lifted up their Eyes, they faw no Man, Jave Jefus only. And, as they came down from the Mountain, Jefus charged them, Jaying, Tell the Vifion to no Man, until the Son of Man be rifen again from the Dead.

UR Saviour's Transfiguration was an Event of a very extraordinary Nature, and which well deferveth our most attentive Confideration. In my former Difcourfes on this Subject, after having made fome Obfervations upon the Manner in which the Evangelifts introduce the Relation they give us of it, I confidered the wonderful Change that then paffed upon our Lord, with Respect to his outward bodily Apppearance: His Face did fhine as the Sun, and his Raiment was white as the Light. I then proceeded to confider what is here related concerning Mofes and Elias's appearing in Glory, and converfing with him about his Deceafe, which he should accomplish at Jerufalem. The last Thing that was observed was the Teftimony which was given to our bleffed Lord by a Voice from the Cloud of Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed; hear ye

bim.

It now remaineth that, according to the Order proposed, we confider the Effect

which all this had upon his Disciples who were Eye-witneffes of that wonderful Event.

St. Luke informs us, that Peter and they that were with him were heavy with Sleep: And, when they were awake, they faw his Glory, and the two Men that flood with him. Luke ix. 32. Whilft our Lord was praying, perhaps at fome Distance from the Difciples, and probably continued for a confiderable Time, as he frequently did in that facred Exercife, they became heavy with Sleep. And this is the lefs to be wondered at, if, as fome fuppofe, the Night was by this Time pretty far advanced; for it was probably in the Evening that our Lord afcended the Mount with his Difciples; and it appears from Luke ix. 37, that they did not come down from the Hill till the next Day. As they were afleep, they did not fee when the glorious Change came firft upon our Lord, or when Mofes and Elias firft came from Heaven to vifit him. But God ordered it fo, that they awaked in the Midft of all that Glory. And we may more easily conceive than exprefs the Surprise and Aftonishment they were in, when, upon opening their Eyes, they beheld the unutterable dazzling Splendor and Radiancy of our Lord's Countenance, fhining like the Mid-day Sun; and faw two of the Inhabitants

Inhabitants of the heavenly World appearing in Glory and converfing with him. And, if this happened whilft it was yet Night, or the Morning but beginning to dawn, the Sight was ftill more glorious and amazing. This no Doubt put all their Powers in Motion, and roufed their Senfes to a vigorous Exercife; their Attention became ftrongly engaged, fo that they found themfelves thoroughly awakened, and could be as fure of it as any Man can be of what he hears and fees. But who can defcribe the Paffions of Wonder, Love, and Joy, that then seized and poffeffed their Minds, to find themselves at once transported as it were into Heaven itself! Such and more joyful may we fuppofe will be the Surprise of the pious Soul, when, upon it's leaving the Body, it fhall be carried by Angels into the Regions of Blifs. It was but a few Moments before imprisoned in a diseased Body, exposed to manifeft Sorrows and Evils, in a State of Darkness and Infirmity; but now all Things are new, it is entered into the Paradife of God, and a moft glorious and delightful Scene openeth to it's View.

How long the Difciples continued in this joyful Surprise we cannot tell. But it may be reasonably concluded, that this wonderful Appearance was obferved and beheld by them for fome Length of Time,

fufficient

fufficient to convince them that it was not a mere Illusion of their own Imagination, but a glorious Reality. They gazed with Astonishment upon the Splendors that furrounded them; they diftinctly faw our Lord Jefus Chrift and those that were with him; they heard the Converfation they had together, by which they found out that the Perfons they then beheld in human Shape arrayed with Glory, and converfing with Jefus, were Mofes and Elias. They obferved the Subject of their Conversation, that it was about our Lord's Deceafe, which be should accomplish at Jerufalem; a Thing which they themselves had heard him fpeaking of before, but which was fo contrary to their preconceived Notions and Prejudices, that they could not well receive and understand it. All this they heard and faw for fome Time with filent Admiration. Their Souls were rapt up in facred Extafy, but not a Word broke forth from their Lips. Thus it continued till they found Mofes and Elias were going to depart, and then Peter, who through the Fervency of his Spirit was usually the most forward of all the Disciples on such Occafions, could no longer contain. He could not help expreffing his Defire that this glorious Sight and Conversation might be of a longer Continuance: He said_unto

Jefus,

ix. 33:

Jefus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three Tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Mofes, and one for Elias. The Evangelift Luke informeth us, that he spake thefe Words, as they, viz. Mofes and Elias, departed from Jefus. Luke. And he obferves that he knew not what be faid. He did not confider what he was faying, or elfe he would never have proposed to build Tabernacles for the heavenly Inhabitants here on Earth: As if they were to quit their blissful Mansions above, and to return and dwell in this State of Sorrow and Infirmity; or to exchange that Building of God, that Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens, for Houfes of Clay, whofe Foundation is in the Duft. And certainly, if we formed a right Notion of Things, we would never so much as wish for the Return of the beft and dearest Friends that are gone from us to Heaven. The only proper With in that Cafe is, that we may imitate their Faith, their Holiness and Patience, and be fitted for that glorious World where we may hope to join with them and the whole Church triumphant above in their facred and delightful Exercises. Peter, instead of thinking to build Tabernacles for Mofes and Elias here on Earth, fhould have thought how to imitate thofe excellent Perfons in their eminent