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The XXV. Meditation. Of what happened in the Presentation, with Simeon, and Anna the Prophetesse.
The first Pointe.
IN those dayes there was a man in Hierusalem named Simeon, and this man was iust, and reli∣gious, expecting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Ghoste was in him, and he had receiued an aunswere from the holy Ghoste, that he should not see deathe, vnlesse he sawe first the Christ of our Lord.
Vpon this pointe I will consider first, [ 1] how the holy Ghoste desiring to manifest IESVS Christ newly borne, raised vp two Prophets that might knowe him, and manifest him, as he made Zacharias, and Elizabeth Prophets to manifest him before he was borne: to this ende he layed his hande vpon Simeon, preparing him for his office with those admirable Vertues recounted by the Euangelist: saying first, [ 1] that he was a iust man, and religious, fearing God, and puntuall in the obseruation of the whole lawe, without ad∣mitting any breache thereof: for no man is saide to feare, but he that auoydeth the leaste sinnes of all, according to that saying of the wiseman: He that feareth God, Nihil negligit, despiseth nothing, by making small accoumpt thereof. Secondly, that he had greate hope, [ 2] and therewith feruent desires of the comming of Christ for the saluation of his people. [ 3] And thirdly he