Page:Letters on the Human Body (John Clowes).djvu/104

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ON THE BODILY SENSES.

the atmosphere of this world and the human body? Is there not, in short, some property in the organ of mental touch analogous to what we have shown to be possessed by the organ of bodily touch, both in regard to reception and secretion?

I have no doubt respecting the reply you will make to the above questions, but I shall not, on that account, forbear to illustrate the point under consideration, by the case of the distempered woman above alluded to, who came behind her SAVIOUR, and touched the hem of His garment. For here we see manifested the wonderful effect not only of bodily but of mental touch, since it is evident, that the touch was of both these descriptions, inasmuch as with the hand of the body this poor woman really touched the hem of her SAVIOUR'S GARMENT, and with the affectionate faith of her mind she at the same time touched HIMSELF, for she said within herself “If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be whole.” Accordingly we read in St. Luke, that the GREAT SAVIOUR was made sensible in Himself of this mental touch, for He immediately said, “Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me;” and to prove that this translation of His divine virtue was the result of mental touch, or the affection of faith, on the part of the poor woman, He is pleased to add the consolatory and edifying words,