we learn something concerning the state of the departed, and may conclude that they are in a condition of consciousness and happiness; for these appeared in glory and spake with the LORD concerning his decease. Observe here the topic of their discourse. It was not the honours of that high station which they had enjoyed on earth: upon those they looked back, if they looked at all, with utter indifference. It was not the trials and labours which they had undergone; they were passed, and were now no longer matter of anxiety. But they spake with JESUS, and of JESUS. They spake of that wonderful Person, who is destined to be the Theme of eternal Praises in the Courts of Heaven; and of that wonderful event, which the Church on earth celebrates in all her Services, which she exhibits in Sacraments, recounts in Hymns and spiritual Songs, which she points to in every Prayer, declares in every Discourse, and which in Heaven will form the ground of her endless Thanksgivings and Adoration.

"They spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. "But St. Peter, and they that were with Him, were heavy with sleep :" too like, in this respect to those, whose dulness of heart and ears can take no pleasure in spiritual discourse, such as entertains the Angels, and Saints made perfect. Or perhaps the greatness of the glory overpowered their weaker sense; and nature, exhausted by the effort to understand what she was incapable of understanding, sank into repose. This is most likely certain it is that when they awoke, they "beheld His glory, and the two men standing with HIM."

'Premit enim incomprehensibilis splendor Divinitatis nostri corporis sensus. St. Amb. in Luc. ix.

Humana fragilitas conspectum majoris gloriæ ferre non sustinet. Beda in Luc. ix.

Herein, as ancient commentators observe, the Resurrection is presented to us in a figure. It is not until we have been overcome of sleep, not till death has sealed our eyes, that we can behold the glories of the world to come. "JESUS came and touched them" as St. Matthew informs us, "and said, Arise"; so at the last day shall He bid all that are in the graves to arise, that they may behold His glory.'

St. Peter, as he beheld them "being withdrawn,” said, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three Tabernacles, one for THEE, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said, for they were afraid.”

St. Peter was now becoming alive to a sense of the glory and happiness to which he had been admitted; but the wonderful scene was fast closing; Moses and Elias were being withdrawn; and during their heavenly discourse the senses of the Disciples had been heavy with sleep. Thus men let slip GoD's opportunities. His Gospel is preached, but they understand it not. The very heavens are opened, and the eternal glories revealed; and we are even now admitted to the company of Angels, and the mysterious wonders of the Holy Mount; but we hear not those hymns of celestial melody which join our services: we behold not the spirits of the just, for our ears are dull of hearing, and our eyes heavy with sleep; and perhaps when we are about to be deprived of some spiritual advantage, then we shall awake to a sense of the blessing, and catch a glimpse of Moses and Elias as they are being withdrawn from our eyes.

But St. Peter, though he awoke, was confused and bewildered; and did not understand or recollect the exact 1 Aug. Serm. lxxviii. § 5.

circumstances of his condition. It was good, indeed, for him to be there, but not possible for him so to continue. He must undergo his trials, he must serve' his Service, he must earn his reward, and then he might

depart and be with CHRIST"; which, as he rightly judged, was "far better.". That MASTER, too, had His appointed lot to fulfil; He had to drink the Cup which, His FATHER gave HIM; and to accomplish at Jerusalem that Decease which Moses and Elias spake of.

But if St. Peter and his brethren were so overwhelmed with awe and astonishment at the presence of these two glorified Persons, what are our sensations likely to be when we behold the LORD coming, not with two only, but with "ten thousand of His Saints, in the Glory of His FATHER, and all the Holy Angels with HIM"? We, as those three Disciples were, shall one day be "eye-witnesses of His Majesty": and if they, faithful and favoured Apostles, were so greatly afraid, what is to become of us, when we shall behold Him as our JUDGE, unless we have already fled to Him as our SAVIOUR?

Remember the Voice of the FATHER, which came from that Cloud of Glory, "This is My Beloved SON, hear HIM." Moses and Elias were now withdrawn. The Law and the Prophets were departed; and JESUS, HE "of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets did speak," was left alone. The One Lawgiver, JESUS;

1

1 Hoc Petrus nondum intelligebat quando in monte vivere cum CHRISTO desiderabat. Servabat tibi hoc, Petre, post mortem. Nunc autem Ipse dicit, Discende, laborare in terrâ, servire in terrâ, contemni, crucifigi in terrâ. St. Aug. Serm. lxxviii. § 6.

2 Apparent Moyses et Elias, hoc est Lex et Prophetae.

St. Amb. in Luc. ix.

Ubi cœpit Filius designari, mox servi discesserunt.

Beda in Luc. ix.

JESUS the ONE Prophet, now claimed all that allegiance which before was due to other Messengers; and the claim was ratified by a voice from Heaven.

Remember how Moses had himself foretold this day. "The LORD shall raise up unto you, of your brethren, a Prophet like unto ME"; One, that is, Who shall be, like ME, a Prophet and a Lawgiver too: One Who shall be the mouth-piece of GOD to His people"; unto HIM shall ye hearken." And now the Voice of GOD, from Heaven, commanded, "Hear HIM."

Let us lay this Command to heart. GOD, Who, in times past, spake unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath, in these last days, spoken unto us by His SON." Let us consider the warning of Moses,-"Whosoever shall not hear that Prophet, that soul shall be cut off from among the people": and let us compare with this the like saying of St. Paul :-" See that ye despise not HIM That speaketh; for if they escaped not who despised him that spake on earth," that is, Moses; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation?" Let us, with great diligence, learn the Law at the Mouth of this Great Lawgiver, Who is "able both to save and to destroy." Let us, with earnest and with active Faith, believe the Preaching of this Great PROphet, Whose Words would most assuredly come to pass: Whose Warnings, Whose Promises, Whose Exhortations, Whose Threats and Denunciations, are the only realities, for they will be fulfilled, to the very letter, when, not Moses and Elias only, but when Heaven and earth shall have passed away.

J. F.

SERMON LXXIV.

THE REBUKE
REBUKE OF ELIJAH.

Ninth Sunday after Trinity.'

1 KINGS XIX. 9.

"WHAT DOEST THOU HERE, ELIJAH?""

THE frailties of the Saints of GOD have their warning as surely as their deeds of obedience and endurance have a voice of encouragement and good cheer. When we read that the fullest experience of Divine love, and the highest privileges of Divine intercourse have not preserved David and St. Peter from temporary falling away from GOD, we are taught a lesson of humility, of caution, of watchfulness-we see the necessity of the

See also Sermon XVII., First Series-" The Christian Sacraments," by the Rev. JOSEPH DORNFORD, M.A.

2

In a volume of Sermons published during the present year (1846), by the Author of the "Bishopric of Souls," is one on this text, which takes a very similar view of it to that which I have taken. It may therefore be as well to state that this Sermon was preached July 27, 1845, before the publication of Mr. Evans's volume.

W. D.