Mary Magdalen's Funeral Tears (Southwell): Part 11/14

     If he took him out of love, thy offer to recover
him is an open defiance, since malice is as obstinate in
defending, as it js violent in offering wrong ; and he
that would be cruel against thy Master's dead body,
is likely to be more furious against his living disciple.
But thy love had no leisure to examine so many
doubts. Thy tears were interpreters of thy words, and
their innocent meaning was written in thy sorrowful
countenance. Thine eyes were rather pleaders for
pity, than heralds of wrath ; and thy whole person
presented such a pattern of extreme anguish, that no
man could have conceived any other impression from
thy presence : and therefore what thy words wanted,
thy action supplied ; and what his ear might mistake,
his eye could understand. - It might be, also, that
what he wrought in thy heart was concealed from thy
sight ; and haply his voice and demeanour did impart
such compassion of thy case, that he seemed as willing
to afford, as thou wert desirous to have his help. -
And so, presuming on his behaviour that thy suit
would not suffer repulse, the tenor of thy request doth
but argue thy hope of a grant.
     But what is the reason, that in all thy speeches
which, since the loss of thy Master, thou hast uttered,
where they have put him always forms a part ? The name
thou saidst once to the apostles, lately to the angels,
and now thou dost repeat it to this supposed gardener.
Very sweet must this word be in thy heart, since it is
so often on thy tongue ; and it could never be so
ready on thy lips, if it were not very fresh in thy
memory.
     But what wonder, that that should taste so sweet,
which was first seasoned in thy Master's mouth ? His
lips were the treasury of truth, the fountain of life,
and the choir of perfect harmony ; so that whatsoever
they delivered, thine ear devoured, and thy heart
treasured up. And now that thou wantest himself,
thou hast no other comfort than his words, which
thou deemest so much the more effectual to persuade,
as they derived their force from so heavenly a speaker.
His sweetness, therefore, it is, that maketh this word
so sweet ; and for love of him thou repeatest it so
often, because he, in a like case, said of thy brother,
Where have you put him ? O how much must thou
love his person, when thou findest so sweet a feeling in
his phrase ! How much must thou desire to see his
countenance, when thou pronouncest his words with
such fervour ! And how eagerly wouldst thou kiss his
sacred feet, that dost so willingly utter his shortest
speeches !
     But what dost thou mean by forming so bold a re-
solution, and so resolutely to say, that thou wilt take
him away? Joseph was afraid, and durst not take
down his body from the cross but by night - yea, and
even then not without Pilate's warrant: but thou
neither stayest until night, nor regardest Pilate, but
stoutly declares that thou thyself wilt take him away.
Is thy courage so high above thy nature, thy strength
so for beyond thy sex, and thy love so far above mea-
sure, that thou neither dost remember that all women
are weak, nor that thyself art but a woman ? Thou
exemptest no place, thou preferrest no person ; thou
speakest without fear, thou promisest without con-
dition : as though nothing were impossible, if sug-
gested by love.
     But, as the darkness could not fright thee from set-
ting forth before day, nor the watch prevent thy
coming to the tomb ; as thou didst resolve to break
open the seals, though with the danger of thy life, and
to remove the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre,
though thy force should not serve thee ; what wonder,
if thy love, being now more incensed for its loss, and
stung with a fresh wound, should resolve upon any
though never such strange extreme.
     Love is not controled by reason. It neither regard-
eth what can be, nor what shall be done, but only
what itself desireth to do. No difficulty can daunt,
no impossibility appal it. Love is title just enough,
and armour strong enough, for all assaults, and is it-
self a sufficient reward for all labours. It asketh no
recompense ; it expecteth no advantage. Love's fruity
are lovers effects, and its pains prove its gains : it con-
siders behoof more than benefit ; and what of its duty
it should, not what of its power it can.
     But how can Nature be so mastered by affection,
that thou canst take such delight in, and cherish such
love to, a dead corse ? How tenderly soever the mo-
ther loved her child when living, yet she cannot
choose but loath it when dead. The most loving bride
cannot endure the presence of her deceased spouse ;
and he whose embrace was delightful in 1ife, becomes
an object of horror after death. Yea, this is the na-
ture of all, but principally of women, that the very
conceit, much more the sight of the departed, fills
them with fearful and appalling impressions, and stir-
eth in them so great a horror, that notwithstanding
the most vehement love, they think it long till the
house be rid of their very dearest friends, when once
they are attired in death's unlovely livery. - Thy sister
was unwilling that the grave of her own brother
should be opened ; and art thou not afraid to see the
dead corse of thy Lord to touch it, yea, to embrace
and bear it naked in thy arms ?