Baptist, in the illustrious Testimony he gives to our Lord Jesus Christ, taketh particular Notice of his Divine Dignity and Authority, as what should engage Men to pay the greatest Regard to the Doctrines he taught, and the Laws he delivered : He that cometh from above is above all ; be that is of the Earth is earthly, and speaketh of the Earth; he that cometh from Heaven is above all. Thus diminutively doth he speak of himself, though one of the greatest of the Prophets, in Comparifon of Jesus Christ. He addeth, He whom God hath fent speaketh the Words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by Measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all Things into his Hand. And then he concludes thus, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life; and be that believeth not the Son shall not fee Life, but the Wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 31, 34, 35, 36.

Let us therefore receive the Revelations Chrift hath brought us, viz. the Doctrines he hath taught, the Precepts he hath delivered, the Promises he hath given, the Threatenings he hath denounced, with an unshaken Faith, and with a profound Reverence. For, if Jesus was such a Person as the Gofpel representeth him to be, sent for fuch excellent Purposes, and whose Divine

Divine Mission and Authority was confirmed by such illustrious Attestations, it cannot poffibly be an indifferent Matter that we receive or reject him, and his Doctrines and Laws. And, if we profess to believe in him, we must take great Care that our Faith be not a bare speculative Afssent, but such a practical vital Perfuafion as to have a governing Influence over our whole Temper and Conduct; that we may answer the Design of his coming into the World, and giving himself for us, which was to redeem us from all Iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works.

On the Transfiguration.

DISCOURSE III,

MATTHEw xvii. I

9.

And, after fix Days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his Brother, and bringeth them up into a high Mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and bis Face did shine as the Sun, and his Raiment was white as the Light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then anfwered Peter, and faid 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 Mofes, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright Cloud overshadowed them: And behold,

D4

:

behold, a Voice out of the Cloud, which faid, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And, when the Disciples heard it, they fell on their Face, and were fore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And, when they had lift up their Eyes, they saw no Man, Jave Jesus only. And, as they came down from the Mountain, Jesus charged them faying, Tell the Vision to no Man, until the Son of Man be rifen again from the Dead.

TH

HERE is scarce any Thing in the whole Account given us of our Saviour's Life, that is more remarkable than his Transfiguration in the Mount. Accordingly there is a particular Notice taken of it by three of the Evangelifts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, between whom there is an admirable Harmony in the Relation they give us of this wonderful Transaction. I have chofen to confider the Account the Evangelift Matthew gives of it, and shall, as I go along, observe any particular Circumstances taken Notice of by the other Evangelifts, which are not here so expreffly mentioned.

That we may have a more distinct View of this Subject, First, I shall confider the Manner in which the Evangelifts introduce