Simeon feared God (saith he) Religion may well be called fear, for there is no Religion, 1where fear is wanting, for the fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom, and this privilege hath God given, to them that fear him, that they need to fear nothing else. Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel, until he had embraced in his arms, him whom he so long longed for to see, & feel▪ how many waiters be there in the world, yet few wait as Simeon did, but some wait for honours, some for riches, some for pleasures, some for ease, some for rewards, some for money, some for a dear year, and some for a golden day as they call it, but Simeon waited and expected with many a long look until he had seen and embraced Christ Jesus, ⟨p. 3⟩the light of the Gentiles, the glory of Israel, and the salvation of all that with a faithful and zealous affection and love doth wait for his coming, to the comfort of the afflicted and to the terrifying to the wicked, & ungodly, which have not already waited neither embraced him, as Simeon did. Faith in all afflictions doth lift up her head waiting in assured hope beyond all hope, & seeing the clouds scattered over her head, yet she is ever comfortable to her self, saying anon it will be calm, and although all the friends in the world do fail yet it never faileth nor fainteth, but ever keepeth promise in that which by the verity of the spirit of God it assureth until her joy be filled. All are not Israelites that are borne in Israel. Simeon was an Israelite 2indeed, for he waited for the messias from God with patience, and expectation: so the spirit of God dwelleth always with them which always say thy will be done. The seed 3is not cast all on a heap, but it is cast all abroad: therefore where be the fruits of the spirit that you have brought forth? for the spirit of God is not like a dead potion in the stomach, which worketh not, neither can we have this spirit in us and feel it not. For if thou hast it, it will lead thee to the Temple, and when thou art there, it will lead• ⟨image 6⟩thee to Christ, and when thou hast received and embraced him, it will possess thee with godly care to keep him and to entertain him, and to be obedient unto him. But can we care to serve God when he cometh, & cannot care to hear him when he speaketh unto us there? If Simeon had not waited should he have had this consolation?
S•meon feared God (saith he) Relig•ō may well be called feare, for there is no Religion, 1where feare is wanting, for the feare of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdome, and this priuiledge hath God giuen, to them that feare him, that they neede to feare nothing els. Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel, vntil he had imbraced in his armes, him whō he so long lōged for to see, & feele▪ how many waiters be there in the world, yet few waite as Simeon did, but some waite for honours, some for riches, some for pleasures, some for ease, some for rewardes, some for money, some for a deare yeare, and some for a golden day as they call it, but Simeon waited and expected with many a long looke vntil he had seen and imbraced Christ Iesus, ⟨p. 3⟩the light of the Gentiles, the glorie of Israell, and the saluation of all that with a faithfull and zelous affection and loue doth wait for his comming, to the comfort of the afflicted and to the terrifying to the wicked, & vngodly, which haue not already waited neither imbraced him, as Simeon did. Faith in all afflictiōs doth lift vp her head waiting in assured hope beyond all hope, & seeing the clouds scattered ouer her head, yet she is euer cōfortable to her selfe, saying anon it will be calme, and although all the friendes in the world do faile yet it neuer faileth nor fainteth, but euer keepeth promise in that which by the veritie of the spirit of God it assureth vntill her ioy be filled. All are not Israelites that are borne in Israell. Simeon was an Israelite 2indeede, for he waited for the messias frō God with patience, and expectation: so the spirite of God dwelleth alwayes with them which alwayes say thy will be done. The seede 3is not cast all on a heape, but it is cast all abroade: therfore where be the fruites of the spirit that you haue brought forth? for the spirit of God is not like a dead potiō in the stomach, which worketh not, neither can we haue this spirit in vs and feele it not. For if thou hast it, it will leade thee to the Temple, and when thou art there, it will lead• ⟨image 6⟩thee to Christ, and when thou hast receiued and embraced him, it will possesse thee with godly care to keepe him and to entertaine him, and to be obedient vnto him. But can we care to serue God when he commeth, & cannot care to heare him when he speaketh vnto vs there? If Simeon had not wayted should he haue had this consolation?
- 1Pro. 1.
- 2Rom. 9.
- 3Luke […].Luke 〈…〉.
