not because they crucified Christ, but because they believed not in him whom they crucified, neither repented at the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ:
The seconde tytle that Simeō decketh Christ wyth, is, the lyght. For he sayeth: A lyght for the lyghtenynge of the Heythē, he shall not onely be a Saueoure, but also a lyghte to lyghten the Heythen, that is: He is a lyght that shall not only shyne amonge the Iewes, but also, amonge the Gentyles, and lyghten them, that they also maye come to the eternall blesse oute of the darkenesse of death and hel. Thys part of ye songe semeth to be taken out of the .xlii. Chapter of Esay, where he prophecieth of Christ on thys wyse I wyll geue the for a conuenaunt of the people, and to be the lyght of the Gentyles, that thou mayest open the eyes of the blynde, ⟨image 99⟩and let out the presoners, and them that syt in darkenesse out of the doungeon house. And Christe sayeth thus of hymselfe, in the viii. chapter of Ihon: I ame the lyght of the worlde, He that followeth me, shal not walke in darknesse, but shall haue the lyght of lyfe. What are than those darknesses that Christ the lyght doth dryue out? The darkenesse are fyrst all mans power, wysdom, and ryghteousnesse, the whiche, though they glyster and shyne before men, yet to optayne the grace of God thereby, to apeace gods wrath to make satisfaccion for oure synnes, and to get the true blesse wyth them, they are but euen darknesse. Secondly are the darknesse all doctrines of philosophers, all lawes, ether of the Heythen, or of Moses. For those though they be profitable, and be necessarye to redresse maners by them, and to represse the wycked, yet to put awaye synne with thē and to get the true ryghteousnesse before God, they are euen darknesse. Only Christ is the lyghte, because that whoso beleueth hys gospell, hath the clensynge and remissiō of synnes thorowe hym, the whiche is oure ryghteousnesse, consistynge in the iudgemēt of God. Finally are oure synnes, death and hell darknesse, but Christe is the true lyght, 〈…〉 ⟨image 100⟩For yf God hath not spared the naturall braūches, let vs beware, lest he spare not vs also. God refused the Iewes for theyr wyckednesse, howe muche more shall he refuse vs Gentiles, yf we be lyke vnto thē in wyckednesse? He refused the Iewes, not because they crucifyed Christe, but because they beleued not in hym whō they crucifyed, nother repented at the preachynge of the gospell of Iesu Christe:
