LET us therefore look on ourselves, not fo much with contempt of what we are, and were, as in the joyful hope of what we fhall be. And when our courage is tried by the change of our bodies from health to sickness, from life to death, let us comfort ourselves with the affurance of this change, from dust to incorruption. We are not more fure of our grave, than of our transfiguration. "All the days of our appointed time "will we wait, till our change come."

LXXX.

THE TRANSFIGURATION.

§ II.

THE display of heavenly glory which fhone around the difciples feems almost too magnificent for human nature to fuftain. Its effect upon their minds must be conceived-it cannot be painted or defcribed. Scarcely do they lift up their eyes to this manifeftation of the divine Majefty, when they cry, in broken accents of rapture, "Mafter, Master, it "is good for us to be here!" They are anxious to prolong the stay of their celeftial guests" Let us make here three "tabernacles-one for thee, and one for

CC Mofes,

Mofes, and one for Elias. Here let "us abide, and all earthly honours, "riches, pleasures, glories, will be vain "and contemptible. One day, one "moment in this bleffed fociety is bet"ter than a thoufand years spent in the enjoyment of all that is dear or valu" able to mortals.”

Lo, while they thus fpeak, a cloud overfhadows them. That cloud was of old the testimony of God's prefence-it covered the mountain, the tabernacle, the oracle. While it bore witness to the majesty of JEHOVAH, it fignified that fuch majefty was not for the eyes of man to behold. Hereafter a day will come, when we shall have the light without a cloud, the clear vifion and fruition of GOD, without any manner of interpofition. With him is the well-fpring of life-in his light we shall fee light.

WHAT aftonishment was in the fouls of the difciples, while they ftood encom

paffed

paffed by that bright cloud, expecting fome miraculous event at the clofe of the heavenly vifion! With what inexpreffible awe did they hear thofe facred words, refounding in their ears-"THIS " IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED-HEAR HIM." They need not be told, whose that voice was. The place, the words, the fubject evinced it. No angel of heaven could have prefumed to utter thofe expreffions, whereby the LORD GOD omnipotent bore witness to the Saviour of mankind. How gladly doth Peter afterwards repeat them, to establish and strengthen the faith and hope of his converts! "We have not followed cunningly"devised fables, when we made known "C unto you the power and coming of "our Lord JESUS CHRIST, but were EYE WITNESSES of his Majefty. For " he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came "fuch

41

"fuch a voice to him from the excellent

сс

glory, This is my beloved Son in whom "I am well pleased. And this voice, (which came from Heaven) WE cc HEARD, when we were with him in "the holy mount."

TWICE did GOD fpeak these words from Heaven-at the baptifm, and the transfiguration, of his Son. Here they are uttered as a direct and irrefragable teftimony of the Meffiah. Mofes and Elias were fervants or if fons, they were made fo by grace and adoption. Here is the eternal SON of the eternal FATHER, united with him in one effence, fo beloved, that in him, and for his fake, he is well pleased with all mankind. Herein is love, infinite, incomprehensible as the God from whom it flows-love, not confined to the ever-bleffed JESUS, but extended to his children, his difciples, his friends, his fervants-yea, to all mankind. Without CHRIST, there is

nothing