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had seen to the rest, for the confirmation of their faith; as we now hear it for the same end.

2. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

This was to give them a sensible demonstration of his being the Christ. St. Peter knew what use to make of it; and alleges it as an infallible proof of Christ's power and coming, 2 Pet. i. 16. It was a convincing argument of his power, or divine nature, breaking through the outward covering of his flesh. And as he appeared then, so he will again at his coming, and work the same change in us. Phil. iii. 21. Is it so indeed? Will he then "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body?" Yes, if we are first changed into the divine image, by the renewing of our minds.-Lord, how complete is thy redemption! How great is thy power, in the transformation of soul and body into thy likeness! Accomplish thy work, raise up thy own life in us, and prepare us for thy glory; as we know assuredly thou wilt, if we put ourselves into thy hands for it.

3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

In the hearing of the three disciples, concerning a point in which they were but newly instructed, and as yet slow of belief, namely, his sufferings and death, Luke ix. 31. It was an extraordinary method which God took with them, to prepare them for this event. And I doubt not but all Christians have means afforded them suited to their case, and sufficient for their establishment; though we too often fail in our trials, as they did.

4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if though wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

As if he was at the height of all his wishes, and already in possession of heaven. Another Evangelist says plainly, "he knew not what he said." Christ had not yet finished

the chief business for which he came into the world; and if his ministry had ended here, we should all have perished. He had also a great work for Peter to do, and much higher glory in reserve for him, at the end of it. Let us not take up our rest in anything short of heaven; and let us, in the mean time, be contented to be doing Christ's work.

5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

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"In whom I am well pleased." as bringing many sons to glory; and with all others who are in him, and partake of his Spirit. "Hear ye him." Now Moses and Elias must give place, and he only be heard. Let it, however, be remembered that he must be heard. And what has he not done to engage our attention, secure our love, and sweeten our obedience?-O my soul, hear him!

6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

To hear the voice of God; supposing that none could hear it, and live. It was an awful scene; and Christ's lucid body, the brighter cloud overshadowing them, and the voice coming from it, might well strike terror into them.

7. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Art thou cast down to the ground at hearing the terrible voice of God speaking to thee in his commandments, and denouncing death for the breach of them? Here is the touch that must revive thee, here is the voice of comfort, that bids thee "arise, and not be afraid." And now thou canst, thou wilt hear him; and be constrained by love to live to Him who died to deliver thee from all thy fears.

8. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

So faith is the opening of our eyes, and the fixing of them on Jesus, and him only, for salvation.

9. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Though both Jesus preached and taught many things, and the disciples, by commission from him, before that time, and as preparatory to his dying and rising again, yet Christ himself, as dying for our sins, and rising again for the assurance of our faith, and discharge from death, neither was, nor could be preached to the world, till after his resurrection. It is evident, therefore, that the grand opening, and full manifestation of his gospel of grace, was reserved for his apostles; and that the nature and design of it, or the precise manner of our salvation by him, must be learned chiefly from them. It is almost needless to observe, that hearing them, is hearing him, as they spake in his name, and received all from him.

10. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

They had just had a fresh, incontestible evidence, in his transfiguration, and the voice from the cloud, that he was the Christ, but still there was a doubt remaining; the scribes said, and the Jews universally believed, that Elias must first come; and yet he had not appeared. He answers, that the prophecy of Malachi iv. 5 was truly fulfilled in John Baptist, and that, as to power and spirit, he was the Elijah there spoken of.

11. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

As Christ's forerunner, preparing the way for him, the great restorer. This was John's office, and all he could do; to call men to repentance, to point out "the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world," and to put them into his hands. This is the office of the ministers of the gospel at all times; and all they can do, is to declare the necessity of repentance, and to preach Christ, and faith in him, for healing and restoration. To him then let us go,

every one of us for ourselves, in a deep sense of our want of him, and with an earnest will to be restored by him to the favour of God, and to experience his baptism of the Holy Ghost. Why do you now hear this, but that you may come to him for your own restoration? And what can it avail you, though all the world should be restored by him to the favour of God, if you are ignorant of the work he has to do in you? And observe the order of it; John comes first. There must be a knowledge of sin, of death for sin, and of your own sinfulness, before you can accept of Christ. But if your repentance terminates in itself, if it does not bring you to the Saviour for remission of sins and the newness of life, there is, there can be no restoration.

12. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.

None know him but those who are inwardly stirred up to come to his baptism of repentance; they may know the particulars of his history, and that is all.

12. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

He will be no more regarded than John, by those who do not know John first.

13. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

SECTION XLIII.

Chap. xvii. ver. 14-27.

CHRIST HEALETH THE LUNATIC.

14. And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15. Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatick, and sore vexed for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the

water.

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Behold the natural workings of distress, and what we would do, if we felt for our souls. We should come, and fall down on our knees to Jesus; we should cry, Lord, have mercy; we should tell him of our grief, and make particular mention of our own plague, and say, Thus and thus it is with me, and be earnest with him for help, as the man was for his child. Have we no knowledge of such a work as this? Are all our prayers cold and formal; not breathed from the heart; not forced from us by our inward sense of misery; not prayed, but only repeated? What then has he done for us, when, in reality, we never desire anything from him?

16. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

The disciples might have cured him, if they had taken the right method; but no man upon earth can help us. Let us go directly to Jesus; and bless God that we

may.

17. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

It was a severe rebuke for their want of faith. And is it not so to all who sit under his teaching, are slow in profiting by it, and continue faithless? Let us see whether it does not belong to us.

"Bring him hither to me." O! bring thyself to him. He speaks to thee, poor sinner. Thou wouldest come to him for thy body; why then wilt thou be the worst of all enemies to thy soul, when it is in such an evil case, and thou art sure of healing for it?

18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Lord, rebuke Satan in us! And grant that we may

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