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THe blessed VIRGIN being in the middest of this ioye, Simeon blessing her, saide vnto her with a propheticall Spirit: Behold this Childe is set vnto the ruine, and vnto the re∣surrection of many in Israel, and for a signe which shallbe contradicted; and thine owne Soule shall a sworde pearce, that out of many Heartes cogitations may be reuealed.
Concerning this prophecye, [ 1] I will consider first, the dessignes of God in alaying the Con∣tentments of the VIRGIN; for that when as she was most joyfull of the honour that was donne vnto her Sonne, he would discouer vnto her the Afflictions that the Childe was to suffer, & the sworde of sorrowe that for his sake should peirce her Soule, that forthwith she might begin to beare the peircing of that sworde, and might taste the bitternesse of his passion.
O most wise, and most louing God, how much thou likest to giue vnto thy elected these mixtures of Con∣solations, and disconsolations! sometimes thou exal∣test them vnto heauen, and againe thou abasest them vnto the depths: sometimes thou woundest their heart with the woundes of Loue, and some∣times with the sworde of dolour; demonstrating in the one, and in the other the profundity of thy wisdome, and the sweetenesse of thy Charitye: which seeing thou hast so dessigned, beholde me heere pre∣pared for all: peirce my Soule with this sworde as thou wilt, so that I may be accounted in the number of thy elected. Amen.
Secondly, I will ponder two memorable things, [ 2] that Simeon prophecyed of the Childe: the first, that he was set for the resurrection, and falling of many: for that many for his cause should raise themselues from Sinne to a high degree of Sanctitye; and others, for that they would not make their proffit of his comming, should come to fall into the depth of ini∣quitye, of the which they themselues are in the faulte; for Christ our Lord for his parte desireth to be a resurrection vnto all, and not a stone of offence vnto any. The second is, that he should be a newe prodigious, and admi∣rable
signe, but yet a signe which his enemies should contradict, resisting his Doctrine, ca∣lumniating his miracles, and persecuting his life, euen vnto the nailing him to a Crosse, where he should be to the elected a signe of life, but to the reprobate of Damnation, by whose power should be discouered the fidelli∣tye, and loyaltye of the Disciples, which was couered in their Heartes.
Pondering these two things which continue euen to this daye, I am to be astonished at the iudgements of God in this case, and to be compassionate for the perdition of such a multitude of Infidells, and euill Christians, procuring to haue my Soule peirced with the sworde of Dolour, as that of the blessed VIR∣GIN was peirced, and withall beseeching this our Lord, that his comming bee not to my fall, but to my resurrection, and that it may be to me a signe of life, in whome I may beleeue, and hope, and whome I may loue, and imitate in being one of his Disciples, whome he calleth by the Prophet Isaias, a signe, and a prodigye, endeuouring that my Wordes, and Actions may be admirable like his. And if heereupon it shall happen that many doe contradict, and persecute me, I am to reioice thereat, taking it for an assurance that I am much fauored by God, seeing he maketh me so like vnto his Sonne.
Luc. 2.34
Colloquie.
Ps. 106.26
Isa. 8.14. & 15.
Isa. 11.10
Isa. 8.18.