desire to see Christ was a most intense desire, combining all the patriotic feeling, and the love of liberty, and the hope of deliverance from the Roman power; and also in some, like Simeon, the more spiritual expectation of coming nearer to God than by the help of altars and slain beasts; as the prophet had said: "But he is wounded for our transgressions, he is bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace is upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." To see that which Abraham, their great ancestor, desired to see, and of which, by faith, he had a distinct idea presented to his mind, and was glad; to see him whom great Aaron typified, but before whom Aaron must resign his mitre and his breastplate; to look on him that was greater than Moses, bringing grace and truth instead of a broken and fiery law; to see him who was David's Lord, and yet David's son, this expectation surpassed all that we can imagine, and, as the time drew near, the desire must have risen to intensity.

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This aged Simeon feared that he should close his eyes in death before that day should dawn and that daystar arise in his heart. How we sometimes long to live that we may behold certain things which, if we are in heaven, we shall enjoy as fully, and, indeed, more perfectly, than here. And yet we feel that to see those things in our day, among the living, to share in the joy of others in beholding the fulfil

ment of a promise or hope, will comfort our last hours, gently break our hold on life, and make us more willing to die. God had graciously condescended to grant the desires of Simeon in this particular, and the time drew near.

One day he "came by the Spirit into the temple,” moved by a divine impulse to repair to the house of God, no doubt to perform his devotions. God had ordered it that, at that moment, the parents of Jesus should bring him in for the rite of circumcision. There the disclosure was made to this aged man that his desire was fulfilled: The Lord whom ye seek' has suddenly come to his temple; even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in, behold, he is come, saith the Lord of hosts.'

No doubt some divine communication was made to the mind of Simeon at that time; for we are told that the Holy Ghost was upon him, so that he was inspired to know who the child was, and to utter the predictions which followed. "Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God."

See now the heart of the old man, long buffeting with infirmity and the signs of approaching dissolution. He speaks, first of all, concerning the laying down of the load of life, with that desire gratified which alone had made life tolerable. "Lord," he says, "now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy

salvation." Come, death, so long waiting for me; I have nothing more to live for; my hopes and wishes are fulfilled, for I have seen the Lord's Christ. I leave the world with the Messiah born into it. My people, my kindred, ye Gentile nations, your Saviour has come. Farewell.

The act of the venerable old man in the temple, evidently under the influence of a prophetic spirit, must, of course, have astonished the parents of Christ. "And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him." Mine eyes, he said, have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. To the simple, humble parents of the child, these solemn words, and, no doubt, the most impressive and affecting appearance of the old man, holding the child in his arms, and pouring out utterances of prophetic ecstasy, were more than they could comprehend, notwithstanding the wonders attending his conception and birth. But, to their marvel, the holy seer replied with other words no less surprising. "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother," (how much nature there is in speaking to the mother about the child, rather than to the father,) "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce

through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

The brief history of this aged worshipper of the child Jesus, as well as his words of significant import, furnish much instruction. The object of these discourses, as already stated, is to illustrate the faith and love of which Christ has been the object, and thereby to encourage and quicken our faith and love, and, if need be, to remove the coldness of our affections.

I. SIMEON IS AN EXAMPLE TO US OF FAITH IN CHRIST, AND OF Strong AFFECTION TOWARDS Him.

Is this the promised Messiah, this babe in the arms of a poor woman of Bethlehem, her husband bearing in his basket "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons," unable to bring the usual offering of a lamb, but availing himself of the alternative offering prescribed for the poor? What a sight is this! What an entrance into the world, if this be the Messiah! Does this meet and fulfil Isaiah's vision, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace"? Is this "the desire of nations," "the Lord whom ye seek," "even the messenger of the covenant"? Is this "the King of the Jews," this "the man that is my fellow, saith the

Lord of hosts"? What faith Simeon must have had, to believe the simple word of God in the face of all the disparaging and contradictory circumstances of that child.

But perhaps we are tempted to say, No wonder that he believed, notwithstanding all these unfavorable circumstances; for he was moved by the Holy Ghost, and so was led, by a secret impulse upon his mind, to feel that that child was the Messiah.

And is it so easy to believe under strong impressions, when every thing that is circumstantial discourages faith? How is it with us? We have a persuasion that certain doctrines are taught in Scripture, but there is opposition to them. Some treat them with scorn, and, what is worse, we cannot explain the mysteries in them, and must confess that they are above reason. Do we still embrace the truth, as Simeon did the child Jesus, and say, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation?

We have a strong persuasion, confirmed by observation, that we ought, without delay, to make our peace with God. By impressions upon our minds, as strong as can be made consistently with our freedom, the Holy Ghost says, "To-day, after so long a time, ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." But our companions entice us, the world charms us,

if

pleasure sings with enchanting voice, alluring us to