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If one had watch'd a prisoner many a year,

Standing behind a barred window-pane,

Fettered with heavy handcuff and with chain,

And gazing on the blue sky far and clear;

And suddenly some morning he should hear

The man had in the night contrived to gain

His freedom, and was safe, would this bring pain?

Ah! would it not to dullest heart appear

Good tidings?

(Helen Hunt.)Sift therefore the agreeableness of those two parts, attend to these particulars:

1. Here is a supplicant the servant of the Lord — "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant."

2. The petition of his soul — "to depart."

3. The time which he sets — "Now, Lord, now ."

4. He pleads that he was well prepared to depart, for his heart was in peace, "Lord now ."

5. The assurance in which he trusted that God would grant him his desire, for it was according to His word.

6. And principally: Here is the reason upon which he framed his desire why he would depart, he had seen that which his soul waited for before it flitted away, "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."

(Bishop Hacker.)

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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;