Observe hence our weakness during the time we are environed with mortality, that we cannot bear up long under spiritual duties ; either our hearts are soon overcharged with wonder and astonishment, or else we yield to natural infirmities. However, let it be a warning to us against sleepiness in the worship of God, It is true the best may be surprised with it, as here Christ's disciples. Yet it was a sin in them to be asleep when Christ was at prayers, and it is a sin God hath severely punished ; witness Eutychus : Acts xx. 9, ' And there sat in the window a young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep : and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.' Mark, though the sermon continued till midnight, and it was a youth that slept, yet he fell down as dead. It was a small sin — a sin of infirmity — a boy's sin; yet God would leave this warning. I do not animadvert too severely upon this infirmity, only give you caution. Christ praying all night on Mount Tabor, this weakness prevailed on these choice apostles, and elsewhere during the time of Christ's agonies. Yet we are to strive against it, and be sure it may be said of us as of them : Mark xxvi. 41, ' The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Make con- science of avoiding this sin ; do not compose yourselves to sleep ; do not come to these duties spent with labours and worldly cares, nor ,
372 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. IV.
clogged with excess of meat or drink, nor having defrauded ourselves of necessary refreshing by sleep, by vain f)leasures the night before.
Secondly, Their carriage when they were awake. When they awaked, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with them ; they saw Christ transfigured before they fell asleep, but I think they saw not Moses and Elias before, but now saw them, that they might give testimony of it to the church, not by common fame and hearsay, but as eye-witnesses ; and they knew Moses and Elias either by infor- mation from Christ, or some secret instinct and revelation of the Spirit, or as hearing some part of the discourse, they heard enough to show what they were, or what the general matter of their discourse was. But that which is most remarkable is Peter's motion and proposal, ' It came to pass, as they departed from him ' — just as they were parting — ' Peter said, Lord, it is good for us to be here : let us. make three tabernacles ; one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias/ He mentioned no distinct tabernacle for himself and fellow-disciples, because they would be with Christ, attending on their master in his tent.
The motion in the general is rash, sudden, and unadvised ; but being made by a good man, though under a passion, there is something good and something bad in it.
1. That which was good in it is, he yet retaineth his reverence.
[1.] That he submitteth his proposal to the judgment of his Lord and Master, wherein he expresseth his reverence of Christ — ' Lord, if thou wilt.' He desireth a continuance of this dispensation, leaveth it to his consent, acknowledging herein his wisdom and authority.
[2.] It showeth the valuableness and felicity of conversing with Christ and the glorified saints ; for when but two of them appear in glory, talking with Christ, Peter said it is good to be here, to continue and abide in this place together with thyself, Moses, and Elias. What a blessed dignity is this ! The glory of heaven is so ravishing and satisfactory to the soul, that the soul can rest in the least glimpse and degree of it ! If a glimpse, what is the fulness ? If the splendour of his humanity not yet glorified be so great, what is the glory of his God- head ? If a sight of these things at a distance, what is the partici- pation when the glory shall be revealed in us, or we shall appear with him in glory ? If Moses and Elias, what is the company of all the saints and angels ? If it be thus at Mount Tabor, what will it be in heaven, when all the world is renewed and refined, and the church gathered together in one great assembly ?
[3.] The nature of a state of glory, and how easily it maketh us to forget all things here below. Peter had a family, and household affairs to mind ; for we read in the Gospel that his wife's mother was sick and cured by Christ : Mat. viii. 14. He had friends, and a brother called Andrew, who was one of the disciples of Christ, left below in the valley : John i. 40. Nay he forgot his own present condition of life, which could not long brook his remaining in that mountain, without the supply of food, and other necessaries. Now all this showeth that when we are translated to heaven, we shall be so ravished with that kind of life we shall have there, as that all sense and memory of things that we have left behind shall cease, as Peter being ravished with this