Here Simeon prayed & praised God, yet but a short prayer, for God delighteth not in much babbling, like the Pharisees or like the priests of Baal, but Simeon prayed with 1the heart like Moses and was heard. Though you sing all Davids Psalms over, and not have Davids spirit, it profiteth nothing, and though David was heard when he song them, yet you can not be heard. Therefore let us pray so, that our prayers may be heard, and let us hear so, that by hearing we may profit by it. Let us not hear still so unprofitably as we were wont to do, if we do it shall be required at our hands: for do you think that you shall never be called to account of that which I have preached unto you, but as soon as ye are gone out of this place, all is shut up and all is forgotten, God is exempted from your minds, our Saviour Christ saith, ⟨image 9⟩2the word that I speak unto you shall judge 3you at the last day. Mary is commended, for that she heard our Saviour very diligently, laying up his words in her heart, and Jacob was wiser then all his children, in that he 4remembered the dream of Joseph until he saw it fulfilled. Those that love the Lord with an unfeigned love do gladly hear his voice and become obedient. My sheep hear my voice, saith Christ, and they that love the 5Ark as David did, will dance about the Ark as David did, and that with joy and 6gladness. Isaac was a good man, his name signified laughter, whereby was showed what joy & laughter there should be about Christ Jesus, for he was the only figure, even Christ him self. The Virgin song when she knew 7that she should bear him, the Angels song joyfully when he was borne, and Simeon song 8when he was brought into the Temple, but as soon as he saw Christ, he desired of God that he might die & depart out of this earthly prison. So soon as a man knoweth God, ever henceforth he crieth with the Apostle, I desire to be dissolved, that he might be with Christ, for Christ is light, & as soon as they 9see him they see also them selves, his glory, and their shame & filthiness, which maketh them wish for death, that they might live ⟨p. 11⟩with him, and this made the martyrs desire death or any other torment, that their days of iniquity might be ended, and that sin might cease against God by them: for all sin is blood in their eyes, and all worldly pleasures vanities.
Here Simeon prayed & praysed God, yet but a short prayer, for God delighteth not in much babling, like the Pharisies or like the priests of Bal, but Simeon prayed with 1the heart like Moses and was heard. Though you sing all Dauids Psalmes ouer, and not haue Dauids spirit, it profiteth nothing, and though Dauid was heard when he song thē, yet you can not be heard. Therfore let vs pray so, that our prayers may be heard, and let vs heare so, that by hearing we may profit by it. Let vs not heare still so vnprofitably as we were wont to do, if we do it shall be required at our hands: for do you thinke that you shall neuer be called to account of that which I haue preached vnto you, but as soone as ye are gone out of this place, all is shut vp and all is forgotten, God is exēpted from your minds, our Sauiour Christ saith, ⟨image 9⟩2the word that I speake vnto you shall iudge 3you at the last day. Marie is commended, for that she heard our Sauiour very d•ligently, laying vp his words in her heart, and Iacob was wiser then all his children, in that he 4remembred the dreame of Ioseph vntill he saw it fulfilled. Those that loue the Lord with an vnfayned loue do gladly heare his voyce and become obedient. My sheepe heare my voyce, saith Christ, and they that loue the 5Arke as Dauid did, will daunce about the Arke as Dauid did, and that with ioy and 6gladnesse. Isaac was a good man, his name signified laughter, wherby was shewed what ioy & laughter there should be about Christ Iesus, for he was the only figure, euē Christ him selfe. The Virgin song when she knew 7that she should beare him, the Angels song ioyfully when he was borne, and Simeon song 8when he was brought into the Temple, but as soone as he saw Christ, he desired of God that he might die & depart out of this earthly prison. So soone as a man knoweth God, euer henceforth he crieth with the Apostle, I desire to be dissolued, that he might be with Christ, for Christ is light, & as soone as they
- 1Mat. 6. 1. Kings 18. Exod. 14.
- 2John 12. 48Iohn 12. 48
- 3John 12. 48 Luke. 10.Iohn 12. 48 Luke. 10.
- 4Gen. 37. 11.
- 5John 10. 27.Iohn 10. 27.
- 62. Sam. 6.
- 7Luke 1.
- 8Luke 2.
- 9Phil. 1. 23.