Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 18

Commentary on 2 Peter · Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 18

p. 323VERSE 18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when wee were with him in the holy mount.

THis is a cleare deſcription of the place, where they had that heavenly viſion; the holy mount. Before he profeſſed them eye-witneſſes, now alſo eare-witneſſes. This voice came not in ſecret, it was no whiſpering voice: not in …error, it was no thundring voice: not in a ſtrange language, it was no unintelligible …oice. It was not like the voice at Babel, confuſed. At the building of Babel there …ere ſtrange tongues, that one could not underſtand another: at the building of Sion were alſo ſtrange tongues, but readily underſtood, Act. 2. This voice heard, this they …nderſtood, this they declared.

The body of this verſe reflects upon the transfiguration of CHRIST, where…f we ſhall find many conſiderable members. But firſt let us looke upon the outſide …f the Text, and the garments it weares. There is.

Quiddam

Vocale; a Voice; This voice which came, &c.

Locale; a Place; In the holy mount.

There are two annections to theſe two circumſtances.

To the

Voice, audience This voice we heard.

Place, preſence: foreign; we were with him.

This voice which came from heaven.] Firſt for the vocall part; we have alrea…y conſidered: what this voice was, and from whence it came. Here is only ſome …ariation of the latter phraſe: there it was foreign, from the excellent …lory: here it is foreign, from heaven. Now as. 2 Cor. 12.2. &. 4. When Paul …peaking of his rapture and revelation, ſaies in one place that he was caught up to the …hird heaven: and in another, into Paradiſe: we may ſafely inferre, that Paradiſe is p. 324heaven, a place of infinite joy. So finding that here called heaven, which was before called glory; we conclude that it is a place of infinite glory. The earth had many cities, onelyonly Ieruſalem was the holy Citie: many mountaines, but Sion was the mount of joy. Pſal. 48.2. The joy of the whole earth is mount Sion. The Courts of Princes have glorious ſhewes, onelyonly the Court of God hath the Excellent glory. The Athenian thought all the world, as barbarous in knowledge, ſo infamous in honour, in reſpect of Athens: therefore they would goe heavily forth, but make … home. Wee know that to bee true of our countrey, what they dreamed of Athens: the pride of the world is vanity of vanities, the meaneſt of heaven is glory of glories.

Good things are knowen by their contraries, where they cannot bee ſeene in their owne perfections. To contemplate this glory, let us looke lower than heaven, upon earth; lower than earth, upon hell; and ſo learne to judge of heaven.

Looke upon this world, what is found in it but vanitie, which is evill: miſerie, which is worſe: iniquity, which is worſt of all. For vanitie, there have you ſome building houſes, as the Eſtriches lay egges, or as children make ovens, to bake no bread in: there is vanity. Another waſts his time, braines, meanes, to find our ridiculous projects; only ſtudies trickes: as if his ſoule could be made happy by a trick there is vanitie. Another ſweats, non pro ſolido auro, not for riches, which is alſo vaine: ſed pro ſtolida aura, but for the barren aire of emptie commendation, which is moſt vaine. The world it ſelfe is vanitie, and a miſtreſſe that makes her Idolaters moſt vaine. Blanditur oculis, ſeducit oſculis: if you looke upon her, ſhe will beguile you if you kiſſe her, ſhe will bewitch you. For miſeries, one ſhakes a pained head, another rores for the torment of his reines, a third complaines the racking of his gowtie joynts, another is halfe dead with a Palſey: that it may be ſaid of him more truly than of ſea-farers: he is neither amongſt the living, nor amongſt the dead. Which of this whole multitude can ſay he is ſo well, that he feeles no diſtemper: Shew me the man that ſaies, he ailes nothing: and I will anſwer, that he is in moſt danger: the proximity to death is the inſenſibilitie of ſickneſſe.Bern. Ingreſſus debilis, progreſſus lebilis, egreſſus flebilis. Our entrance is full of weakeneſſe, our proceeding full of wickedneſſe, our departure full of wretchedneſſe. If thy body be healthfull, doth nothing about thy eſtate, thy friends, thy neighbours, thy children, trouble thee? laſtly for iniquity; this is a morall corruption, worſe than that mortall corruption. There flie a crew of oathes, like night-ravens: there ſtalkes pride, bluſtring through the ſtreetes; the language of whoſe pace is, Who makes me? drunkenneſſe is reeling to the ground, and uncleaneneſſe ſtrives to hold it up, Hypocrites dare lye God in the face, as if he had no window into the heart: or he that hath eyes like a flame of fire, could ſee men no otherwiſe from heaven, than the halfe cured man in the Goſpell, that ſaw them walking like trees. Profane perſons ſweare, as dogges barke: non ſemper pro feritate, ſed pro conſuetudine; not ever for curſtneſſe, but for cuſtome. If theſe externall offences did not vexe thee, yet thou haſt enow at home: ever ſinning, before, after, yea even while thou repenteſt; none of theſe conveniences are in heaven, Revel. 21. No miſery, but habitation with God, neere whom ſorrow can never come. No vanity, for the former things are paſſed away. No iniquity, for God ſhall make of things new. Revel. 19.9. Bleſſed are they that are called to marriage ſupper of the Lambs. Feaſts have more than ordinarie diet: marriage-feaſts more than common abundance. This exceeds all; new wine, pure Manna, great cheare, and an anſwerable welcome. Cant. 5.1. Eate Oh friends, drinke, yea drinke abundantly and be merry. Of beloved.

Looke yet lower, and conſider the infernall pittie, full of horror and amaſedneſſe: Where is no remiſſion of ſinne, no diſmiſſion of paine, no intermiſſion of ſenſe, no permiſſion of comfort, Bernard. Where friend ſhall cry to friend; Percute, dilacera; infer prunas, & ebullientibus impone lebetibus. That Pariſian maſſacre was but a ſenſe-ſchoole to this bloudy field: yet thinke of that diſmall cry there; of p. 325enemies inſulting and butchering, kill, kill; of innocents ſuffering and dying, ſave, ſave. But Matth. 8.12. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Flet us ob ignem qui non extinguitur, ſtridor ob vermem qui non moritur, Bern. Weeping, for the fire that ſhall never be quenched: gnaſhing of teeth, for the gnawing worme that ſhall never bee ſatisfied. Fletus oculorum ex dolore, ſtridor dentium ex furore, Gregor. Weeping of eyes, the effect of a paſſive agonie: gnaſhing of teeth, the effect of an impatient fury. Illic dentes ſtridebunt, qui hîc de edacitate gaudebant; If the rod of affliction which ſcourgeth the deare ones of GOD, bee ſo ſmart: what are their plagues, in whoſe righteous confuſion GOD inſulteth; I will avenge mee of mine enemies! Eſay 1.24. Bernard obſerves on the 25. of Saint Matthew. That the bleſſed are firſt called to the Kingdome, before the curſed be caſt into thraldome. Vt …ſti acrius doleant, videntes quid amiſerint: illi foelicius gaudeant, noſcentes quid evaſe…int; That the ungodly may be the more vexed, ſeeing what joyes they have miſſed: and the faithfull the more ſolaced, ſeeing what ſorrowes they have eſcaped. If our mortall eyes were ſuffered to view the horrours of that lake, how would we loath ſinne which onelyonly can endanger us thither!

Thus becauſe I cannot tell you what heaven is, I have ſhewed you what it is …ot. For the pleaſures of that place, let us not ſo much ſtand to examine what …hey bee, as whether they belong to us. Enquire not too curiouſly of them, …s Manoah did for the Angels name, Iudges the thirteenth Chapter and the eigh…eenth verſe. Leſt thou receiveſt ſuch a ſnibbe: Why askest thou thus after my …ame, ſeeing it is ſecret? It is Secret, or Wonderfull: the originall ſignifies both. …o this excellent glory of Heaven is both wonderfull and ſecret. When a ſervant was carrying a cover'd meſſe, another was inquiſitive what might be in it: the bea…er anſwered, To what end then was it cover'd? The covering of this myſtery, as … denyes intelligence, ſo it forbids inquiſition. There is now no window to looke …nto it; there is a doore for our foot to enter into it: let us take it at a venture, it is …e beſt match wee can make; and the LORD bring us to it through the merits of IESUS CHRIST.

Wee heard this voice.] The circumſtance annexed to this vocall part, is Au…ience; Wee heard. Formerly there was proviſion for the eye, now GOD ſup…lies the eare alſo. There wee have Seene his Majeſtie, here wee have Heard his Teſtimony. The object to the eye was Gloria Teſtati, the glory of the Perſon ex…ibited: the object to the eare was Vox Teſtantis, the voice of the Perſon witneſsing. Theſe are the two principall organs of Senſe: and the wiſe love of God by the ex…rciſe of them both, brings us to a certaine perſwaſion of theſe holy myſteries. It a Philoſophicall queſtion, whether of theſe ſenſes be better in it ſelfe. To anſwer …ccording to nature, certainly the ſight is moſt excellent: both for celerity, and per…icacity; quickneſſe and ſharpneſſe. Segnius irritant animos dimiſſa per aures. But ac…ording to grace, for the benefit of the ſoule, Hearing far excelleth: and that both for …mplitude and Altitude. 1. For Amplitude, we ſee not many things in compariſon … them we heare. Few can ſay, I have ſeene all the workes that are done under the Sun, …ccleſ. 1.14. Vnleſſe he meane by All workes, all kinde of workes: or by Viſion, …onſideration; as there certainely Salomon doth. But we have heard what Salomon …w; a large Inventory of worldly things, the totall Summe whereof is Vanity. The …ctions and events of former times, are brought home to us by Hearing: whoſe au…ors and agents went to darkneſſe, before we came to light: we have heard far more …an ſeene. 2. For Altitude, we have heard higher things than we have ſeen. The eye …ay reach almoſt to the Sieling of this lower world, but it cannot pierce the pave…ent of heaven. The eare heares what is done within thoſe everlaſting doores: that …od beholds our thoughts, and accepts his Sons Interceſſion and merits for us. Pſal. 8.8. As we have heard, ſo have we ſeene in the Citie of our God: firſt heard, then after…ards come to ſee, Pſal. 132.6. Loe we heard of it at Ephrata, a ſtrange land: but Vidi…us in monte Sion; We only ſhall ſee it in mount Sion, in the glorious kingdom above. p. 326Let a deafe man ſee ſome new and ſtrange object; the huske, colour, and viſible part is onelyonly apprehended by him: let his eare bee open to diſcourſe, and relation ſhall give him the intelligible ſenſe.

The Queene of Sheba's eye was pleaſed with Salomons royaltie, but her eare was more raviſhed with his wiſdome, 1 King. 10.7. I beleeved not the report of thy glory, vntill mine eyes had ſeene it: there ſhe ſaw. But verſ. 8. the thing ſhe moſt admired and bleſſed, was his wiſdome, let into her ſoule by her eare; Happie are they that heare thy wiſdome, Matth. 13.16. Bleſſed are your eyes, for they ſee: that was proper to the Diſciples: Bleſſed are your eares, for they heare: that bleſſing is left to us. But bleſſed are the hearts that underſtand and embrace, this is the height of bleſſedneſſe, Ioh. 20.29. Bleſſed are they that have not ſeene, and yet have beleeved. We may beleve without ſeeing, but how ſhall wee beleeve without hearing? For Faith commeth by hearing, Rom. 10.17. But ſaith Auguſtine, Seeing is applied to all the Senſes. To Taſting, Pſalm. Taſte and ſee how gracious the Lord is. To Touching or Feeling, Pſal. 16.10. Thou wilt not ſuffer thine holy one to ſee corruption: that is, to Feele corruption, Ioh. 8.51. He that keepes my ſayings, ſhall never ſee death, that is, feele deſtruction. To ſuffer is ſenſibly to Feele, yet called, to See, Ioh. 20.27. Tange & vide; Reach hither thy finger, and ſee my hands. Had Thomas his eyes in his fingers! if not, then Seeing is Touching. To Smelling: Olfac, & vide quàm bene oleat; Such and See how ſweet the Flower is. Guſta & vide, quàm benè ſapiat: Taſte and See how well the fruit relliſheth. Tange & vide, Touch and See how I am wounded. … Audi & vide, Heare and See how pleaſant the muſicke is. The phraſe is not unknowne to the Scriptures, Rev. 1.12. I turned to See the voice that ſpake with me. To ſee the voice, for the Perſon that ought it. Or elſe, video is put for Intelligo: I ſee mentally, not elementally.eeMica 6.9. The man of wiſdome ſhall ſee thy Name, that is, underſtand it.

The eye as a meere Organ of ſenſe, muſt give place to the eare. Therefore it is wittily obſerved, that our Saviour commanding the abſciſſion of the offending hand, foot, and eye; yet never ſpake of the eare, Marke 9.43 If thy hand, thy ſee or thine eye, cauſe thee to offend, deprive thy ſelfe of them: but part not with their eare, for that is an organ to derive unto thy ſoule ſalvation. As Chriſt ſayes there; a man may enter into heaven, lamed in his feet, as Mephiboſheth blinde in his ſight, a Barzillai, maimed in his hand, as the dry-handed man in the Goſpell: but if there be not an eare to heare of the way, there will be no foot to enter into heaven. Si des non prius fuerit in aure, non erit in ore, nec in corde; If God be not firſt in the eare, it is neither ſanctifiedly in the mouth, nor comfortably in the heart. The Iewes has eyes to ſee Chriſts miracles, but becauſe they had no eares to heare his wiſdome, therefore they had no feet to enter into his kingdome. The way into the houſe is by the doore, not by the window; the eye is but the window of the heart, the eare is the doore. Now Chriſt ſtands knocking at the doore, not at the window, Rev. 3.20. And he will not come in at the window, but at the doore. He that entereth in by the doore, is the ſhepheard of the ſheepe, Ioh. 10.2. He comes now in by his oracles, not by his miracles, Ioh. 10.3. To him the porter openeth, and the ſheepe heare his voice. The way to open, and let him in, is by the eare; to heare his voice. There was a man in the Goſpell, Blinde and Deafe: blinde eyes, is ill; but deafe eares, worſe. It is bad … have the eyes ſieled, but worſe to have the eares ſealed up.

Open your eares therefore to this heavenly voice. Bernard hath this deſcription of a good eare: Quae libenter audit docta, prudenter intelligit audita, obedium agit intellecta; Which willingly heares what is taught, wiſely underſtands what heareth, and obediently practiſes what it underſtandeth. O give mee ſuch an … and I will hang on it jewels of gold, ornaments of praiſes, Pſalm. 85.8. I will … what the Lord will ſay: Quid loquatur Dominus. Wee have thoſe will heare what tempting harlot can ſay for Luxurie, what a falſe prophet can ſay in the behalfe Vſury, what a Lawyer can ſay in the behalfe of Sacriledge, what a factious Schi… maticke can ſay for Separation, what a Ieſuited Seminary can ſay for Treaſ… p. 327Chriſt promiſed his preſence to all thoſe that are aſſembled Nomine ſuo, in his Name: …heſe meet not in the name of Chriſt, but of Antichriſt. Where in ſtead of the …owers of Gods Garden, they gather the poiſonous weeds of the Forreſt: and the Devill gets in at the Lords doore. I may ſay of theſe Convents, confederating to miſchiefes; what Chryſostome ſaid of the virgin poſſeſſed by the Devill at a Theater. When God rebuked him, Quomodo auſus es ingredi domum meam? How durſt thou …e ſo bold as to enter into my Houſe? Satan anſwers, Inveni eam in domo mea; becauſe I found her in my Houſe. In the Congregation of Saints, the Holy Ghoſt …ters in, and the Devill is caſt out: but in theſe houſes of ſedition, and places of …alicious errour, the company of ſinners and ſeducers; the Holy Ghoſt is ſhut out, …ad the Devill is let in. I know that the common ſtreets are not free from offences … honeſt eares; but it is one thing, Audire non quaerenda; To heare things that are to … hated: and another thing, Quaerere non audienda, to liſten after things that are not … be heard. Betweene Odio invenire, and ultro convenire; finding evill againſt our …ills, and ſeeking evill with our delights; there is great difference, Pſal. 120.5. Woe is …e that I ſojourne in Meſech; that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. Bleſſe your ſelves from Meſech, but love Mount Sion: there are the ſongs of peace. Thus after hearing the …ice of God from heaven, you ſhall come to heare the voice of God in heaven. You …ave heard Hoſanna's you ſhall heare Hallelujahs: here, God praiſed by his Mini…ers: there, praiſed by his Angels. There we ſhall both heare others, and beare a …rt our ſelves, in the everlaſting praiſes of God, and our Saviour IESUS Chriſt.

When we were with him on the holy Mount.] Wee are come to the Locall part: …hat this Mount was, and how Holy, we ſhall heare preſently. Firſt, conſider the …jacent circumſtance; We were with him. The Voice had their Audience, the Mount …eir Preſence: foreign, with him: O bleſſedneſſe to be with Chriſt! What meant …ter to be aſhamed of this, when the Damoſell ſaid, This man was with Ieſus? Mat. 6.71. What, deny to be with IESUS? Alas, it was his weakneſſe then: after…ard he was ſo glad to be with him, that he was content to die for him: he refuſed …t the ſharpe and bloudy way of martyrdome, to be with IESUS. What meant …icodemus to be with him onelyonly by night? as if he feared to be ſeene in his company … day? Shall a man feare his joy, his comfort, his ſalvation? Mary Magdalen ſo …nged to be with him, that non erat ubi erat, ſhe was not where ſhe was, for her whole …art was with him. Mallem non eſſe, quàm ſine Chriſto eſſe: I had rather at all not … than to be without Chriſt. It is impoſſible to be with him, and to be without …mfort, Act 4.13. When they ſaw their boldneſſe, and miraculous working, they …arvelled, and tooke knowledge of them, that they had beene with Ieſus. If there be …urage of zeale, and peace of conſcience in men, we may well conclude, they have …ene with IESUS. When Geheſi went from Eliſha, he preſently fell into ſinne: ſo …e all they that keepe not with Chriſt. With him is comfort and peace, Ioh. 6.68. …rd, whither ſhall we goe from thee? Thou haſt the words of eternall life.

When we were with him on the holy Mount.] Our Saviour had fore-told the great …ory and power of his ſecond comming: to the comfort of his ſervants, to the ter…r and conviction of his enemies, Matth. 16.27. The Sonne of man ſhall come in the …ry of his Father, with his Angels: And then ſhall he reward every man according to his …rkes. There is his Iuſtice, and the diſtribution of his juſtice. He ſhall reward every …, there is his Iuſtice: foreign, according to his workes, there is the diſtribution …his Iuſtice. It is diſtinguiſhed plainly, Matth. 25.46. To them that have done ill, …erlaſting puniſhment: to them that have done well, life eternall Now leſt his Diſci…s ſhould doubt of that glory, which he hath aſcribed to himſelfe at his ſecond ap…ring; and ſtagger at the ignominy of his preſent eſtate: immediately upon it, he …kes them a promiſe, that they ſhould ſee it, or at leaſt a glimpſe and abridgment of …hat ſo enjoying this viſion, they might more confidently and authoritatively give …r teſtimonie to it. There be ſome ſtanding here, which ſhall not taste of death, till they …he Son of man comming in his kingdome. And this promiſe is prefixed by the three p. 328Evangeliſts, that record this ſtory, immediately before CHRISTS Transfiguration on the Mount, Matth. 16.28. Marke 9.1. Luke 9.27. Which words of Chil… have divers expoſitions. Some take it meant of his glorious Reſurrection, as if the ſenſe were thus. There be ſome ſtanding here, that ſhall not die, till they ſee the So… of man in his glory, and conqueſt of ſinne and death. Some, not all, for this … exclude Iudas: all the reſt of the Apoſtles, but onelyonly Iudas, did live to ſee it. … and ſome others take it, Pro Eccleſiae dilatatione, meant for the enlargement of … Church. As if this were the ſenſe; There be ſome ſtanding here, that ſhall live … ſee my Kingdome flouriſh, and ſpread powerfully over the face of the earth; … the deſpiſed Name of IESUS to command the Scepters of Kings and raigne ov…r the Dominations of the earth. Some underſtand by it, the laſt comming to Iud… ment: as if there were ſome Apoſtles yet living, and that ſhould live unto the … day; becauſe he ſayes, Some ſtand here that ſhall not die, till they ſee this glory. … that opinion as frivolous, hath alwayes beene exploded, excluded. The laſt, … and moſt agreeable to the Hiſtory, and context of the Scripture; is to underſtand… De clarificatione Chriſti, concerning his Transfiguration, which immediately followes. Of this there was Promiſsio clara, exhibitio manifeſta, occultatio juſſa; It … clearely promiſed, manifeſtly performed, and the concealement of it for a time commanded, Matth. 17.9. This Chriſt promiſed under the forme of an oath; … verily I ſay unto you. There are certaine circumſtances of this Transfiguration … rent in the Text; other adherent to it, which wee will borrow from the Evangeliſts, and ſo make up the diſcourſe. The points are, The

Time, when this was done.

Place, where this was done.

Manner, how this was done.

Witneſſes, before whom this was done.

Event, that followed this being done.

1The time, to expound our Apoſtles When, is expreſſed, Matth. 17.1. and M… 9.2. After ſix dayes. Only Saint Luke, Chap. 9.28. ſeemes to differ from them: for … ſayes Eight dayes after. Now betweene ſix dayes, and eight dayes, there ſeemes to … ſome difference of the time. Saint Hierome eaſily reconciles them thus. Matthew … Marke, Ponunt dies tantum intermedios; ſpeake onelyonly of the intervenient dayes, … went betweene the promiſe and the performance. Lucas addidit & primum in qui … miſit, & ultimum in quo ſolvit. Luke addes both the firſt day in which he promiſe … and the laſt day in which he performed it. Eight dayes Excluſively; ſix dayes Incluſively. Some myſtically, by theſe ſix dayes underſtand the ſix ages of the world, … they call them; which being paſt, we ſhall come to that glorious viſion of our Lord Ieſus in heaven. But why did not Chriſt preſently vouchſafe to his Diſciples … Sight, but defer the performance of it, till ſix dayes after the promiſe? Chryſoſtome anſwers; Viſionem diſtulit, ut eam vehementiús appeterent, & gaudentiús acciperent. … deferred it to encreaſe their deſires before it came, their joyes when it came. To … flame their deſires, for Cito data vileſcunt, things eaſily come by, are little ſet by. … encreaſe their joyes, for Dulciús obtinetur, quod diu detinetur; That which hath … long detained, is at laſt more ſweetly obtained. Moreover, if Chriſt after the pro… of this viſion, had immediately ſingled out ſome to the participation of it, this … have bred envy and grudging in the reſt, who were apt enough to quarrel about … buſineſſes. That extraordinary gracing of ſome, would have beene held a diſpar… ment to all the reſt. Therefore as Chriſt concealed their names in the promiſe, … of theſe, not naming who they were; ſo for ſix dayes hee deferred the perform … That without emulation of the reſt, he might give ſatisfaction to them he had …

2The Place is delivered in the Text, the Holy Mount. Saint Matthew ſaye… was Mons excelſus, an high Mountaine: Saint Peter, Mons Sanctus, an Holy Mountaine. By common conſent this Mountaine was Tabor, thought it be not no… tively expreſſed in Scripture. A faire Hill in the territory of Galile, Mira… tate ex omni parte aequaliter finitus; Of ſo wonderfull a roundneſſe, that you … p. 293thinke rather Art than Nature had faſhioned it: the aſcent of it was thirty furlongs, …t was a Sea-marke to Marriners; It was full of herbes, fruits, flowers, fountaines. Thus it was high and conſpicuous for ſituation, fertile by condition, and laſtly, Ho…y, by this moſt holy apparition, Hieron. True it is, that all places are of their owne …ature equall: Nec alter altero dignior, Nor is one more worthy, or more holy than …nother: but by the acceſſion of ſome ſpeciall bleſſings and priviledges. Whither …ever the Lord comes, that is the fountaine of holineſſe, ſuch is the odour and per…me of his gracious preſence, that hee ſanctifies the place. It was his preſence which cauſe Iacob to turne Luz into Bethel, Gen. 28.17. This is none other, but the …ouſe of GOD, and this is the gate of Heaven. So GOD himſelfe teſtified to Moſes … Horeb, Exod. 3.5. The place whereon thou ſtandeſt, is holy ground. And the Cap…ine of the Lords hoſt to Ioſhua, Ioſh. 5.15. Looſe thy ſhooe from off thy foot, for the …lace whereon thou ſtandeſt is holy. Thus became this Mount holy: there being God, …ater ſanctitatis per vocem auditam; The Father of holineſſe heard ſpeaking: Chriſt, …anctus Sanctorum, per carnem ad tempus glorificatum; That Holy of Holies by his …ody for that time glorified: Moſes and Elias, thoſe holy Saints: Peter, Iames, and Iohn, thoſe holy Apoſtles: needs muſt this Mount bee holy. Nicephorus writeth, …hat Helena built upon that hill a Cathedrall Church, and dedicated it to Saint Peter. And in proceſſe of time, others alſo added two Monaſteries, endowed with faire …evenewes: in alluſion or anſwer to Peters deſire, Let us build here three Tabernacles. But now etiam periere ruinae, there is not left any (ſo much as) ruine, to tell the paſ…enger, here ſtood ſuch monuments: and that holy Mountaine is become an habitati…n for Wolves and Foxes. Ierome upon Hoſea, writes liberally of this Mount, and …alls it Thabor, Pſal. 89.12. Tabor and Hermon ſhall rejoyce in thy Name. It had cauſe … rejoyce, when it bore the glorious Perſon of IESUS CHRIST. Hee inter…rets it to ſignifie, Lux veniens, Light comming. Not unfitly, that CHRIST, …ho is the light of the world, upon a mountaine of light, ſhould give remonſtrance …f that glorious light of his Majeſtie. But why did our Saviour chooſe a moun…ine for this apparition, why not rather a valley? True glory is not to be ſought … Profundo hujus ſeculi, in the low bottomes of this world: but on high; Set your …fections on things above, where CHRIST ſitteth on the right hand of GOD. All …at come to GODS glory, muſt aſcend on high, Pſalm. 24.3. Who ſhall aſcend into …e hill of the LORD? The Devill tooke CHRIST into a mountaine, when he …ewed him the kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them. So our Saviour …oke his Apoſtles up into a mountaine, when he ſhewed them the kingdome of heaven, and glory of the world to come. Moſes went up to a mountaine, to ſpeake with …e Lord: now the Lord goes up to a mountaine, to ſpeake with Moſes.

The manner is ſet downe, Matth. 17.2. Hee was transfigured before them, and his 3…ce did ſhine at the Sunne, and his rayment was white as the light. Some are of opini…n, that this clarity was In aere circumfuſo, non in corpore Dominico; In the ayre about …m, not in the body of Chriſt: But that that is falſe, for Himſelfe was transfigured, …t the aire about him. Some have ſaid that his very ſubſtance was changed from …ortalitie to Immortalitie for the time. But that is falſe: for Transfiguration is …operly Tranſitus de figura ad figuram; from one figure to another: not De natura … naturam; not from one nature to another. Some ſay, this Tranſition was not Se…ndum mutationem, ſed ſecundum manifeſtationem; Not by any change into that …hich was not before, but by a manifeſtation of that which was (not revealed) …efore. Theſe affirme, that CHRIST tooke from his mother an immortall …d impaſſible bodie: but this is a moſt impoſſible opinion. How then could this …? If CHRIST reſerved mortality, how was he capable of glory? If he tooke …mortality, then was there a change of his ſubſtance. Neither, but onelyonly a change …his forme. And why is this impoſſible to his miraculous hand? Qui cicatrices oſten… in corpore immortali, quare non ſplendorem in corpore mortali? He that could ſhew his …rs in a body immortall, why not alſo his glory in a body mortall? Luk. 9.29. The p. 330Faſhion of his countenance was altered. There is a change, not of his Perſon, but of his looke: nor yet is it ſaid, Vultus, ſed ſpecies vultus: not his Countenance, but the Faſhion of his countenance: not Alia, ſed altera, that is, Alterata. This was done by the Clarity that was in his body, ut in ſubjecto, as in the very ſubject. This ſplendour was Aliter in corpore, aliter in veſte; After one manner in his body, after another … his garment. In his body intrinſecally & inhaeſivè, inherently: in his garment … exteriori, & ſupereffuſo candore; By an externall whiteneſſe powred upon it. His fa… did ſhine as the Sunne. Sol eſt cauſa ſplendoris; The Sunne is the cauſe of Shining; aſcribing to Chriſt the greateſt degree of ſplendour, that our underſtandings can a… prehend. Non ut ſplendor ſolis, ſed ut ſol ſplendoris; Not as the brightneſſe of the Sun, but as the Sunne it ſelfe. His garments were white as the Light. Lumen cauſa candori. The light is the cauſe of whiteneſſe, and whiteneſſe is received and perceived by the benefit of light. Saint Marke ſayes, they were white as ſnow; and what can be whiter? Thus our Lord Ieſus put off his deſpicable forme, wherein he was conte… of the world; and the veile of his humble mortality, wherewith his glory was … dowed: yet as he retained the ſame garments, ſo he put not off the ſame ſubſtance. OnelyOnly he put Majeſty upon his countenance, his habite, his whole body; that … might give his Apoſtles a ſhew of their future glory. So ſhall the faithfull one day ſhine; as the Starres, Dan. 12.3. as the Sunne, Matth. 13.43. For Chriſt ſhall change our vile bodie, that it may be faſhioned like his owne glorious body, Phil. 3.21.

4The witneſſes before whom this was done, were of two ſorts: ſome that Chri… tooke with him, others that met him. The Diſciples he tooke with him were three, Peter, Iames, and Iohn. Numerus in ſe perfectus, & in teſtando integer; A number a… to give a ſound and ſufficient Teſtimony. Here two queſtions are moved; firſt, why Chriſt choſe but three: ſecondly, why onelyonly theſe three. Why three and no more, why theſe three and no other? Firſt, why but three? To ſhew unto us, that Paci electi; Few are choſen: God doth not reveale his glorious myſteries to all; … ſome whom his owne good pleaſure calleth and culleth out, Act. 10.41. God … ſhew him openly, not to all the people, but to us witneſſes choſen before of God. Beſide three can give a ſufficient teſtimony, Deut. 19.15. Matt. 18.16. In the mouth of … three witneſſes every matter ſhall be eſtabliſhed. Next, why theſe three, and none of the reſt? 1. I do not anſwer with Feverdentius, becauſe theſe three were Flos totius … Chriſti, & Principes novi Teſtamenti; Becauſe they were the flower and prime of a Chriſts Apoſtles, and the Princes of the New Teſtament. I never read that Chriſt gave unto them any ſuch prerogative or ſuperexcellencie above the reſt. 2. … doe I fetch an anſwer from the myſtery of their names, with Gorrhan. He that will ſee the glory of God, muſt be a Peter, agnoſcere per fidem, to acknowledge Chriſt … faith: a Iames, ſupplantare peccatum, to ſupplant ſinne: a Iohn, operari per gratiam, … worke good by the grace of God. For in theſe three, Credendo verum, extirpando … lum, & operando bonum; To beleeve that is true, to root out that is evill, and to practice that is good; hee placeth all perfection. 3. Nor yet doe I anſwer, becauſe theſe three were more eminent in vertue and graces than the reſt. Three ſorts … men are qualified to ſee God: Such as love him, Ioh. 14.21. If a man love me, I will love him, and Manifestabo ei meipſum; I will manifeſt my ſelfe to him. Such as are H… ble, Matth. 11.25. Thou haſt hid theſe things from the prudent, and haſt … them unto babes. Such as are of a pure heart, and cleane life, Matth. 5.8. Bleſſed … the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God. Pſal. 50.23. To him that ordereth his corruption aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God. Theſe are all gracious qualities: and with them were the reſt of the Apoſtles as truely ſanctified, that were not here admi… 4. What, was it then becauſe Chriſt did love theſe three above the reſt? … his love was great to Iohn; and therefore among all his honourable Titles, he mentioneth that ever in the firſt place; The Diſciple whom Ieſus loved. But his loves Iohn was greater Extenſivè, non Intenſivè; by way of Extention, not by way intention. He ſhewed more ſignes of familiarity to him, than to the reſt of the company: p. 331but he equally loved and prized them all. 5. Becauſe the wiſedome and unqueſtionable goodneſſe of God choſe them out, & ſecretioribus ſuis adhibuit, accepted then to the participation of his ſecrets. Thrice he called out thoſe three, and made them witneſſes to three great workes. The firſt was to the raiſing of Iairus his daughter. Mark. 5.37. He ſuffered no man to follow him, ſave Peter, and Iames, and Iohn. He did put forth the mourners, the muſicians, the people, and left behind the leſt of the Apoſtles; only theſe three he admitted. The next election was to this …lorious transfiguration; ſingularly the ſame three againe. The laſt was to his A…onie in the Garden, Mark. 14.33. He charging his Diſciples to ſtay, tooke with him Peter and Iames and Iohn, and began to be ſore amazed. He made them three particu…arly witneſſes; in the firſt worke, of his Power: in the ſecond, of his Majeſtie: in …he laſt, of his Agony. 6. Laſtly, if men may give any reaſon of the Lords actions, …hoſe wiſedome is unſearcheable; I doe not thinke that CHRIST choſe them, becauſe they were more excellent than the reſt, but becauſe they were rather …ore weake than the reſt. It was ſubvenire infirmitati eorum, to helpe their …firmitie, and to ſtrengthen them in the aſſurance of their Maſter and Savi…urs glory.

The company that came from heaven, were Moſes and Elias. Some have thought …hat theſe did not appeare Verè & Perſonaliter, truely and perſonally; but Angels in …heir likenes: but that is a manifeſt error; for themſelves appeared, not Angels in their …militude. Some are of another opinion, that they did not onelyonly appeare perſonally, …ut that in their very bodies with their ſoules. Becauſe it is ſaid that Elias was taken …p, and no man knew what became of Moſes his body: which occaſioned that …iſputation betwixt the Archangell and the divell.Iude. ver. 9. But it is moſt plaine that the body …f Moſes was buried. Deut. 34.6. in a valley in the land of Moab, over againſt Beth…eor: though no man knoweth of his Sepulchre unto this day. Neither are all of that …pinion, that the very body of Elias was taken up into heaven; ſome be perſwaded, …ere is no humane body in heaven, but the body of our Lord IESUS only. Ioh. ….13. No man hath aſcended up into heaven, but he that came downe from heaven. But …ere it is queſtioned, why did Moſes and Elias appeare, rather than David and Abra…am, from whoſe loynes CHRIST IESUS came and who were ſo famous among the people? Reaſons.

To omit, that thoſe three great faſters met together, Moſes, Elias, and CHRIST: each of them having faſted fortie dayes, and forty nights.

1 To manifeſt a difference betweene the Lord and the ſervants. Moſes and Eli…s were of high eſteeme with the Iewes, CHRIST not regarded, a man of no …epute among them; therefore he would now ſhew that he was the Lord, and they …ut the ſervants to waite upon him. That he was not Elias, but the God of Elias: …ot Ieremie, but he that ſanctified Ieremie: not unus ex Prophetis, one of the Prophets, …ut the Lord of the Prophets, that ſent them.

2 If it be granted that Moſes was dead, and that Elias died not: this declareth …at CHRIST is the Saviour of both quicke and dead: whether of men living with Elias, or dead as Moſes. To manifeſt that he hath the power both of life and …eath; Adducitur Moſes mortuus, & Elias vivus; both living Elias, and dead Moſes …re brought; both ſaved by this Ieſus Chriſt.

3 To come neerer home; Moſes was called the Law-giver, and Elias was (af…er a ſort) the Law reſtorer; now the Iewes traduced CHRIST for a Law-brea…er. Their common Imputation againſt him was, that he transgreſſed the Law, and …as contrary to the Prophets. Therefore he was content to be put to his purgation …nd to Iuſtifie himſelfe. Matth. 5.17. Thinke not that I am come to deſtroy the Law or …e Prophets: I am not come to deſtroy, but to fulfill. And for a further teſtimonie of …is Moſes that brought the Law, and Elias that revived the Law, witneſſe that hee …as obedient to the Law. Gal. 4.4. God ſent forth his Son made of a woman made un…er the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law.

p. 3324 They meete that brought the Law, with CHRIST that brought the Goſpell; to ſhew that Law and Goſpell muſt be joyned together. But we are freed by CHRIST from the Law? I anſwere, there is a double obligation of the Law: the obligation of penaltie, and the obligation of dutie. We are freed from the obligation of penaltie, but not from the obligation of dutie. 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that nameth the Name of CHRIST, depart from iniquity. He hath taken from the Law. Damnandi poteſtutem, all power to condemne us: but not Dominandi authoritatem, all power to rule us. We muſt ſtill ſerve God according to his Law, or he will … ſave us according to his Goſpell. Our faith in the Lord IESUS, and our obedience to the Law, muſt bee joyned together: as Moſes and CHRIST met upon the mountaine. Ioh. 1.17. The Law was given by Moſes, but grace and truth come by Ieſus Chriſt.

5 To ſhew that this was the true Meſſias, to whom both Law and Prophets bare witneſſe. Moſes in the Law, as it is cited by Saint Peter, Act. 3.22. A Prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you among your brethren, like unto me: him ſhall ye heare in all things. And Elias in ſtead of all the Prophets, who was Prophetarum clariſsimus, the cleareſt of all the Prophets. Now Suſpecta eſt veritas, quae ſola ſe … tur, Ambr. That truth is ſuſpected, which barely teſtifieth of it ſelfe. Therefore as CHRIST had three witneſſes from the earth; Peter, Iames, and Iohn. So he … three from heaven; the voice of the Father, Moſes and Elias. That now he which fulfilled both the Teſtaments, might enjoy both the Teſtimonies.

6 Laſtly, CHRIST propoſed two ſuch famous men, as Moſes and Elias to his Apoſtles for patternes: that their ſpirits might be well tempted in them. Moſes …i… mitiſsimus, a man moſt meeke on the earth: Elias a man exceeding zealous. Twice he doubles this teſtimonie of himſelfe. 1 King. 19.10.14. I have been very jealous for the Lord of hoſtes. He had ſuch a ſacred fire of zeale in his heart upon earth, that God advanced him in a charriot of fire into heaven. Therfore are theſe two brought hither, that the Apoſtles might learne to mixe Moſes his meekeneſſe, with Elias his ferventneſſe. Yet this rare and excellent compoſition they forgate, Luk. 9.54, When they could not be entertained in a Samaritan village, ſay Iames and Iohn; (and that as it ſeemes, not long after their deſcending from the mount.) Lord, wilt thou that we command fire from heaven to conſume them, as Elias did! There they thought of Elias, but forgate Moſes: they had too much of the ones fire, but too little of the others water: zeale enough, but without the merciemercy of meekeneſſe. Againe at the apprehenſion of CHRIST, when Peter denyed him, and all the reſt fled from him; there they had too much of Moſes, but forgate the ſpirit of Elias: they had meekeneſſe enough, but wanted zeale: both together make a good temper.

5The event or conſequents of this transfiguration, are theſe. Firſt, the teſtimonie of the Father from heaven; which came out of a bright cloud overſhadowing them. … was from a cloud, ſaith Chryſoſtome, that they might the more confidently receive … for the voice of God, qui ſolitus loqui Patribus in nube; who was wont to ſpeake to their fathers in a cloud. This is my beloved Sonne, &c. They could formerly ſee his mother poore, his ſuppoſed father labouring for his living, CHRIST himſelfe hungry, thirſty, weary, deſpiſed. Therefore now they heare a voice from heaven to make amends for all: recompencing his ſuppoſed baſeneſſe, with Attributes of great glory. God ſpeaking that to him, which he never ſpake to any; This is my Son. Not to the Angels, Heb. 1.5. VntoUnto which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, That … my Sonne? Chriſt was ſhortly to die, and to ſuffer hard and unjuſt uſage of his enemies; and all this in humilitie to beare. Therefore now he ſhewes Potentiam … paſsionem, gloriam ante injuriam, honorem ſuum ante horrorem ſuum: his power before his paſſion, his glory before his injurie, his honour before he come to feele his horror. That when they ſhould afterwards ſee him taken, bound, ſcourged, Sco…, crucified, buried; they might then know and ſay, that this was effected not … potentiam eorum, ſed propter patientiam ſuam; not by reaſon of their power over him p. 333but by reaſon of his patience under them: not becauſe they could inflict it,Aug. but be…auſe he would ſuffer it. Non miſeranda neceſsitate, ſed miſerante voluntate: not by a miſerable neceſſitie, but by his owne gracious merciemercy.

Another event was Saint Peters counſell. The point whereof Moſes and Elias …onferred with CHRIST, was De Exceſſu ejus, concerning his deceaſe, which …e ſhould accompliſh at Ieruſalem. Peter hearing this newes of his maſters death and …hat by the teſtimonie of two ſuch famous Prophets: he thinkes it good to provide …etimes for his ſafetie. Such a courſe he had formerly attempted. Matth. 16.22. …ee it farre from thee Lord, this ſhall not be unto thee. But CHRISTS rebuke was …en ſo ſharpe, Get thee behind me Satan; that Peter durſt no more in plaine termes, …dviſe him againe to that favouring of himſelfe. Therefore now he doth it aenigma…cè, covertly, and by involved inſinuation. Lord, it is good for us to be here: we are …ow in a ſafe place; a mountaine high, ſure, ſolitary, pleaſant: guarded by the com…any of two ſuch potent men; a cloud to compaſſe; us glory to ſuſtaine us, delight … content us. Let us tarry here, where no harme can find us out. Were it not …adneſſe to leave a place of ſuch ſecurity, and expoſe thy ſelfe to the furie of thine …dverſaries? It is good to be here: but alas it was his error: for if this were to have …eene a permanent and durable glory; Peter ſhould not have called for Tabernacles, …ut for manſions. Let us build here three Tabernacles, moveable tilths? No; fun…amentall and conſtant habitations. Quid dicis Petre? mundus perit, & tu montem …tis, Aug. Doth the whole world periſh, and muſt fire burne it all, and calleſt …ou only for a mountaine? His error was both wayes culpable: either to ſeeke in …ia Patriam, or in patria Tabernaculum; his countrey in the way, or a Tabernacle in …is countrey. If he knew this to be but the earth, why doth he ſeeke for heaven up…n it? if he tooke this to be heaven, why doth he call for an earthen Tabernacle? …ne for thee, another for Moſes, &c. Why not, one for me, another alſo for Iames, …nd Iohn? No, he mentions none for them, for he hoped that CHRIST himſelfe would be their Tabernacle. Triaquaeris, factria, Bed. Thou ſeekeſt three, make …hree, one for the Father, another for the Sonne, another for the Holy Ghoſt; none …or Moſes, none for Elias: doe not joyne the Servants with the Creator. Myſtically …here be ſtill three Tabernacles: Exterius, Eccleſia: Interius, Conſcientia: Superius, …aeleſtis Patria. One outward, which is the Church: another inward, which is the …onſcience: the laſt upward, which is the kingdome of heaven. Let us dwell faith…ully in the former, let God dwell ſpiritually in the other; that we may all dwell to…ether comfortably in the latter; that is for ever in the peace of glory.

Laſtly, this glorious viſion and voice from heaven, amazed the Diſciples; that …hey fell on their face, and were ſore afraid. CHRIST with the Touch of his hand …ecovered them; And when they had lift up their eyes, they ſaw no man ſave Ieſus onelyonly, Matth. 17.8. Becauſe indeed he was that Perſon onelyonly, to whom both Law and Pro…hets bare witneſſes. They have done their office, and then they vaniſh, that Chriſt …ay be all in all. There is onelyonly one mediator, Chriſt: it is he onelyonly that ſatisfies …he Law, and ſanctifies the conſcience: he onelyonly, that reconciles us to God. Let Moſes and Elias, and all others diſappeare to the worke of our ſalvation; Da modo …bis Ieſum; OnelyOnly give us Ieſus Chriſt. This teſtimonie they heard, but might not …reſently utter, for Chriſt forbad them. Tell the viſion to no man, untill the Sonne … man be riſen againe from the dead, Matth. 17.9. The reaſons of this interdiction …ay be. 1. Becauſe the Iewes were to have no ſigne, but the ſigne of the Prophet …nas: they had ſeene enough to leave their unbeliefe without excuſe. 2. Becauſe …mong the rude, after the publication of ſuch a glory, Crux ſcandalum pareret, the fol…owing Croſſe would have bred ſcandall. If he were inveſted with ſuch glory, why …ould he not keepe himſelfe in it. 3. Becauſe till his reſurrection had made way for …, the world would never have given credite to this wonder. But perceiving his …ower in raiſing himſelfe from the dead, they might eaſily embrace the faith of that …arification. Laſtly, according to that, Eccl. 11.28. Neminem laudaveris ante mortem; p. 334Iudge no man bleſſed before his death. Then they witneſſed it, then they preached it, then they wrote it, we heare it, let us all beleeve it, that we may one day enjoy it, in the everlaſting kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt.

I conclude; Peter and the reſt knew Moſes and Elias on the mount, whom they never ſaw before: they being departed many hundred yeares before the other were borne. Yet Moſen ab Elia, Eliam a Moſe, utrumque a Chriſto potuerunt diſcernere. They could diſtinguiſh one from another; and ſay, this is Moſes, this is Elias, and that is Chriſt. This is a lively type and ſhadow of that glory in heaven; where every Saint ſhall perfectly know all. Not Abraham nor any of the Patriarchs, not David nor any of the Kings, not Elias nor any of the Prophets, not Peter nor any of the Apoſtles, not Stephen nor any of the Martyrs, not any of our friends, kindred, acquaintance, none of the now unknowne beleevers ſcattered on the face of the broad earth ſhall in that place be ſtranger to us. Our knowledge ſhall extend to every individuall perſon: all ſhall know every one, and every one ſhall know all. Now let us love one another, pray for one another, doe good one to another; then and there wee ſhall know one another, and all bee eternally knowen and loved of our bleſſed God.