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these dead raised up; and with what body did they come?

It is enough to answer, God gave to them a body as it pleased him: and to each, his own body. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Such was the wonderful glory of this scene, and such the rapture in which Peter viewed it, that he could not bear the thought of leaving it, and returning again to common things; to the business and trials of life; its cares, its sorrows, its temptations. And all would feel the same; would desire to" depart," and to "be with Christ," if their faith were more pure and entire, so as to realise to their minds what Scripture discloses and promises.

But at least we may unite with the apostle in these words, It is good for us to be here: to be where he was, and where he wished to remain, in the company of Christ Jesus, and of Elias, and of Moses. We are with Moses and Elias, while we walk, as they walked, in all the ordinances and commandments of the law blameless. We are with Christ Jesus, while we abide in his faith. He is one with us, and we with him. He has said, "If any man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” 6

It is indeed good for us to be so. May we never

John xiv. 23.

be where Moses and Elias might not also be never act unworthily of such presence: never desire what they might not favour, or do what they might be ashamed to witness, or speak what they would be grieved to hear!

5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

As soon as the apostles had recovered from the surprise occasioned by the voice from heaven, they looked round, and perceived no longer Moses and Elias. In the same manner, short glimpses of heavenly things are sometimes vouchsafed to the people of God during their pilgrimage on earth: thus they are cheered on their way, and strengthened to pursue it. Those more especially who are called to encounter great difficulties, to suffer heavy trials of sickness and sorrow, or who are exposed to grievous persecution for righteousness' sake-those more especially are permitted to enjoy such blessings. The Spirit gives them, not a view of Moses and Elias, but a sense of everlasting glory, which enables them to do what they are called to do, and to suffer what they are called to suffer.

But these unusual favours are not lasting. It is intended that our life on earth should be by faith,

and not by sight. We must, here, depend upon God's word: depend upon what he promises that we shall behold hereafter, and not expect that it will now be clearly displayed before our eyes.

9. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

10. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

11. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

The interpreters of the law were right in expecting, that one typified under the title of Elijah,-“ a burning and shining light in a dark age and country," should precede the coming of the great deliverer. But they had not perceived that this prophecy was already accomplished in the ministry of John the Baptist. He had restored all things; that is, he had established them in the state in which they must needs be when Christ appeared: he had called men to repentance, the first step towards restoration, and awakened the hearts of those who had ears to hear. But they knew him not, knew "not the time of their visitation." And as with the servant, so with the master. 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not:" but did unto him whatsoever they listed. Therefore the vision must be concealed

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7 Mal. iii. 1; iv. 5.

from them until the Son of man be risen from the dead. No such sign of his glory must be shown them, but confined to those who "had received him, and believed in his name."

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They were happy who saw this glorious majesty, when they "were with him in the holy mount.' But for the encouragement of all future ages it has been written, "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."

LECTURE LXXVI.

POWER OF FAITH.

MATT. xvii. 14-21.

14. And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15. Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20. And Jesus said unto him, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of

mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

It is instructive here to see what the disciples wanted. Vigorous, strenuous, effectual faith. Faith they possessed: they had left all, and followed the calling of the Messiah. But it was not such faith as they required: faith which can overcome all obstacles and temptations; faith which can wrestle with God in prayer and supplication; faith which can come boldly to the throne of grace; faith of which afterwards St. James understood the real value, when he wrote, "Let a man ask in faith, nothing wavering." 1 Such faith, we are here warned, can only be produced and preserved in the heart by prayer and fasting: by persevering habits of earnest devotion, and by abstraction from worldly thoughts, desires, and pleasures.

It is not sufficiently observed, that what all want, is FAITH. Not to cast out devils, but to subdue evil inclinations, and overcome evil practices. If men had faith as a grain of mustard seed, (ever so little, but still having life in it,) they would not be turned aside, as they are, by the slightest difficulties and temptations. How few deny or doubt that God created the world-that Christ appeared in human nature to redeem mankind-that he will come again to judge the quick and the dead! Yet how few live as if they did not doubt this! whilst they practise what the Creator has forbidden, what

1 James i. 6.

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