But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Ver. 3. Neither shall ye touch it.] This is of the woman's own addition, and of a good intention doubtless. For afterwards, when she had drunk in more of the serpent's deadly poison, from gazing upon the fruit, she fell to gaping after it, from touching to tasting. a He that would not feed on sin's meat, must beware of the broth; "keep thee from an evil matter," saith Moses. Exo 23:7 A good man dare not come near the treachery, though he be far off the blow; he dare not venture on the occasion, lest his tinder should take fire. It is ill playing upon the hole of the asp, or coming too near hell-mouth; b for by so doing, you may beseem to drop in. "Watch therefore, and pray" too, "that ye enter not into temptation," saith our blessed Saviour; and mark his reason, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak": q.d., though the spirit purpose otherwise, the flesh will falter, and be foiled: witness the woman here with her "lest ye die." She held the precept in the utmost extent of it, but that which she failed in, was that she minced the matter, and opposed not the commination to the temptation. And see how the devil works upon her weakness, as he watcheth for our haltings, and where to have us on the hip.
a Hausit virus peritura, et perituros paritura. - Bern.
b Circa serpentis antrum positus, non eris diu illaesus. - Isidor.