IIL CHARACTERS CONCERNED. 1. Representative characters. In addition to the three favourite apostles, who were merely spectators but not actors, properly speak- ing, in this scene, we have Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, all of them in a representative character. Here were the Law-giver, the Law-restorer, and the Law-fulfiller. The Law was given by Moses; it was restored, after a time of sad defection, by Elijah; it was fulfilled in all its requirements by Jesus, who came expressly not to destroy the Law or abrogate the prophets, but to fulfil them both. They represented still more. Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets; both doing homage to Jesus, who repre- sented the gospel, or rather Law and prophets merged in the gospel dispensation. Here, again, is one that never tasted death, but was transferred in a fiery chariot from earth to heaven. No doubt that very translation effected some change analogous to death. At all events, he may fitly represent those that are alive and remain till the coming of the Lord, who shall not sleep as others sleep, but who shall be changed; “for,” saith the apostle, ‘we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Here, too, is one that died as mortals die, but how or where his body was laid to rest no one knoweth till this day; the only record is that “God buried him.” Here, also, is One that died a violent death and by wicked hands; he died and was buried, his grave being made with the rich in his death. ‘Thus we get a hint that ‘t matters little how we die—whether by the decay of nature, or fell disease, or dread catastrophe, or the hand of violence; neither does it matter where or how we are buried—whether in the country churchyard, or city cemetery, or the desert sands, or the depths of ocean; whether in the grave of the poor or mausoleum of the rich, whether in obscure privacy or with funereal pomp; in any case, if servants of God, we shall be compeers of Moses and Hlijah, and shall appear with Christ in glory. 2. A foreshadow of heavenly fellowship. Once more, though the apostles were mainly present as witnesses, still they were representative men. They were publishers and preachers of the new economy, and thus representatives of the Christian dispensation. Here, last of all and greatest of all, was Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant and the Representative of all times. So in that heavenly state, of which the Transfiguration was merely a fore- shadow, saints of ail times and of all dispensations shall be found. Believers during the legal age, believers in the times of the prophets, believers in the days of the apostles, believers from then till now, and onward till the consummation of all things, shall be there; “ They shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” Even a philosophic heathen could exult in the prospect of meeting the shades of departed worthies in a future state. ‘ What bounds,” he exclaims, “can you set to the value of conversing with Orpheus and Muszus and Homer and Hesiod? What delight must it be to meet with Palamedes and Ajax, and others like to them! ‘Then we should experience the wisdom of that great king who led his troops to Troy, and the prudence of Ulysses and Sisyphus.” Oh, how infinitely greater and holier is the joy with which the Christian can anticipate that grand gathering of all the faithful in Christ Jesus—patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and confessors, all who purely lived and nobly died; not only the one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed ones of all the tribes of the children of Israel, but “a great multitude, that no man can number,” in that day when we shall “come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven!” 3. Recognition. Here it must be observed, in passing, that the apostles at once recognize Moses and Elijah, in what manner or by what means we cannot tell; whether from their discourse, or by information from Christ, ar by some spiritual intuition, we do not know. At all events, we may fairly infer from this fact that in heaven there shall be distinct recognition ; otherwise the crowded raiks of the celestial inhabitants would only present one vast collection of unknown and so less interesting faces. Other Scriptures confirm this. Thus Abraham seems acquainted with all the circumstances of Lazarus’ life, and Dives knows tl ¢ state of his brothers on earth. Paul gives us to understand that our mental faculties shall be enlarged and expanded. Can we imagine, then, that memory
42 THE GOSPEL ACNORDING TO &T. MARK. (on. m.1—80
alone shall be impaired and diminished? Oh, what zest such recognition will give ts the joys of heaven! Who is not alive to the pleasures of social intercourse on earth? With what satisfaction does a happy family surround the domestic hearth, cr meet round the festive board! With what delight of family and friends is the wanderer, after long years of absence, welcomed to his native land! And oh, how great shall be the joy in heaven when the faithful minister meets those to whom he had preached the gospel, telling of heaven and leading the way! Or when the man of prayer meets those for whom he had offered supplication in seasons of danger, or difficulty, or distress, or disease, or at the hour of death! Or when the spiritual teacher, whether in sabbath school, or Bible class, or cottage meeting, meets those who had been once his pupils, but are now his companions in glory]