mine agony. In that awful, that tremendous moment, remember the bright vifion on Mount Tabor. AND can we then be ignorant, O Saviour, of the proper object of our hopes and defires? Can we return to earth, after these fublime meditations, without the most ardent afpirations after that heaven, which we have seen foreshadowed? There we shall be admitted to the participation of thy bleffednefs-we shall be received into the city of the living GOD, to the general affembly and Church of the firft-born, to the spirits of juft men made perfect, to thee our gracious Redeemer, who fitteft on the throne of thy co-eternal Father. How can we be attached to the delufions of the world, how can we dote on the mifery of this fading life, and not rather fly up to the felicity of faints, to the fociety of angels, to that bleffed contemplation, when we fhall fee GOD in himself, GOD in us, ourselves in Him? There THERE fhall be no forrow, no complaint, no fear, no death. There no malice fhall rife against us, no mifery afflict us, no hunger, thirst, wearinefs, painfulness, temptation, shall set themselves in array against us. There is reft from our labours, peace from our enemies, freedom from our fins. How many clouds of anxiety darken the sunshine of our joy, while we remain here below! Complaint of evils past, sense of present, apprehenfion of future, fhare our lives amongst them. But there fhall we be always joyful, always beholding the prefence of Him, who hath purchased and prepared for us this unutterable glory. HEAVINESS may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. O my foul, is there an heaven? is there a Saviour? is there pure and perfect felicity under the fhadow of his wings? Lift up thine eyes to the everlasting hills-contemn the fpecious offers of the C 4 world world-acknowlege its mifery and mutability-and fixing thy thoughts on the regions of eternal blifs, exclaim, LORD, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE THERE! LXXXI. THE LUNATIC HEALED. WHEREFORE, O LORD, when thou didst return from the scene of thy glorious transfiguration, were the people greatly amazed? Why did they fly to thee with eager impatience? Why falute thee with more than common veneration? Was it not, that fome remains glory overshadowed thy countenance? Was it not, that the form which veiled thy divinity bore teftimony to thy celeftial origin!-that like thy great forerunner, with whom thou hadst been difcourfing, when thou cameft down from the the mount, thy face fhined with more than mortal radiance? Thou couldf not, altogether, and in a moment, diveft thyself of thy fplendour. When the great luminary of heaven has finished his daily course, the eye ftill fixes itself with admiration on the vivid colours of the twilight. WHILE Our Saviour was transfigured on Mount Tabor, his difciples who remained in the valley had been in a state of perplexity, and diftrefs. Three of his followers were with him on those heights, tranfported with joy at the miraculous proofs of his Godhead-the reft were attempting, but in vain, to deliver a miferable demoniac from tormenting frenzy. MUCH people had affembled to attend on CHRIST, and they will not depart till he is came down from the mountain. Their patient affiduity detained them on the fpot whither their zeal |