§. Waiting for the consolation of Israel.
It is an Article of the Jewish Creed, To believe the coming of the Messias, and to wait and wait for his coming, although he defer it: which foolishly they do even to this day, af∣ter sixteen hundred years expired since he came. But Simeons expectation is neither so vain nor so uncertain: For, besides the general expectation of the whole Nation, that the Messias should appear about that time, Luke 19. 11. he had it by a special and assured revelation, ver. 26.
The coming of Christ, is called The consolation of Israel, from Isa. 49. 13. & 52. 9. & 66. 13. Jer. 31. 13. Zech. 1. 17. and such like places, which the Jews do not only apply to the coming of the Messias, but also in their Talmud, questioning what his name should be when as he came, some conclude it to be Menahem, The Comforter, from Lam. 1. 16. In Sanhedr.
Ver. 26. That he should not see * 1.1 death before he had seen the Lords Christ.
This was the time when the Nation expected that Messias should appear, Luke 19. 11. and began to look for redemption near at hand, Luke 2. 38. The Angel Gabriel to Daniel, and he to the people had so determinately pointed out the time, Dan. 9. 26, 27. that not only Jews of all Nations are gathered to Jerusalem, against the expiring of that Prophesie, Act. 2. but also all the East was possessed with an opinion of a Prince to rise about these times, of supereminent honour, glory, and dominion. Baron. in Appar. &c. Sueton. Virgil, &c.
Simeon having learned the time with the rest of the studious of the Nation, out of the Scripture, hath the certainty of it sealed up to him by the spirit of Prophesie, which assured him that the time of so great expectation was so near at hand, that he though he were old, yet should not die, till he had seen what he desired: And thus Prophesie, that was departed from Israel so long ago, is returning and dawning to it again, to be as the morning Star, to tell that the Sun of righteousness would rise ere long.
Ver. 35. Yea a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also.
These words seem to be of the same tenor and intent with those of our Saviour to Pe∣ter, Joh. 21. 18. and to tell Mary of her suffering martyrdom for Christ and the Gospel, as those do of his. For Simeon having in the preceding verse related, how Christ both in his person and in the Gospel, should be as a sign to be spoken against, persecuted, and opposed, yea, saith he, and thou his Mother also, for his and the Gospels sake, shalt drink of the same cup, and partake of the same lot, for the sword of persecution shall go through thy life also (for so the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doth often signifie.)