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commanded his Difciples, not to publish in plain Terms, that he was Chrift the Meffiah.

21. Moreover, having now made known to them his Glory and Power, he thought it a fit Seafon to acquaint them alfo with his Humiliation and Sufferings; that they might not, being puffed up with great Thoughts of his Glory, be furprized and terrified at the Day of his Affliction. From this time therefore he began to tell them, that he must go to ferufalem, and there fuffer many things, and be cruelly used by the Rulers of the Jews, and at laft be put to death; but that on the Third Day he should rise again.

22. But his Difciples understood nothing of this. And Peter particularly, whole Thoughts were full of Glory and Greatnefs, was fo difturbed at this Difcourse, that he could not forbear, but took Jefus afide and expoftulated with him, faying; God forbid, that you who are the Son of God, the Meffiah and Redeemer of Ifrael, fhould have any fuch thing happen unto you.

23. But Jefus turning about to him with difpleasure, faid; Nay, now you are become my Enemy and Hinderer. When you made a good Confeffion, I commended and extolled you: but now you deserve a fevere Reproof: For you talk like a weak Man, and show your self to understand nothing of God's Difpenfations, and of the Way wherein he designs to redeem Mankind.

24. After this, Jefus faid to his Difciples, I my self am to be perfected by Sufferings: and whoever will be a

True

True Difciple of mine, must be willing to follow my Example: He muft abfolutely refign himself to the Will of God, renouncing all worldly Defires, and refolving both to do and fuffer whatever God fhall think fit to require of him.

25. And let him not think it much, if he be forced even to lay down his Life for the Sake of True Religion. For they who fave their Lives in this prefent time, by bafely complying with Temptations to forfake their Religion; thefe only are they who moft truly lofe them, by incurring eternal Death. But he that conftantly perfeveres, and lofes his Life in this prefent Time, to preferve his Religion and his Virtue; does moft truly fave it unto Eternal Happinefs.

26. For what comparison is there, between all the Things that this prefent World can afford, even if one could poffefs himself of them All; and the faving or lofing a Man's Soul eternally? or what valuable Confideration can be given for a Man's Soul?

27. For the time is coming, when Chrift fhall appear in the Majefty of God, and with the glorious Attendance of his holy Angels, to pafs a final Judgment upon all Mankind, and to reward every one according to his Works.

28. The Time indeed of this laft Judgment, God has not thought fit to reveal: But I affure you there are fome here prefent, who fhall live to fee the Kingdom of Chrift begun, in his glorious Refurrection and Afcenfion, and in his executing Judgment upon the unbelieving Jews in the final Deftruction of their City and Nation.

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Ć HA P. XVII.

Cbrift's Transfiguration, ver. 1. That John the Baptift was Elias, ver. 10. A Lunatick healed, and the Difciples rebuked for want of Faith, ver. 14. Chrift foretelleth his Death and Refurrection, ver. 22. Chrift payeth Tribute,

1

ver. 24.

AND after fix days, Jefus ta

keth Peter, James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.

2 And was transfigured before them, and his face did fhine as the fun, and his

raiment was white as the light.

3 And behold there appeared unto them Mofes and Elias talking with them.

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

I.

ABOUT a Week after this, Jefus defigning to give his Difciples fome fmall Reprefentation of his future Glory, went up privately into a Mountain, and took with him Peter and James and John.

2. And as he was praying in the prefence of thefe Difciples, he was changed into the appearance of a glorified Body; fo that his Face, did thine as the brightness of the Sun, and his Cloaths became white and glittering as the Light.

3. And at the fame time there appeared two other Perfons, in a glorious Form likewife, namely Mofes and Elias; and they talked with Jefus concerning the things that he was to fuffer, and of the Glory which was afterwards to follow.

4. All this the Difciples that were prefent, faw and heard; but being very drowfie, and alfo in a great Confternation and Surprize, they understood not what it meant. Yet moved with the strangeness and glory of the Vision, and recovering a little from their Fear, their Minds were filled with an unusual Pleasure And Peter, who was in all things forwarder than the rest, said to Jefus;

Jefus; Lord, how great is this Glory! How bleffed a Sight is this! How happy fhould we be, if we might but continue here! Give us leave to build three Apartments, for Thee, and for Mofes, and for Elias; and we will dwell here.

5. Scarcely had Peter faid these Words, when fuddenly Mofes and Elias vanifhed in a bright Cloud, and Jefus was left alone. And the Difciples heard the Voice of God out of the Cloud, faying; This is my beloved Son, whom I have chofen to reveal my Will to Mankind: Be not defirous of Vifions and extraordinary Appearances; but as ye have hitherto followed Mofes and the Prophets, fo from henceforward hear and obey Him.

6. The Disciples, aftonished at the Greatnefs and Majefty of this Divine Voice, fell down upon their Faces to the Ground,and were greatly affrighted. 7. But Jefus came to them, and taking them up, comforted them, and bid them not be afraid.

8. And when they came to themfelves, they faw Jefus alone, and in his ufual Form, as he was before the Vifion appeared.

9. Then they came down from the Hill; And as they were in the Way, Jefus knowing that the World was not yet capable of understanding the defign and meaning of this glorious Appearance, commanded his Difciples not to report it abroad till after his Refurrection.

10. Accordingly the Difciples kept the Thing fecret for the prefent: Only they debated privately among themfelves, what thofe Sufferings of Chrift,

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7 And Jefus came and touched them, and faid, Arife, and be not afraid.

their

8 And when they had lift up eyes, they faw no man, fave Jefus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jefus charged them, fay ing, Tell the vifion

to no man, until the

Son of man be risen again from the dead.

10 And his difciples asked him, faying, Why then fay the fcribes, that

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11 And Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Elias fhall first come, and restore all things:

12 But I fay unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not,

but have done unto him

whatfoever

they lifted likewife fhall also the Son of man fuffer of them. 13 Then the difciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptift.

14 And when they were come to the multitude, there

came to him a cer

tain man, kneeling down to him, and faying,

15 Lord, have mercy on my fon, for he is lunatick, and fore vexed for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft

into the water.

16 And I brought him to thy difciples, and they

which Mofes and Elias talked of, fhould be; and what his Refurrection from the Dead meant. That these were Things to be accomplished by him as he was the Meffiah, they could not doubt: But one thing they ituck at, namely, that Malachi had prophefied, and their Doctors had conftantly taught them, that Elias ought firft to have appeared publickly, before the Meffiah could fhow himself: And they refolved to ask Jefus about it.

II. Jefus answered them; 'Tis true, as the Jewish Doctors tell you, that Elias was firft to come, and to prepare Mens Hearts for the reception of the Meffiah.

12. But this ought not to raise any Scruple in your Minds concerning me: For Elias has indeed appeared accordingly, only the Jews did not receive and acknowledge him, but he was perfecuted and flain; and in like manner will they deal alfo with Christ himself.

13. Then they understood, that John the Baptift was that Elias, whom the Prophet foretold fhould be the Forerunner of the Meffiah.

14. Now when Jefus returned to the reft of his Difciples, whom he had not taken with him up into the Mount, but had left them below with the Multitude; there met him a Man, who fell down before him, and said ;

15. Lord, have pity upon my Son; for he is tormented with a Devil, and is Lunatick, and hath the Falling Sicknefs; fo that he cannot keep himself from falling into the Fire or the Water.

16. And I brought him in your Abfence to your Difciples, hoping that they

might

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