But in this apparition we see further, a question, and answer; 1. The Angels question Mary, Woman why weepest thou? May I paraphrase upon these words? it is as if they had said, O Mary! what cause is there for these tears? where Angels rejoice, it agrees not that a woman should weep; thou couldst before with a manly courage arm thy feet to run among swords when thou camest to the grave, and art thou now so much a woman that thou canst not command thine eyes to forbear tears? O woman, why weepest thou? If thy Christ were here in his grave, under this Tomb-stone, we might think thy sorrow for the dead enforced thy tears, but now that thou findest it a place of the living, why dost thou stand here weeping dead? for if thy tears be tears of love, as thy love is acknowledged, so let these tears be suppressed; if thy tears be tears of anger, they should not here have been shed, where all anger was buried; if thy tears be tears of sorrow and duties to the dead, they are bestowed in vain where the dead is now revived; and therefore, O woman, why weepest thou? would our eyes be dry, if such eye-streams were behoveful for us? did not Angels always in their visible resemblances represent their Lords invisible pleasure; shadowing their shapes in the drifts of his intentions? As for instance, when God was incensed they brandished swords; when he was appeased, they sheathed them in scabbards; when he would defend, they resembled Soldiers; when he would terrify, they took terrible forms; and when he would comfort, they carried mirth in their eyes, sweetness in their countenance, mildness in their words, savour, and grace, and comeliness in their presence: why then dost thou weep, seeing us to rejoice? dost thou imagine us to degenerate from our nature, or to forget any duty, whose state is neither subject to change, nor capable of the least offence? art thou more fervent in thy love, or more privy to the counsel of our eternal God, than we that are daily attendants at his Throne of glory? O woman, why weepest thou? Thus for Paraphrase.
But in this apparition we see further, a question, and answer; 1. The Angels question Mary, Woman why weepest thou? May I paraphrase upon these words? it is as if they had said, O Mary! what cause is there for these tears? where Angels rejoyce, it agrees not that a woman should weep; thou couldst before with a manly courage arm thy feet to run among swords when thou camest to the grave, and art thou now so much a woman that thou canst not command thine eyes to forbear tears? O woman, why weepest thou? If thy Christ were here in his grave, under this Tomb-stone, we might think thy sorrow for the dead enforced thy tears, but now that thou findest it a place of the living, why dost thou stand here weeping dead? for if thy tears be tears of love, as thy love is acknowledged, so let these tears be suppressed; if thy tears be tears of anger, they should not here have been shed, where all anger was buried; if thy tears be tears of sorrow and duties to the dead, they are bestowed in vain where the dead is now revived; and therefore, O woman, why weepest thou? would our eyes be dry, if such eye-streames were behoveful for us? did not Angels alwayes in their visible resemblances represent their Lords invisible pleasure; shadowing their shapes in the drifts of his intentions? As for instance, when God was incensed they brandished swords; when he was appeased, they sheathed them in scabbards; when he would defend, they resembled Souldiers; when he would terrifie, they took terrible forms; and when he would comfort, they carried mirth in their eyes, sweetness in their countenance, mildness in their words, savour, and grace, and comeliness in their presence: why then dost thou weep, seeing us to rejoyce? dost thou imagine us to degenerate from our nature, or to forget any duty, whose state is neither subject to change, nor capable of the least offence? art thou more fervent in thy love, or more privy to the counsel of our eternal God, than we that are daily attendants at his Throne of glory? O woman, why weepest thou? Thus for Paraphrase.
