An exposition upon the song of the blessed virgin Mary, called Magnificat Where unto…An exposicion vpon the songe of the blessed virgine Mary, called Magnificat Where vnto…

But what is happened unto the good father, that thou art so suddenly changed, and where afore thou werest so sorrowful, that thou art now even filled with so great joy? For what cause doest thou now so leap for joy, as though thou werest revived, which afore seemedest to have ben more than dead? Surely his joy is not for nought. Let us therefore hear himself. For this sayeth he to be the cause of his mirth, and gladness, namely: For mine eyen have seen thy Saviour, whom thou hast prepared before all people.

But what is happened vnto the good father, that thou arte so sodenly chaunged, and where afore thou werest so sorowfull, that thou arte now euē filled with so great ioye? For what cause doest thou now so leape for ioye, as though thou werest reuyued, which afore semedest to haue ben more than dead? Surely hys ioye is not for nought. Let vs therfore heare hymselfe. For thys sayeth he to be the cause of hys myrth, and gladnesse, namely: For myne eyen haue sene thy Saueoure, vvhome thou hast prepared before all people.

This is the treasure ye rejoiceth me & maketh death acceptable to me, namely: That I see him that was under the law, & know him for such one as helpeth me, it can not be, but I must rejoice and not be afeared for death Behold now what is hid in the heart of the old grayheaded father, that he will now dye, and will depart in peace. To depart with joy or dye in peace is a goodly word in the ears of him that can so do. But where of hath he such a pleasant death? Even of the child. Who hath ever seen such like death? But all they that put their trust in any other save in this child the Saviour when they shall dye, they tremble and quake and are very sorrowful at the heart, & change their colour, their wit, reason, understā ding and all their strength fadeth even away, death overcometh them: Ye though all the kings, princes & powers of the world were by with their horses & arms to help them, and the fear of death came upon them, they should stand as stiff as a stake before death. But the good Simeon rejoiceth that he will depart in peace, as though there were no death. He calleth not the passing a death, he disdaineth to honour it so much. He sayeth: LORD now lettest thou thy servant ⟨image 97⟩