by CHRIST which Simeon looked for and saw more clearely and nearelie then his forbeares Vers 2. None holy no rocke This most true for holinesse and power are in GOD essentially and perfyte in the creature by communication onely and in part being compared with GOD. Iob. 4.18 Verse 5. Hath ceased To wit to bee hungrie and are filled Seven that is many Ruth 4.11 Set out themself to wit for hyred servants for want of food Verse 8. The pillars See Iob. 48. v. 4. Psal 124. v. 8. Psal 112.26 and 104. verse 5. Verse 10. To his KING that is to say to CHRIST IE SUS to whom hee was to giue all power in Heaven and earth as his appointed King Psal 2. Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1. THis song is called a prayer because it is spoken to GOD and in end hath a prayer but the purpose of it is a thanksgiving and so these well joyned according to the precept of the Apostle Phi. 4.6 Obs 2. It is easie to GOD when hee will to make a heavie heart light and joyfull a dispysed person honorable one silenced to speake boldly These things and other benefites are obtained by humiliation prayer Obs 3. verse 1. Whatsoever benefite GOD bestows vpon vs wee should not so much thinke of it or vse it as looke to GOD the giver of it and praise him not being as the swyoe who feed vpon fallen fruit but looke not vp to the tree Obs 4. We should labour to know Gods attributes by his word and workes wee should meditate therevpon that wee may loue feare trust him and obey his will alwayes Obs 5. verse 2. It is easier to tell what God is not or to deny any creature to bee like him then to tell what hee is for God beeing alwayes infinit cannot be defyned affirmatiuelie so well as negatiuelie Obs 6. Pryde is a hereditarie sicknesse in men and women yet GOD resisteth the proude and giveth grace to the humble Iam. 4.6 Obs 7. verse 3. to the 8. The providence of GOD rules all things maks all mutations among men Ps 107. Obs 8. Wee should not look vpon things and judge of them by present apperance for the earth is as a stage wee are players there vpon everie one is not that hee seemeth to bee in the play for a beggar there may represent a King a wise man a foole a wicked man a good but wee should abide patiently the catastrophe of the play staying till the morning when everie man putteth on his owne coat that is the morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 1. Iohn 3.1 Obs 9. verse 9.10 The godly of old tooke their deliverances particular and of the Kirk in generall as types of their great salvation by Christ which they looked for 1. Pet. 1.10 This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 103. Psalme Verse 1. MY heart rejoyceth in the Lord in him my horne is hie My mouth is open wyde and large against my enemie In thy salvation I joye 2. none holy like to thee For there is none but thou O Lord a God a rocke to mee 3. Speake thou no more words arrogant as thou was wont before For God knowes all things very well and doth both lesse and more 4. The strong mans Bow is broken quyte the weake hath put on strength 5. The full beginne to begge their bread the hungrie eate at length The barren hath her seven borne the mother of sonnes is weake 6. The Lord hee kills and giveth life casts downe and vp doth take 7. Hee makes men poore and hee makes rich hee humbles and raiseth hie 8. Ev'n poore men from the dung and dust Princes equalls to bee For to the Lord the pillars of the earth doe appertaine And therevpon hath hee set fast the world and all therein 9. The feete hee will keepe of his Saints that they may never swerve The wicked shall in darknesse dwell as they do well deserve No man shall by his owne strength stand 10. O Lord stoppe all their strife The Lord will shoot his thunderbolts at him from heaven right rife The ends of earth the Lord shal judge his King hee shall make strong And hee shall his Anoynteds horne lift vp ere it bee long The Song of Hezechiah King of Iudah Esay 38. Text. I Said in the cutting of my dayes I shall goe to the ports of the grave I am deprived of the rest of my yeares I said I shall not see IAH Iah in the land of the living I shall not behold man more with the inhabitants of the world My habitation is gone and flitted from me as a sheep-heards tent I haue cut off as a weaver my lyfe he wil cut me off from the thrum from the daye to the night thou will destroy mee I resolved vnto the morning as a Lyon hee so bruised all my bones from the daye to the night thou consumes me As a crane a swallow I chettered I sighed like a dove myne eyes were lifted vp to the hight IEHOVAH I am weake give me rest What shall I saye both hee said to mee and he himself hath done it I shall goe on all my yeeres with the bitternesse of my soule Lord vpon these they shall live in all wherein the lyfe of my spirit is and thou wilt heale me and give me life Behold for peace I had bitternesse and thou hast loved my soule from the pit of rottennesse because thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back For the graue shal not confesse vnto thee death praise thee neither shall they hope who goe downe to the pit to thy trueth The living the living hee shall confesse vnto thee as I this day the father to the sonnes shall make knowne thy trueth IEHOVAH to saue mee Therefore my songs shall we play all the dayes of our lyfe in the House of IEHOVAH Paraphrase 1. VVHen I thought God was cutting the threed of my life by deaths knife I thought and said within my selfe I shall now die young and child-lesse 2. Then my greatest griefe was that my bodily eyes should not see God for a long time and presentlie to be deprived of the sight of him in the mirrour of his workes word and Sacraments 3. My dwelling place leaves mee and I it as a sheep-herd leaveth his tent the web of my life is cut out as the weaver cutteth out a web out of his loome for I made it short by sins God hath made it short in his justice and gives to mee no rest daye or night 4. After the nights vnrest I looked for no better in the morning but that hee cruelly wold destroy mee 5. The cranes and swallows cannot speak in their pain yet they chatter and the dove cheeps so vnder so great griefe and paine I could doe nothing but mourne sigh lift vp my eyes and heart to God 6. It is the Lord I can neither say good nor euill he hath spoken to mee by his servant
lead captiue thy captivitie thou sonne of Abinoam Then hee that remained ruled over the nobles of the people IEHOVAH shall beare rule to mee among the strong Out of Ephraim whose root streatches to Amalek after Beniamin among thy people out of Machir they came downe and out of Zebulon they that draw with the rod of the writer And the Princes of Isachar with Deborah and Isachar with Barak sent downe to the valley vpon his feete for the divisions of Reuben great thoughts of heart Why sate thou betwixt two folds to heare the bleeting of the flocks for the division of Reuben great searching of heart Gilead dwelt still in the other syde Iordan and why dwelt Dan in ships Asher sat at the sea shore dwelt vpon his Creeks Zebulon Naphtali were the people who did hazard their soule to die vpon the places of the field The Kings came then they fought the Kings of Canaan fought in Taanah at the waters of Megiddo their desire of silver they got not The starres faught from the Heavens out of their degrees fought they with Sisera The river Kison swept theÌ„ away that ancient river Kison My soule shall trample vpon the strong Then were the horsehoofes bruised by the strokes of the strong Curse ye Meroz said the Angell of IEHOVAH Cursing curse yee the inhabitants thereof because they came not to helpe IEHOVAH to helpe IEHOVAH among the strong Iahel the wife of Cheber the Kenite shall bee blessed aboue women aboue women in tent she shall be blessed Hee asked water and shee gaue him milke she broght him butter in a dish for nobles Her hand sent themselves to the naile and her right hand to the haÌ„mer of worke men and shee hammered Sisera she cut off his head shee pricked through and pearsed the temple of his head Betwixt her feete hee was bowed together hee fell hee sleept betwixt her feet hee bowed himselfe hee fell where hee bowed himselfe there hee fell spoyled The mother of Sisera looked through the window and cryed out at the open of the window Why tarryes his charet from comming why are the turning of his foure wheeles made slow Her wise ladies answered vnto her also shee her selfe turned her speaches to her selfe Haue they not found shall they not divyde the spoyle one damosell two damosels for everie man The spoyle of colours for Sisera himselfe the spoyle of party collours of needle worke two of spoyle for the necke So let thy enemies all perish IEHOVAH and let those that loue him bee as the sunne going foorth in his strength Paraphrase PRaise yee the LORD who both hath made you able to revenge your selfe vpon your enemies and given you courage to fight and power to overcome them 2. O yee Kings who trust in your might rulers who lift vp your selfe in pryde heare and hearken vnto the words of this song wherein the LORD the GOD of Israel is praised for it serveth to teach you 3 O LORD when thou led thy people from mount Seir and the land of Edom toward the land of Canaan all creatures in Heaven and earth were moved with thy presence among thy people 4 Yea the mountaines that seemd so solid melted before the face of the LORD even mount Sinai where thou gaue thy law 5. A long time before this our last deliverance our estate was so hard that from the death of Ehud vnto this tyme none durst goe abroad for feare of the enemie 6. And as the people durst not travell in hie wayes So might they not abyde in villages vntill the time that GOD raised mee vp to foretell and confirme the deliverance of his people 7. Because Israel chosed new gods God raised vp new enemies to sight against them and oppresse them so that no weapon was found among them 8. I rejoyce of the Princes of Israel and of the people who came willingly to battell Blesse ye the Lord. 9 Let al sort of people speak of this work of God but namely merchants judges way-faring folke where before hid them selues for feare of the enemie 10. Before for feare of the enemy they durst not come foorth to draw water nor inhabit villages nor minister justice now the case is altered by the righteous acts of the LORD which wee should proclaime 11. Thou Deborah a prophetesse ryse vp and sing thy song of praise to GOD. and thou Barak captaine of the Lords armie triumph over the Cananite 12. When wee were left few in number and dispysed our enemiâ—s were manie and mightie yet the Lord hath made vs rule over theÌ„ 13. To this battel came some of the tribe of Ephraim of Beniamin and of the familie of Machir of the tribe of Manasseh of the tribe of Zebulon men more wise learned then valourous warriours 14. The Princes of Isachar were also with Deborah And Isachars souldiers being footemen attended Barak in the valley It greived vs much that the Reubenites concurred not to helpe vs. 15. Why had thou greater pleasure in the care of thy flocks nor in the care of the commonwealth more care of thy beasts then of GODS people wee marveled much when we saw Reuben absent 16. Gilead came not Dan for feare keept the boats of Iordan to flee away Asher also did stay at home in his surest places for refuge 17 Such courage zeale was in the tribs of Zebulon Naphtali who being few in number in comparison with their enemies did venter 18 Many Kings of Canaan sent their forces with Sisera who fought in the plaine betwixt Taanah Megiddo They looked for greater spoyle riches but brought none away 19. GOD shew himselfe partie against the enemies of his people and caused the starres in their stations fight against them 20. Hee also caused the river Kison to swell drowne them and made his people stout to slay them 21. So sore were the horse put at in fighting and fleeing that they being strong and beating the ground with their feete brake all their hoofes 22. Barak the Lords messenger had good cause to curse and bide curse the inhabitants of Meroz who would not come foorth to helpe GODS people being so neare them 23. Iahel the wife of Cheber the Kenite shall bee much praised aboue other women who dwell in tents 24. When Sisera fled came to her tent to hyde himselfe hee called for water to quench his thirst shee gaue him milke and butter in pretious vessels like a freind or servant 25. But when shee saw him fast a sleepe shee tooke one of the nailes of the tent with a hammer in her right hand wherewith she drove the naile throgh the temples of his head fast in the ground 26. So that hee lay first sleeping next dead among her feete notwithstanding all his strugling in the agony of death So ended this great Captaine oppressor of others 27. Sisera his mother looking for his returne with victorie being impatient whiles looked out at the window
Shee put her right hand and a naile In her left hand least shee should faile And through his temples causd it start Verse 26. Betwixt her feete hee bowed sore Hee fell hee sleept betwixt her feete Vntill in him was life no more And so to die for him was meete Verse 27. When his mother did then looke out To spye the fields round about Shee said my sonne stayes long in streete Verse 28. Her ladies wise did answere make And shee her selfe affirmed to Ver. 29. Now of the spoile their parts they take And so they haue now much ado So many damesels to divyde And colourd garments right well dy'de Right meete their shoulders all vnto Verse 30. O LORD let all those perish so That enemies are to thee and thine And such as loue thee moe and moe As cleare as sunne aboue to shine As cleare as sunne in his great strength So that thy Church may at the length Sing foorth thy praises with mee and myne The Song of CHANNAH 1. Samuel 2. Text. MY heart rejoyceth in IEHOVAH my horne is exalted in IEHOVAH my mouth is enlarged against my enemies for I rejoyce in thy salvation None holy like IEHOVAH for there is none but thou and no rocke like to our GOD. Multiplie not speaches highly highly let not the old come out of your mouth for IEHOVAH is a GOD of sciences and actions are not directed without him The bow of the strong is broken the weake is girded with strength They that were full of bread hath hyred themselfe and the hungrie hath ceased while the barren hath borne seven shee with many sonnes is weakned IEHOVAH kils and giues life casts downe to hell and makes to ascend IEHOVAH makes poore and rich hee causes to fall also hee exalts Hee raises the poore out of the dust hee lifts vp the beggar from the dung hill to make them sit with princes and makes them to inherit the throne of glorie for to IEHOVAH the pillars of the earth doe appertaine and he hath put vpon them the habitable world Hee will preserue the feete of his godly ones and the wicked shall bee silent in darknesse for a man shall not bee made strong by his owne strength IEHOVAH let their contentions be trampled vnder foote he shall thunder from Heaven vpon him IEHOVAH shall judge the ends of the earth and shall giue strength to his King and shall lift vp the horne of his CHRIST Paraphrase 1. OF this late and great benefite O LORD which thou hast bestowed vpon mee I haue conceaved so great joy that my heart which before was heavie now is light and my weakenesse made strong my mouth closed before is now opned against my enemies Pēinna others who reproached mee 2. In thee O LORD I rejoyce justlie who art most holy hath no companion neither is there any so able to saue 3. Speake not proudly as thou was wont to doe O my enemies for the LORD knowes all things and without him we can doe nothing 4 O Peninna thy strength is gone who insulted vpon my barrennesse and I who was weake am made strong 5. The case now is farre changed thou was full of prosperitie now thou must content thy selfe I was in great affliction when I had no child God hath now given to me one childe better nor seven more worth then all thine 6. The LORD is author of all changes can bring contrares out of contrares life out of death prosperitie out of adversitie light out of darknesse Gen. 1. 7. Povertie and riches are from the Lord low estate and honor comes frō him 8. None so poore whō God if hee will can not make rich none so vile but hee can make them honorable even companions to princes setting them in glorious thrones for the Lord hath set the pillars of the earth to it to stand vpon with the inhabitants there of which pillar is his word and power 9. All the wayes of the godly hee will direct and wicked men shall perish in darknesse for no man standeth in his owne strength 10. All who contend against GOD shall bee trode vnder foote hee shall thunder from Heaven against everie one of them the LORD shall judge the whole inhabitants of the world giving glory to his Sonne IESUS CHRIST the King of Kings The argument and analysis of this song CHANNAH the wife of Elkanah who also had another wife called Peninna beeing a long time barren which grieved her much for the Hebrew women knowing the promise of the seed of the woman to tread downe the head of the serpent Gen. 3. and that that seed should of the posteritie of Abraham their father esteemed barrennesse a great crosse And her companion Peninna having children to Elkanah insulting vpon her added affliction to the afflicted Therefore Channah prayed to God earnestly to comfort her to take away her reproach and giue her a son The Lord heard her prayer and gaue her a son whom therefore she called Samuell that is to say The strong God heard And shee beeing moved by the Spirit of GOD made and sung this song The parts of the song are 3. The 1 a proposition with the reason thereof verse 1.2 The 2. a dehortation with the reasons thereof from the 3. verse to the 9. The 3. the conclusion of the song verse 10. The proposition is of Channas joy in the LORD set foorth by the motives of her joy viz. the present benefite recaued and effect thereof her abilitie to answere Peninna and all other that vpbraided her before The reasons of the proposition are 2. the 1. taken frō the efficient joy to wit her deliverance from her griefe and reproach which shee ascribs to GOD and cals it hersalvation verse 1. The 2. reason is taken from the vnchangeable nature of GOD that hee is most holie most strong most true verse 2. The dehortation is proponed in the beginning of the 3. verse The summe of the proposition is That none specially Peninna bee any more proude or vtter loftie language which is the effect of pryde the reason of her dehortation are two The 1. is taken from Gods omniscience The 2. from his powerfull providence verse 3. The 2. reason is illustrat by the effects thereof 4.5.6.7.8 verse of which effects shee showeth the cause in the end of the 8. verse The conclusion of the song containes a pophecie of the salvation of the godly the destruction of the wicked with a reason 9. Next a petition conforme to the prophecie with a repetition more cleare of the prophecie verse 10. Annotations vpon this song AS this song begins so it cōtinues full of metaphors purposes flowing from great feeling and therefore wanting conjunctions In it also there be diverse apostrophees of al these the judicious reader may make vse Verse 1. Thy salvation so said Simeon in his song Luk. 3. for the saincts of old by temporall benefites as this was to Channa were stirred vp to thinke of the great salvation
Esay and is doing accordingly I will never forget this heavie hand of God vpon mee 7. Vpon such meditations the godly shall be comforted in time of sicknesse death as I now hoping yet for life and health from thee O Lord. 8 In place of peace health which I had God layd vpon me sore sicknesse and trouble of Spirit yet hee loves mee because howbeit hee hath afflicted mee sore yet hath hee not delivered mee to death Psal 118. but hath forgiven my sinnes and set mee away with peace 9. And this thou hast done that yet I might worship thee in the land of the living which bodies dead and buried cannot doe 10. But man living as I am yet shall praise thee and one generation shall deliver thy trueth vnto another 11. The Lord was readie to saue mee Therefore my song shall bee sung even this song tuned played vpon musicall instrumēts in witnesse of mee and my peoples thankfulnesse to God for this my deliverance The argument and analysis of this song HEzechiah king of Iudah beeing sicke of a desperat disease which the learned thinke to haue bene a pestilentious fever because mention is made of Byle It was Gods will that the Prophet Esay should say to him hee should die be that disease This messenger did much commoue Hezechiah partly because hee was then a younge man and had no child partly because he beeing tormented both in body and spirit seared death But chiefely because hee having long before resolved to serve God and doe good to his Church this good intention would faile Being in this estate hee prayed and weeped sore and the Lord heard and pittied him Therfore he sent againe to him the Prophet Esay with another more comportable commission then the first namely that hee should not die at this time but haue fifteene yeares added to his yeares hee had lived alreadie hee being thus comforted beganne to recognosce his thoughts in time of his sicknesse and to consider Gods great mercie toward him for the which he promised to bee thankfull all the dayes of his life These things after hee had convalesced hee put in write and makes the argument of this song The parts of the song are three The 1. is a recognoscing of his thoghts and words in tyme of his sicknesse from the 1. verse to the 6. The 2. is the consolation wherewith he comforted himselfe from the 6. verse to the 11. The 3. is the conclusion of the song verse 11. As to the 1. part hee sayeth his thoughts and words were these 1. hee thought and said hee would die of this disease verse 1. Next hee thought and said hee would haue no more tyme place or occasion to serue GOD among men living vpon the earth verse 2. Thirdly hee repeats his thoughts of death in similitude taken from sheepe-heards and weavers verse 3 4. Fourthly by the similitude of Crane swallowes doues hee expresseth his paine prayer verse 5. As for the 2. part to wit his conclusion the grounds thereof are these 1. that GOD declared to him his will by the Prophet that he should die and it was GODS hand vpon him 2. his resolution to passe the rest of his time in humilitie and repentance verse 6. Thirdly he comforts himfelf with Gods promise verse 7. Fourthly he comforteth himself with Gods mercie set downe with the motive thereof that God may bee honoured by his servants living vpon earth verse 8.9.10 The conclusion is that hee wil praise God while he liveth verse 11. Annotations vpon this Song Verse 1. I said through impatience I thought with my selfe I shall goe a description of death Rest of my yeares which by the course of nature I might have looked for Verse 2. I shall not see I shall be deprived of Gods visible presence in his Church I AH I AH This doubling showeth his great loue to God and his worship Verse 3. My habitation hee compareth the life of man to a tent and webbe Verse 4. I resolved That is I layd my compt A Lyon the like Iob David Christ felt Verse 5. Chattered being weake in body wounded in Spirit I could not vtter many words in prayer Verse 6. What shall I say to wit to my Maker see the like chap. 39.8 Iob 1.21 Heli 1. Sam. 3.18 David Psal 39 9 murmuring the contrare condemned Verse 7. These he meaneth Gods word and works Verse 8. For the grave so David Psal 6. Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1. HEZECHIAH left behinde him this song as a monument of Gods mercie towards him so did David many Psalmes and God honoured both with place in holy Scripture which shall not bee forgot or lost so long as the world shall last I will honour those that honour mee saith the LORD 1. Sam. 2.30 Obs 2. verse 1.2.3.4 Hee complaines not for feare of death as loving this life so well that hee had no knowledge faith or hope of a better life after this but heereby he showes what paines he had in his body what agony in his souse beeing sensible of his sins and of Gods anger yet there betwo things that make men willing to die some earthly thing whervnto their heart is teathered or want of knowledge of the joyes of Heaven Obs 3. vers 5. Hee could vtter few words in prayer for griefe and paine yet God saw his teares heard his pittifull sighs and groanes This should teach vs in greatest troubles yea in the midst of the shaddow of death to hold fast our confidence in God Ps 23.4 Heb. 10.35 Obs 4. vers 6. The grounds that Hezeckiah laid for his comfort wee should vse to the lyke end see the analysis Obs 5. The LORD wounds and heales againe kils giues life therefore wee should alwayes feare serue and trust in him 1. Sam. 2.6 Obs 6. The chiefe end of mans lyfe is to know God and serue him therefore this should bee the principall cause of our desire to liue Obs 7. Death is a web of our owne spinning because by sinne wee brought it on vs yet God is said to cut out the web of our life because he begins it promoves it ends it when hee pleases This may bee the moralitie of the Poets fable of the three weirdsisters Obs 8. When God forgiueth a man his sinne hee takes away the punishment also as Hezechiah testifieth by his experience and this refuteth the doctrine of Romanists of remission of sinne and reservation of punishment where vpon they build purgatorie Obs 9.7.8 9.10.11 verse When God hath afflicted vs and delivered vs againe we should be humble thankfull penitent praying for perseverence least wee fall againe with Hezechiah Es 3.9 This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 102. Psalme Verse 1. WHen that I thought my dayes were cut I said vnto the graue I 'me put My yeares are spent no moe remaine 2. GOD in this life to see againe No longer men I say behold Heere vpon earth
shepheards watching their flocks in the night there appeared to them with the Angell a multitude of heavenly souldiers that is to say other Angels congratulating the nativitie of Christ and singing this song The parts of it are 3. The 1. concerneth God that the Angels in HEAVEN were praising him for manifesting his Sonne in the flesh The 2. concerneth mankynd vpon earth to whom peace is wished The 3. maketh mention of a greater benefite to them even GODS loving kindnesse Annotations vpon this song GOod will The Syriak exponeth a good message Peace For so it was then through all the world Men The Syriak exponeth the sonnes of man Observations for vse and doctrine IT is customable to earthly Princes to congratulate by their Ambassadors one another when children are procreated to them but the lyke of this was never heard before nor shall be heereafter That the eternall infinite everlasting GOD should send from Heaven a multitude of Angels his Ambassadours to congratulate the birth of a bairne teaching vs in what estimation GOD hath his sonne new manifested in the flesh how willing hee sent him in the world to redeeme vs. Obs 2. Outward peace is little worth where peace of conscience is away therefore to peace is well joyned Gods good will the sense whereof giveth peace inward This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 117. Psalme IN highest Heaven to GOD is glore Let men on earth yet praise him more For hee to vs his peace hath send In praising him our life to spend To men hath shew'd his great good will To laud his name should wee be still The song of Simeon Luke 2. Text. NOW LORD thou lettest goe thy servant in peace according to thy word For my eyes haue seene thy salvation Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glorie of thy people Israell Paraphrase 1. LORD thou said I should not depart froÌ„ this life vntill I had seene Messias now I haue seene him and am readie to die with peace and joy 2. Even with the eyes of body I haue seene him who shall saue vs. 3. Even Christ Iesus vpon whom both Iews Gentiles should looke and belieue in him their saviour 4. That light that was promised to bee revealed to the Gentiles and the glorie of the Iews being flesh of their flesh and bone of their bones The argument and analysis of this song SIMEON a just and godly man living in the dayes when IESUS CHRIST was borne had a revelation from the holy Ghost that hee should not see death before with his bodilie eyes hee had seene the LORDS CHRIST And when Ioseph and Mary brought Iesus to Ierusalem to present him to the LORD and offer according to the law of purification of women Simeon beeing mooved by the Spirit of GOD came to the Temple and tooke the babe IESUS in his armes and blessed GOD and vttered the words of this song shewing therewithall what child this was and what hee should bee The parts of the song are 2. The 1. in substance a thanksgiving in forme an affirmatiue proposition containing beside the subject and attribute the circumstance of time in the word now and of manner in the words according to thy word verse 1. The 2 part is a reason of the thanksgiving or proposition because he had seene with his bodilie eyes the Messiah whom he describs calling him the Gentils light Israels glory Annotations vpon this song Vers 1. LEttest goe The Greeke word is a metaphor from ships lowsing from one place to another port the Syriak hath Now let mee goe In peace That is happilie with inward peace joy Verse 2. My eyes that is the eyes of my body for otherwayes Abraham long before Simeon saw Christ with the eye of saith Iohn 8. is that sight which the Prophets desired to see beside the sight of faith 1. Pet 1 My salvation That is IESUS the Saviour thy Son The Syriak hath thy gratious Verse 3. Before the face as a worke to looke vnto and a light to follow Glory because come of them according to the flesh Observations for vse and doctrine Obs 1. SImeon Swan-lyke for whyte haires sang this sweet song before his death As Moses did another Deut. 32. Obs 2. The dayes were verie evill wherein Simeon lived which did appearantly make him wearie of his lyfe So Elias Ieremiah and other holy men haue bene tempted with this tentation Obs 3. The metaphor froÌ„ Mariners hauing a cable cast fast where they minde not to stay and casting it lowse when they will goe home teacheth vs that the life of the godly is a voyage throgh many stormes their death a goâ—â—â— home to their Heaven their port their rest Obs 4. The houre of our death is appointed by God therefore wee should neither too much loue life not hasten or feare to die Obs 5. vers 1. The end of the godly is peace Ps 37. Es 57. but no peace to the wicked ibid. Obs 6. vers 3. Christ is set forth by the preaching of the Ghospell before all people yet some looke vpon him and offend others looke vpon him and belieue 1. Cor. 1.13 1. Pet. 2.8 7. This song in meeter to the tune of the 25. Ps 1. NOW lettest thou O LORD thy servant part in peace According to thy promise made to mee of thy good grace 2. For why my eyes haue seene my LORD and Saviour 3. Whom thou hast set before our face to looke on every houre And al 's before the face of other people all 4. For heer 's the light revealed now to Gentiles whom wee call In whom Isra'l may glore as beeing Abrahams feed And sent to them now in due time in time of their great need FINIS