Six Sermons, Sermon 1
THE SVVEETE SONG OF OLD FATHER SIMEON, IN TWO SERMONS.
Luc. 2. verſe 29.
Lord novv letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace according to thy vvord, for mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation, vvhichwhich thou haſt prepared before the face of all people, a light to be reuealed to the Gentiles, and the glorie of thy people Iſraell.
THis is the ſweet ſong of old father Simeon, wherein is ſet forth the ioyfull & peaceable death of the righteous after that they hauehave imbraced Chriſt Ieſus with heart and minde vnfainedly as he did. See…ng their death is to be the beginning of a better and more ioyfull and pleaſant life thē the other.
But before we proceede further in it, let vsus heare a litle of that which went before. The Euangeliſt ſaith and behold. ver. 25.
There vvas a man in Ieruſalem, vvhoſe name vvas Simeon: this man vvas iuſt and feared God & vvaited for the cōſolation of Iſraell, and the holy Ghoſt vvas vponupon him. And a reuelatiō, &c.
S…meon feared God (ſaith he) Relig…ō may well be called feare, for there is no Religion, Pro. 1.where 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, the light of the Gentiles, the glorie of Iſraell, and the ſaluation of all that with a faithfull and zelous affection and louelove doth wait for his comming, to the comfort of the afflicted and to the terrifying to the wicked, & vngodly, which hauehave 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 Rom. 9.indeede, 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 Luke ….is not caſt all on a heape, but it is caſt all abroade: therfore where be the fruites of the ſpirit that you hauehave brought forth? for the ſpirit of God is not like a dead potiō in the ſtomach, which worketh not, neither can we hauehave this ſpirit in vsus and feele it not. For if thou haſt it, it will leade thee to the Temple, and when thou art there, it will lead… 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 vntounto him. But can we care to ſerue God when he commeth, & cannot care to heare him when he ſpeaketh vntounto vsus there? If Simeon had not wayted ſhould he hauehave had this conſolation? and cā we receiue comfort by the cōming of Chriſt when we wayt not nor wiſh not for it? If we wayt as he did, the ſpirit will aſſure vsus, that we ſhall ſee God before we die: and they that long in faith to ſee the ioyes of heauen, the ſpirit aſſureth and promiſeth faithfully vntounto them that they ſhall ſee it. Now Simeon came into the Temple at this time by the prouidence of God: the worldlings wil call it chaunce, but the Euangeliſt would not Pro. 16. Mat. 10.chop that in, becauſe it is manifeſt that all things come to paſſe by the prouidence of God without which there is nothing done. By this prouidence Rebecca came foorth to Gen. 24.wayt on her fathers cattell when Abrahams ſernant prayed & looked for her comming, that he might take her for Iſaac to marrie withall. By this prouidence Saule was annointed …. Sam. 9.king by Samuel, when he thought he had no ſuch thought in his heart, but wēt about ſeeking for his fathers aſſes that were loſt.
Happie are they & bleſſed which ſee the Mat. 13.things which we ſee, and the eares that heare the things that we heare ſaith Chriſt: but curſed are we, that hearing & ſeeing do not repent, for we cannot be bleſſed by hearing and ſeeing onelyonly, vnleſſe we heare and ſee with profit as we ought. But we will obiect that we are Iſraelites, and are circumciſed, & hauehave receiued the ſacramēt of Chriſts blood that we might be his people & he our God, but this wil not excuſe vsus nor make vsus ſeem any thing the better in the ſight of God, but rather worſe if we hauehave not caſt away the workes of darkeneſſe and put on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: for it is ſayd, that Chriſt came Epheſ. 6. Rom. 13. Iohn 1.amongeſt his owne, and his owne receiued him not but deſpiſed him, therfore his owne are accurſed, ſo many of them as re…ect their owne ſaluation, which being freely offered vntounto them, would not ſtretch foorth their hands to receiue it.
And he came by the motion of the ſpirit into the Temple. &c.Luke 8.
If we would thinke that his ſpirit doth leade vsus into the Temple, we would marke verie diligently the motions thereof, when we are there whether it ſpeaketh vntounto vsus in our owne ſoules, or by the mouth of the miniſter of God, who is the miniſter not of the 1. Cor. 3. Lu…. 4.letter, but of the ſpirit & grace of God. The deuill led Chriſt vntounto the top of an high mountaine that he might ſhew him the glorie of the world, which deceiueth vnſtable minds: ſo would he do you, if you would be led by ſuch a guide, but I would not hauehave you to marke the vaine motions of ſuch a ſpirit which leads to nothing but to vanitie and pride: for after he hath led you vp to the top, and allured you by carnall pleaſures as much as he can, if you then fall downe to worſhip Mammon and embrace the world, the ſame ſpirit will afterward leade you, nay rather caſt you downe from the top of all vntounto hell. Therefore I beſeech you, & heartily intreate you, that you would be the ſeruants of God, and the ſeruants of the ſpirit of God, to obey it, and do nothing contrarie to his will that you can refraine, that you would do all thoſe good things which you would were done by you, and that you would go thither whither you would come, for all would come to heauen, but all will not go to heauen. If you will all heare, I will teach you all, yea I wil vndertake this: heare, and marke my words, & you ſhalbe conuerted by the power of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For I pray vntounto the Lord that I may neuer preach to the condemnation of any among you all, which wiſheth that euerie of you were more zelous and more godly then my ſelfe. But to whom ſhall I compare you? euen to the vacabond Iewes, of whom Luke Act. 19. 74.mentioneth in the Actes, that they tooke vponupon them to abiure euill ſpirits by the name of Ieſus whom Paul preached, to whom the euil ſpirits anſwered ſaying, Ieſus we know, and Paul we know, but who are ye? & thoſe which had the euill ſpirits ran vponupon them and ouercame them, ſo that they fled out of that houſe naked and wounded, and thus the deuill preuailed againſt them at that time, becauſe they ſought to worke with anothers inſtrument, & preuaile with anothers weapon. If they would hauehave ſaid in the name of Ieſus whō we preach, they might hauehave preuailed, but they thought it ſufficient that Paul preached him though they neuer profeſſed him. And ſo we leane vponupon anothers ſtaffe, and thinke to be ſaued becauſe God ſaueth others. We ſhall be dealt withall as were thoſe vacabond Iewes: wherfore he wil anſwer ſuch I know, and ſuch I know, but who are ye? Therefore it behoueth vsus euerie one to pray vntounto the Lord, that he would furniſh vsus with weapons to encounter againſt all the euill motions of the ſpirit of Sathan, that we may ouercome and not be ouercome and put to flight like theſe vacabond Iewes, but that we may hauehave oyle alwayes in our lamps burning, and alwayes armed with watchfulneſſe againſt our enemies, leſt Sathan ſteale vponupon vsus at vnwares, and ſpoile vsus, and ſtrip vsus, and giuegive vsus a fall.
Lord now lett…ſt▪ thou thy ſeruant depart …n peace, &c.
If Samuell had heard the firſt time that 1. Sam. 3.God called him, thē God needed not to call him the ſecond or the third, if Peter had Luke 22.marked the crowing of the cocke at the firſt time as he did at the third, the cocke needed not to crow thriſe.
Now therefore, when you heare the ſame ſound againe which you hauehave heard before, remember now that the cocke croweth the ſecond time: for you know what diſcommoditie doth come by negligence, & what commoditie by attention: for if you attend and follow, iuſtice ſhall be ſwallowed vp of merciemercy. Here is the example, but where be they that follow it? If nine leapers be cleanſed, yet but one returneth to giuegive thankes, Luke. 17.then one is all. Vnthankfulneſſe is the firſt gueſt that ſitteth at the table, for ſome will not ſticke to ſay, that they neuer ſaid grace ſince they were children, but if they had ſaid we neuer had grace ſince they were childrē, I would rather beleeue them. Do they not ſay, GiueGive vsus this day our dayly bread? If you do, for ſhame ſay ſo no more, beg no more at Gods hands, vntil you be more thankful for that you hauehave receiued. For behold, the heauens Le…it. 26.frown vponupon you for your ſinnes, & the earth denieth her fruite, and is become barren becauſe of your vnthankfulneſſe.
Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart, &c.
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 Mat. 6. 1. Kings 18. Exod. 14.the heart like Moſes and was heard. Though you ſing all Dauids Pſalmes ouer, and not hauehave Dauids ſpirit, it profiteth nothing, and though Dauid was heard when he ſong thē, yet you can not be heard. Therfore let vsus pray ſo, that our prayers may be heard, and let vsus heare ſo, that by hearing we may profit by it. Let vsus 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 hauehave preached vntounto 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, Iohn 12. 48the word that I ſpeake vntounto you ſhall iudge Iohn 12. 48 Luke. 10.you 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 Gen. 37. 11.remembred the dreame of Ioſeph vntill he ſaw it fulfilled. Thoſe that louelove the Lord with an vnfayned louelove do gladly heare his voyce and become obedient. My ſheepe heare my voyce, ſaith Chriſt, and they that louelove the Iohn 10. 27.Arke as Dauid did, will daunce about the Arke as Dauid did, and that with ioy and 2. Sam. 6.gladneſſe. 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 Luke 1.that ſhe ſhould beare him, the Angels ſong ioyfully when he was borne, and Simeon ſong Luke 2.when 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 Phil. 1. 23.ſee him they ſee alſo them ſelues, his glorie, and their ſhame & filthineſſe, which maketh them wiſh for death, that they might liue with him, and this made the martyrs deſire death or any other torment, that their dayes of iniquitie might be ended, and that ſinne might ceaſe againſt God by them: for all ſin is blood in their eyes, and all worldly pleaſures vanities.
Simeon deſired death, for the feruent louelove of God made life irkſome vntounto him, which naturally is the moſt pleaſant thing of all vntounto mā, & death pleaſant vntounto him, which all men hate naturally, and would giuegive all the riches in the world if they had it, that they might not die, ſuch louelove they beare to life. So I conclude, that no man is willing to die till his conſcience be quiet in Chriſt, for then the louelove of the world falleth away, like the mantell of Elias when he was rapt into 2▪ Kings 2.heauen.
Simeon had ſeene many things in his dayes, but when he ſaw Chriſt, he was vnwilling to liue any longer to ſee more, but like the hart which panteth with deſiring after the Pſal. 42.water brookes: ſo he longed ſo long, till he had ſeene with his eyes the Sauiour of the world, and then he ſo thirſted for death, that he ſought nothing elſe. And thus they that hunger after righteouſneſſe are ſatisfied and Mat. 5.filled.
It is enough for me (ſaith Iacob) that my Gen. 46.ſonne Ioſeph liueth: ſo let vsus be ſatisfied with Gen. 46.this, that our ſauiour Chriſt liueth, & where he is thither ſhal we come. I would go ſaith one, through heate and cold, through ehalth and ſickneſſe, and through all kinde of miſeries, that I might hunger after God and after his righteouſneſſe. They that beare the croſſe of Chriſt hauehave al the marks of Chriſts Diſciples. None are ſo wel fed as they which went with Chriſt into the wilderneſſe, and Iohn. 6.where there was no food, there they all were ſatisfied and filled with wholſome food.
Simeon knew Chriſt as ſoone as he ſawe him, and embraced him as ſoone as he knew him▪ and enioyed him as ſoone as he embraced him.
Some know the word of God as ſoone as they heare it, others heare it as though they heard it not, like deafe adders which ſtop their eares at the voyce of the charmer. So Pharao would not heare the voyce of Moſes, nor Baals prieſts would not heare the voyce Exod. 5. &c 1. Kings 18.of Elias.
Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace, &c.
Chriſt brings peace with him, not the peace of the world, but that peace which paſſeth all vnderſtanding, my peace I leaue with you: my peace remaine with you, ſaith he. Our peace is laid vp in Chriſt, and all the peace we hauehave by him, els it is no true peace. Simeon had peace enough, that he departed Pſal. 37. 37in peace: ſo marke the ende of the iuſt and you ſhall then depart in peace, like the lambe vponupon the croſſe. Faine would Balaam die the death of the righteous, but Balaam Num. 23.muſt then liue the life of the righteous, therfore all men looke to this. Happie are they that depart in peace, when death ſaith feare, and the ſerpent ſaith deſpaire: then ſaith the ſpirit to the fleſh, crouch, & bids the ſerpent flie while death openeth the priſon doores.
If the Papiſts beleeued that they depart in peace, they wold neuer ſay, that thoſe which depart go to Purgatorie: & ſo by their own ſaying, the worſt part is behind.
Some ſay, this Purgatorie is in the earth neare to hell, and other ſay it is in the aire neare to heauen. Some ſay, they are puniſhed there by fire, and ſome ſay by water, & ſome ſay by fire and water, and ſome ſay, that if it be in the earth, it is too farre then from heauen to be ſaued. Others ſay, that if it be in the aire, it is too farre from hell to be damned. Some ſay, the good Angelles torment, and other ſay, that the euill ſpirits do it. But we muſt vnderſtand, that it is a painted ſepulcher, made rather for the liuing then for the dead. For the Locuſt of Rome ….doth liue altogether by ſuch Trentals and by ſuch traditions, and this is the profitableſt dreame that euer any of thē dreamed, but it is manifeſt by the word of God, that where the tree falleth, there it lyeth, & ſhall Eccleſ. 11.lye for euer. Diues and Lazarus are dead, & Luke 16.where they are, thither ſhall we all go. Sathā hath many ſleightes to deceiue vsus, of which this is one of the greateſt, to bring vsus from the word of God to dreames, and traditions, and things inuented by the braines of mortal men which hauehave not the ſpirit of God in them.
Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace, &c.
In my laſt lecture I vnfolded two queſtions, the firſt, whether it be lawfull for a Chriſtian man to wiſh to die. The ſecond, whether we may pray for the dead, and ſay, Lord hauehave merciemercy vponupon them. But all the ſeed is not fallen into good ground. & therfore ſome thinke it but a ſmall matter to ſay ſo, or as it were a venial ſinne, if it be a ſinne. But let vsus take heed how we make trifles of ſinnes, for there is no dalying with God, who is iealous as a conſuming fire, when his people make ſuch ſmall accoūt of his words. Heb. 12.Other demaund whether it be not better to ſay God be with them, then the deuill be with them, both which are naught and to be eſchued. And herein they aske this queſtion, like a thiefe hauing robbed a man by the high way, and being taken with it, and demāded why he did ſuch a villany, he ſaith, is it not better to rob him then to kill him? as though he muſt needes do the one of thē: then what a ſhameleſſe anſwer is this, for it is manifeſt, that of two euils none is to be choſen.
Some wil ſay, it is a teſtimonie of our good Three bucklers wherewith ſome do vſe to maintaine prayer for the dead.will. To ſuch we muſt replie ſaying, ſo it is a teſtimonie of your ignorance: and then after a litle conference they will graunt, that indeed it doth not profit thē. Then we muſt replie and ſay, God hath made all things to profit vsus, & hath commanded that nothing be vſed vnprofitably, no not ſo much as a vaine word ſpeaking, ſaying, that for euerie idle word we muſt giuegive account at the day of iudgement. Then they replie againe ſaying, Mat. 12.if it do them no good it doth them no harme. But we muſt reply and ſay, it were good to beware leaſt it do thy ſelfe harme. Another ſort wil replie and ſay, I pray God I neuer do worſe. But to ſuch we muſt anſwer, I pray God you may do better: & you ſhould firſt know whether you do not harm before you do it. For in deed it muſt proceed of harme being ſpoken, in doubting without faith, for if you beleeued that they were layde vp in peace whome you praye for, what need you pray for them at all? But it ſhewes an vnbeleeuing heart, and we know that whatſoeuer is not of faith is ſinne, and the Lord will ſay of them, who hath required thoſe things at your hand? you hauehave wrought vanities. Now therefore you will not leaue it, becauſe you vſed it: then will you ſay alſo, we will not leaue our lying nor our ſwearing, nor our curſing, becauſe we hauehave vſed it. It will grieue me if I heare you vſe theſe ſpeeches hereafter, hauing no reaſon nor proofe of Scripture to maintaine it by, or to be your warrant in it. Therefore I charge you in the name of God, that you vſe them not, but rather when you heare this, or ani… other ſinne condemned, to lay hands vponupon it, & ſee that you put it to death without delay, according to the law of God.
Simeon wiſhed to die, and had good cauſe ſo to wiſh, becauſe God promiſed, that he ſhould be deliuered from this miſerable life when he had ſcene his glorie, and the light of Gentils. The wicked wiſh to die, that thereby they might hauehave deliuerance from their troubles & worldly vexations, as they ſuppoſe, which in deed is rather an increaſing and aggrauating thereof. But the faithfull when they wiſh to die, they do it in great zeale and louelove of God, vſing it as the beſt remedie againſt ſinne, that therby they might ceaſſe frō offending their good God, ſhewing thereby, that they are as it were wea…ie of the ſeruice and bondage of Sathan and ſinne. Therfore they deſire death, that therin they may glorifie God, as in their liues they hauehave done, and ſought to do. For man was not borne at his owne will, neither ſhall he die at his owne will, therfore they as it were begge leaue of God for it.
Sampſon was a figure of Chriſt, in that he Iudg. 16.glorified God at his death more then all his life, in killing ſo manie of Gods enemies. I ſhewed you that they are guiltie that killed themſelues with ſurfets or drunkenneſſe or intemperat vſing of them ſelues, yea although they tēder their liues neuer ſo deere, yet they are in the guilt, becauſe they vſe the meanes that dot… ſhorten it.
According to thy word.
When Sathan hath once poſſeſſed … thē profits and pleaſures bring vsus to our poſſeſſion, and though they do ſo profeſſe religiō and godlineſſe, yet they can neuer hauehave anie comfort by it all their life. For their owne hearts accuſe them for hypocrites, becauſe they wayte not for the conſolation of God according to his word, & whatſoeuer is not done according to that word can not be acceptable: and this word they care not for, neither ſet it in any eſtimation. When Adā ſeeth his nakedneſſe, the ſuttle ſerpent can deceiue no longer, but before he ſaw his nakedneſſe, he is euer deceiued, and led away with the multitude into innumerable errors. Some ſay they ſhall be ſaued by mercy, and ſome thinke by good workes, and ſome by the Popes pardon, others ſay by Purgatorie, and theſe will hauehave a Maſſe ſong for them as long as the world ſtandeth, and all for one ſillie ſoule thinking to be ſaued by it, & yet ſee their blindneſſe, for they ſeeme to thinke, that their torment ſhall not ceaſſe as long as the world ſtādeth, elſe why ſhould they find and hire men to ſay Maſſe for thē ſo long? But theſe are the fat morſels of Bels prieſts, & for this cauſe is the Popiſh Creed made verie fauourable to the Clergie. Well, ſay that ignorance is the mother of their deuotion, for when the couetouſneſſe of the prieſts and the ignorance of the people ioyned together, then they inuented Purgatorie, Maſſes, prayers for the dead, and then all their trinkets. For if they had not held our fathers in ignorance, they would neuer hauehave bin Papiſts. But when they caſt a miſt before the eyes of men, then the blind fel into the diteh which doth containe ſo manie groſſe corruptions.
I ſhewed vponupon this woord ſeruant, that the godly would not leaue this priuiledge for all the riches in the world, for that they are the ſeruaunts of God, fellowes to Angels and princes: for we ſerue him whom Salomon ſerued who is bleſſed for euer▪ Euerie ſeruingman beares the cogniſance of his maiſter vponupon his ſleeue. But what will the Lord ſay when he commeth and findeth vsus marked with the badge of Sathan? ſurely he will ſay, giuegive vntounto Sathan that which is Sathans, for all the houſes of Iſraell are ſprinkled with the blood of the Lambe, and all Exod. 12. Ezech. 9. Reuel. 10.the mourners are marked, and al the choſen are ſealed with the ſeale of the liuing God.
Well, was it ſayd the poore receiue the Goſpell? The young men are more forward in the truth, and more zelous then the aged. Once the younger brother ſtole away the bleſſing frō the elder, therefore the elder hated him euen for his zeale, & whē was Iacob hated more then he is now? when was he ſo hated and perſecuted as he is now by Eſau? Yet in the old time men were more zealous in their age then euer we heare of them to be in their youth, yea they were zealous in the Lords buſineſſe. Age hindered not Noah Gen. 6.from building of the Arke when God commaunded him, age hindered not Sim…on frō reioycing and mirth when he beheld & embraced the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Then old Simeon embraced Chriſt, and he enioyed him with heartie ioy in zeale, but now where is old Simeon? there are but few of them to be ſeene comming to the Temple to receiue Chriſt, but now yong men receiue, yong Dan. 1. 1. Sam. 2. 3. 1. Tim. 4. Philemō 10Simeons, yong Daniels, yong Samuels, yong Timothies, and yong Oneſimus, and the yong infants begin to ſpeake againe. The yong hauehave him, they are zealous, and I hope they wil keepe him though old men neglect him. Sathan thou haſt too much for nothing alreadie.
Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation.
He which beginneth to roote out ſome error or ſuperſtition, at the firſt ſhall hauehave much a do, for cuſtome and natural corruption are the firſt cauſers of hereſie, and ſhall crie againſt her in the maintenance thereof, and withſtanders of reformation ſhall ſay, great is Diana of Epheſus, and ſo for a long time they ſeeme to waſh the Ethiopian or the blacke More, the more they waſh him the more they gall him, and yet he is an Ethiopian ſtill, but in the end the Arke ſtandeth and Dagon falleth downe, & truth triumpheth 1. Sam. 5.ouer falſhood, hauing got the victorie, & light chaſeth away darkneſſe with the brightneſſe thereof. To him that asketh what ſcripture hauehave you againſt it? it is ſufficient to anſwer, what ſcripture hauehave you for it? Is not this enough to ouerthrow it, that for euerie idle word you muſt giuegive account, as our ſauiour Chriſt ſaith. And againe ſaith God, who hath required theſe things at your hands? They aske, what, ſhall we not ſay God be with them? Why ſhould you? I pray Eſa. 1. 2. Sam. 12.you what ſaid Dauid of his child? he ſaid no ſuch thing, but thus, he is gone, and will not returne, but I ſhal follow him. If he be a good man, we ſay the Lord be thanked for his deliuerance, but if he be not, then we ſay, God graunt we may do better then he hath done, that by his fall we may learne to riſe from ſinne. Therefore as Iacob ſaid to his wiues Gen. 35.and children, giuegive me your idols that I may burie them: ſo ſay I vntounto you, giuegive me your ſuperſtitions that I may burie thē, that they may remaine with you or in you no longer, to the diſhonor of God, offending of your weake brethren, or to my griefe, for I am iealous ouer you, becauſe ſeeing you are mine and I am yours, ô that my voyce were as the whirlwind, to beate downe, root out, and blow away all your ſuperſtitions, that they may no lōger raigne among you. Now to my text.
For mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation.
Becauſe the holy Ghoſt by inſpiration had declared vntounto him, that he ſhould not die til he had ſeene Ieſus Chriſt, therfore the ſame ſpirit led him to the temple, & ſhewed him that which it promiſed, & hauing ſeene the ſame he deſireth and wiſheth to die, and be releaſed from this earthly priſon, that he might liue with God. As idle & euil wiſhes are vaine, becauſe they are not according to faith, nor grounded vponupon the word of God: ſo though we aske as cunningly as Iacob, and as earneſtly as the ſonnes of Zebede, yet if we aske not in faith according to knowledge, Mar. 10.we can not obtaine, for we muſt aske ſo that we may receiue, that we may not returne emptie.
Then we ſee that the principal cauſe that moued Simeon to wiſh for death, was, becauſe he had ſeene his ſauiour, and the true Meſſias which was promiſed by the father, figured by the law, ſpoken of by the Prophets, and foretold by the fathers, and pointed at by Iohn Baptiſt, he embraced. What deſire ſhould he hauehave of life, when life, and ioy, and peace, and the verie brightneſſe of the image of God appeared vntounto him, for all his life is but a pilgrimage of ſorow and of griefe, yea & a continuall combat with ſin, therfore what ſhould he feare death. But he might hauehave ſayd, long hauehave I wayted in patience, but what is all the time that is paſt, and the life that is to come to an ende? My kingdome is not of this world, and yet I Iohn 18.hauehave a kingdome, whereof I am certified now I ſee thy ſaluation thou haſt promiſed, and now is thy promiſe fulfilled, therefore bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after Mat. 5.righteouſneſſe, for none ſhall hauehave this food but they that hūger for it. The murmuring Iſrraelites died in the wilderneſſe, & might Num. 11. & 14. and 16. and 21. &c.not ſo much as ſee the land of Canaan, becauſe they murmured againſt their God. As Moſes died on the mount where he ſaw the land of Canaan: ſo the godly die in the ſight Deut. 34.of God & in the contemplation of his glorie, like Steuen, who at the verie inſtant of Act. 7.his death ſaw the heauens open, and Chriſt Ieſus ſitting at the right hand of his father, and like Simeon here, which died not till he ſaw the Lord of life, and till he embraced him thankfully in his armes. Beloued you are not ignorant that the great day of the Lord is neare at hand, and therfore they that hauehave not yet ſeene Chriſt, they that hauehave not yet embraced him, but ſtill ſleepe without oyle in their lamps, ſhall ſuddenly be ouertaken without the wedding garment, and ſhall be caſt into eternall torment for euer.
Mine eyes hauehave ſe…ne thy ſaluation &c.
Then we ſee that Chriſt was no ſpirit, neither was his bodie a fantaſticall bodie, for if he were a ſpirit Simeon could not ſee him, & if his bodie were a fantaſticall bodie, then could not he hauehave embraced him. Therfore we ſee that the wordes of the Scripture are true, which ſaith, that Chriſt was perfect man in all things, ſinne onelyonly excepted. For he ſometime wept, as at the death of Lazarus, and likewiſe ouer Ieruſalem. Sometime Iohn 11. Luke 19. Iohn 4. Luke. 10. Luke 5.he thirſted, as at the well where the woman of Samaria diſputed with him: & alſo ſometime eate, as at Marthaes houſe, as alſo amōg Publicans and ſinners, which in eueryevery thing ſhewed him ſelfe to be perfect man.
For mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation &c.
O Lord ſaith he, I deſire now to be diſſolued, and free from the bondage of ſinne▪ which ſo long hath inhabited in my mortall bodie, for now he is come, by whom thou haſt promiſed to free vsus and ſet vsus at liberty, he is come by whom thou haſt promiſed to breake the ſerpents head, and he is come that will heale our infirmities, and giuegive ſtrength againſt ſinne and Sathan by faith, & peace towards God through louelove. And now ſaith he, I hauehave embraced him, and thankfully do receiue him, I beleeue and am perſwaded that this is the ſame Meſſias whom the Father promiſed, and the Prophets …oretold, all Iſrael lōged & expected for, who is the light of the Gentils, the glory of Iſrael, & the God of the whole world. Simeon was deſirous to liue no longer in this mortall life, when he ſaw perfect life, but like Adam when he Gen. 3.came out of Paradice, was deſirous to come in againe, or like the fiſh which is taken in the net out of the ſea ſtruggleth to get in againe. Seeing now he is come for whom Simeon longed, therfore what are the troubles that are paſt, and the ſorowes that are come to an end? So they which louelove the trueth of God, and waite with deſire to be filled with the knowledge therof, ſuch ſhal not die vntill they hauehave their hearts deſire with contē plation thereof. For as Peter was ſent to Act. 10. Act. 8.Cornelius, and Philip to the Eunuch: ſo the Lord will ſtirre vp ſuch of his ſernaunts, as may be fit inſtruments to miniſter the ſame vntounto vsus.
Mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation, &c.
Iudas died before the time, and liued not to ſee Chriſt crucified, but the Diſciples which loued Ieſus did ſee him die like an vndefiled and innocent lambe, and that to their exceeding comfort and ioy, whē they vnderſtood, how that he ſuffered death for louelove of them & for their redemption. Now if Chriſt can not hide him from ſuch as hū ger after him through louelove, then what ſhall we ſay of our fathers which liued in the time of ignorance, that longed to ſee this light, although they had a miſt caſt before their eyes? ſurely ſuch died not til they ſaw Chriſt and embraced him in their hearts. And this is our iudgemēt concerning them that died in the time of Poperie, and likewiſe as concerning the reſt, which thought to be ſaued by Purgatory and Maſſes after that they are dead, we ſay that they which ſleepe without oyle in their lampes, they die …re they are aware of, & ere they wiſh for it, like the Philiſtines which ſent for Sampſon to laugh & Iupg. 16.mocke at him, and to ſport them ſelues, vpō whom the houſe fel and deſtroyed them all, or like the Egyptians, which thought that Exod. 14.the waters had made paſſage for them aſwel as for the Iſraelites, both which died in and for their ſecuritie, becauſe they were not watchful nor prepared againſt the Lord called them.
HaueHave ſeene &c. There be manie ſights of Chriſt, all go not vp to the mount, as Peter Iames and Iohn, all ſee not his face with Moſes, Mat. 17. Exod. 33. Iohn 13. 2. …o…. 12. 2.all ſleepe not in his lap with Iohn, all are not taken vp into heauen like Paule, all embrace him not in their armes with Simeon. But as pleaſeth God, ſo he ſheweth him ſelf vntounto vsus, and all that louelove him both ſee him and imbrace him.
To ſome he ſhewes him ſelf as in a glaſſe, to ſome generally, to ſome particularly, ſome he calleth early, and ſome he calleth late, and Mat. 20.there is no hower in the day wherein he calleth not ſome to go labour in his vineyard. To ſome he ſheweth him ſelfe by Angels, & to other ſome by viſions. Abraham ſaw three Gen. 18. Gen. 19. Iud. 13. Iohn 8.Angels, Lot ſaw but two, Manoahs wife ſaw but one, and yet one was enough. It is ſayd that Abraham ſaw Chriſt his dayes, but we ſee him cleerer then Abraham, and cleerer then Iohn, if we beleeue in him as we ſhould. Some ſee Chriſt and not his ſaluation, and ſome ſee his ſaluation, and do not embrace it. We ſee Chriſt when we heare his word, and we embrace his ſaluation when we beleeue it, they ſee him that heare him, they imbrace him that follow him. Here if they had heard me, I would hauehave ſearched Ieruſalē with lampes, to ſee who ſitteth in darkneſſe. But how can they beleeue the word of God which heare it not? How can they imbrace Chriſt which know him not, no not though they ſee him, and all through ignorance, hauing not the meanes to ſee him, becauſe their leaders are either blinde guides, ſleepie watchmen, or hireling ſhepheards. And ſurely it is a woful caſe, whē ſhepherds go to taske, and let their owne ſheepe alone ſommer and winter. They ſheare them, but neither ſommer nor winter do they feede them. How ſhould thoſe people vnderunder their charge ſee Chriſt & his ſaluation, when they are ſo neglected of the wholſome foode, and euen ſtarued to death manie thouſands of their ſoules, becauſe they hauehave not the food which nouriſheth the ſoule vntounto ſaluation: and how many be there which are as old as Simeon, and yet hauehave not imbraced Chriſt Ieſus? yea they know him not though they ſee him, neither do they wayt for his comming, becauſe they hauehave no deſire to imbrace him, and therefore they deferre that, & put it off from their youth to their middle age, from their middle age to their old age, from their old age to death, and ſo they can hauehave no leaſure in all their life to imbrace him. But to ſuch as do ſeeke him, and wayte for him with vnfained diligence, we ſay as the Angell ſaid to the women at the ſepulcher, feare not, you ſeeke the Lord Ieſus. How is Iohn. 21.this world ſet to deceiue vsus? we can find leaſure to do euill at anie time, but we can find no leaſure in all our life long to do good.
I hauehave ſomewhat to ſay to you of this pariſh, a daintie was prepared for you, and you let the ſtrangers take it from you. You were required to a faſt, and you did feaſt your ſelues, you were required to come and pray vntounto the Lord, and to humble your ſelues in his ſight, that he may turne away his wrath from you, & you let the temple ſtand open and emptie for your parts, and your ſhops were as open, and you were about your marchandiſe, forſaking God and ſeeking to win the vniuſt Mammon, and the vanities of the world.
For mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation &c.
You may ſee what deepe root ſinne takes when cuſtome is added vntounto it, therfore you had neede all of you to take my part, for though I and you fight againſt it neuer ſo long, yet ſome of his darts ſticke in vsus ſtill. He which beleeueth him, doth that which pleaſeth him, and he that hath no will to pleaſe him doth that which delites him ſelfe, and he that offers him ſelfe to be reformed by the word of God is offred in truth. But what, ſhall I ſhake off the duſt of my feet as a witneſſe againſt you, and ſay, let them that will periſh, periſh? Nay I will rather waſh Naaman yet ſeuen times, that I might make him cleane if he will be cleanſed. If you hauehave no Scripture for it, then thinke frō whence you hauehave receiued it. If you hauehave no reaſon for it, then thinke from whence you hauehave learned it. If you hauehave no example for it, thē thinke whence it firſt came or ſprong vntounto Frō poperie.you.
Thy ſaluation. Thereby to ſhew, that he came not by Angels, or by men, or by anie other meanes, but onelyonly from the alone and eternall God. He calleth him thy ſaluation, for his name was not giuen him by Ioſeph nor by Marie, but by the Angell of God, Mat. 1. Luke. 1.ſignifying that he was come from heauen, the father ſaw him when he was borne, the ſpirit came vponupon him when he was baptized, the Angels miniſtred vntounto him in the Luke 3. Luke 4. Mat. 27. Mat. 2.wildernes, his enemies ſubſcribed vntounto him vponupon the croſſe, the Virgine trauelled, the ſtarre walked, the wiſe men came out of far countreyes to worſhip him, then is not this Iehouah the mightie God, whoſe birth is glorious, whoſe life is famous, whoſe death is m…ritorious. None can take vponupon him the authoritie of God, but he, on whoſe ſhoulders the Lord layeth it, being ſent of God & from God. Then we ſee that our Sauiour is the true Sauiour ſent from God, for all creatures beare witneſſe vntounto him, yea the verie deuils, with all the euill ſpirits do obey his voyce, at whoſe name all knees do bow. He Mar. 1. Phil. 2.came not to bring health, wealth, pleaſures, or profits, for the which if he had, then multitudes of worldlings would hauehave followed him: but he came to bring ſaluation, righteouſneſſe, peace, truth and life, therefore few care for him. He came to ſaue ſinners, not all ſinners, not eueryevery one that ſaith Lord Lord, Mat. 7. Luke 5.but he came to ſaue penitent ſinners, which turned vntounto God by their repentance, therfore he prayeth in Iohn for thoſe onelyonly that Iohn 17.were giuen vntounto him. So ſoone as the ſeed is ſowen, the ſtones bruſe it, the thornes choke it, and the ſunne doth parch it: and what comfort hath the lillie among thornes? therfore wiſedome taketh her vntounto her wings, & whiſpereth ſaying, you ſhal ſeeke me before I come, you ſhall ſeeke me but ſhal not find Pro. 1.me, becauſe ye hauehave refuſed me when I offred my ſelfe vntounto you.
Chriſt is their ſaluation that beleeue in …im and make much of him, and thankfully receiue him. The godly he deliuereth from ſinne, but the wicked he leaueth bound in the chaines of their iniquitie, to be tormented of him which had tempted them thereunto, whoſe will they alwayes endeuoured to fulfill & not the Lords, he ſheweth them a hand vponupon the wal writing their condemnation, Dan. 5.and another catching them by the hairie ſcalpe, which maketh all their ioynts to tremble and their heats to deſpaire, and he ſaith vntounto them, what doeſt thou here without thy wedding garment? how dareſt Mat. 20.thou come to ſteale away the childrēs bread? The ſpirit of Saule worketh in him in his 1. Sam. 16.bed and euerie where, and he calleth for the harpe of Dauid to comfort his heart which can not be comforted. And this ſpirit ſayth to Iudas, thou haſt betrayed thy Lord and Mat. 27.crucified him, therefore go and hang thy ſelf, for it ſticketh within thee like the mark of Cain. But the godly heart goeth home reioycing Gen. 4.and chewing the cud like the Apoſtles, which reioiced in that they were counted worthie to ſuffer for his names ſake.Act. 5. 41.
O what a good banket we hauehave had this day▪ the bee goeth lodē to the hiue, & goeth longer in the ſtrength thereof then Elias did.1. Kings 17.
Thy ſaluation. The onelyonly Sauiour is here called ſaluation it ſelf, for if he were called a bare Sauiour only, thē you might likly vnderſtand it by ſome other ſauiour, but here he is called ſaluation it ſelfe, to ſhewe that there is no other: for there be more ſauiours but no more ſaluations, and there is manie wayes to death, and yet but one death. The braſen ſerpent was a figure of Chriſt, that Num. 21. Iohn 3.they which are ſtong by ſinne, by fire, and by the ſerpent which beguiled Euah, may make ſpeede, becauſe there is no remedie but to come to Chriſt.
The Papiſts hauehave found out many ſaluations, they hauehave found out a ſaluation by Saints, a ſaluation by Angels, a ſaluation by Maſſes, a ſaluation by merits, a ſaluation by Idols, as though Chriſt had leaſt to do in his owne office, for they hauehave other ſaluations to flie vntounto. They will hauehave it, but they wil buy it, and what will they giuegive for it? whie they will faſt ſo many dayes, go ſo farre on pilgrimages, hire prieſtes to ſay ſo manie Maſſes, build ſo manie Abbeys, and giuegive ſo many ſummes of money to the Monks and Friers. Therfore this ſcripture goeth againſt them, & doth diſhonor their ſhameleſneſſe, who like Nemrod heaping ſtone vpō ſtone, Gen. 11.would hauehave built vp to heauen: ſo they heape ſinne vponupon ſinne, and euerie houre ſome one hereſie or ſuperſtition groweth vp from this filthie roote, for what Papiſt dare ſay that Simeon thought on any of theſe or put confidence in anie other Sauiour but only in him whō he embraced in his armes? for ſaluation is by the promiſe of God, and all promiſes are in Chriſt. And though Iacob 2. Cor. 1.wanted bread, Ioſeph wanted not mony, Gen. 42.therefore he gaue them backe againe their money, & likewiſe he gaue them that corne that they would hauehave bought with it: ſo I would wiſh them to ſay as Ioſephs brethrē, that they hauehave their corne for nothing, and had their money too, ſo let them be content to ſay, that they hauehave merciemercy for nothing & their works too. For god careth not for their workes, becauſe they profit not him but thē ſelues. For there is no water can waſh Naaman 2. Kings 5.but Iordan, no water can waſh the leproſie of ſinne, but the bloud of the Lambe. By this the Iſraelites were ſaued when the Exod. 12.deſtroyer paſſed by. By this the Lord knoweth vsus to be his people, and by this the deuill knoweth vsus to be none of his. As it is proper vntounto God to be called goodneſſe, ſo is it proper vntounto Ieſus Chriſt to be called ſaluation He is called the way, the truth and Iohn 14.the life, for that life which we hauehave is but a ſparke and ſhadow of life, but he is the true and eternall life. Then ſeeing Chriſt is both our righteouſneſſe, ſaluation, and alſo the way, the truth and the life, to leade vsus thereunto. It is as poſſible for vsus without Chriſt to be righteous or ſaued, as it is to be wiſe without wiſedome, righteous without righteouſneſſe, or ſaued without ſaluatiō. Therfore let vsus not be aſhamed to take our water from the fountaine, ſeeing Chriſt is the foū taine of all wiſedome, of all righteouſneſſe, of all truth, of all knowledge, of all ſaluation, and briefly of all goodneſſe: therefore there is no other Arke to ſaue vsus from the floud, no other ladder to aſcend with into heauē, no other Ioſeph to feed vsus in the famine, no other Moſes to lead vsus through the wilderneſſe. But as the riuer S…loa rūneth through all the land of Iudaea, & watereth the whole citie of God: ſo Chriſt doth ſhew him ſelfe all in all, and all ſufficient in merciemercy to ſaue and to bleſſe all his Church with ſpirituall gifts. If Chriſt be life, what ſhall make vsus Epheſ. 4. 1. Cor. 15.deſpaire? ſhall Sathan? No, for he hath ouercome Sathan. Shal death? No, for he hath ouercome death. Shall hell? No, for he hath ouercome hell. Shall the Law? No, for he Rom. 5.hath fulfilled the Law. Shall wrath? No, for he hath troden the wine preſſe of his fathers Eſa. 63.wrath. Therefore it was a ſweete ſaying of one at his death, whē mine iniquitie is greater then thy merciemercy ô God then will I feare and deſpaire. Saluation is borne, therfore we w…e al in the ſtate of condemnation before: light is come, therfore we ſate all in darkneſſe before: glorie is come, therfore we were all loden with ſhame before: life is come, to ſhew that we were all dead in ſinne before. Life is come, and light and ſaluation: life to the dead, light to the blind, and ſaluation to the damned. For Chriſt is called ſaluation, to ſhew that without him we are all damned firebrands of hell, heires of condemnation, and forſaken of God. To him that is ſicke, it is eaſie to be thankfull when he is whole, but when he is whole it is harder to be thankfull then to be ſicke. I would faine be diſproued, that Niniueh might be ſaued though Ionah would not.
Thy ſaluation. This word ſaluation is a ſweet word, yea the ſweeteſt word in all the Scripture, and yet many deſpiſe this worthy iewell, becauſe they knowe not what it is worth, like the dawes which would rather hauehave a barley corne, then a pearle or a iewell becauſe they know not the value thereof. O Lord what is man that thou art ſo mindfull Pſal. 8.of him? O man what is God that thou art ſo vnmindfull of him? If a friend had giuen vsus anie thing, we would hauehave thanked him heartely for it, but to him that hath giuen vsus all things, we will not giuegive ſo much as thankes. Now therefore let the rocke guſh forth water againe, and let our ſtonie hearts powre foorth ſtreames of teares in vnfayned repentance. We hauehave all called vponupon you, but none regardeth vsus, as though God were as Baall, and as though Diues felt no paine, nor Lazarus no ioy, but all forgotten. Manie times Chriſt commeth into the Temple and there is ſcarſe a Simeon to embrace him, the babe is here, but where is Simeon?
If God had not loued vsus better then we loued our ſelues, we ſhould hauehave periſhed long ere this, and yet we embrace not Chriſt as Simeon, who hath ſaued vsus from temporall and ſpirituall puniſhments. We are inuited to a banket, he who calleth vsus to it is God. What is the banket? Saluation. Who are the gueſts? The Angels and the Saints. What is the fare? Ioy, peace, righteouſneſſe, this is the fare, and we inuite you eueryevery one: yet who will come at our bidding? ſome for want of faith, ſome for want of louelove, ſome for want of knowledge, hauehave deſpiſed this holy banket, and vntounto this art thou called ô ſoule vnworthie to be beloued.
FINIS.