Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart. Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel, longing to see the Saviour, was like the Hart panting for the water brooks, till he had beheld his best beloved: but as soon as he had taken him in his arms, whom his soul desired to see, he so thirsted for death, that he thenceforth thought of, sought after, besought God for nothing, but to leave this life, & hence to depart: for he forthwith singing, prayed: Now lettest thou thy servant depart. But do you (say some) commend him herein? did he well? May not any man desire death? may not the fastened ship in a strange land desire to be loosed to hasten to his longed for port at home? may not a man imprisoned amongst bitter enemies, desire to be set at liberty, to return to his own country, in freedom to live amongst his sweet friends? Are we not ⟨image 26⟩strangers here, and by unpeaceable most deadly enemies, our own flesh, the world, and the devil, held prisoners in the chains of sin, and manifold infirmities? and is not our home, heaven; and the Saints and Angels, our most deer friends? No marvel then that Simeon here desireth to be loosed, or let depart. And Paul professeth, 1he desired to be dissolved or unloosed, as ships in a strange land fastened, as strangers amongst cruel enemies imprisoned. They were unnatural if they did not: it were unreasonable to require they should not: for we not only may think it lawful, but must also acknowledge it, even a necessary duty to desire death. For is there till then in us any perfect, yea any pure obedience of God? Doth not sin as long as this life lasteth, dwell in our members? Is there any passage to the perfect life, but by the first death? The fish which is taken in the net out of the sea, struggleth to get in again: and Adam thrust out of Paradise, would fain have been within again: how much more should we be desirous to be settled in the true Paradise, in assurance never to be put from thence? Therefore also it is not only our duty to desire death, but also as soon as any clearly seeth Christ, presently he desireth to die. For though his state be never so pleasant, though his life be most delightful, though he excel in riches, and pleasures, and honours, and knowledge, and glory, and far exceed all that ever were:
Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart. Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel, longing to see the Sauiour, was like the Hart panting for the water brooks, til he had beheld his best beloued: but as soone as hee had takē him in his armes, whom his soule desired to see, hee so thirsted for death, that he thenceforth thought of, sought after, besought God for nothing, but to leaue this life, & hence to depart: for he forthwith singing, praied: Now lettest thou thy seruant depart. But doe you (say some) commend him herein? did he well? May not any man desire death? may not the fastned ship in a strange land desire to be loosed to hasten to his longed for port at home? may not a man imprisoned amongst bitter enemies, desire to be set at liberty, to returne to his owne country, in freedome to liue amongst his sweet friends? Are wee not ⟨image 26⟩strangers heere, and by vnpeaceable most deadly enemies, our owne flesh, the world, and the diuell, held prisoners in the chaines of sinne, and manifold infirmities? and is not our home, heauen; and the Saints and Angels, our most deere friends? No maruell then that Simeon here desireth to bee loosed, or let depart. And Paul professeth, 1hee desired to be dissolued or vnloosed, as ships in a strange land fastned, as strangers amongst cruell enemies imprisoned. They were vnnaturall if they did not: it were vnreasonable to require they should not: for wee not onely may thinke it lawfull, but must also acknowledge it, euen a necessary duty to desire death. For is there till then in vs any perfect, yea any pure obedience of God? Doth not sinne as long as this life lasteth, dwell in our members? Is there any passage to the perfect life, but by the first death? The fish which is taken in the net out of the sea, strugleth to get in againe: and Adam thrust out of Paradise, would faine haue beene within againe: how much more should we be desirous to bee setled in the true Paradise, in assurance neuer to bee put from thence? Therefore also it is not onely our dutie to desire death, but also as soone as any cleerly seeth Christ, presently hee desireth to die. For though his state bee neuer so pleasant, though his life bee most delightful, though hee excell in riches, and pleasures, and honours, and knowledge, and glory, and sarre exceede all that euer were:
- 1Phil. 2. 23.
