when things of which we now obtain but faint glimpses, as through a glass, shall be revealed to it in all their immensity of extent, in all their brightness of glory. Shall not our walk here be such as may lead to this unimaginable blessedness?

SERMON XXI.

MAN'S TRANSFORMATION.

MARK ix. 2, 3.

"And he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them."

It is not my intention to show what part this transfiguration, or change of our Lord's figure to the eyes of his three disciples, had in the dispensation of the new covenant. This is more a matter of curiosity for divines, than of concern to us in our daily practice of life. I shall therefore endeavour to exhibit to you its bearings on the latter point, and prove to you how necessary it is that we should keep this glorious appearance continually before our eyes, saying to our hearts, with a clearer knowledge than Peter, "It is good for us to be here."

Our Lord is to us the way, giving us an example in all things, both that we should follow

in his footsteps, and also enjoy in Him the earnest and first-fruits of his promises. Among his promises are our resurrection from the dead, even as He rose: and moreover, our glorification in a body fashioned like unto his glorious body', which He took on Him both now on the mount and after at his resurrection. But then this life in the mortal body is a state of preparation for putting on that immortal body; and we shall be found naked, and not clothed with it, if we do not qualify ourselves for it. And therefore we must follow his footsteps, so that as He died for sin, we should die unto sin; as He rose for our justification, so we should rise to newness of life; as He was transfigured, or transformed, so we must be "transformed from the world by the renewing of our mind'," having the Lord of glory continually before us, as our example, as our help, as our hope, and thus with open face beholding that glory as in a glass : not through the veil of types and shadows, nor yet indeed face to face, but having it reflected to us from his word, from his sacraments, from his promises, from his Holy Spirit. Thus we are, day by day, through closer contemplation, through nearer imitation, to be changed in our souls and spirits into the same image of the Son of God; day after day advancing from one state of glory to another, as we grow more

1 Phil. iii. 21. 2 Rom. xii. 2. 32 Cor. iii. 18.

perfect in conformity to the bright example which has been set before us. Such is the practical application of our Lord's transfiguration. It admonishes us of a change which we are to undergo in this life. We must be conformed in our souls and spirits, and the use of our bodies, to the image of the Son of God', while we are here, so that we may be conformed to the body of his glory hereafter 5.

O, then, what a stake have we in our treatment of this body! If we be indeed sons of God; if we be indeed heirs of the kingdom of heaven; if we be conscious of means of grace; if we lean upon the hope of glory; if we look, as we continually should, from Christ crucified to Christ glorified, can we yield its members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin? God forbid! Our profession, which we claim from our baptism, and attest from our title of Christian, is to yield ourselves unto God, as those that are "alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God." We must keep this vessel of our body in all holiness, even on its own account, and not only because it ministers to soul and spirit. In this very same body we are to meet the Lord, and upon the use of this body depends the condition in which we shall meet Him; whether it

4 Rom. viii. 29.

5 Phil. iii. 21. 6 Rom. vi. 13.

shall be one of glory, or of contempt. We must serve Him, and do his work in it now, if we hope to serve Him in it in his heavenly and everlasting kingdom hereafter.

But how can we serve Him in it, if we employ it in the service of a different and contrary master? And how can we keep it pure and undefiled as his peculiar vessel, if we be not watchful against the advances of that master, who has so many natural friends in its house? For has not Satan fast friends in its corrupt affections and sinful passions? And is not that evil spirit continually trying to gain full possession of it, and be its master through them? Is he not continually appealing to its want of meat and drink, to its love of enjoyment, and saying, "Be idle, be drunken, be impure, be intemperate in all things? Eat and drink, for to-morrow thou diest?" But, meanwhile, is not Christ crying out to us, "Touch not, taste not, handle not the things of ungodliness. Remember that your bodies have been dedicated to me, as vessels of my service, as temples of my Spirit. Then use them as mine; be dead unto sin, and alive unto righteousness. Love me as your Creator and Redeemer. Fear me, as Him that 'is able at the last day to destroy both body and soul in hell". And hear my Apostle, who tells all most distinctly, that neither fornica

7 Matt. x. 28.