Use 1. Be transformed that you may be transfigured : ' Be ye trans- formed by the renewing of your minds,' Rom. xii. 2. The change must begin in the soul (2 Cor. iii. 18), and thence it is conveyed to the body. The lustre of grace maketh way for the splendour of glory: Prov. iv. 18, ' The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more to the perfect day.' The way of the wicked is an increasing darkness — ignorance, sin, outer darkness.
2. Be contented to be like Christ in reproaches, disgraces, and neglect in the world, that you may be like him in glory. Bear the reproach of Christ : Heb. xiii. 13, ' Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach ;' Heb. xi. 26, 'Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. ' Prefer it before all earthly honour : Acts v. 41, ' And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to sufier shame for his name ;' and 2 Sam. vi. 22, ' I will yet be more vile and base in my own sight.' Your Lord is a glorious Lord, and he can put glory upon you.
3. To wean our hearts from all human and earthly glory. What is a glorious house to the palace of heaven, glorious garments to the robes of immortality ? The glory of Christ should put out the glory of these petty stars that shine in the world, as the sun puts out the fire. We have higher things to mind ; it is not for eagles to catch files, or princes to embrace the dunghill.
4. Since this glory is for the body, do not debase the body, to make it an instrument of sin : 1 Thes. iv. 4, ' Possess your vessels in sanc- tification and honour.' Do not offend God to gratify the body, as they do, Rom. xiv. 13, ' who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts
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thereof.' Do not spare the body to do God service : Acts xxvi. 7, ' Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hojie for to come ; for which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews:' 2 Cor, vii. 1, 'Having therefore these pro- mises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'
SERMON III.
And heliold iliere appeared unto him Moses and Elias talking with Mm.— Mat. XVII. 3 ; _with,_
And behold there talked loith him two men, Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and sptake of his decease lohich he should ac- complish at Jerusalem. — Luke IX. 30, 31.
Having spoken of Christ's transfiguration, we come now to speak of those special accidents and adjuncts which happened at the time of his transfiguration. Here are two mentioned : —
1. The extraordinary apparition of Moses and Elias.
2. Their conference with our Saviour. In the first : —
1. The persons who appeared : Moses and Elias.
2. The manner of their appearing. Luke saith, ' They appeared iu glory.' Since the scripture affixeth a behold, or note of attention, wherever this history is mentioned, it will not be unprofitable for us to consider it a little.
First, Who appeared : Moses and Elias. These were there in person, as well as Christ was there in person ; for it is not a vision, but a thing really done and transacted. Christ would have but two, being to give us a glimpse only, not the full lustre and splendour of his glory and majesty, as he will at the last day, when he shall come in the glory of the Father, and all his holy angels with him.
But why these two ?
1. With respect to the gospel or new law which he was to set up, it is for the confirmation thereof that Moses and Elias appear talking with him, showing the harmony and agreement between them, and the subordination of their dispensation to Christ and salvation by him. Moses was the person by whom the law was given, and Elias was a principal prophet. The law is represented by Moses, and the j)ro- phets by Elias. Both did frequently foretell and prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ, and all the scripture which was then writ- ten was usually called by this term, law and prophets : Acts xxiv. 14, ' Believing all things that are written in the law and the prophets ;' and Mat. xi. 13, ' For all the law and the prophets prophesied until John ;' Luke xvi. 24, ' They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them;' so Acts xxvi. 22, ' I witness no other things than those which Moses and the prophets say should come to pass;' so Mark
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vii. 11, ' Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you the same to them, for this is the law and the prophets.' Well, then, the books of the Old Testament are frequently aad solenmly thus called law and prophets; the Messiah was spoken of and foretold in both, and the godly before his coming waited for him as such. One place I had almost forgotten: Kom. iii. 21, ' The righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.' Which showeth that not only the person of Christ was set forth, but also his institution and gospel dispensation. Well, to manifest this consent, here is law and prophets, Moses and Elias friendly conferring with Christ, or rather attending upon him, as servants upon their Lord. Christ and Moses, Christ and the pro- phets, are not at variance, as the Jews suppose, but here is a fair agreement betwixt them.