Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .B352 1835 v2

APPENDIX.' 223 that they would forsake him, he forsook not them, nor used them as they deserved, but comforted them with a glimpse of heaven ; for he died for his enemies. 23. Brut this was but once in all the time of his abode among them.. It was an extraordinary feast, and not their daily bread: they had Christ still with them, but not transfigured in glory, nor Moses and Elias in their sight. We are too apt to think, that if God give us a joyful, extraordinary glimpse of heaven, we must have it always, or that he forsaketh us, and casts us off when he denieth it us. O that we were as desirous of holiness and duty as we are of the joy which is the reward ! But our Father, anti, not we, must; be the chooser both of our food and feast. Moses did not dwell on mount Nebo, that he might still see the land of promise : it was enough to have one sight of it before his death. As flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven, so it is little of heaven that entereth into it. 24. When the disciples awake, thdy see his glory; and the two men that stood with them. It must not be a sleeping but an awakened Christian that will have a sight of heavenly glory. As we must love God with all the heart, and soul, and might, all must be awakened in seeking him, and in attending him, before we can have à joyful foretaste of his love. Carnal security, supine neg- lect, and dull contempt, are dispositions which render us incapable of such delights. Heavenly joy supposes a heavenly disposition and desires. Angels sleep not, nor are clogged with bodies of clay : earth bath no wings : it must be holy vivacity that must carry up a soul to God, nótwithstanding the fetters of flesh. It is with each others' souls in the body that we converse together on earth. Add it is not sluggish, but lively faith, and fervent desires, that must converse in heaven with Moses and Elias, and our living Head. 25. But how did Peter know Moats and Elias, whom he had never seen before ? Perhaps glorified saints do bear each one his notifying signature, and need not names and sand _ of words to make them known : perhaps Christ told. the disciples who they were that talked with him : perhaps he made them know it by in- spiration, as the prophets have their knowledge. Any of these ways GQd could notify them: it is not needful that we knhw which of them it was ; but that they were known, is certain. We shall be no strangers to any saints in heaven, and therefore not to our old acquaintance. Whether we shall have any greater love to them, or delight in them, for old acquaintance' sake, or because they were instruments of our good on earth, I know not ; but I know that our love to them with whom we had holy comfort on earth, may well render heaven more familia?to us now, and

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