Fude 9. Ir is very probable Ged raiſed up the Body of Miſes tor this Transftzuration-teſtimony , that by the Law and the Prophets
(repreſented in Myes, (the Giver of the Law) and Elias, one of che moſt ramous of the Prophets) the Diſciples mizht be con-
firmed in their Faith concerning Chriſt, as the true Meſſias; and
alfo fortified againſt the Scandal and Temptation of that lencmi.
nous Death, which he was ſoon after ro undergo; and thar thets
three Apoſtles, being the higheſt Number of Wicneſſes by the
Law of Moſes to confirm a thing, might be judged ccmpetent Wir:
neſles of what they ſaw and heard. Do nct think Peter's ſavins
Let 15 build here th»ee Tabernacles, Nc. proceeded trom any Plez- ſure or Satistaon that he had from this Glimpſe of che Divine and Excellent Glory ; for how could this confiſt with thar Feyr
wich which, Mark ſaich, they were poſſciied ? Bur that, as 35
ſaich, He wiS$t not what to ſay; or ( as Luke) Not bnwing wht by
ſaid; which I take to be as a reaſonable, ſo the beſt excuſe cn
be made for the Errors and Weakneſs diſcovered in his Speech,
as if Moſes-and Elias, or Chriſt, could have dwelc cher:;, g5c,
5 While he yet ſpake , behold, a bright cloud the cloud , which 1aid , * This is my beloved Son. !!
Mark and Luke relate the ſame, without any conſiderable V+ + 1j; riationz only Luke faith , They were afraid as they entred int the © Cloud, Ir ſeemerh thar the Cloud did encompaſs them, ſo as they ſeemed all as if they had been within the Cloud. This ſtil} in- creaſed their Fear. Ir 1s obſerveable , that God did very often make his Appearances to People in a Cloud, making the Cl) ids hi Chariets, Exod.16.10. and 40.34. Numb.11.25. Plal.104.3, To reach us Humility, not to pry roo much into his Secrets, who co- vereth himſelf with chick darkneſs; and likewiſe to cor/it % weakneſs, who are nor able ro behold him, as he is; This is fad to be a bright Cloud, fo differing from the Cloud in which he appeared under the Law ; but without doubt ir had ſomething of a ſhadow 1n ir, and was choſen of Chrift for ſome abatement of the brightneſs of his Glory. This Cloud encompaſſeth C618, Moſes, and Elias; and alfo Perer, Fames and Fohn. | And tehili « wwice out of the Cloud; ] They ſaw no viſible Shape ; no more did the Jews, Deut. 4. 15. Only as St. Peter (who faw ic) expreſiet ir, 2 Per. 1.17. There came ſuch a woice from the Excellent Gli); He ſpeaks of this very time, as may appear from wer. 18. Tic Voice is the ſame which was heard upon the Bapriſm 0. Loris, chap. 3. 17.Only here 1s added to it, Hear him. q.d, You need 10 Elias to inftru& you , Hear him. Thus AMvſes ſaw what he hid before Propheſied of, Deut. 18. 15, 18. fulfilled ; He in his Mt niſtry, as a Servant in the Houſe of God, had prophefied, tht The Lord would raiſe up a Prophet ffom among# their Bre-hren, |? unto him, and put his Words into his Mouth, and he ſhoulc. ſpeak ut? them all that God ſhould command him , Deur. 18.8. and t. 15 Unto him you ſhall hearken. God had now fulfilled that Word; and he declares, that this Propher was his Son, his beloved S9n, and commands them to hear him. Which Words eſtabliſh Chriſt as the only Do@7 and Teacher of his Church; the only One wh he had betruſted to deliver his Truths, and Wi!l, to his People; the only one to whom Chriſtians are to hearhen. Nor doth t15 deſtroy the Miniſters of the Word , who are no more chan tle Interpreters of what he hath ſal,and are no more to be regardec, than as by them we hear Chrit ſpeaking more plainly, and !'t- quently unto us. This appearance of God from time to time a Cloud , and that not in any viſible Shape, but in an Exce#? Glory, cauſing a Voice to be heard; let us ſee the Audaciouſnels 0: thoſe, who by any PiRures or Images pretend to make any REPIe” ſentation of any Perſon in the Trinity. And this Command ire God to us, to hear Chri$, lers us aiſo ſee the Audacity of tht, who take upon them to impoſe upon Chriſtians whar Chriſt never ſpake.
6 And when the diſciples heard 7, they fell 0! their face, and were ſore afraid. "= 7 And Jeſus came and * touched them, and {41% + Ariſe, and be not afraid. Ro 8 And when they had lift up their eyes, U* 4 {aw no man, fave Jeſus only.
LI
Chap. XV I
overſhadowed them : and behold, a voice ont 0f - 1;
* in whom I am well pleaſed; * hear ye him.
(ha
at ou 1n2 t/ the I} lexvin ed he thar C conci] upon
I 2? Ul3TO t Math Verity Cc: the Sn But T ſi wnt9 hin Our ar truce oo bite; thi lic Was
C1 1.45, Elie --1 Wm 7þn, Fn the but even My; _ dernet: to Preaciie
Tar / Ha d UC t th 29d Tic of
\
Chap. XVIE Ge
Mark ſaich n> More than, And ſvddenly wien t-5ey hid looked ind about, they ſa 1 Mam any more, ſave Feſus only with them- -/.07, Such is che Majeſty and Glory of God, that a Cloud will or {o vail it, as that a Man 15 able to behold any Appearance of ir vichour ſome Conſternarion; fomerhing more chan thar Fear of Reverence, wichour which none ought co draw nigh unto Fim. Paul fell 19 the Earth, Acts 9. 3. When 4 Light trom Hea- Vn ſhone upon him. The Diſciples here fell on rheir Faces, -nd were 1ore atraid. Tous lers us lee rhe Goudnels of God 1n Teartcninsg ro the Peop.es Requeſt, Ex1d, 20. 19. Deut. 5. 28. U- 13. 16, 17. and ſpeaking to us by Men like unto our felves. Py 36/es under the Od Teltament ; by Chri8t (that Prophet men- +i:ned. Deut. 18. 15» ), under che New Teſtament, and ſuch as he Commilfionared to declare his v ill, Heb, I. 1,2, | And Teſits emo ond touched them, and jaid, Ariſe and be nt afraid. | To de- vor them fromthe Fear cf a Spectrum, or Apparition, he couch- er them, ard fa1th '1n Effect, It #« TI; be nor atraid, Tiey Fook up and ſec the Excellent Glory, and the Cinud Was withdray n, as allo 31ſe's and Eli, and they and cher Lord were lett alone; ind he gocth down 1rom the Mountain with them. Whether chis M yanrdin was Tiubrr, or ſome ocher Mountain much nearer C1:t Philippi, is of no Conſequence for us to be farisficd in,
o And a5 they came down from the mountain, *Je- ſs charged them, ſaving, Tull the Vilion to no man,
1:5! che Son of man be riſen again from the dead.