just as really and maybe as evidently will
He stand by you: If He guided him in his work, restraining him from
preaching here, and calling him to service there, He will give you also
leadings just as certain and maybe as distinct. But, do you say, "Are
we then to seek for signs and wonders, to fast and pray, ardently
longing for the Divine revelation, until the vision dawns?" I do not
say so; but rather add unto your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to
patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness love: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall,
and an entrance shall be abundantly ministered unto you into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

VII

A CONFERENCE ON DEATH

"And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and
Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of His exodus which He should
accomplish at Jerusalem."--LUKE ix. 30, 31.

We shall not attempt to explain the whole subject of the
Transfiguration, but let us consider for what Jesus went up into the
mountain. The common opinion is that He went up to enjoy Himself--in
search of some spiritual ecstacy. But in this case there would have
been no transfiguration. Spiritual rapture comes after earnest labour
through eager prayer--it is not found by seeking--we have not to look
for feelings or ecstacies; we need "to know the will of God, and to do
it."

Jesus went up into the mount to pray about death--the subject which had
a little before been borne in upon His mind--for we read in Matt. xvi.
21, in the narration of events just preceding the Transfiguration, that
"from that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that
He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third
day." When the devil took Him up into a mountain, he showed Him "all
the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said unto Him,
'All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship
me.'" When the Spirit of God took Jesus up into the mountain, He
showed Him the cross, the shame, the suffering,--the spear and the
crown of thorns, and said, "All these will I give Thee."

The highest experiences of the Christian life are close bound up, in
the Divine will, with suffering. Jesus went up into the mount to get a
better view of