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Baptift, in the illuftrious Teftimony he gives to our Lord Jefus Chrift, taketh particular Notice of his Divine Dignity and Authority, as what should engage Men to pay the greatest Regard to the Doctrines he taught, and the Laws he delivered: He that cometh from above is above all; be that is of the Earth is earthly, and speaketh of the Earth; he that cometh from Heaven is above all. Thus diminutively doth he fpeak of himself, though one of the greatest of the Prophets, in Comparifon of Jefus Christ. He addeth, He whom God hath fent fpeaketh the Words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by Measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all Things into his Hand. And then he concludes thus, He that believeth on the Son bath everlasting Life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not fee Life, but the Wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 31, 34, 35, 36.

Let us therefore receive the Revelations Chrift hath brought us, viz. the Doctrines he hath taught, the Precepts he hath delivered, the Promises he hath given, the Threatenings he hath denounced, with an unfhaken Faith, and with a profound Reverence. For, if Jefus was fuch a Perfon as the Gospel reprefenteth him to be, sent for fuch excellent Purposes, and whofe

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Divine Miffion and Authority was confirmed by fuch illuftrious Atteftations, it cannot poffibly be an indifferent Matter that we receive or reject him, and his Doctrines and Laws. And, if we profefs to believe in him, we must take great Care that our Faith be not a bare fpeculative Affent, but such a practical vital Perfuafion as to have a governing Influence over our whole Temper and Conduct; that we may answer the Defign of his coming into the World, and giving himfelf for us, which was to redeem us from all Iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works.

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On the Transfiguration.

DISCOURSE III,

MATTHEW xvii, I

9.

And, after fix Days, Jefus taketh Peter, James, and John his Brother, and bringeth them up into a high Mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, and his Face did fine as the Sun, and his Raiment was white as the Light. And behold, there appeared unto them Mofes and Elias talking with him. Then anfwered Peter, and faid unto Jefus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make bere three Tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Mofes, and one for Elias. While he yet pake, behold, a bright Cloud overshadowed them: And D 4

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behold, a Voice out of the Cloud, which faid, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed; hear ye him. And, when the Difciples beard it, they fell on their Face, and were fore afraid. And Jefus came and touched them, and faid, Arife, and be not afraid. And, when they had lift up their Eyes, they faw no Man, Jave Jefus only. And, as they came down from the Mountain, Jefus charged them faying, Tell the Vifion to no Man, until the Son of Man be rifen again from the Dead.

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HERE is scarce any Thing in the whole Account given us of our Saviour's Life, that is more remarkable than his Transfiguration in the Mount. cordingly there is a particular Notice taken of it by three of the Evangelifts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, between whom there is an admirable Harmony in the Relation they give us of this wonderful Transaction. I have chofen to confider the Account the Evangelift Matthew gives of it, and fhall, as I go along, obferve any particular Circumftances taken Notice of by the other Evangelifts, which are not here so expreffly mentioned.

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That we may have a more diftin&t View of this Subject, First, I fhall confider the Manner in which the Evangelifts introduce

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