he asking writting tables because he could not speake wrote his name shall bee IOHN and immediatly his tongue was loosed and he opned his mouth and praised GOD. And beeing filled with the Spirit of GOD hee spake the words of this song The summe of it is he praised GOD for performing of his promise concerning Messiah made to their father Abraham and to David and foretold by the holy Prophets since the world beganne and in the end he prophecieth that his sonne Iohn should be the forerunner and furriour of CHRIST The parts of the song are three The 1. containeth the praise of GOD or an exhortation to praise him ver 1. at the beginning The 2. part containes the reasons of the exhortation from the 1. to the 9. And they are in number 3. The 1. is the visitation of his people The 2. is the redemption of them verse 1. The 3. reason is the raising vp of the horne of salvation in the house of David verse 2. All these 3. reasons are illustrate by comparing the promises of God and prophecies with these things the event and accomplishment of them verse 3.4.5.6.7.8 The 3. part of the song containes a prophecie concerning his sonne Iohn that he should bee called a Prophet be the furriour and sorerunner of CHRIST verse 9. Next the ministrie and doctriné of Iohn viz. to point out Messiah prepare the people to receaue him teach the doctrine of repentance faith for receaving by the mercie of GOD remission of sinnes verse 10.11 Thirdly hee sets downe the finall cause of CHRISTS first comming to wit to giue light comfort life eternall to all those that should beleeue in him verse 12.13 Annotations vpon this song Verse 1. BLessed The verb be is to be vnderstood Visited This word in holy Scripture signifieth whiles to punish Exod. 20. whiles to doe good as heere where it imports the personall presence of GOD in his Sonne IESUS CHRIST comming in the flesh to see the estate of GODS Church on earth and to redeeme them See Exod. 3.8 Redemption This word is diversly taken 1. for delivering by force and power out of the hand of the enemie as GOD redeemed his people out of Egypt 2. For going free with the enemies good will as the redemption from the Babylonian Captivitie 3. For ransoming that is paying the just pryce as heere and els where Verse 2 The Horne That is the strength a metaphor from horned beasts Verse 7. Without feare That is with confidence Eph. 3.12 for feare heere doth not signifie religious reverence but griefe for evill to come Verse 10. In the remission or by the remission of sinnes which is the manner by the which GOD saves vs. Rom. 4.7 Verse 11. Who commeth from aboue The Greeke word properly signifieth the sunne rysing And Messiah is so called in Hebrew Ier. 23.5 Zach. 3.8 Peace In the old Testament often signifieth prosperitie and in the New but heere it imports happinesse everlasting In this way CHRIST by his word leads vs for hee is the way the veritie and life Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1 ALbeit these words of Zacharie bee called a prophecie yet the learned calleth this the second song in the New Testament There is indeed a prophecie in the foure last verses but the former containerh the praise of GOD. Obs 2. verse 1. It hath alwayes beene the practise of the godly after sight or sense of Gods benefites temporall or spirituall to praise GOD so should wee Obs 3. GOD maketh his promises to his Church good when there is least appearance hence the proverb when man is weakest GOD is strongest Obs 4. verse 2. The raising vp of the horne of salvation in the house of David is the continuing of Davids kingdome to bee an everlasting kingdome in the person of CHRIST Obs 5. The comparison of prophecies with their event argue the Scripture to be the word of GOD. Obs 6 verse 3. All the Patriarchs and Prophets beleeued and looked for the comming of Christ 1. Pet. 1. Obs 7. verse 4 5.6 The Covenant of grace is that God would forgiue vs our sinnes save vs from enemies chiefely spirituall sinne Satan death put vs in the estate of grace and bring vs to glorie which benefites Christ meriteth to vs by his death Obs 8. verse 8. The end of our redemption is that wee serue God Christ his Sonne in true holinesse righteousnes before him beware of hypocrisie Ps 50. Obs 9. Iohn new borne is installed in his office by the holy Ghost Obs 10. verse 10. The onely way to salvation by remission of sinnes through the merit of the blood of Christ was shewed in the bloody sacrifices from the beginning types heereof Obs 11. Gods mercie is over all his workes Psal 145.9 but the bowels of his mercie that is his superaboundant love towards his chosen in redeeming of them by Christ his Sonne Obs 12. verse 11. CHRIST is compared to the morning starre the sunne the light an orient from aboue all which haue good vse to comfort vs. This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 18. Psalme 1. THE LORD the GOD of Israel bee blest and praisde alway For hee with great redemption hath visit vs this day 2. The horne now of salvation to vs is raised hie Vnto the house of David his beloved as wee see 3. As did foretell our fathers all who prophets were by name Since that the world did first beginne by them hee spoke the same 4. That wee should bee delivered out of our enemies hand From everie one that did vs hate or that should vs withstand 5. According to the Covenant once with our fathers made Of mercie now remembered though they long since bee deade 6. The oath which vnto Abraham our father hee did sweare 7 To give to vs deliverance to serue him without feare 8. In righteousnesse and holynesse sincere before his face So long as life should in vs dure and that from race to race 9. And thou my little babe shall bee prophet of the most Hie And so bee cald because that thou the LORD himselfe shall see And thou before him first shall goe his way for to prepare 10. Instructing to salvation his people lesse and maire 11. That vnto them remission of all their sinnes is given 12. By GODS most tender mercie now set foorth before our eyne For now the Sunne of righteousnesse hath shyned from aboue 13. To them that sit in darknesse and in shaddow of the graue Our paths for to direct into the way that leads to peace And everlasting glorie next The Song of the Angels at the birth of CHRIST Luk. 2. Text. GLORY to GOD in the most High and in the earth peace to men good will Paraphrase GLORY is giving to GOD in the most hy Heavens peace is now vpon earth and good news to men The argument and analysis of this song ONE Angell maketh manifest the birth of Christ to
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
although I would 3. My tabernacle now is rent I flit as sheepheards doe from tent My web like weaver I cut out My like I meane for thou but doubt Will mee cut off O LORD with noy And mee from day to night destroy No rest I get into the night 4. And in the morning by his might Lyke to a lyon hee mee breakes Both day and night so sore hee shakes 5. As Crane or Swallow or lyke Doue I murne I sigh I chatter now I lift my eyes I say this best LORD I am weake giue thou mee rest 6. I hold my peace because that hee Both said and did all this to mee With sorrow humble will I goe Spending my life heereafter so 7. Vpon thy promise wee depend And on thy mercie without end These are the life of this my spirit To make mee heale thou thinks it meete 8. In place of peace I had great paine Thou lov'd my soule brought it againe From pit for all my sinnes past Behind thy backe now thou hast cast 9. Man gone to graue cannot confesse Nor praise thy name there more or lesse Nor can they trust more in thy treuth 10 But such on earth whom thou hast reuth As I this day now living doe Thy trueth their seed will tell vnto 11. The LORD was readie mee to saue The song of the blessed Virgin Marie Luk. chap. 1. MY soule magnifieth the LORD And my spirit leaps for joy in GOD my Saviour Because hee hath looked vnto the humilitie of his hand-maid for behold from this time all nations shall call mee blessed For hee who is mighty hath done vnto me great things and holy is his Name And his mercie to generations of generations to them that feare him Hee hath done a powerfull worke with his arme hee hath scattered the proude with the discourse of their heart Hee hath pulled the mightie out of thrones and hath exalted the humble Hee filled the hungry with good things and hath sent the rich away emptie Hee hath taken vp Israel his child to remember his mercie As hee spake to our fathers Abraham and his seed for ever 1. I Am so ravished with admiration of the mercie goodnesse and power of GOD toward mee that all the powers of my soule concurre with my tounge to praise him 2. And this is the cause of the exceeding great joy of my spirit even to thinke vpon GOD my Saviour 3. Who hath looked vpon mee his handmaid of low degree and hath honored me so that now in al tims to come all people shall proclaime mee a blessed woman the mother of that blessed seed 4 For the strong and holie GOD hath done great and wonderfull things by me 5. And he is not onely good to me but also to all that loue him and serue him in all ages 6. By his mightie power he hath wroght a great work he hath dissipat the proud and all their devyces 7. God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble exalting them which will be seene shortly vpon my Sonne me and Herod 8. Such as were poore and in hard estate as my husband and I he hath made aboundantly content And vpō rich men as Herod he is bringing great miserie and male-contentment 9. With his owne hand hee hath lifted vp Israel his servant and exalted him who before was despised remembring his covenant of grace made with Abraham Isaac and Iacob our fathers 10 Even that everlasting covenant concerning the seed of Abraham The argument and analysis of this song MARIE having harkned to the message of the Angell Gabriel hasted to Hebron a towne of the trybe of Iudah pertaining to the Levits situat among the mountaines where Zachariah Elisabeth her coosin dwelt to show her this mervelous worke of God with her that she a virgin not knowing man had conceived by the holy Ghost that child who should bee the Messias promised to the fathers Now so soone as Mary came to Elisabeth and saluted her At the voyce of Maries salutation Iohn the Baptist who was to bee the forerunner of CHRIST leapt within the wombe of Elisabeth And Elisabeth beeing filled with the holy Ghost told Marie the tydings she came to tell her before Marie vttered a word more then the salutation and shee proclaimed Marie to bee a blessed woman the mother of her LORD the fruite of her wombe blessed and shew her that so soone as shee heard the voyce of her salutation her owne child leapt for joy within her bellie Even Iohn sayeth Augustine moving saluteth Christ whom as yet hee could not salute with words And Elisabeth assured Marie that that should come to passe which was told her from the Lord by his Angell Then Marie moved by the holie Spirit vttered the words of this song containing the praise of GOD for his great mercie and goodnesse towards her and towards all his servants in all ages and for his wise just powerfull providence for his Church and against the enemies thereof according to his covenant with Abraham and his seed for ever The parts of the song are 2. the 1. containeth a proposition of her praising of GOD and rejoycing in him verse 1.2 The 2. containeth reasons of the proposition which are 7. in number The 1. is taken from GODS goodnesse towards her and the consequent thereof that hence foorth all ages shall call her blessed verse 3. The 2 is taken from GODS wonderfull power in working with her and his holinesse verse 4. The 3. is taken from the continuing of Gods mercie to his servants their posteritie verse 5. The 4. is taken from Gods power over the enemies of his Church verse 6. The 5. is taken from GODS power and justice over wicked men bee they never so mightie and his power goodnesse grace to such as in humilitie serue him verse 7. The 6. is taken from Gods compassion vpon poore ones his dispysing of the rich who trust in their riches The 7. is taken from Gods goodnesse to his people Israell and the efficient cause thereof to wit his covenant with their fathers verse 9.10 Annotations vpon this Song Verse 1. MAgnifieth that is inlarges it self to think of his greatnesse and goodnesse for no creature can comprehend GOD fully farre lesse adde to his perfection Verse 2. In or for and this sheweth the efficient cause and verie object of her joy My Saviour The Syriak interpretation is quickning mee Verse 3. Looked that is favourablie accepted Gen. 4. chap. v. 4.5 Humilitie The word imports a low and despysed estate not the merite of vertue in her as they alledge who mantaine that divine worship is due to Marie in a hy degree But Theophylactus exponing these words sayeth better I shall bee called blessed not for my vertue but because GOD hath done great things for me Verse 5. To generations according to the promise Exod. 20.6 Psal 103.17 Feare him feare in holy Scripture oft signifyeth all duety wee owe to GOD and
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