messengers of CHRIST, although beautiful are the feet of those that bring good tidings and publish peace. These are not our end. Let us beware lest ever we come to forget the End in the means; the Word in the preacher of the Word-the Master in the disciple-CHRIST in some Apollos. Such, we fear, is the blind and fatal course which some taking, make wreck of their dearest hopes. Nay, there is at this time an all-pervading spirit abroad; and men, ever willing to follow shadows of spirituality rather than the real substances of holiness, are forsaking the walks of true religion, even while they feign most to admire the beauty it presents. Yea, I beseech you, brethren, let no means of grace whatsoever, divert your attention from the LORD. There are some who perhaps rely too much on holy books; and allow them to obscure their sight of CHRIST. To such I say, Rest not in the great consolation of holy books. Good as they are, there is no abiding-place here. Yea, though you should have princes in this kind. And there are some who (like the Pharisees of old) even make their knowledge of the letter of the Bible, a means whereby they separate themselves from CHRist.

Let us, however, abuse none of these gracious gifts; but use all to the furtherance of the great end for which they were bestowed upon us, as means to help us in the devout search for CHRIST JESUS; that so after all our labours of love we may at length, with Magdalene, be brought more and more to the

Q

perfect vision of HIM, which is more and more to think with HIM, to feel with HIM, to take counsel with HIM, to act with HIM, to be one with HIM, as HE is One with us and with the FATHER.

SERMON XIII.

NEARNESS TO CHRIST A CALL FOR
REVERENCE.

S. JOHN Xx. 17.

JESUS SAID UNTO HER, "TOUCH ME NOT."

WE have thus far traced the labours of S. Mary Magdalene, in her search after her buried LORD, to that point where, joyful in her recognition of HIM in the supposed gardener, she met HIM with the salutation "Rabboni." Now we have to observe that, even at this stage of her history, her joy was but of momentary duration. Something occurred that threw a damp over those tumultuous feelings of exultation to which she had but just given expression. Those few words, "Touch ME not," and that majestic aspect of severity and distance, which accompanied them, interposed themselves between her and the object of her rejoicing; and stayed in its course the full tide of her happiness.

Of what nature then was her offence? On the instant that she recognised her LORD, she, as it may be gathered from His injunction not to touch HIM,

did what amounted to an expressed intention of some such action,—that is, she made towards HIM and would, with a wonted and allowed freedom, have affectionately laid her hands upon His Sacred Person -had not His striking words, and, no doubt, impressive action arrested her movement. Thus much had she ventured to do. But in this so natural an exhibition of affection towards One to Whom she was so largely indebted, there would seem to be no good reason why she should not touch HIM.

Surely, we are not to account this action erroneous or sinful, because of the surpassing dignity of His Person, and because it is too high an honour for sinful man to approach, much less to touch HIM. No, for the freedom she sought, we cannot but remember, was one to which she had been before, under the highest sanctions, admitted. When she anointed His feet first, and afterwards His feet and hands both, then she had touched and been commended for the act. Indeed to Magdalene this rebuke must have come with a startling force; for our Gracious SAVIOUR was not wont to keep Himself so separate from those whom He had condescended to regard as brethren. How did the rude multitude use to throng and press upon HIM! Had He not too, suffered but three days before, (not indeed, the gentle touch of an affectionate female hand) but the

1 See Bp. Andrewes, Vol. III. p. 25, to whom, in the determination of the question here discussed, it will be seen, I am greatly indebted.

scourge, the sharp thorny crown,-nay, the spitting of a rude soldiery?

It may suggest itself too to our thoughts, how some touched HIM, in order that they might extract virtue from HIM; and why might not Magdalene so touch HIM now-now that He presents HIMSELF to her mind as having risen with a yet greater power "of healing in His wings" than before He possessed? But indeed, we may not plead this as her intention in then seeking to touch CHRIST. She was not thinking then of herself. She revolved in her mind. neither bodily nor spiritual blessing. It was a simple

-a very natural desire which moved her to this action. It was an impulse to give room, play, expansion to her feelings. What she had sought with long desire, she had, with enduring perseverance, found. How natural that she should entertain an eager longing to feel, as well as to know, that she was in possession again-to grasp with her hands her lost treasure! And was this to be denied her? And could not all the many strong testimonies of her love, afforded that morning, gain for her so small a favour?

Moreover, what are we to think of the reason our SAVIOUR assigns for His prohibition? "Touch ME not, for I am not yet ascended." While forbidding her present too near access, He seems to promise

1

Bp. Andrewes says here, "To love, it is not enough to hear or see; it is carried further, to touch and take hold; it is affectus unionis, and the nearest union is

per contactum."