my soul is yet alive alive to God in Jesus Christ and with old Simeon you are daily singing forth this Cantionem Cygneam Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Lo the budding of Simeon's Almond tree one bud is Simeon is a volunteer to death not dragged thither by fatall necessity nor his soul thrust out of doors with a violent hand but willing now or when-ever his Master shall please So good Old Abraham dyes in a good old age full of years and full of grace scarce an empty corner in his soul both instances had enough of days and years therefore did breathe and pant after eternity And now celestiall soul hearken a while and you shall hear the Spirit of Christ sweetly whispering Arise my love my dove my fair one and come away why tarriest thou To whom the redeemed doth joyfully answer Be it so O blessed Saviour I do only tarry thy leisure I come Lord I come but in thy time and according to thy Word not before mean while Lord help me to act faith in thy rich promises and in a blessed reliance of most holy recumbency to sit at the footstool of thy great mercy admiring the honour thou do'st to all thy holy ones and magnifying thy grace to thy Saints differing onely in degrees from glory for grace is glory militant and glory is grace triumphant And to conclude Honourable SIR Holiness in heart and life is greater honour then to be born the son of a King for the holy ones of the Lord have as it were the blood Royall of heaven running in every vein and the remembrance of every such one after death is as a pretious ointment powred out or as the smell of the Wine of Lebanon bear up then souldier of Christ against all discouragements in your journial towards heavenly Canaan what if you do meet with temptations and trialls nay with fiery Serpents in the way follow your Captain Christ Jesus who for the joy and crown set before him did endure the Crosse and despise the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the most high Wonder not O warrier of Christ if bullets of temptations and fire balls of hellish terrours threaten to destroy your faith which if they hit they cannot hurt you Jesus Christ in whom we are more then conquerours takes all the blows and gives you most insultantly to triumph over them and to read down ally our spirituall adversaries and to be gainers by them all in the day of your blessed change when you shall bee clothed upon with the same glory which Christ himself had from the Father by speciall donation and the very day of your death you shall be with Christ in Paradise as a Bride welcomed by the Bridegroom when your honour shall for ever sit with the King of Saints in heavenly places congratulated by innumerable Angells and by the generall Assembly and Church of the first born enrolled in heaven by the spirits of just men made perfect and with whom your blessed self shall make one saying Hallelujah salvation and honour and glory and power unto the Lord our God Amen Hallelujah Yours FINIS Books lately printed for Tho. Parkhurst c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Divine characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dress of seeming virtue and formal duties And the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience As also between 2. The blackest weeds of daily infirmities of the truly godly eclipsing saving grace and the reigning sins of the Unregenerate that pretend unto that godliness they never had By that late burning and shining Lamp Mr Samuel Crook B. D. late Pastor of Wrington in Somerset Folio Mr. John Cotton his practical Exposition on the first Epistle to John second Edition corrected and inlarged in Folio A Theatre of flying Insects wherein especially the manner of right ordering the Bee is excellently described with discourses H storical and Physical concerning them with a second part of Meditations and Observations Theological and Moral in 3 Centuries upon the same subject by Samuel Purchas M. A. in 40. Catechizing God's Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zachary Crofton Minister of Buttolphs Aldgate London the second Edition corrected and augmented A Religious Treatise UPON Symeon's Song OR Instructions advertising how to Live Holily and Die Happily LUKE 2.29 30. 29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation SIMEON here may be stiled God's white Swan Eccl. 12.5 singing his owne Epitaph now in the time when his Almond-tree did sweetly blossom It is Simeons Funeral Song Cantus F◠nebris of which Songs I onely finde two in Scripture so sadly do the most lay down this Earthly Tabernacle when as the dear Saints of God should then rejoyce with joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 and full of Glory You read of one in the Old Testament and that was good Old Moses 120. Deu. 31.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 30 Duter 32. through out yeares old who calleth his instructions before his death giving to the people a song which he requireth to be written for the use of the Children of Israel when the Lord should put a period to his days on earth The second was Simeons Song here whose days were protracted till he should see the Lord 's Christ bodily Galatians and spiritually at once Both great men and honourable as say the Ecclesiasticall Histories both Holy and Godly men Moses was God's Servant and so was Simeon Both honoured with a Religious and Blessed memoriall Moses dies with fixed eyes upon true Canaan but Simeons eyes are fixed upon Christ The Spirit of God knowes as well the time of our Spirituall joyes as of our effectuall calling and the actings of our repentance and of our Faith See here this good old man is now excited to take the opportunity to act his own joy to personate that which believers should act much more then they doe namely to look believingly on the Lord Jesus their joy and consolation as Simeon did Who First took him up in his armes whom he had before entertained in his heart and so is even raptured in the superabounding love of his Lord Christ the blessedest arme-full that ever the good Old man had in all his life Observe that Simeon declares his joy by a Holy Elegie off blessing God for this so magnificent and long expected a mercy as this sight did contein That he looks of all else and will needs die out of hand to be forever in the possession of this beatificall Vision Observe the forme of the holy Elogy verses 29 30 31 32. called Simeons Song as if he had said I fear not sin nor dread I death I have lived enough I have my Life I have seen enough I have my light I have sorrowed enough
יהוה A Religious TREATISE UPON Simeons Song OR Instructions advertising how to live holily and dye happily Composed at first for the use of the truly pious Sir ROBERT HARLEY Knight of the Honourable order of the Bath But since published by Timothy Woodroffe B. D. Pastor to the Church at Kingsland in Herefordshire Job 42.5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside over-against the great Conduit 1659. Christian Reader WEe having perused this ensuing Treatise bearing the Title of SIMEON'S SONG and being desired by the worthy AUTHOR to prefixe a line or two we can do no less then give it a kiss of peace and send it away recommending it to thee for a sound and savoury discourse and such as wanteth not a pleasant quickness to hold on thy appetite and we do believe that all who love the Lord and wait for the consolation of Israel that their eyes may see his salvation will upon perusall find it answer their time and pains and will then judge as do JOHN ROWE S. WOOD. TO THE Much Honoured Collonel Edward Harley Son and Heir to THE Renowned Sr ROBERT HARLEY Knight of the Honourable Order of the BATH Much Honoured Sir LEt my boldness crave your favourable acceptance to Epistle you and put your name in the frontispiece of this precursor to your Fathers happy departure â—hose tendency was to be serviceable unto his celestial transfiguration This Epistle is an historicall Narrative of him who was a worthy pattern of much goodness in life and therefore said to your self and others of his own flesh and blood Children I have taught you how to live and now I do teach you how to die his name but mentioned was and is as a pretious ointmeÌ„t poured out your religious fixedness in these changeable times your discreet zeal for the advanceing of your Lord Master's kingdom with your unfained love to the truth more then all arguments besides indigitated to me that yours must be the patrociny especially when I shal add the interest which you had in such a Fathers heart who is now departed from among the living and yet still lives with the Lord hee had great things in reversion held in capite from heavens magna charta and is now gone to take the plenary possession of them Whil'st Sir ROBERT HARLEY lived I dare say his enemies being Judges he much studied the art to live well and as years and weaknesses towards his dissolve did approach hee studied as much the art to dye well for his aim and end was to live in Jesus and to dye in Jesus to whom to live was Christ and to whom to dye was gain This blessed servant of the Lord was much ashamed that hee had lived so long before he lived to God but this he did also viz. most religiously sincerely bless God in my hearing that for forty years or thereabouts before his death his soul was fixedly resolved to live to God who I doubt not but he is blessing God with SIMEON that he departed in peace in a good old age and full of grace Ignobled greatness had no value in his heraldry he well foresaw that a Saint hath the richest coâ—t and that nothing in heaven or earth doth so honour and enoble a family or person as true Religion as God in Covenant as Christ in chief therefore saith Christ to his Church since thou wast pretious in my sight thou hast been honourable and so long shall an house stand before the Lord and their Almond tree â—ud and flourish observe O you Gentâ—y and the Lord Jesus will put the rod of power and authority into such hanas for else wâ—at is birth but a dunghill flower or parentage but a filthy cloth and all the titles of honour and embellishments of the worlds glory but sublunar and stained vanities all whose tendency is towards the dust But to be a son of grace and a true believer is more true honour then to bee Theodosius the Emperour this was the judgment of good old SIMEON in this Book Your religious Father I hope none will call this flattery was eminently known to be a Worthy indeed one of the Gospels great Worthies heavens favorite Christ's friend and Christ his friend for whose sake he cheerfully forsook all and exposed himself and all that he had on earth to the fury and malice of his and Christ's enemies and said oft in evill times hee would trust God with all Seneca said wel to Polibius Salvo Caesare non est de fortuna conqueri So this noble Patriot would not did not murmur and complain when brought very low nor durst he implead or pass an hard sentence against God under any check of providence but say God is good his will is best and blessed bee his name thus he acts dependance on Jehovah and his faith in the sure mercies of David then hee prays and looks up looks up and prays again he praies waits waits praies he hears believe then he humble his soul with fasting renewes his covenant with his God so keeps up his confidence mean while searcheth his soul after secret lurking corruptions if he could find any way of wickedness allowed in him that he might lay aside every weighty the sin which doth so easily beset us and run with patience the race that was set before him looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despised the shame is set down at the right hand of God Heb. â—2 1 2. It 's abundantly known he was of a publick spirit and layd out himself beyond his strength to bee doing good at every call of providence not only in a Parlamentâ—ry way wherein religious Sir ROBERT HARLEY was ever chosen by his country to be one in Gospel or Church-work within his sphere and capacity he had an inlarged and a pious heart together with a liberall hand however he did streighten himself and his and engâ—g his credit that hee might shew bowell-kindness to the despised but faithfull ministry of the Gospel and to the indigent members of our Lord Christ not onely in his native country but even to peregâ—ines exiles And since I have touched the Ministry his love to all the worthy labourers in the Lord's Vineyard is much known where-ever himself was well known and for his Country Hereford City and County must not bee silent to praise God for him whose pious care for their spirituall good hath excelled since they do enjoy many faithfull able and painfull Ministers mostly by his choice bounty and liberality who else in all probability had layen waste and old as many other places do or else had been under seducers not teachers of sound Doctrine under Idol shepherds dumb doggs and ignorant leaders who are destroyers not builders
displeasure or other mutining passion because the main interest of thy friend is laid up in God perhaps thou sayest Oh! it was my dear father my tender mother my sweet brother or sister my son or my daughter whose life and mine seem to be bundled together he or she was my right hand my right eye and will God take such an one from mee I had rather hee should take any one else yea my very self to have spared such an one thus foolishly do some passionate ones rangle with the just determinations of their omnipotent Lord God as churlish Nabal did with well deserving David 1 Sam. 25. Naball refused to part with some of his provisions to relieve David and his hungry souldiers by whom Naball and his flocks had been so preserved Naball answers with expostulations with pleading his propriety in his bread his water and flesh as thou dost thine in thy friends hence he concludes that Davids motion was very unjust and the most unreasonable that could have been made what saith he shal I take my bread my water and my flesh that I have killed and prepared for my sheerers and shall I send it to I know not whom nor whence they be There be many servants now adaies which break away every man from his master What is come upon me saies Naball Who is David who is the son of Jesse See we had need of this moderation when God sends crosse providences to us else we shall murmur against the Lord himself and this murmuring is a great sin The second rule is timely pacification we must not mourn over-much 2 Timely pacification or over-long when God takes away our friends Jer. 31.15 Mat. 2.18 this will be to call Gods wisdome into question it was Rachels fault that she refused to be comforted but it was Jobs high commendation that he was timely quieted and satisfied after the losse of so many friends and such an abounding estate from hence that it was the soveraign Lord God that had done it he composeth his mind and blesseth God not onely when he was full of children and wealth but when he was emptied of both and that by Satans malice and other malignant adversaries even then did Job blesse the Lord Job 12.1 and gave him thanks what for the death of his children what for the losse of his goods and estate what for the loss of his reputation amongst his hollow hearted friends no not simply so but from this consideration it is the great Jehovah the Lord of hosts let God do what he shall please with me with my relations and with all that I call mine yet I stil find abundant cause to thank him what when God shall thunder and lighten against him with storms and tempests from heaven from earth from hell what when hee shal shake the high Cedars as if he meant to pul them up and destroy them root and branch and make the earth to tremble as you may imagine when so many evills crowded in upon him when the grown up children of his own body were slain 1 Pet. 4.14 then to say blessed be the name of the Lord so timely to be content surely the spirit of glory and of God did rest upon humble and holy Job the servant of the Lord. The spirit is out of rest like Noahs dove hove ring about not finding where to rest the soul of her foot till she came to the Ark so the Godly-wise under their soaking afflictions go from place to place till they come to the Lords sanctuary and mercy seat where they find rich materialls of praising and blessing God in their afflictions and for their afflictions suppose it be losse of an eminent father or any other neere or dear relation of children as Jobs was Job 1.13 to the 20. they feasting one another to maintain and enjoy brotherly love and concord then to bee destroyed by a violent tempest beating down the house by the power and malice of the Devill who also but a little before had all his camells taken by plunder and his servants slain by the cruell sword a litttle before that also had his flock of sheep and his servants with them burnt with fire from Heaven and a little before that had his oxen plowing and his Asses feeding by them all violently taken away by the Sabeans which aggravating gradations might have eternized his sorrows but holy Job wel had learned that as God is not always chiding neither must we be always mourning besides he did assure himself that the rod of the wicked Ps 103.9 Ps 125.3 shall not always rest upon the lot of the righteous and however it be yet God is good to his Israel Thirdly for satisfaction which respects the goodnesse of God towards thee and towards thy lost friends Friends in Gods name mourn yet cōsider that your friend that is dead did war a good warfare 2 Tim. 4.7 combate with implacable foes did fight the good fight did finish his course did keep the faith and was kept by the mighty power of God to salvation Consider he is now dead in the peace of God and is even now enjoying what was promised in Abraham's bosom is now reaping what he sowed and insulting over all his spirituall adversaries faith is now in fruition thy friends soul is now wearing that Crown of glory which Christ had purchased with his dearest blood And now consider is it any branch of religious reason now to be murmuring and complaining of our losse as if it had been irrepairable to our selves or our friends since our friend is with the Lord Rom. 8.37 is more then a conqueror through him that loved him and is rejoicing praising and magnifying the Lord as for other mercies so for death which came so seasonably and so graciously to deliver Christ's prisoner out of durance to discharge Christ's valiant souldier from fighting with spirituall adversaries who command to triumph for ever over them to live and reign with Christ in heaven and to bee enthroniz'd into a kingdom of glory and to be actually in the great assembly saying Rev. 19.1.3 and singing Hallelujah Hallelujah salvation power and glory bee to our God Hallelujah the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Well then let us be glad rejoice since living friends are no loosers by thy gracious friends departure and since deceased friends are such gainers put off your sable weeds and rejoice for such as you believe do dye in the Lord imitate their holy foot-steps Phil. 3.17 follow them as they followed Christ put on the milkie white garments of holiness and righteousness all your days till you can say you are gainers by death and shal in God's time be translated to be for ever with your friends Rom. 16.7 who were in Christ before you as Saint Paul spake went to heaven before you to see enjoy that salvation which Simeon spake of in the text where you shall
bee assured of mirth without mourning of life without death of an immortal crown without any cross at all The fourth concerns thy consolation Consola and so bee comforted who tookest all due care to walk as a Christian with holy tender and abounding affections towards thy dear friend when and while he or shee lived with thee ask thy self what Christian communion thou had'st what care and watching over thy friend in all good offices of love didst discover thy self a friend to his soul did'st admonish exhort reprove or comfort him according to thy best ability and his necessity wa st much in prayer by humble seeking God to beg every blessing which thy friend did want did'st do all the offices of love to thy friend in his sickness or under any need of thy help if thou wast sincere in this matter thou mai'st be comforted and blesse the Lord who gave thee such an heart and now that the Lord hath taken thy friend into an higher story of divine favour be better perswaded well knowing that God calls thee now to other work upon which to attend and leave thy friend to the Lord betake thy self to serve his good providence among the living who do survive Somewhat wee see of this in David 2 Sam. 12. while the child was very sick David besought God for the child hee fasted and went in and lay all night on the earth nor would he bee raised from the earth by the elders of his house neither would he eat bread with them On the seventh day the child dyed of which when David had heard then he arose from the earth he washed and anointed himself changed his apparell and came into the house of the Lord and worshipped and when hee required they set bread before him and he did eat At which carriage of his his servants much marvelled saying what thing is this that thou hast done thou did'st fast and weep when the child was alive and when it was dead thou did'st arise and eat bread and David answered while the child was yet alive I fasted and wept for I said said who can tell whether the Lord will bee gracious to mee that the child may live but now hee is dead wherefore should I fast can I bring him baek again I shal go to him but hee shall not return to mee And David comforted Bathsheba Thus there is a time to be born Eccl. 3.2 and a time to dye a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance Fiftly our dolorous mournings 5. A sweet mixture of joy and sorrow in our mourning must not be without some mixture of joy the losse of beloved friends may seem desperate and irrecoverable and the sorrow is the more exuberant but yet there is joy again which doth surmount in the gracious soul to allay it's bitternesse who can loose nothing of the creature but it is made up in God repaid in Christ with a great overplus therefore sorrow may not alwaies abide upon his spirit if he sorrow that any stream of his comfort is cut off it is but turning him to the fountain and he hath all made up to him again and he rejoyceth blessing God who saith to him as Elkanah to Hannah am not I to thee instead of more friends so says God to the mourner I am to thee instead of all more then all And thus as fast as doth thy sorrow abound so fast and faster do thy consolations superabound That dear friends be dead that is sad to hear of or to see but that mortality is put off to put on immortality that 's joyful that death hath swallowed up our friends may grieve us but that death is swallowed up of life that doth rejoyce us that friends be departed seems to begin a desolation but that they be delivered from their body of sin from grinding pains from destroying diseases from unruly lusts and sinful passions from strong and dangerous temptatitions from fiery darts from Satans wiles and methods all this is matter of joy you who exceed in your mournings for your loving parents and dear friends taken out of this world I may fear you believe somewhat in this worlds glory to be very lovely and truly good and more excelling then the Scriptures ever spake of and therefore you so mourn at your friends being bereaved of and taken away from that good when as indeed all that is below and sublunar is fading and perishing and all that is below Jesus Christ and the glory to come Eccles 1.2 stained vanitie emptinesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is but a melancholly lump of vanity and vexation of spirit which made the Psalmist say that every man in his best estate is altogether vanity you seem to forget that the whole creation groans under this vanity and travelleth in pain together till now and not onely they Rom. 22.23 but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodyes when God sees good to take away our gracious friends he takes them from such vanities and perturbations as under which they do groan that we might not onely be satisfied with his dispensation but blesse God and say be it so Lord according to thy word When you think of your friends long languishing sickness sore pains wearisome days and nights and of the cruell stroak of death then like Heshbons pools our eyes be full of water and like house-spouts tears run down our cheeks but man of sorrow recollect thy self and wisely consider that by deaths hand all pains sicknesses and sorrows are finallized and there shall never be one tear sorrow or pain more thy body is laid to sleep as in a sweet bed of roses till the generall resurrection and thy soul is at perfect rest and ease is carried by the blessed Angells into thy Lords armes of sweatest embraces and hath the same entertainment as Christs humane soul and body had after his blessed ascention whom the Angells brought to the Antient of days Dan. 7.13 so doth Christ present the souls of his Saints departed to the father Do'st grieve and canst not be comforted Oh change thy minds affection as thy friend is changed for he is received into heaven with the same acclamations as Christ himself was welcomed only it shal be according to thy measure and capacity By this time I hope I have wiped off all tears from thy eyes put a sweet handkerchiefe into thine hands to do it thy self Then meditate much and say it oft blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord or rather that sleep in the Lord that they may live for ever Pretious soul do not mourn unmeasurably for such who are triumphant in heaven being cloathed in long white robes and washed in the blood of the Lamb who at the generall restauration of all things shall claspe and imbrace
I have my joy sweet Babe let this Song be a Lullaby for thee and a Funerall for Me sleep thou in mine armes while I depart in peace Simeons resolve and willingness to die Simeon resolves to die willingly so freely doth his heart breath out and his tongue expresse what he had so well resolved on Simeons time in which he wills to dy neither sooner nor longer His time even now Lord no sooner nor no longer Lord say Amen to my desires Note his relation in which he stood in the word Servant answering relatively unto the word Lord and so 't is between a Master and servant And here let us observe Simeons humble acknowledgment of his relation Simeons humility in being the Lords Servant A Servant indeed he was both in heart and life both in word and deed an humble worshipper of the Lord God who as he had been graciously preserved by him in a 1000. dangers all his life long and much owned from his Mothers womb till now So he will now resigne up himself in death to the safe custody and farther favour of so good a Lord and Master In the words be two parts 1. A Proposition Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart c. 2. A Confirmation For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation In the first he proposeth the large desire of his soul as if he had said Lord long have I lived and have seen all the Vanity that is under the Sun and thought I could never have my fill But now Lord since thou hast made me see the emptines of the creature thy fulnes why do I live any longer in such a place as earth is In such a condition as mortals are Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace What depart out of thy publique service now in the Temple no but by thy leave but thou Lord permitting let my long imprisoned pretious soul depart this body and this body and soul depart out of this present world So now he desires death which is resolutio animae a corpore as the Philosophers call death who say that there is a strong ligament between the soul and the body which death doth unty and so deliver up the person either to a better Qui pacatum habent Deum et pacatam conscientiam illi in pace moriuntur or worse place Simeon here desires to depart in peace who as he was at peace with God and with his owne Conscience So he desiers to die in an holy calme and sweet peace Hitherto of the proposall next briefly of the Confirmation For mine eyes have seen thy saluation .. The happy death of every gratious Simeon is much exalted by the promises of God which in Christ Jesus are yea and Amen to the praise and Glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 As if Simeon had said Domine jam moriar alacriter Lord I will now depart for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Lord now said thy Holy Oracle truth which was delivered me to believe Isa 5.2 All the ends of the earth shall see the Salvation of our God Isa 52.10 And I Simeon my selfe do see the person and the thing viz Christ and his Salvation which he shall bring to all Nations Nor is this all but he speaks of the Offices and actings of Christ saying which thou hast prepared before the face of all people Isai 49. out of Is 49. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Him whom man despiseth Him whom Nations abhor Kings shall see and arise Prices also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithfull And to be the glory of thy people Israell Here 's high exaltation of the Tribes of Israell because from amongst them shall Christ come according to the flesh and the consequent of Simeons Song was 2 Luke 33. 1. The parents of Christ they marvell especially considering what they lately heard from the blessed Angels 1 Luke 30. what the Shepherds reported of him 2 Luke 34. 2. Simeon blessed them and said to his Mother Mary behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israell Now as Solomons throne had six ascending Ivory steps over laid with gold 1 Kings 10 18. so here be six steps of ascent for the poor soul to come very near to a greater then Solomon even to the everlasting King of glory 2 Cor. 11.2 who hath a long time been preparing every gracious soul to be a Bride for himself and to enjoy the Lord Jesus in his blessed arms with everlasting conjugalls Where first note the time now presently without farther stay Secondly note his desire to enjoy and adore him more and more fervently Thirdly note his dutifulnesse in the appellation he givs himself the name of a servant Fourthly the dignity of his Master in the word Lord one of great command power and place Fifthly the ground of his request the word the infallible word let me dye according to thy word according to thy word of promise Sixthly the condition in which he did desire to dye and that was in peace Simeon now had the Lord Christ in his armes who made peace who came and brought peace who was peace and the very God Prince of peace Ah soul that 's the only time for thee me to die when we have gotten Christ into the arms of our faith then then not before we can sing with Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for when Christ is thus in thine arms thou art in his arms also so reciprocally do these two lovers clip and embrace each other Now a word both of this proposall and confirmation in the manner of his speech The words be the humble prayer of a gracious servant to his Lord viz. to die presently in peace but according to the minde and with the good leave of his Lord Quest But who is Simeon here or what it Simeons condition Answ 1. A servant but an honourable one for he was the servant of the Lord of life and glory Answ 2. A servant bound by strongest obligations of oath and covenant Answ 3. A servant during life nay a servant for ever to a Master whose service is perfect freedome Joh. 8.36 but what freedome can such a servant ask or expect yes this great Lord hath a blessed freedome an everlasting jubilee to grant to all his servants that aged Simeon foresaw and that hee askes Mistake me not Simeon desires not askes not to be freed from the service of his Lord but askes to be translated into an higher into a more celestiall and evangelical service according to the faithfull word of promise made to him by his Lord and so heartily desires and prayes to depart from faith and hope to fruition from prayers to praises from feares and doubtings of a misgiving heart to a most sweet tranquility to fear
hoc loco constituto templo novo claritas splendor absque nube refulget patres omnes sub nube suerunt omnes in mosen baptizati sunt nube sed jam quia revelationis tempus absque nube in facie Christi gloriam dei contemplamur nunc non inter Cherubim lux est sed illucescit resulgiet ipsa quoque terra a gloria Dei quemad modum terrena Credentium corda incomprehensibili lumine gratiae adimplentur aeterno templo dedicato haec terra in Adamo maledicta est tribulos gignit faedissimis enim cogitationibus discerpitur cor hominis intranti in novum hoc templum suum gloriae Dei perlustris eadem efficitur nos enim pridem peccatores regenuit in spem vivam Ecolamp Mag. Basiliensis Episc in Ezek. 43. and with his faith about the veracitie of that promise and about his Lord Christ wrapped up in the promise for his use mean while doth the Lord bring in Christ himself in person who was the soul and marrow of the promise and so his believing soul was even here gratified with a blessed vision whereof more fully in that which followeth namely Simeons delight Simeon sight and desire I shall amplifie this truth by two necessary questions Q. Quest 1. What this so working sight is Q. Quest 2. What this desire is A. Answ To the first I answer that after a sinner hath taken some good notice of his miserable self out of Christ Eph. 2.12 out of Covenant a stranger to the Common wealth of Israel without God and in a miserable pickle confounded in himself as Ephraim much afflicted and greatly humbled before the Lord. Jer. 31.19 I say after such a sight of himself when a wretched sinner comes to see Christ in the gospell as in a christall glass chosen of God and the beloved Son of God 2 Cor. 5.19 in and by whose mediation God did reconcile himself to the world And when a sinner comes to see himself in his Christ as his Christ as one in whom hee he hath a speciall interest and propriety as blessed Thomas did see Christ when he cryed out my God and my Lord and when thou comest to see him who hath made thy peace with his Father by his most pretious blood upon his Crosse And to see him who hath procured thy justification thy adoption and purchased his Fathers everlasting love for thee and hath given thee to be an heire of Heaven a coheire with himselfe and provided rich mansions of endless glory Such seeing Liking must needs breed likeing such will breed desires longing even to be sick of love after the fuller enjoyment of him who is the Author and finisher of thy salvation It is to see the Lord Christ A. 2 cloathed in our nature for us and to see him in both natures our mediator and advocate with the Father to see him our King our Priest our Prophet mightily enabled to carry on and to compleat the work of our redemption to the uttermost it is to see him who as he was promised by all the Prophets to come into the world Act. 10.43 so I see him come indeed to make satisfaction to divine justice for me to pay my debt and to set open heavens doors to me and to pave for me a new and living way to go to God by him Heb. 7.25 A. 3. It is to see my gratious Lord reaching out both his armes of his love to receive me into the blessed bosome and tendering the pretious self to be made of God to my soul wisdom righteousness 1. Cor. 1.30 sanctification redēption to see him my joy life the life of my life the soul of my soul my crown and glory to see him owning me to be his beloved spouse dying for me respecting more my spirituall life then his own naturall life and he dyed once that I should live for ever it is to see him who chose to be accursed that I might be blessed who was content to be condemned as a vile malefactor that I might be acquitted justified and saved It is to see him who suffered the torments of hell for me that I might for ever enjoy the glory of heaven Think now blessed soul hadst thou been in Simeons case place whether thou wouldest not have said and sung as Simeon did Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation 2. Question What this desire is Desire is the wing of the soul 1. a strong desire Pher. whereby it moveth towards some good where it loveth to feed it self and to be satisfied with the thing desired Job 39.29 as the Eagle lookes on the pray afar off the Eagle is sharp-sighted to discover the pray swift of wings to hasten to it armed with strength to seize upon it so our desires according to our apprehension of the objects goodness does convocate all the powers and faculties of the soul to promote and procure the good beloved and desired as in the text Simeons love and desire is fixed upon Christ the best good in heaven and earth 2. Hag. 7. and therefore is called the desire of all Nations Well might Simeon desire what he did for as it is said of a Roman Emperor neminem unquam dimisit tristem So the Lord Christ never sent any longing Simeon away empty who comes to him as Simeon did sub ratione boni jucundi to finde enough in Christ to fill up all desires and all the vacuities in the soul Nothing comparable to Christ thought Simeon Exod. 33. nothing but Christ said the blessed Martyr nothing but thy glory said Moses shew me thy glory like Anselms bird tied to the ground with a string and ascending to the length of the thread raising her selfe and flying upwards Oh! so is my soul said he sighing groaning and desiring to depart to be with Christ as Paul to see the Lords salvation as Simeon This desire is a restless desire of a poor weary heavy laden soul A restless desire very low in a vale of misery and valley of teares exiled from her native soile where troubles and griefs croud in like Jobes messengers as the waves of the Sea Rom. 7.24 one at the heels of another Which made the Apostle to aske who shall deliver me from the body of this death The consideration of which made an Heathen to say to his Schollers that if it were offered which Sr Robert Harley said oft in his old age him to be young again he would not accept such an offer so troublesome did he count this present condition to be But the pretious servants of the Lord have more cause to desire death for that they do live under a better hope and do see their celestial soules under the miserable captivity of sin and satanicall thraldome combating continually with the lusts of the
flesh 1. Jo. 2.16 the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life with troubles of divers kinds with discontents every moment under the emptinesse of the creature the groaning creature which we do too much rely upon besides what troubles what wants what feares what doubts what losses what crosses is every day filled up withall what malice and envie from the men of the world for godlyness sake if but in appeareance Ps 35.19 What slanders lyes and mischievous reports shall be vented and sent abroad to blur and cloud a gratious conversation As David complaines of mischiefe divised and contrived against him a poor innocent without any cause on his part What unrighteousnesse oppressions what self-seekings what vain-glory confusions divisions what rendings of Christs seameles coat enough to make any good Simeons heart to ake and his eyes like the pool of Heshbon to stand full of tears of water and under all these abominations as branches of the curse together with the vanity all things are exposed vnto even the unreasonable creatures do groan yea Rom. 8.22.23 the whole creation groaneth together under its vanity and the dear servants of God cannot but be very sensible and be willing to draw forth their desires after that glorious liberty and happier condition laid up for them in the safe hands of Simeon's Lord. Nay this good old man had learned under what vanity all things below Christ did groan how far from home they were and under how perillous and sojourning a condition How obvious they lay to the grudgings of the worlds Naballs and how their ears are daily beaten with the barkings of balaamitish curs who drive designes to set the world their earthy god above Jesus Christ these things ran much in Simeons heart Besides the personall evils and sufferings of decrepit old age of languishing sickness under a world of bodily infirmities the seizure of mortall diseases which do ascertain death not to be farr of And although we know that we must dye yet wee know not how soon The pinching pains and incessant dolours of a worn-out decaied body at the best but of a crazy constitution supported like an old house with the propps and buttresses of art and nature ready every moment to fall about our ears making us wish in the morning Deu. 28.67 would God it were even and at even would God it were morning All which laid to heart makes blessed Simeon desire to dye and live no longer but to dye in the arms of mercy no matter how soon to wish to sigh to groan and heartily to long for a principle of faith and hope to depart in peace Good old Simeons desire is the desire of restlesness after that which is above all desirable even rest and salvation in Heaven with the people of God who rest from their labours Rev. 14.13 and their works follow them Ah soul had'st thou but a sweet taste of this blessed rest remaining to the people of God! Heb. 4.9 Gal. 5.22 hadst but the fruits of the Spirit in any gracious measure thou wouldest bid all adieu and couldest willingly part with all on earth such as honour pleasures profits friends neerest and dearest relations with all thy earthly interests and contentments yea with all thy lands revenues and life it self and wouldest sigh and groan within thee as old Simeon did after the fuller enjoyment of thy Lord and dearest Christ waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of thy body 3. A desire of Contentment 3. a desire of contentment Rev. 12.1 Good old Simeon hath enough of life Rev. 12.1 being clothed with the Sun hee can now tread the moon under his feet And as Saint Paul have a low esteem of all things beneath Christ Phil. 3.8 and can say Psa 116.7 as David Return to thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And hence doth gracious Simeon desire to acquiesce in his Lord and to dye by his statutum est who is life it self to possesse him possessing whom he is assured to possesse all things therefore said well-contented Simeon Lord let me be translated hence in thy good time to be inseperably with thee to all eternity 4. of Admiration 4. A desire of admiration Simeon might well admire the glory and excellency of that Salvation on which his eye of faith was so fixed and stand amazed Malac. 4.2 at the raies of this Sun of righteousness which shines not into every soul and saith Oh! the pretiousness of this salvation which is so attractive as to draw out my soul out of my body my soul and body out of this present evill world but for blessed ends blessed be thou my Lord that I may worship thee in Heaven as the four beasts did and the four and twenty elders when they fell dow before the Lamb And sung a new son saying Revel 3.9 thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation Blessing honour glory and power be unto him and unto the Lamb for ever and ever So much in answer to the two Questions 1. What this sight is 2. What this desire of Simeon is Reasons why all Christ-seeing Simeons may desire to dye Because old Simeon found himself delivered from the curse of the first Covenant Gen. 2.14 which was eternall death as it holds proportion with the blessing in Paradise eternall life and he found himself delivered from the wrath to come by him who was to dye and to destroy him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 Job 33.24 He found himself delivered from going down into the pit death was in it self the sentence of the law and the recompence of an offended God but old Simeon found the jaws of death broken and this beast of prey now becomes unable to hold him no more then it was able to hold Jesus Christ and therefore all Simeons may insult in their death over death and say Hosea 31.14 used by the Apostle 1. Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Death doth deliver us from and periodize all wrongs vices infirmities bodily pains and labours all the piercing cares of this life and all vain pleasures As after Noah had been tossed but one year upon the waters Gen. 8.4.20 how glad was he to land on Mount Ararat so old Simeon after many years wearisome days and nights fluctuating on the waters of worldly perturbations O how glad was the good old man of a resting place where he could say hîc ero salvus as the long sick man did write upon his grave stone hîc ero sanus Reason 2 Because
the chambers of death which is by the way a rich comfort to the saints of God that God Father Son Holy Ghost are in Covenant with bodies Num. 23.10 Ps 102.13 14. as wel as souls yea when they shal be laid in the grave and moultered to dust God is in covenant with that dust with Ahrahams with Isaacs and Jacobs dust with the dust of their seed lying in their graves in which respect the saints bodies are said to sleep in their death to rest in hope Nay I verily believe there is more yet in the dust and bones of dead bodies that they have a kind of desire after resurrection 1 Thes 4.16 Isai 60.1 Isai 26.19 Joh. 5.28 go but into a vault of mens dead bones and tarry there an hour or two and they will draw much of your spirit and livelihood from you put you under great thirst till some days after and after the word of command from Christs mouth to arise to come forth to appear and to stand before Christ to receive their glorious enlargment and blessed investiture into that glorious Kingdom which their Lord Christ hath purchased for all that dye in Jesus Thus our bodies must be set in order before death in these four last mentioned respects 1. They must be mortified crucified bodies 2. Implanted members of Christs body 3. Kept chaste and holy for Christs use 4. Bodies in Covenant with God the Father Son holy Ghost The next duty in the third head incumbent to him that will dye well and preparedly is to set his house in order By the house may be understood the persons dwelling in family with us and more especially the children who are to be disposed of according to their rank condition and capacity as Noah prepared an ark Heb. 11.7 and so his care passed over every one of them Or by house is meant the affairs of the houshold and family thus Joseph is used by Potiphar to manage and order the affairs of his house and family Or else it is taken to dispose of the goods of the family Gen. 39.5 6. to divide and give to every one his portion or estate according unto right reason and natural affection that a mans posterity may more comfortably serve God in the state and condition in which the godly-wise shall see good to leave him thus Abraham before his death gave his Isaac the inheritance and to his other Children hee he gave gifts Gen 25.5 6. and legacies and sent them away while he yet lived and so gave up the ghost See Weams his exposition pag. 80. 81. on Job 5.26 and Gen. 29.8 and died in a good old age an old man and full of years and was gathered to his people to insist a little on this The all wise-disposing providence of our heavenly Father hath laid out the estate and condition of us in which we must serve him in the wel managing of our talents with which he hath intrusted us Mat. 25.15 and of which some have more and some have less of this lumber to possesse yea the very wicked have a just title under God as I prove out of Job Job 9.24 the earth is given into the hands of the wicked to raign and bear rule yea and to be Judges in it and God somtimes himself covers the face of such Judges as a condemned mans face going to execution earth is there put for all terrene and worldly things as the Psalmist even the heavens or the heaven of heavens is the Lords Psal 115.16 but the earth hath he given to the children of men The Lord by deed of gift hath providentially reached out all good things here below promiscously to all men by his own line or meat yard Num. 33.54 saving unto us all here is thy lot thy habitation thy land thy lease thy goods and thy estate thy bound dominion and possession Jos 1â— 6 chap. 18.10 hitherto shall they extend and no further here 's thy confinement with a non ultra yea what ever wicked men come to possess or inherit by adoption descent or succession from fathers grandfathers ancestours or other allyances yet all is the gift of God's common providence and for believers whatsoever they have comes in the name of Christs purchase for them and by speciall covenant and promise unto them Rom. 8.32 for as God spared not his own Son but gave him to dye for them how shall he not with him also freely give them all things which make for their good Earth is given to the sons of men to the just and to the unjust but heaven is given into the faints hands as it were Benjamin's mess I must go one step further yet and that is what wicked men do unlawfully get rake ring cheat rob plunder and by violence and oppression recover and injuriously wrest from others is in a sense the gift of God viz. he permitting them to range a while to prey upon the poor innoceÌ„ the fatherless orphant widow and stranger so he permitted wicked Ahab to kill 1 King 21. Jer. 22.13 and take possession of innocent Naboths Vineyard and he permits Shallum to build his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong to use his neighbours service without wages and saith to him by his Prophet thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness and for to shed innocent blood and for oppression and for violence to do it all this did our all-wise God order in his common providence to last a while till Shallum had run his course and filled up the measure of his iniquity but then the Lord sends a cruel adversary like a ravening wolf of the evening to execute his just judgment upon Shallum according to that prediction in the seventh vers of the two twentieth of Jeremiah saying ver 7. I will prepare destroyers against thee every one with his weapons and they shall cut down thy choice Cedars and Shallum the son of Josiah King of Judah he shal dye in the place whither they have led him captive ver 12. and he shall see his land no more Now mark how the Lord speaks of this destroyer Nebuchadnezzar by name Jer. 27.6 I have given all these lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babilon my servant and the beasts of the field have I given also to serve him And all nations shall serve him and his son named Evilmerodach 2 Kings 25.27 Jer. 52.31 Dan. 5.1 and his son namely Belshazzar the Lord disposed of those Countries by donat oÌ„ to him yet Nebuchadnezzar invades and spoiles and takes them and theirs by violence upon which say the annotations well that the great God of heaven and earth sent him against a people of the Lords wrath and gâ—ve him a charge to take the spoil Isa 10.6 and to take the prey and to tread them down like the mire of the streets and he went
all blessed Simeons do see their salvation future as present so doth faith prevent time and is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to thy house as when Christ called Zacheus from the tree salvation is actually begun then in a believing soul who is said to have his conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 while he is below Whence he looked for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.18 And when death comes believers do not dye but sleep nothing of them dyes but their sins their imperfections and afflictions yea the very being of sin is done away as when the house is pulled into pieces all the ivy roots in the wall are destroyed Reason 3 Death opens a door to believers to be received into Christs armes into the bosome of glory Our loosing from the body is to be joyned to Christ 2 Cor. 5.8 and that is very sweet here is a mysticall union to Christ but no glorious presence no that 's the crowning mercy which is kept till after death Now judge you here you are a prison there enlarged here you are absent from your head your husband your Lord and King eternal but by death the soul is put into the hands of the blessed Angells and by them is presented to Jesus Christ to be for ever with the Lord in glory This Simeon foresaw and therefore said Lord now lettest c. Which dvides itself into these Reason 4 three heads 1. The conflict between soul and body in death 2. The necessity of death in regard to soul and body 3. The blessed advantage which soul and body finde in death 1. Great is the conflict oft times the spirit may be willing when the flesh is unwilling which two twins do a great while stand at loath to depart Jacob was not by Ge. 45.26 and by willing to leave his Countrie and the Land of Promise to goe to his Joseph Israel not by and by willing to go out of Egypt Exo. 5.21 though it were to terminate a long and tedious captivity in Egypt Exo. 12.40 Phil. 1.23 of 430 yeares Pauls Cupio dissolvi did not by and by break forth till the weight of sin carnal conflicts the buffettings of Satan and manifold persecutions did load and weary his pretious soul together with a tedious mortality but then this gratious servant of the Lord became willing to put off his body of sin and death together and with Simeon to say Lord now lettest c The same hand which doth take down our earthly Tabernacle doth build for us a surer and eternall habitation made without hands in the Heavens at which change 2 Cor. 5.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eccl. 12.7 the soul is taken to God that gave it till the last day when soul and body shal be made capable of those higher enjoyments which Jesus Christ hath dearly purchased and prepared for them a tast whereof our Lord was pleased to give unto Peter Mat. 17.2 James and John in the transfiguration and unto St. Paul when he was raptured into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12 2 both which some have thought to be more comprehensive then this vision of old Simeon here and yet all the dear Servants of God do in some aspect see Christ before they die and amidst some fears and misgiving thoughts do abundantly long to see him more 2. the necessity of death in regard to soul and body No mortall wants any thing so much as immortality and wants do necessiate men to desires stormes drives many goodly shipps into harbours war doth force the stoutest men to holdes and forts so the soul and body of the Lord 's gratious ones much pinched with the sence of their wants of glory to come and of their beatificall fruitions promised them be necessitated with blessed Simeon to desire to die that they may passe over troublesome Jordan to enjoy the promised blessings of celestiall Canaan where soul and body shall be refreshed enriched Ps 24. and eternally glorified with Jesus Christ their everlasting King of glory which thing our Saviour doth sweetly breath out by St. John Joh. 17.24 in that prayer of his Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory q. d. that they may behold my transforming glory 1 Cor. 13.12 Can the glory of grace that comes by Christ represented to us as in a glasse so transforme a soul as Simeons in the text hath the glory here by mediums such a power then what will it be when we shall behold it without meanes Something Simeon did reach after in his holy wish which he could not comprehend here below though he had his Lord Christ in his armes but he will rejoyce in God his faviour he will believe Job 14.14 and hope well he will expect and wait with holy Job till his change come when he knew his joy shall transcend the joy of harvest or that of men dividing the spoile 1 Pet. 1.8 it being a joy so unspeakable and full of glory See then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that death is necessary to prepare the soul and body for immortality of which more in the third branch of this fourth reason as followeth 3. The blessed advantage which soul body find in death after death Phil. 1.12 presently the soul begins to be in it's prime for whilest she was in the corruptible body she was ruled by corrupt sence and violently carried by loose appetite driven and compelled against it's own gratious desires to give way in some part to a body of sin for she can hardly look out at the eys but looks upon a baited hooke nor hear by the eare but there is the serpents voice nor the tong taste but there is some gall in that honey nor the hand touch but there is a defilement nor the foot tread but there 's a net and every sense a member of the body ready to be a Judas to the soule to betray her with a kiss Now what wise Simeon will not be willing to depart to exchange a dungeon for a pallace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 copper for gold base beggery for high honour a short lease of base heath of barren and craggy rocks Gen. 3.23 1 Pet. 1.4 for the garden of Eden a paradice nay for an inheritance inmortall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and incorruptible For as one said to live here is to be halfe dead at least death hath the all of a great part of our lives and dead works I think have above the one halfe of the most sanctified ones here who yet do die dayly 1 Cor. 15.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may live the more to Jesus Christ For the body the body of death as Paul calls it is but let
fall into the earth to sprout and grow like the corne in the ground to grow incorruptibly spiritually as the Apostle at large speaking of the advantage which the body hath by a blessed death after when til the resurrection the glorified Soul shall not need to return back again into the body both do sweetly repose in their present state till the second appearance of our Lord Phil. 3.21 who shall change our vile bodies and make them like to his most glorious body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Co. 15.42 43. according to his mighty working Thy body in death is made a great gainer in three particulars for it is laid down in corruption but it shall rise in incorruption it 's sowne in dishonour but it is raised in glorie Yea with exact comelines of stature with beautifull proportion where was deformity either by the excess 1 Co. 13.10 or defect of any part there all deformity shall be don away Commonly a litttle before death the body looks pale wan earth-like nay sometimes one may smell earthlinesse and there is a kind of loathsomnes even to dearest and nearest relations immediatly upon the departure of the soule the body begins to be unsavourie as well as unlovely and could the dead body speak it might say to the grave thou art my house To the worm thou art my Mother Job 17.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ge. 23.4.6 and Sister And sweet friends as Jonathan and David will look out a burying place to burie their dead out of their sight But yet in the day of their resurrection the bodies of all blessed Simeons shall rise in great splendour and glory Mat. 6.28 like the lillie root which lies in the winter in the ground but in the summer riseth a well clothed flower very glorious so shall the bodies of the Saints be glorified like the very body of Christ Isa 26.10 now at the right hand of God in heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor 15.43 Consider the then constitution of thy new fraile body it was Sowne in weaknes but will be raised in power All constitutions of bodyes be not alike but were thy body of Goliah's strength Goliahs ' yet one languishing sicknes will make thee non able to turne in thy bed or put on clothes or lift thy hand to thy head or set one foot on the ground before another to go But the day is coming blessed saint when thou shalt be raised in a most healthful constitution never more to need meat drink clothes physick-art or any helpe no more weariness sickness hunger cold or nakednes Mat. 22.30 but thou shalt be as the Angels and Saints in Heaven 3. Consider now that thou art a naturall body but thou shalt be raised a spirituall body called so because it shall no longer need any naturall meanes or helps for the presevation nutrition and conservation but shal be wholy delighted in God and in an immediat communion with him shall be filled with God Thou shalt as it were be spirituallized with the nimbleness of a Spirit Aug. so as in a very short time thou maist move from place to place So that saith one where every soul would be by and by it shall be there and you read that suddenly after the resurrection 1 Thes 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our bodies shall be caught up to meet the Lord Christ in the aire which is the beginning of this agility and glory Thus much of the reasons which are 1. From Simeon's deliverance 2. From Simeon's eye of Faith 3. From his imbraces with Christ The 4th consists of these 3 heads 1. The conflict between soul and body 2. The necessity of death 3. The blessed advantage the soul and body find in death in three particulars Application in four Corollaries 1. The first contains matter of instruction with some necessary doubts and objections answered 2. Matter of terrour to wicked men 3. Comfort to the Godly wise 4th Exhortation which runs into 4. branches To be thankfull for this sight of Simeon To prepare timely and solidly for an happy death To submit gratiously to the Lord's dispose of us in life or death To be moderate in mourning at the losse of godly friends Whatsoever death may be to others Corollary yet to all good Simeons it 's a desirable and a singular blessing Such through death do look upon glory on the other side of death who are not sadded at the separation of soul and body because of their eternall conjunction of soul and body with Christ Ignatius his grinding pains were but the mill in which hee was ground to be the finer meal for Christ Jesus his own use Though Christ's soul and body were parted as far as heaven and the grave could be distant yet neither of them sayes one were parted from the deity nor from the Father I confess to naturall men death is terrible and they think with Solomon that a living dog is better then a dead Lyon Eccl. 9.4 and that the basest life is better then any death Indeed they cannot but fear death who fear not God who believe not in Jesus whose wickedness doth cut off all hopes of happiness after death and no marvail for their conscience stings them at the remembrance of death and death is like that murderer 2 Kings 6.32 Which was sent to take away Elishah's head It 's the most unwelcom messinger that ever knockt at their door Or as Belshazzar's hand-writing Dan. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pro. 9. when 't was interpreted whith made him appale tremble for the conscience tels them that no good can come to them by the hand stroak of death nay such do die whiles they be alive by the checks and chidings convictions and condemnations of their evill conscience But what ever it be to wicked men yet to blessed Simeons death hath another face and presence to such it is but their trusty messenger to carry them to their Fathers house to be possessed of their eternall inheritanc◠or else it 's but as Josephs ratling chariot wheels Ge. 45.27 ready to carry Jacob unto his Joseph unto his Jesus For such be sure to dye 1. Comfortably 2. Blessedly First comfortably for out of this eater comes meat and out of this strong comes sweetness Jud. 14.14 as in Sampsons riddle Though I walk through the vallie of the shadow of death saith holy Daniel I will fear no evill Ps 23. for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe do comfort me q. d. I am in the hand of my heavenly Father where can bee no miscarriage Secondly as they bee sure to dye comfortably so also blessedly as Saint John Revel 14.13 Luke 23.43 Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for that very day their soul shall be with Christ in Paradice And so life which keeps the soul from heaven absent from the Lord is a losse to a Saint in