Though the old age of Simeon is nowhere asserted, it may be easily inferred from the brief account of him before us. It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ. This makes the impression that, in the course of nature, he had reason to be expecting death, and that a special exemption from it had been assured to him until he should see Christ; so that, when he saw him, he regarded it as the sign of his speedy departure from the world, which he would not have done had there not been reason, in his condition, to feel that his continuance in life was not long to be expected.

We may, therefore, regard him as an old man, and full of days, with those infirmities and sorrows which are peculiar to advanced years; and yet, in the midst of them, there was an earnest hope and expectation to see that see that promised Lord, and this desire was like a staff to him while he daily waited for the tidings of the Saviour's birth, which his own great age, and the near approach of death, in the natural order of things, convinced him could not be far off.

He was "a just man," of blameless life, "a devout man," living under the influence of religious contemplations, and performing his duties to God, in public and private, with sincerity and in an exemplary

manner.

He "waited for the consolation of Israel." The prophets had spoken of the Saviour's birth as an event that would bring great consolation with it to the hearts of all who loved God. Thus Isaiah, predicting the coming Messiah, said, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." "Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, for the Lord hath comforted his people." "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, had spoken in the same manner, and Zechariah, so near to the time of Christ, had said, "For the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." The modern Jews speak of the days of the Messiah, whom they still expect, as the days of consolation, and a form of oath among them is this: "I swear by my desire of seeing the consolation." When we call to mind how kings and prophets had desired to see the times of Christ, but died without the sight, how the glowing rhapsodies of Isaiah, and the revelations made to Daniel, with regard to Messiah's kingdom, had excited the national mind, while those who had correct spiritual views of the Redeemer had associated him with the forgiveness of sins, through faith in the blood which was to abolish the ceremonial law, and speak that peace to the guilty conscience which types and forms could do only by a borrowed power, we can easily suppose that the

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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.

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.'

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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. 66 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 Farewell.

has come.

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