The New York herald., 1872-03-18
SOUTH THIRD STREET METHODIST cHURSH.
The Lessons of the Transit :urntion-SermOn
BY Rev. w. Il. Hill.

The Lessons of the Transit !mrnti0n-Sermon
by Rev. w. 4. Hill.
The Rev. william T. Hill. pastor OF the South Third
Street Methodist Episcopal Church, preached yes
terday morning instructive sermon upon the
TRANSPORTATION Of Christ and the lessons deducble
from tnat great event. His text was Matthew H.,
17-"He was TRANSPORTED before them." He said
that the transit yuratlon OF our Lord, which Oc-
CURED more than six months before His cruclfxion.
must be regarded in every respect as one OF the
most important in His history. 1t was narrated al
length by three OF the evangelsts and doubt st.
John had reference to 1t when he SAID, 1--WE be-
held his glory, che glory as OF The only
begotten OF the Father, full OF grace ana trutn.n
Peter, James and John, whom He took with Him on
the Mount upon this occasion, were also witnesses
OF the raising of the daughter Of Jarlus and OF His
agony ID Gethsemane. 1t was necessary that two
three persons should witness any event in order
that 1t might be lawfully testified to, and Jesus
seemed to be pleased to have very few witnesses to
some events of His life. Is was not caprice winch
caused hm TO choose those three. but for reasons
satisfactory TO Himself He selected them to behold
His agony and to be present at the glorious event
spoken OF In the text. John and Peter bore un-
equivocal testimony 10 the divinity OF Jesus, aud
james the nrst 10 suffer oeath Tor the latth of
Christ
Tne preacher continued to dlate upon tho
that heavenly objects were always spoken OF by all
generations and In all lands under the image OF
brightness in contradistlncton from darkness. St.
Paul used the word transfeured to represent the
glorious WORK that Is wrought IN the DelIever VINO
Changed into the same image from glory TO glory as
by the spirit OF God. II 1t were proper 10 divEle
Cnrsts llie into three perlodsmiirst Of miracles
to SET fortn Ills doctrine; and tnird OF sufermgs.
winch were clearly oretoid His TRANSPORTATION was
n han ri N n ri Af
said that the true iranslguratlon oil Christ was
when he walHed among men IN lowly Condition.
figured appearance and sh0ne forth with Ills
proper glory. Ine conversation with the disciples
structed them; but Moses and EuJan were not so
astoasned for IL was s theme wei ka'Tm ~ ~
loosen the preJudices which bound the JEWISH mind
b obedience to the Gel Ceremonies and requirements OF
the Mosaic law. The expiration oil the dlspensaucn
Of the law and me prophets ana ss comMencemeas %
BY aguratlve and symbolic representation. THIS
could better done tnan By the glver OF the law,
Moses, and the greatest OF all the prophets, Elijah,
appearing and doing homage to CHRIST and CON
verslng with Him, not a0out the law but about Hts
atonlng sacrifice. Tue voice OF the divine Father
installed Jesus Christ as the law'glver anu the
prophet-the Messiah who had laDored anu, suffered
for mankind was now Installed as the Lord and
ruler OF the earth the presence OF Representatives
o. the earthly and heavenly world inis rioy srenG w
Of Christ as a teacher, iaw-siver and meaiator to
Moses and Elijah, who though Tor many years Weis
servants Of God, were not so great as the oVh y.
God, but must give place 10 HIN, anu ss s,,us .mo
Jewish must give place to the Chri5tiun pa ulspomsa.
tiUn. This scene, tOo was designed W suvns M .nen
their faith In Christ Heretofore the lhlnS' tns wcle
trausprlng impressed them With TUG .a.s ua. 'es.s
mad grown up In humble circums. M anees G anu was
a man among men, but the Occurrencc VI .no uuns-
figuratOn showed that the Man o Nanaletil WAS
tne divine and glorious saviour ny lnlS spectacle
thov wnn6 become reconciled 10 tne suflefing5 and
Saatn or Jesns and they would become fortified TO
eos,wrs tne speclacle OF His crucnx0h by the rev.
Clarion of His glory on the mount. Luxe, IN de.
r"c,tng This scene states that while Jesus was
pprovny the fashion OF His countenance changed
fasys was pre-cmineltly man Ot prayer. and II
ys,s followers would be exalted and have wonderful
rnvelations made TO them they must commune ire
cnentlv with God In sece. When that celestiai
,rumvirate ffom Heaven and earth met they
did NOT talk OF empires or OF the great
conauests OF warrlors but they spoke
OF the death and Illumination OF Christ,
thus teaching the truth that before honor is
humility. II Christians would be exalted they must
humble themselves ut the eet oil Jesus. The unique
meeting OF those per5OnageS on the Mount was oc-
cupied with tho great theme oil Jesus Ills cross;
but there were many Ill this age who were ashamed
to profess this glorious Saviour before the world.
Tue TRANSPORTATION taught another lesson, which
wes mat the Christian religion does not allow OF
Idle contemplation. the followers oil Jesus must lot
lead monastic lie. but alter preparing themselves
| by closet communion Win God they must 20 into
the wcrld speak OF His w0ndrcns pow or TO save
Finally the theme OF dlsrnssnn demonstra ated tie