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this Account of our Saviour's Transfiguration, or what the Things were that immediately preceded it.

Secondly, I fhall confider the Defcription that is given of the Transfiguration itself, and the most remarkable Circumftances that attended it.

Thirdly, The laft Thing I fhall obferve is the Conclufion of it, and the Injunction laid by our Saviour upon his Difciples, not to discover it to any Man till after his Refurrection.

First, Let us confider the Manner in which the Evangelifts introduce this Account of our Saviour's Transfiguration, or what those Things were that immediately preceded it. And this the rather deferves to be confidered, because all the Evangelifts obferve the fame Order in their Narration of what preceded this wonderful Transaction. They all give us an Account of a remarkable Difcourfe he had with his Disciples, and then obferve that within a few Days after this his Transfiguration happened.

As to the Difcourfe here referred to, we are informed that after Peter had made that open and excellent Confeffion that Jefus was the Chrift the Son of the living God; and after our Saviour had declared his Approbation of it, and given an ho

nourable

nourable Testimony to Peter himself, con cerning which fee the 15th and following Verfes of the preceding Chapter; from that Time forth began Jefus to fhew unto bis Difciples, how that he must go unto Jerufalem, and fuffer many Things of the Elders, and chief Priefts, and Scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third Day. Ver. 21. When Peter had fo openly declared, in the Name of all the Difciples, their Belief that he was the Chrift, he thought it neceffary plainly to let them know the grievous Sufferings he was to endure, both that they might not be furprised when it actually happened, and to correct the wrong Notions he knew they entertained of the Nature of his Kingdom. They, as well as the other Jews, expected a Meffiab that should appear in all the Glory and Grandeur of a mighty temporal Prince, and should advance the People of Ifrael to a Dominion over all Nations; and very probably they flattered themselves that, as they were his immediate Minifters and Attendants, they should have no small Share in his Favour, and perhaps be raised to great Dignities in his Kingdom. Accordingly Peter, upon hearing our Saviour fpeak of his Sufferings and Death, which was fo contrary to all the Notions and Expectations they had formed, began to rebuke

bim, faying, Be it far from thee, Lord; this fhall not be unto thee. But he received the moft fevere Reproof for it that our Lord ever gave to any of his Difciples: He faid unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an Offence unto me: For thou favoureth not the Things that be of God, but thofe that be of Men. Ver. 22, 23. And then

we are told, Ver. 24, that upon this. Occafion he faid unto his Difciples, and, as the Evangelift Mark obferves, Mark viii. 34, he called the People unto him and said it to them all: If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Crofs and follow me. Whereby he acquainted them, that, if they would approve themfelves to be his faithful Difciples, who fhould share in the Benefits of his Kingdom, they must not expect mighty temporal Advantages, but rather prepare for the greatest Sufferings, in Conformity to the Example of him their great Lord and Mafter. They must be ready not only to mortify their most beloved Lufts, but to renounce their dearest worldly Interests, and even to lay down their Lives, if called to it, for his Sake. But then, that this might not difcourage them, he adds, For whofoever will fave his Life fhall lofe it: And whofoever will lofe his Life, for my Sake, fhall find it. Ver. 25. (i. e. whofoever will think by denying me to preferve this present temporal

temporal Life, fhall lofe that which alone deferves the Name of Life; and whofoever fhall, out of Love to me, and a faithful Adherence to my, Gospel, lose this temporal Life, fhall obtain that which is the nobleft and happiest Kind of Life, viz. Life everlafting.) For, as he adds, Ver. 26, What is a Man profited, if he shall gain the whole World, and lofe his own Soul? Or what fhall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul? And then to fhew the Certainty of all this, of the Happiness that fhall be conferred upon all his faithful Difciples and Followers, and of the Punishment that fhall be inflicted on those that deny and forfake him, he affures them that, though his Kingdom was not of this World, attended with the Glory and Magnificence of earthiy Monarchs, yet he fhould be a King in a far nobler Senfe, and have a Dominion of an higher Nature. The Son of Man (faith he, Ver. 27.) shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels; and then he shall reward every Man according to his Works, i. e. not merely with temporal Rewards and Punishments in this Life, but with those of an everlasting Duration in a future State.

He adds, Ver. 28, Verily I fay unto you, there be fome Standing here, which shall not tafe of Death, till they fee the Son of Man

coming in his Kingdom. The Coming of the Son of Man admitteth of various Senfes in the New Teftament. In the most eminent Sense it is to be understood of his Coming in Glory to judge the World at the laft Day; and this Coming he had spoken of juft before. But this is not the Coming here intended, when he faith, that fome of those that were then prefent with him should not die till they faw him coming in his Kingdom. Sometimes his Coming is to be understood of the glorious Manifeftation of his Power and Justice in the fignal Vengeance inflicted upon the Jewish Nation, for their obftinate Unbelief and Disobedience; and, as this happened about forty Years after our Saviour fpoke these Words, fome then present with him might live to see it; which was particularly the Cafe of the Apostle John. Or his Coming in his Kingdom may be understood of his Refurrection from the Dead, and Afcenfion into Heaven, and confequent Exaltation, by which, and by the extraordinary Gifts and Powers of the Holy Ghoft, and the wonderful Progrefs of the Gospel, his Kingdom and Glory was illuftriously manifefted. And in this Senfe it is evident, that feveral of thofe that were then with him saw his Coming in his Kingdom. They were Witneffes to his Refurrection

and

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