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As soon as a truly-awakened soul sees Jesus, though it be but the beginnings of Him, it recognizes Him; it recognizes the hem of His garment, and the print of His feet. Though the Lord be seen only as an Infant, and the heart's idea of Him is very incomplete, yet He is perceived to be the Incomparable One, and the soul cries out, "He is all my salvation and all my desire."

I. We learn from Simeon that CHRIST IS SALVATION. Not only a Saviour, but Salvation itself. And the only Salvation. And God's Salvation. You have salvation in every aspect of it, and every form of it, as soon as you have obtained Christ. You must trust Him in everything and for everything.

II. CHRIST IS TO BE TAKEN UP INTO OUR ARMS AND TO BE LOOKED AT.

1. A grasp of faith.

2. A grasp of love.

III. WHEN CHRIST IS TAKEN UP INTO THE ARMS AND LOOKED UPON HE HAS A WONDERFUL EFFECT.

1. Waiting is ended.

2. Simeon was excited to praise the Lord.

3. Now that he had seen the Lord's Christ, he desired to close his eyes upon all else. I have heard of stone who have looked on the sun unadvisedly, till they could not see anything else; but his I know, that he who looks on Christ becomes blind to all rival attractions. If these eyes have once seen the salvation of God, it looks like sacrilege to set them upon the base things of time and sense. Let the gate be closed through which Jesus has entered; it seems profane to allow a single object belonging to this traitorous world to enter our mind by eye-gate any more. Having eaten the white bread of heaven, we want no more of the husks of earth; having bad a glimpse of the Incarnate God, what is there more to see?

4. He was now prepared to look on death.

5. Ready to behold the glory of God. We must first look at Christ, and when our eyes have been brightened and strengthened by the mild splendours of Incarnate Deity, they will be fitted to behold the King Himself as He sits upon the throne.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

WEB: "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;