[2.] While he prayed he was transfigured, Luke ix. 29 ; which teacheth us two things : —
(1.) That we have the highest communications from God in prayer, for then Christ's shape was altered. By prayer the soul hath the most familiar converse M-ith God that possibly it can have, and also by the means of this duty God hath most familiar converse with us. In our prayers to God we have experience of the operations of the Spirit : Eom. viii. 26, ' Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit
Mat. XVII. 2.] Christ's transfiguration. 347
itself helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered ;' Jude 20, * But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost ;' and in God's answering our prayer we have experience of the comforts of the Spirit, and those spiritual solaces which he secretly giveth to his people. Hannah, when she had prayed, went away, and ' her countenance was no more sad,' 1 Sam. i. 18. In praying we put forth the groans of the spirit ; in the answer God gives the joys of the spirit : Ps. xxxiv. 5, ' They looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.'
(2.) That we should pray so as that the heart may be raised and lifted up unto God, and in some sort made like God. When Christ prayed to God, he is made partaker of the divine glory, as Moses also, by conversing with God, his face shined, Exod. xxxiv. 29, 30. This was extraordinary ; but sure the oftener we converse with God the more holy and heavenly should we grow, more like him in spirit, be changed into the glory of the Lord spiritually ; and so we are, if we be instant and earnest in prayer. If we have commu- nion with God, there will be some assimilation to God.
Use. It reproveth our remiss, feeble, benumbed souls. There is no life in prayer, no working up the heart to God and heaven ; either our prayers are formal and cursory — James v. 16, Se7]<7c<; ivep^yov/xevrj — or our prayers are doctrinal, instructive rather than warning.! We get lightly over duties, but we should get life by prayer. This duty is not to inform the judgment, but to raise the affections, that they be all in a flame ; or else we content ourselves with a dull narrative, without getting up the heart to a sight of God and heaven ; or are seldom in praises or adoration of the excellences of God.
SERMON II.
And he was transfigured hefore tliein ; and his /ace did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. — Mat. XVII. 2 ; with,
And, as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. — Luke IX. 29.
In both these texts, compared together, you may observe two things : —
1. The circumstance of time : during prayer.
2. The transfiguration itself.
[1.] More generally propounded, he was transfigured hefore them.
[2.] More particularly explained by the change of his face and raiment. The form of any man is most seen in his face. There was a glorious shining brightness. Luke saith, ' Tlie fashion of his coun- tenance was altered ;' Matthew, that ' His face did shine as the sun.' And in the glorious description of God in the prophet Habakkuk, it is said, chap. iii. 2, ' And his brightness was as the light.' For his garments, Luke saith, ' His raiment was white and glistering ;' Mark, chap. ix. 3, ' White as the snow, so as no fuller on earth could whiten them ;' but Matthew, ' white as the light,' which carrieth it higher.
^ Qu., 'warming?' — Ed.
348 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. II.
The works of nature exceed those of art. The transfiguration that was plainly to he seen in his face was accomplished also in other parts of his body. All his body was clothed with mtijesty, so as it could not be obscured and hidden by his garments.
Now, first I shall speak of the circumstances of time, and then of the transfiguration itself.
I, Of the time : ' and as he prayed.' Now what Christ prayed for is not specified. (1.) If he asked common blessings, and prayed only in order to his usual solace and converse with God, it showed the success of vehemency in prayer. Christ prayed at such a rate as that he was transfigured and changed into the likeness of God in prayer, (2.) If He asked to be transfigured for the confirmation of his disciples, it showeth God's readiness to answer fervent and earnest prayers.
1. Of the first consideration. If Christ's prayer were of ordinary import, it teacheth us that we should pray so that the heart may be raised and lifted unto God in prayer, and in some sort made like unto God. Let us state this matter aright.
[1.] It must be granted that this shining of Christ's countenance as the sun, while he prayed, was extraordinary, and a dispensation peculiar to the Son of God. So also was the shining of Moses's face while he conversed with God in the mount, Exod. xxxiv. 29, 30. And for ordinary Christians to expect the like is to put a snare upon tliemselves, for these things are proper only to the end for which God appointed them.