The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-07
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURA.
TON
Rev. DR. GEORGE II. HoUGHroN ON THE FEAST
OF THE TIANsYI0URATION.

REV. DR. GEORGE II. HoUGHToN ON THE FEAST
OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS.
DR.. Houghtons church was we'll filled yesterday
ing. The services in commcmoraton OF the Feast
OF the Transformation which in reality fell on satur-
day DR.. Houghton, commencing his discourse
said -wc come this morning to consider tho transhg-
uraon and in the three following particulars and
rcspects-vz, It's effect, wherein it consisted, its
source or tho efficient cause whence the spendor Of
when read was derived, and its design
why the TRANSPORTATION took place. At the we
are met with fact the purpose Of Saviour in
ascending the mountain quite other than for the
purpose being TRANSPORTED. ST. Luke says that He
took peter and James and John and went up into
mountain pray and as he prayed the fashion Of his
countenance altered and his raiment was
White and gstening" We find by tho Scrip
lures that scarcely any event of Christs life
was not preceded by prayer. If this the case
With Divine Lord and Saviour, shall the servant
and the disciple fail to do likewise, and II prayer
the most Ordinary occasions, II daily prayer the
rule aud practice Of Him who knew SIM what shall
the rule and practice OF those whose Knowledge
81 onlyf We know not assurcdly what may have
the nature of our Lords PRAYER when the trans
icuration took place. but do know assuredly that
II was He prayed that the fashion OF HIS
nance altered and His raiment was white and
gistening IL with Moses the Mount
and with stephen tcstiiyang before the council
that his face became II II had been the lace
OF an angel In the several accounts which have of
the TRANSPORTATION We are told by ST. Matthew that He
was TRANSPORTED before thcm-that that HIS outward
form and appearance became other or different than II
cGsomary was but yet not so changed rs to ccae to
be thoroughly recognizable ST. Mark ADDS to the
ST. Matthew tho particular and enlarged
statement in regard to tho Tament that IL became
shining, exceedingly white, as snow, so rs
no fuller can white them. In the trans
hguration our blessed Lord not changed,
aud as such the three disciples might recognize
HIM by the well known features OF His countenance
The efficient OF the transnguraton or tho
whence the splcndor seen in tho face and emitted
from the raimcnt, was but an internal ihnuence and
cmanation OF deity. II was the glory OF the innate
divine nature maniestng itself outwardly in the body
and in the very raimcnt of Chris. Several
have been gwen why the TRANSPORTATION took place at
the time and when II did. Perhaps it TO
firm tho testimony Of ST Peter behalf
OF all the disciples Thou the Christ
the son OF the living God" II also
designed convey some idea Of the form and appear
sncc Christ when lie snail come at the latter day
Judge both the quick and the dead; and Its final mo-
tive may have been TO the scandal of the
as 1t indicated the power and anal glory OF Him who
wns 30 soon to be subjected to the utmost gnominy
and to be crucincd and slam The TRANSPORTATION
the sure witness Of Chrsts true divinity and the
glory and power OF His second coming II infai-
blc indication Of the final resurrection and glori1ca
sion OF the saints and 1t was designed TO take away
the scandal of the and OF every cross which Il
may please God is TO be borne IN this life by their
mortal bodies.