But there is farther then that, I am not yet ascended to the Father, touch me not. That is, it is another manner of touch that I look for, better for thee, and in some regard for me, to touch me by the hand of faith when I am ascended to the Father, then touch me, and take thy full of touching me. But for the present I am not ascended, I have not done all. I have not manifested my self to my Disciples in full, when I am ascended, all is done, and then there is place for touch: And that I take is meant here, I am not yet ascended to the Father, thou thinkest I have done all is to be done; but thou art deceived, I must ascend to the Father, and when I am there, I expect to be touched after another manner, after a gracious spiritual manner, which 1is by faith, as Augustine saith, well, send up thy faith to Heaven, and then thou touchest Christ. As he said in the Sacrament, Quid paras dentem, & ventrem, Creed, & manducasti: what dost thou prepare thy teeth and stomach for? believe, and thou hast eaten. So ⟨p. 42⟩the best communion with Christ is to believe, till we come to Heaven to have eternal communion with him. This touch will do thee little good, and it pleaseth me as little. When I am ascended to the Father, then touch me at the full, so you see what Christ meaneth.
But there is farther then that, I am not yet ascended to the Father, touch me not. That is, it is another manner of touch that I look for, better for thee, and in some regard for me, to touch me by the hand of faith when I am ascended to the Father, then touch me, and take thy full of touching me. But for the present I am not ascended, I have not done all. I have not manifested my self to my Disciples in full, when I am ascended, all is done, and then there is place for touch: And that I take is meant here, I am not yet ascended to the Father, thou thinkest I have done all is to be done; but thou art deceived, I must ascend to the Father, and when I am there, I expect to be touched after another manner, after a gratious spiritual manner, which 1is by faith, as Augustine saith, well, send up thy faith to Heaven, and then thou touchest Christ. As he said in the Sacrament, Quid paras dentem, & ventrem, Crede, & manducasti: what dost thou prepare thy teeth and stomack for? believe, and thou hast earen. So ⟨p. 42⟩the best communion with Christ is to believe, till we come to Heaven to have eternall communion with him. This touch will do thee little good, and it pleaseth me as little. When I am ascended to the Father, then touch me at the full, so you see what Christ meaneth.
- 1Mitt fid•m in caelum, & tetigisti.Mitte fid•m in caelum, & tetigisti.
