O, blessed be to us this precious epistle of God! It remains, my beloved, your magna charta! Hold firm to its contents it is your life; and on all the pillars of your church let there be inscribed, "If any present to us another gospel than what we have received, and were it an angel from heaven, let him be accursed!" Amen.

TABOR, THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION.

his wretchedness, and to become manifest in the most blissful freedom; and to those tossed about whole nakedness of its own weakness and nothing- on the boisterous ocean of these times, he opens ness. Ah, how was he deceived, unhappy man! to view the prospect of a haven, out of whose safe How dreadfully has "philosophy and base de-anchorage no storm will cast off his bark. ception" robbed and plundered him! Behold, yonder, "his house, together with the timber and stones, destroyed by the letter!" There is now no course for prayer, -no consolation of grace, no confidence in a living God, no certain hope in an everlasting life. As on the ruins of some dreadful conflagration he stands in his misery, without a shelter or resting place, enveloped in the vapour of a damp anguish and despair, and, in all his necessity, fixed for ever in the lie, and so bewildered in his delusion that he never more I KNOW of no second among all mortals on whom can think of entering the peaceful haven of truth! such a superabundant measure of honour and glory Do not, however, imagine that such a fixed and has been conferred as was imparted to that man strengthened state of error is not to be feared as a upon whose personal history, extending during a judgment from a gracious God. Look to Israel, period of nearly one thousand years, our hearts have that degenerated race :- how has that been punished, for some time been dwelling with delight. After two thousand years since! Israel also rejected the having, at the close of an unparalleled miraculous word of truth, and depended on the flying letter of and eventful life, been taken up of God in a pecuthe Talmud. That letter has "remained" until this liar manner, and, reposing in his chariot of fire, hour, and, alas, how has it swallowed up the house shone like an inexpressibly promise-teeming and of Israel, both timber and stone. The whole nation, consoling meteor, through many generations, in the do they not appear like a ruined city? How do spiritual firmament of the faithful; his image rethey not wander forth, agreeably to that prophetic ceives all at once, four hundred years after his dejudgment, "without a king, or princes, without parture, fresh brilliancy, inasmuch as it is intersacrifice, without temple, without a breast-plate, woven with that grand, transporting period of jubiand without a priesthood." Fearfully are they vi-lee, in the anticipation of which Abraham already sited with judgment, and yet die daily in their error. Alas, how firmly fixed does that letter remain; but it rests thus in order to paint more vividly before our eyes that our God is a consuming fire, and an enemy to lies!"

And now, my beloved, ye know also what circumstances are connected with the maledictory letter of Zechariah. Wherever this letter may meet you, however it may come, disguised or with open vigour, pious or shamelessly vicious and scoffing, in sermons, or in books and pamphlets,- salute it with a-"Who's there?" and regard it with scorn and contempt. Should it prove to be that antichristian vagabond, then parley not with it; thrust it from you, saying, "You have missed your road, —we hold no communion with hell!" and give it no shelter; for there is danger connected with its reception; scorpions sleep beneath its seal. And should any one of you have already taken it in, give it warning forthwith, that it may not become master of your house, that the Almighty may not in his anger cause it to remain.

rejoiced, and which many prophets and kings had desired to see, but had not seen.

66

Malachi, the herald of God, appeared in Israel, and announced in Jehovah's name, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."* Snatched thus by this prophecy from the days of the past, and transported suddenly from the picture gallery of history, called into life again, Elijah shone henceforth as the most endeared object of Israel's expectation. He was viewed in faith by the saints, hovering in the horizon of the future, advancing as the harbinger of the promised rising from on high; nay, the form of the great David's Son ceased to appear before their spirit; or only in gloriously inseparable conjunction with him came forth also the man from Tishbeh before their view of faith. For the space of four hundred years had Elijah, in such manner united with Christ as one constellation, been Behold, here is another letter, sent by everlast-present to view, until, finally, the great, much deing mercy, written by the Spirit of Truth, and ad-sired, spiritual sun of morn visited the benighted dressed "to all who would be saved." This letter earth, and in its appearance were fulfilled prophecies of the Gospel, wherever it is received, will "remain" of a thousand years. also, but it remains as an angel of God, blessing The people of Israel thronged to the Jordan : all; it only consumes that timber and those stones their attention has been drawn to a voice in the wilwhich are of no use, and substitutes, instead, another derness, announcing that "the kingdom of heaven stone, which no fire can destroy, and directs you to was at hand!" The Lord then opens his mouth, timber for your peaceful dwellings which never con- and, in reference to the coming of John the Baptist, sumes. To those who receive this letter, the Lord he says, "If ye will receive it, this is Elias who will, in a glorious way, make manifest that it is in was to come!" Malachi's prophecy was therefore truth a divine letter, a letter from on high. Yes, now fulfilled, but only figuratively, and by way of -if any hunger after righteousness, after life or prelude. The meaning of his prophecy was not yet rest, to them I would repeat what God the Lord exhausted, as may be understood by the Lord's said unto his prophet: "Eat what lieth before thee, saying, "If ye will receive it;" and is still more namely, this letter!" This letter announces to the expressly shown by the assurance of John himself, sinner an unconditional amnesty; to the sick, a near"I am not Elias." It is evident that the Lord and everlasting restoration; to the imprisoned, the

Mal. iv. 5, 6.

+ John i. 21.

called him Elias because he appeared in the spirit and power of that great reforming prophet. Malachi's prophecy, it cannot be mistaken, had reference to a personal return of Elijah, and in this sense this passage has been understood from time to time; as also Jesus, the son of Sirach, appears to have interpreted it in the same way, when he, in the forty-eighth book of his proverbs, exclaims, "Thou, Elias, wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses; who wast ordained for reproof in its season, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it broke forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the fathers unto the sons, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Blessed are they that see thee, and shall be honoured on account of thy friendship; then shall we possess the true life."

a doubt that, to say the least, he would not state
to us what is otherwise than a real event, which
you will remember is a scene from the life of
God amidst the sons of men. What wonder,
therefore, that this scene should step out as it
were of the ordinary sphere, and bring that which
is heavenly to approximate with the earthly,
which we sons of the dust and night must call, to
our minds, extraordinary and incomprehensible!
Let rather joy, instead of idle wonder, therefore,
seize us at witnessing this glorious event! Behold,
here we have something beyond the fiery sign on
Carmel, beyond the burning bush of Horeb, and
the flaming splendour of Sinai.
"This is none
other but the house of God, and this is the gate of
heaven!"

Let us with reverence approach this subline occurrence nearer, and, may the Spirit of the Lord disclose to us its profound meaning! We will direct our view, for the present, to, I., The object of the transfiguration of Christ; II., The preparation, and the transfiguration itself.

And, behold, before we are aware of it, after a heavenly repose of nearly one thousand years, this ancient prophet appears unto us again in bodily form. On the summit of mount Tabor, with Moses at his side, we behold them both engaged in sacred converse with the Lord of glory. Astonishing and unheard-of event! And, in this scene, was Malachi's prophecy fully and finally realized? I doubt it, my brethren. For was not Elijah to come, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers;" and which commission he has not yet executed? Thus, the ancient prophecy still remains in part unfulfilled; figuratively it is already fulfilled, but by no means is it entirely accomplished. Are we then still to expect a return of Elias?" do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" They According to the scripture, I must believe that, at the time of the restoration and conversion of Israel, he will again appear upon earth. Thus he maintains his position in the constellation of our new testament images of hope, again to signalize a great and brilliant epoch in the kingdom of God.

I. The evangelist Luke begins the relation of our event with the words, "And it came to pass after this saying;" thereby hinting that the leading of the disciples to the mount of transfiguration was connected with a short conversation almost immediately before. This occurred at Cæsarea Philippi, at the moment when the Lord was about to commence his last eventful journey to Jerusalem, and bear once more the banner of his kingdom through the whole land. "Whom," said he to his disciples,

Oh, event worthy of admiration and wonder! For a man, thus, for thousands of years, not to leave the world's stage of history! A son of the dust, serving through unnumbered ages, as a beacon to the disconsolate on the ocean of time! And to whom it is vouchsafed, to pass through heaven and earth, and not to be wanting in the most glorious moment! "O Elijah, how art thou honoured," we may say with Sirach, "which of us is to be praised like unto thee? Blessed are they that see thee, and will be honoured on account of thy friendship!" Yet, even thou, what art thou, but a satellite illumined with another's light? What, but that which receives the grace and love of Christ to sinners, to reflect their beams in heightened splendour!

And now let us proceed to Tabor- a glorious passage; may it prove a blessing to us, for where can we inhale such balsamic air, where is such a blissful prospect disclosed to our view, as on this mount?

MATTHEW, XVII. 1, 2.

"After six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."

What is here related to us by the evangelist, my brethren, is no vision, no optical delusion, He relates us the fact of an external occurrence; and a passing glance at his account puts it beyond

replied, "Some say thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus answered, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Jesus answered, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Never had the disciples stood so elevated in their joy of faith as now. This was, therefore, a favourable moment for directing unto the mystery of his work of redemption, and for unveiling to them that catastrophe, the development of which they had hitherto been unable to endure. "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." But the astonished disciples are completely at a loss to explain this. "How," think they, struck with extreme surprise, "the Son of God to suffer and be slain?" and Simon Peter, in a moment, at once fell back from his exalted faith to the state of the natural man, and, quite forgetting his situation towards the Lord, he with unbecoming haste takes him aside, and says to him, in a tone of reproof," Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee." The Lord, however, immediately penetrating the source from whence this" Be it far from thee," arose, met it with holy severity; "Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." But, just in the very same moment, mount Tabor passed before his mind's eye,

Thus, it is not to doubted that especially in that And we are not to suppose that the trans- moment of dread and terror, when in the very flame figuration did not take place partly on account of of the sacrifice, the Eternal Father was forced to the Lord himself. It is not to be doubted but withhold from him the influential rays of his love, that it had reference to him, and in this respect the recollection of the scene on the mount of Tabor it had its principal and most important significa- must have afforded him the service of a refreshing tion. You know that, although he bore in his balsam; and who knows but that the "Eli," flesh the whole fulness of the Godhead bodily, yet which, in the most trying hour of his life, he he, at the same time, led truly and really a human was enabled to place before the painful "Lama life. As man, he was obliged to learn to know sabachthani," might not have been called forth by faith, obedience, and conflict, even as his own dis-him from the Jordan, and the scene of the transciples. His way, like ours, was through narrow figuration; just as we at times cry, "My Saviour! passes, and barren paths of manifold temptations, My Redeemer!" which, not finding them accord spiritual deprivation and darkness; nay, seasons did with present feeling and experience, we borrow from not fail him when, like his people, he really needed former times to transplant into the troubled scenes strengthening, comfort, and encouragement; nor of the present. And, thus, the possession of an even did he despise the sympathy of his disciples. afore time, so rich in grace and experience, may, inHe had been prepared by God for his temptation in deed, be appreciated as a precious gift; for in that we the wilderness, by the testimony he gave from hea- have a spiritual granary of Joseph as a substitute for ven, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well every barren, unnutritious one of the present day. pleased!" He was now about to meet a still more

flict, the banner of the cross, bringing with it salvation on the mountains of Israel; and on that account they particularly required such an especial preparation as awaited them on Tabor.

Yes, commonly, my brethren, even to us it indicates the approaching_dawn of a sultry day, when the Lord leads us to Tabor, and vouchsafes us more particular manifestations of his strengthening and nourishing grace. But take heed, such sweet repasts signalize, generally, impending marches through the wilderness. It points at war when he throws over us the panoply, and begins to deck us with the shield of faith; be assured the enemy's colours are waving in the neighbourhood. Let not this thought, however, embitter to us the joy of the moment, but let us eat and drink as often as he spreads the board for us; let us recreate ourselves on the sweet, the happy present, and commit "the thought for the morrow" to Him, the merciful and faithful One!

II. Accept, therefore, these imperfect reflections from which our Lord took with him the three disciupon the object of the miracle of the transfigura- ples to the mount of transfiguration, his predilection. The consideration of the event itself will tion for them occupied only a very subordinate enable you to premise something farther and deeper place. He had other motives incomparably more still. "After six days," relates the evangelist, important and grave, which impelled him to this; "Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, motives which are to be principally sought for in and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart." the special calling of these three, and in their pecuThese three disciples, therefore, whom he had often liar relation to the person of Jesus. For they distinguished above the rest, whom also he after- undoubtedly appear as the more intimate circle of wards took with him to Gethsemane, as into the the Lord, even as they were afterwards chosen also holy of holies, there to behold the priestly altar to be the three main pillars of the Church. They and flame of sacrifice; here, however, in the cha-were to be the first to plant, amidst storm and conracter of a king, to view his splendour and glory. It seems almost as if the Saviour moreover in this respect felt as a human being, that, amidst his love for the mass, he was also susceptible of individual affection; that affection when one heart finds itself in a nearer connection with another, and, by means of a wondrous chain of the gentlest chords of men's minds; that lovely bond of tenderness which we call mutual sympathy winds itself around the soul, and, in the influence of which, we say, with Jacob, My life is bound up in Benjamin's life." It is assuredly true, his children were all precious and dear alike to him; he loved them collectively and individually, even as the Father loved him, and was not less willing to lay down his life for one than for another. But one or two of them seem to have stood nearer to his natural human feelings than the rest; the nearest of all without doubt was John, who lay on his breast, and who, referring to this intimate connection, styles himself emphatically "the disciple whom Jesus loved;" next to John were his brother, James, and Simon Peter. Now it cannot but be perceived that these very three exist as quite singularly attractive phenomena in the circle of the apostles. Simon Peter, how amiable does he not appear, even amidst his errors and mistakes; from his ardent zeal for his master, and his upright mind, without falsehood and guile! And James, again, who could not have been forced to love him that holy and deeply zealous man, with the mighty, unchangeable resolution in his soul, in no manner of condition to desert his Lord again; and, if it should so chance, to be the first of the twelve to drink after him the cup of the bloodstained martyrdom; and which he actually has done. And now John, that young and noble branch upon the vine of God, that eagle spirit, who, justly named a son of thunder, like the thunder utters his voice on earth, but comes not forth himself from the clouds above; John, that purest mirror of the Saviour's self, and whose character is so full of tenderness and love; that man, all around whose person appeared touched as with the coal of sanctification, and who had held his affections and his life in the heart of his Master more profoundly than any other of them all; say, then, where has there ever existed on earth, next to the Fairest of the children of men, a more gracious and lovely, or a more heart-warming being, than this disciple? Yet true it is, that what usually weaves such an inward band of especial, individual regard, is not the mere perception of an unusual measure of personal excellencies in a man; it is something else which lies deeper, an indescribable something; it is, as we said above, the discovery of a certain unison of the innermost chords of kindred spirits, which admits not of expression or conception.

Meanwhile it is evident that, among the reasons

And whither did Jesus lead his disciples? The sacred narrative says, "up into a high mountain." From ancient times it was the Lord's custom to select the silent summits of hills, those silent islands amid the ocean of the world's turmoil, for the scenes of his most glorious and remarkable revelations. And where are the spots in which he is wont to unveil himself to us in the most glorious and striking manner? Our Horebs and Tabors lie where the care of this passing time is mute, where the presumption within us is brought to silence, where a deep conviction of knowing nothing, of being able to do nothing of one's self, creates for us the labourer's eve of rest, and the soul, freed from the noise of earth, as well as of its labours, becomes a Samuel, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth!"

The mount on which the transfiguration took place is not particularly described to us in scripture. According to an ancient and not incredible tradition, it was Tabor, the most considerable and beautiful mountain in Galilee. This eminence reared its head, shining in the garb of the most luxuriant foliage of woodlands, not far from Nazareth and Cana, in the wide plain of Jezreel; and, according to the description of one of the more recent travellers, if there be any thing beautiful in nature, it is this verdant, cone-shaped, mountainpyramid of Palestine. Its summit, which raises itself boldly even into the region of the thunderclouds, and is covered with pistachio trees and sturdy oaks, is nearly three miles in circumference, and presents a prospect, than which one more charming and extensive can scarcely be found anywhere. To the right the eye glances from Carmel, this ancient scene of the glory of Jehovah, over to the immeasurable waters of the Mediterranean sea; northward appears, overhanging like a gigantic white eagle, the darkling hilly declivities of Leba

non, the glittering snow-capped peak of the mighty Jesus prays; and what arises? All of a sudden, Hermon; towards the south, the eye rests first upon it appears to the sleepers as if a bright stream of the blooming verdure of the most luxuriant vine-light played about their eyelids, and as if the yards and orange groves; and, farther on, upon the mountainous range of Samaria; whilst to the left the sea of Tiberias gleams towards us, like a swan in full trim, moving gracefully on through the billows of waning corn-fields on the plain of Esdraelon.

But why cast our looks into the distant prospect, when something more enchanting presents itself to us in the foreground. It is not its natural beauty which attracts us to Tabor-its proper glory is the sacred historical recollections attached to it.

whispering of some conversation penetrated down into the depths of their slumber. They move they wake up, and begin to rub their eyes; they ask themselves if the night is already past, and the sun already in the highest blaze of noon? They look around at each other with amazement; but who can describe the sensations with which at this moment their hearts are overwhelmed? What an incomparable spectacle! Behold! Behold! In that shining form yonder, do they indeed behold their Master? In that majestic figure which appears The apostle subsequently names the mount of arrayed in the glory of the divinity do they behold transfiguration "the holy mount.' In this appel-him in whose company they ascended the mounlation is mirrored their own mind; therein is de- tain? O glory, before which the sun and moon picted the grand indelible impression which from must hide themselves! Behold his countenance, this elevation they have brought with them into like an open heaven, full of light and joy; his brow, life. Yes, those are, and will remain to us, holy the throne of God's purity; his eye, as if he would spots, where we once could say, with Jacob, "I have awe the world to dust; his mouth, ready to proseen God face to face, and my life is preserved." nounce creation to a world! The disciples are There stand our Bethels and Penuels, where he whis- awe-struck at what they behold, and seek to know pered into our souls, "I have loved thee with an if what they witness is a dream or reality. But it everlasting love!" or where he removed the tears is not alarm or fright that they experience; it is from our eyes, and crowned our sighs with his not a Sinai, so as to make them to say, "I exAmen. Oh, such places are for ever consecrated. ceedingly fear and quake." The glory of Tabor Who can again visit them, and not experience that here only breathes peace and joy. The heart is awful and solemn feeling produced when entering the enlarged by it; it would gladly be completely abrepose of the dead! A dear and lovely spot in the vale sorbed in it! of tears! He that has many such is indeed rich!

Jesus commences his journey to the mount, and is followed by his disciples. The ascent required about a day, and accordingly the sun must have already set, and the twilight of evening have already commenced, when they arrived at the summit. A solemn silence reigns all around; the world below, sunk in the repose of night, and above no watching eye, those invisible excepted, which, full of expectation, together with the stars, look down from the clouds. The disciples, weary with their journey, and at the same time spiritually excited by the conversation on the way, as well as by their solemn situation with the Saviour alone on the mount, in the silence of night, recline themselves upon the ground, and sink into slumber. The Saviour throws himself upon the breast of his Father, and prays; but the subject of that prayer history does not relate to us. It might possibly have been similar to that of John, xii.," Father, glorify thy name!" or in John, xvii., “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with the glory which I had with thee, before the the world was; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee!" Sublime scene! The Lord of Glory, before the face of the Almighty, on his knees! The Son of the living God engaged in holy communion with the Eternal Father, on the dark mountain height! Assuredly, if ever the expression, "stand at a distance," was to be used appropriately, it might be here. And when Immanuel prays, what ensues my brethren? All-triumphant is his prayer, stronger than walls of diamond, more powerful than a peal of thunder; it is a power which the Almighty himself cannot oppose. And, yet, consider only this supplication may mingle with your own, to support it, and contribute to its full effect. Now you will thus see the light, foundation, and connection, in the great words of promise, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."

And let then our souls be absorbed in the contemplation of this kingly glory! Let our hearts be gladdened and delighted in its wondrous light, and become healthy and blessed. Behold, how gloriously he appears, the fairest of the children of men; not only the King of John, Peter, and James, but my King! Hallelujah! and thine, my brethren! Truly, here is indeed more than Solomon and all his glory; more than Aaron and Melchisedec! When was a star ever seen to shine on our benighted world equal to this? When did ever sun break through the darkness of the earth to be compared with this? O incomparable brightness, forcing angels to sink down on their knees and worship, and causing sinners to rejoice and shout for gladness, "My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl; his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved; and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."* Oh, behold the King in his beauty; consider his image, and greet each other with the cry of "Happiness to the King!"

Beho, there He stands, the Incomparable! Not clothed wit.. sun, but Himself the sun in the kingdom of sp. Not outwardly shining, but bearing the source anness of light in Himself. There He stands on the silent mount; and not over him alone, but also over his disciples, is shed the splendour of his transfiguration. Their raiment is *Solomon's Song, v. 10-16.