1Touch me not. Why? he would have Thomas not only touch, but to put his finger into his side, that is more then touching him. But our Saviours intent is to meet with a disposition in Mary something carnal, something low and mean, in regard of this glorious occasion, Christ being now risen and glorified; for his resurrection was the first degree of his glorification. And therefore touch me not. She came with too much a carnal ⟨p. 36⟩2mind to touch him, when we said Rabboni, it was not satisfaction enough for her to answer Rabboni; but she runneth to him, and claspeth him, and clingeth about him, as the affection of love did dictate to her. But saith he, touch me not in such a manner, this is not a fit manner for thee to touch me in, now I am risen again. In a word, she had a thought to converse with Christ, in as familiar a manner, as before, when she poured ointment on his head. He was the same person, but the case is altered; that was in the days of his humiliation, now he was 3risen again, and it was the first degree of his glorification. There was another manner of converse due to him, and therefore, touch me not. Thou thinkest to touch me as thou didst before, 4but thou must not do it. She was too much addicted to his bodily presence. 1. It is that, that men will labour after, and have laboured for, even from the beginning of the world, to be too much addicted to present things, and to sense. They will worship Christ, but they must have a picture before them They will adore ⟨p. 37⟩Christ; but they must bring his body down into a piece of bread, they must have a presence. And so instead of raising their hearts to God and Christ in a heavenly manner, they pull down God and Christ to them; this the pride, and base earthliness of man will do. And therefore saith Christ, touch me not, in that manner; It is not with me now as it was before. 5We must take heed of mean and base conceits of Christ. What saith Paul, 2 Cor. 5. I know uo man now, according to the flesh, no, not Christ himself, now he is risen. Christ was of such a Tribe, Stature, had such gifts and qualities. What is that to me? Christ is now Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. He is glorious in Heaven, and so I conceive of him. I know no man after the flesh, no, not Christ himself. I forget what he was on earth, and think of him, what he is now in Heaven.
1Touch me not. Why? he would have Thomas not only touch, but to put his finger into his side, that is more then touching him. But our Saviours intent is to meet with a disposition in Mary something carnall, something low and mean, in regard of this glorious occasion, Christ being now risen and glorified; for his resurrection was the first degree of his glorification. And therefore touch me not. She came with too much a carnall ⟨p. 36⟩2mind to touch him, when we said Rabboni, it was not satisfaction enough for her to answer Rabboni; but she runneth to him, and claspeth him, and clingeth about him, as the affection of love did dictate to her. But saith he, touch me not in such a manner, this is not a fit manner for thee to touch me in, now I am risen again. In a word, she had a thought to converse with Christ, in as familiar a manner, as before, when she powred oyntment on his head. He was the same person, but the case is altered; that was in the dayes of his humiliation, now he was 3risen again, and it was the first degree of his glorification. There was another manner of converse due to him, and therefore, touch me not. Thou thinkest to touch me as thou didst before, 4but thou must not do it. She was too much addicted to his bodily presence. 1. It is that, that men will labour after, and have laboured for, even from the beginning of the world, to be too much addicted to present things, and to sense. They will worship Christ, but they must have a picture before them They will adore ⟨p. 37⟩Christ; but they must bring his body down into a peece of bread, they must have a presence. And so instead of raising their hearts to God and Christ in a heavenly manner, they pull down God and Christ to them; this the pride, and base earthliness of man will do. And therefore saith Christ, touch me not, in that manner; It is not with me now as it was before. 5We must take heed of mean and base conceits of Christ. What saith Paul, 2 Cor. 5. I know uo man now, according to the flesh, no, not Christ himself, now he is risen. Christ was of such a Tribe, Stature, had such gifts and qualities. What is that to me? Christ is now Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. He is glorious in Heaven, and so I conceive of him. I know no man after the flesh, no, not Christ himself. I forget what he was on earth, and think of him, what he is now in Heaven.
- 1John 20. 27.
- 2Love to Christ cannot be satisfied without the enjoyment of Christ.Love to Christ cannot be satisfied without the injoyment of Christ.
- 3Sense much affects carnal men.
- 4Christ after his Resurrection is to be touched by faith, and not by sense.
- 5The Regenerate knoweth no man, no not Christ himself after the flesh.
