364 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. III.
fore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.' Herod's con- science could not digest John's murder, therefore he twice saith it is John, it must needs be John. The third opinion was that of the disciples, ' Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,' John vi, 69. Now, to set all at rights, to confute the blasphemous Jews, to rectify the moderate Jews, to confirm the disciples, here come Moses and Elias to justify him. They would not have owned him if a blasphemer and imposter, nor have come from heaven to honour him and do him homage if he had been an ordinary prophet ; therefore they appear in glory, and talk with him of his death.
2. With respect to the modern Jews, and us Gentiles, this appari- tion was necessary to confirm us in the faith both of Christ's person and office ; that he was the great teacher sent from heaven to make known the way of salvation to lapsed mankind ; and Moses and Elias must be hereafter silent. Now the great prophet and doctor of the church is brought forth ; and no other revelation or dispensation is to be expected or regarded, now he is brought forth. There is need that this should be sufficiently evidenced, partly because Christ had the law of Moses to repeal, which was well known to the Jews to be God's own law, else they and every true subject of God might refuse to obey him : partly because he had a new law to promulgate, even the law of faith and gospel ordinances, and so must manifest his authority before they can be received and submitted unto with that firm assent and consent which is necessary : partly because he himself was to be received and entertained as the Redeemer of the world, who had expiated our sins by his decease at Jerusalem, which was a new work, yet man's salva- tion lay upon it. And his death there was clouded with many pre- judices ; for they put him to death as a false prophet, guilty of blas- phemy and sedition. Therefore it needed to be made manifest that such a man of sorrows, reckoned among transgressors, was the Saviour and Redeemer of the world.
Secondly, The sufiiciency of this evidence. For if Moses and Elias appear in glory to countenance this dispensation, and declare their hearty concurrence and consent, there is no reason Jew or Gentile should scruple it. If Moses the lawgiver, and Elias, so zealous for the law, consent, why should the Jews refuse the gospel so agreeable to their dispensation, or the Gentiles question a doctrine so long ago manifested to the church by God, long before Christ and his apostles were in being ? Those that lived in so many different ages could not lay their heads together to cheat the world with an untruth. There is a double argument maybe drawn hence : —
1. The matter of fact. Moses and Elias did appear to witness their consent. Now this dependeth upon the testimony of the apostles pre- sent, whose testimony was by other means ratified and made valuable : 2 Pet. i. 16-18, 'For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, when we made known unto you the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount.'
Mat. XVII. 3.] Christ's transfiguration. 365
2. Their consent in doctrine, which is obvious in all their writings. The apostles related nothing concerning Christ but what Moses and the prophets had foretold, and what was history in the New Testament was prophecy in the Old, either as to the person of Christ, or as to his kingdom — the duties and privileges thereof : John v. 39, ' Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me.' So ver. 45-^7, ' Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father ; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how will ye believe my words ? ' The Old Testament beareth witness of Christ's person, natures, offices, birth, life, sufferings, and the glory that should ensue : 2 Pet. i. 19-21, ' We have also a more sure word of prophecy, where- unto ye do well that ye take heed, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, till the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. Know- ing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpre- tation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' The apostles taught the same things the prophets had written, only applied them to Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, that they might know that he was Lord and Christ. The heathens take notice that at that time when Christ appeared, there was Veins et constans fama (Sueton.) ; Ex antiqids sacerdotum lihris (Tacitus) — that their King, Messiah, should come.