A heavenly conference between Christ and Mary after His resurrection. Wherein the intimate familiarity,…

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,