222 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. mand them. He that Both these, (or doth the contrary) it is not because he sincerely would, and cannot, but because he 'bath but ineffectual wishes, and is not sincerely willing, ifhe know them to be what they are ; especially if they be materially great sins which he yieldeth to, which true grace more strongly resisteth than it doth an idle word, or thought, or action. In short, all omissions or commissions, in which the will is positively or privately guilty, are sinful in some degree ; but only these do damn the sinner, which are inconsistent with the predominant love of God, and heaven, and holiness, in the soul. 21. When the disciples awaked, they saw these glorious ones in converse. Did they hear what they said, or did Christ, after tell them ? The latter is most probable. Doubtless, as Moses tells us how God made the world, which none could tell him but by God's telling them first, so the apostles have written many things of Christ, which they neither saw nor heard, but from Christ, that told it them by word, or inspiration. How else knew they what Satan said and did to him in his temptations in the wilderness, and on the pinnacle of the temple? How knew they what his prayer was in his agony ? And so in this instance also. But Christ's own testimony was enough to put them out of doubt,to them that daily saw his confirming miracles. 22. How great a difference was there between mount Sinai and this mount ! When God delivered the law to Moses, that mount was terrible in flame, and smoke, and thunder, so that thepeople trembled and fled : but now here is nothing but life, and light, and love from heaven.- A merciful Redeemer, whose face shone as the sun, with heavenly company, appearing nearly to the disci- ples, pitying and bearlñgwith their heaviness and infirmity, strength- ening their faith and hope, and proving to them a resurrection, and a heavenly kingdom, by a visible: apparition of some of its pos- sessors. This was not. a frightful, but a confirming, delectable sight : the law in terror was by Moses, but grace and truth, peace and pleasure, are by Christ. This was an inviting and delighting, and not an affrighting, ap- parition. Was it not a shameful infirmity, and a sin, that Peter should deny Christ after such a sight as this, and the rest of his disciples forsake, him and fly ? What! after they had seen, the kingdom of God come in power, and Christ's face shine as the sun in its brightness, could they forget all this ? Or could they doubt whether he or his persecutors were the stronger, and liker to pre- vail at last ? O, how frail, how uncertain, how bad a thing, is depraved man ! But though Christ found them asleep, and though he foreknew
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