Two sermons preached by Master Henry SmithTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith

If Simeon had not longed, and so waited for the consolation, should he now have had this joy and exultation? he could not have felt it, for as our desire is, so is our joy. And surely therefore we receive not sound comfort, or feel small joy by the preaching of the Gospel, because we with longing wait not for it, we have no lively desire of it, we hunger and thirst not after it.

If Simeon had not longed, and so waited for the consolation, should hee now haue had this ioy and exultation? he could not haue felt it, for as our desire is, so is our ioy. And surely therefore we receiue not sound comfort, or feele small ioy by the preaching of the Gospell, because we with longing wait not for it, we haue no liuely desire of it, we hunger and thirst not after it.

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: