2. How diversified are the states of God's people upon earth !
[These highly favoured Disciples were now upon the mount ; but they were soon to descend into the valley again, and to go " through much tribulation in their way to the kingdom." Thus it is with all the Lord's people : the present is at best a chequered scene : nor is trouble ever nearer to us than when we are saying, " My mountain standeth strong ; I shall never be moved f." Let us then be thankful for any seasons of joy ; but never be so elated by them as to wish to set up tabernacles here, or to forget that we may soon expe- rience a sad reverse : yea, let us rather improve our joys as means of strengthening us for future conflicts.]
3. What a glorious place must heaven be !
[It must have been inexpressibly delightful to have beheld, though for so short a time, this heavenly vision : but what must
e 2 Pet. i. 16—18. f Ps. xxx. 6, 7.
c c 2
it be to " see Jesus as he is," in all the full blaze of divine majesty ; to see him, not attended with two only, but with ten thousands of his saints ; and to hear, not a conversation about future sufferings, but songs of everlasting joy and triumph? What must it be to see and hear such things ; ourselves re- sembling the Lord Jesus ; our " bodies fashioned like unto his glorious body," and our souls " shining above the sun in the firmament ;" our body no longer to become torpid through sloth, nor our soul to be agitated by surprise or terror; but in the perfect exercise of all our faculties to participate that glory, with a full assurance that it shall never end ? Well may we then say, It is good for us to be here. Then we shall need no tabernacles, for " we shall dwell in the temple of our God, and shall go no more outg." May we all be counted worthy of that honour! may we be admitted to the enjoyment of that beatific vision ; that " when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also may appear with him in glory ! "]
s Rev. iii. 12.