Secondly, They appeared in glory, that is in a corporeal shape, shining with brightness & glory, as Christs body did, bating only for the degree & proportion, that there might be a difference between the Lord and his Servants. Now whether they appeared in Bodies formed and assumed for the present purpose, and to be laid down again as we do our Garments, or in their own proper Bodies, is often disputed by Interpreters upon this occasion. That they appeared in bodies is certain, for bodily acts, and properties are ascribed to them, as their talking with Christ, their being seen by the Apostles, for a spirit cannot be seen. If in bodies why not their own? It is as easy to the Lord to cause them to appear in their own bodies, as in a body assumed for this special purpose, and service; and they were known by the Disciples to be Moses and Elijah, not by the external Lineaments, for they never saw them in person before, but either were made known to them by some internal Revelation, or by Christs words, or by some words ⟨p. 65⟩of Moses and Elijah themselves, but which way soever they knew them, certain it is they knew them, and took them to be Moses and Elijah, therefore Moses and Elijah they were, both as to Soul and Body. The Apostles that were admitted to this Transfiguration, were not to be deceived by a false appearance, for they were admitted to be confirmed in the Truth of Christs Person and Office, that by what they saw they might confirm others. How would it weaken the Testimony, if what they saw appearing before them in glory, were not the bodies of Moses and Elijah, but only other bodies assumed. Concerning Elijah the matter is without difficulty, for since he saw not death, but was translated both body and soul into Heaven, why should he lay down his own body and take another to come and serve Christ upon this occasion? cause sufficient there was why he should come from the blessedness of Heaven to Mount Tabor, no cause why he should lay aside his own proper body. It is no loss nor trouble, but advantage to blessed and heavenly Creatures, to be serviceable to their Redeemers Glory, though it be to come out of the other into this World. But concerning Moses the matter is more doubtful, we read that he died in Mount Nebo, ⟨p. 66⟩and his body was buried by God in the Plains of Moab, so that his Grave was known to no man unto this day, Deut. 34. 5, 6.
Secondly, They appeared in glory, that is in a corporeal shape, shining with brightness & glory, as Christs body did, bating only for the degree & proportion, that ther might be a difference between the Lord and his Servants. Now whether they appeared in Bodies formed and assumed for the present purpose, and to be laid down again as we do our Garments, or in their own proper Bodies, is often disputed by Interpreters upon this occasion. That they appeared in bodies is certain, for bodily acts, and properties are ascribed to them, as their talking with Christ, their being seen by the Apostles, for a spirit cannot be seen. If in bodies why not their own? It is as easie to the Lord to cause them to appear in their own bodies, as in a body assumed for this special purpose, and service; and they were known by the Disciples to be Moses and Elias, not by the external Lineaments, for they never saw them in person before, but either were made known to them by some internal Revelation, or by Christs words, or by some words ⟨p. 65⟩of Moses and Elias themselves, but which way soever they knew them, certain it is they knew them, and took them to be Moses and Elias, therefore Moses and Elias they were, both as to Soul and Body. The Apostles that were admitted to this Transfiguration, were not to be deceived by a false appearance, for they were admitted to be confirmed in the Truth of Christs Person and Office, that by what they saw they might confirm others. How would it weaken the Testimony, if what they saw appearing before them in glory, were not the bodies of Moses and Elias, but only other bodies assumed. Concerning Elias the matter is without difficulty, for since he saw not death, but was translated both body and soul into Heaven, why should he lay down his own body and take another to come and serve Christ upon this occasion? cause sufficient there was why he should come from the blessedness of Heaven to Mount Tabor, no cause why he should lay aside his own proper body. It is no loss nor trouble, but advantage to blessed and heavenly Creatures, to be serviceable to their Redeemers Glory, though it be to come out of the other into this World. But concerning Moses the matter is more doubtful, we read that he died in Mount Nebo, ⟨p. 66⟩and his body was buried by God in the Plains of Moab, so that his Grave was known to no man unto this day, Deut. 34. 5, 6.
