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…

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⟩depart in peace, & not, thou lettest me dye. He calleth the passing a sweet & easy sleep.

Thys is the treasure ye reioyceth me & maketh death acceptable to me, namely: That I se hym yt was vnder the law, & knowe hym for such one as helpeth me, it can not be, but I must reioyce and not be afeared for death Behold now what is hyd in the harte of the olde grayheaded father, that he wyll nowe dye, and wyll departe in peace. To departe wyth ioye or dye in peace is a goodly worde in ye eares of hym that can so do. But where of hath he such a pleasaunt death? Euen of the chylde. Who hath euer sene suche lyke death? But all they that put theyr truste in ony other saue in thys chylde the Saueoure whan they shall dye, they tremble and quake and are very sorowfull at the harte, & chaūge theyr coloure, theyr wytte, reason, vnderstā dynge and all theyr strength faydeth euen awaye, death ouercōmeth them: Yee though all the kynges, princes & powers of ye world were by wyth theyr horses & armes to helpe them, and the feare of death came vpon thē, they shulde stande as styffe as a stake before death. But the good Simeon reioyceth yt he wyll departe in peace, as though ther were no death. He calleth not ye passynge a death, he disdayneth to honoure it so much. He sayeth: LORD novv lettest thou thy seruaūt ⟨image 97⟩