♦ “she” replaced with “he”
However, in the midst of these infirmities, there was something that bespoke the honesty and integrity of his heart. Though he knew not very well what he said, yet he was not so stupid as his pretended successor at _Rome_. He does not fall down and worship these two departed saints, neither do I hear him say to either, _Ora pro nobis_; he had not so learnt CHRIST; no, he applies himself directly to the head, “he said unto JESUS, Master, it is good for us to be here.” And though he was for building, yet he would not build without his Master’s leave. “Master, let us build,” or, as St. _Mark_ words it, “wilt thou that we build three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_, and one for _Elias_?” I do not hear him add, and one for _James_, and one for _John_, and one for _Peter_. No, he would willingly stay out with them upon the mount, though it was in the cold and dark night, so that CHRIST and his heavenly attendants were taken care of. The sweetness of such a heavenly vision, would more than compensate for any bodily suffering that might be the consequence of their longer abode there: nay farther, he does not desire that either CHRIST, or _Moses_, or _Elias_, should have any trouble in building; neither does he say, let my curates, _James_ and _John_, build, whilst I sit idle and lord it over my brethren; but he says, “let us build;” he will work as hard, if not harder than either of them, and desire to be distinguished only by his activity, enduring hardness, and his zeal to promote the welfare of their common LORD and Master.
Doubtless, _Peter_ had read how the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle, and the temple of old; and now JESUS is transfigured, and _Moses_ and _Elias_ appear in glory, he thinks it right that new tabernacles shall be erected for them. Such a mixture of nature and grace, of short-sightedness and infirmity, is there in the most ardent and well-meant zeal of the very best of men, when nearest the throne of grace, or even upon the mount with GOD. Perfection in any grace must be looked for, or expected, only among the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven. Those who talk of any such thing on earth, like _Peter_, they know not what they say.
But how came _Peter_ so readily to distinguish which was _Moses_, and which was _Elias_? He seems to speak without the least hesitation, “Let us build three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for _Moses_, and one for _Elias_,” as though he was very well acquainted with them, whereas they had both been dead, long, long before _Peter_ was born. Was there, do you imagine, any thing distinguishing in their apparel? or any thing in their conversation that discovered them? or rather, did he not know them here on the mount, as we may from hence infer, that departed saints do, and will know each other in heaven, even by intuition and immediate revelation? But alas! how transient are our views of heaven, during our sojourning here on earth: Verse 34. “Whilst he thus spake,” whilst _Peter_ was talking of building tabernacles, whilst he was saying, “it is good for us to be here,” whilst he was dreaming that his mountain was so strong that it never could be moved, “there came a cloud and overshadowed them.” St. _Matthew_ observes, it was a bright cloud, not dark like that on mount _Sinai_, but bright, because the gospel opens to us a far more bright dispensation than that of the law. This overshadowed, and thereby not only filled them with an holy awe, but also screened them, in some measure, from the brightness of that glory with which they were now surrounded, and which otherwise would have been insupportable. This cloud was like the veil thrown on the face of _Moses_, and prepared them for the voice which they were soon to hear coming out of it. I am not much surprized at being informed by St. _Matthew_, that “they feared as they entered into the cloud,” or by St. _Mark_, that “they were sore afraid.” For since the fall, there is such a consciousness in us all of deserved wrath, that we cannot help fearing when we enter into a cloud, even though JESUS CHRIST himself be in the midst of it. Ah _Peter_, where is thy talk of building tabernacles now? is thy strong mountain so quickly removed? what, come down so soon? why do we not now hear thee saying, “It is good for us to be here?” Alas! he and his fellow disciples are quite struck dumb; see how they tremble, and, like _Moses_ upon another occasion, exceedingly quake and fear. But how quickly are those fears dispelled, how soon is the tumult of their minds hushed and calmed, with that soul-reviving voice that came from the excellent glory, verse 35, “This is my beloved Son, hear him.”