September 16

Lord, it is good for us to be here.—Matthew 17:4.

IT must always have been good to be with Jesus. Yet there were times in his career when his disciples must have felt peculiar pleasure, and abounding delight and joy. When he was delivering his heavenly discourses, and when he was working his splendid yet gracious miracles, must have been among these profitable seasons. None however were more calculated to produce these rapturous effects, than when he was transfigured. Every thing was calculated to make it good to be there. To see two of the most distinguished servants of God, arrayed in garbs of glory,—to hear a conversation between these illustrious glorified souls, and the blessed Jesus, on the subject of the world's redemption,—to be elevated to the summit of Tabor, and to be far from the world's noise, its sneers, its revilings, and persecutions,—to behold the blessed Lord whose form was generally darkened with the bitterness of grief, now joyous, now receiving the homage of departed saints, and enjoying the foretaste of his future glory. It must have been good to be there: it was indeed heaven upon earth. The militant and the triumphant church in deputation, with the Lord of both, transfigured in the midst of them. It is always good to be on the mount of meditation and prayer: to have communion with the saints, and to behold Christ's glory.

"Our willing souls would stay,

In such a frame as this,

And sit and sing themselves away

To everlasting bliss.

And if our fellowship below,

In Jesus be so sweet,

What heights of rapture shall we know,

When round his throne we meet."