The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-28

is not prima. fdcie improbable. 1t may,
however, be dramatic description of aspir-
| itual scene in the prayerful experience OF
JESUS and the spiritual perception of his ia
vored disciples. The characters employed
are the distinguished representatives of the
great epochs of Divine revelation in the his
| tory of mankind. In his heavenly commun-
ion JESUS held converse with these ancient
prophets of Cop, of whose glorious promises
of blessing and redemption he was the full
flIment and the disciples attained the per-
ception that their Master, Notwithstanding
the predicted suffering and death, was the
Messiah =" of whom Moses and the prophets
did write" (i John i. 45). The described
scene may have been partly objective and
partly subjective; partly real and partly ALE
gorical, as many eminent scholars, including
Morrison, Meyer and Ewald, think.
INFECTIOUS PETER.-The characters of
the scene appear intensely real. The impul-
sive Peter, with characteristic impetuosity,
is described as asking permission of JESUS
to construct booths for the heavenly com-
municants that the delightful scene might be
continued. He may be represented as hav-
ing in mind what he had suggested week
before, to prevent JESUS from going to Jeru.
salem, where his suffering and death were
predicted, by inducing him to abide there
with the two celebrated visitors. Luke says
that Peters proposal was made when the
visitors were departing, and Mark declares
that the disciples were frightened, and that
Peter was so bewildered that he did not know
what to say, and that he spoke impulsively
and without deliberation. "In other words,
his was not well-considered proposition, to
retain the spirits in earthly tabernacles, but
an ardent expression inspired by awe and
spiritual ecstacy commingled. abbott.
THE CLOUD AND ICE.-While Peter
was speaking, it is said that luminous cloud
enveIoped them and a voice from the cloud
said. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I
delight: hearken to him." A luminous cloud
was Hebrew symbol of the Divine presence.
It was called the Shechinah, "the glory of
the LORD" 1t was employed by Moses as
symbol of COPS presence and guidance in
the journey from Egyptian bondage to the
promised land. 1t is described as enveloping
Mount Sinai when the Law was delivered to
Israel. 1t filled the tabernacle when it was
constructed for place of worship. 1t reap
peared at the dedication of the temple erect
ed by Solomon. It was the "glory shone
around' the shepherds on the night of JESUS
birth, and the cloud that enveloped him at
his Ascension. The voice from the cloud
represents COP as speaking words of approx
al, confirming the Messiahship of JESUS.
COP speaks to the soul. The voice from the
cloud was what the described scene was in
terpreted to mean-the Hebrew Boh-Kol
Daughter of the Sound or Voice.. The
Bath Kol was the profound reflection pro-
duced by an extraordinary event, particular
ly sound from the sky or clouds, as thunder,
and was regarded as a revelation from GoD.
There may have been some real or visionary
celestial phenomena coincident with JESUS
prayer which is described, and which spoke
as voice of GoD in the very language of
Scripture concerning the Messiah. 1t will
be observed that the language of the voice
from the cloud is borrowed from Psalm ii.
vii; Isaiah xiii. 1; and Deuteronomy xviii.
16, and is the same that was spoken by the
voice out of the heavens" at JESUS baptism.
In Hebrew, though, it was not the marvel
lous phenomena, the earthquake, fire or
cloud, but the impression left on the mind,
that was the still, small voice of GoD. The
TRANSPORTATION scene impressed upon the soul
of JESUS and his disciples the fact of the Di-
vine approval and the Messianic appoint
ment and authority.
INTERPRETATI0N.-W may not be able
to explain all that is described as transpiring
at the TRANSPORTATION of JESUS. But that
need not hinder us from discovering the
chief import of the scene, or prevent us from
understanding some IF its practical lessons.
In view of his impending suffering and
death, JESUS retired with his most intimate
and devoted disciples for season of uplift-
ing prayer and communion with GOD. The
exalted state of his soul in the exercise of
prayer, transformed his appearance into
what was conceived to be the Divine likeness.
He consciously communed with COP and
held converse with his associate servants
whose promises of heavenly kingdom on
earth he had come to accomplish. He pro-
foundly realized confirmation of his Messi-
anio mission from COP and His inspired
prophets. The disciples who witnessed the
scene were profoundly impressed with the
Divine approval of their Master. They were
strongly confirmed in their previously de-
clared opinion that he was the Messiah of
whom Moses and the prophets did write.
They were qualified to perceive the higher
meaning of his truth and ministry, and pre-
pared to trust in his spiritual authority and
power. They saw, as one of them declared,
not only the glory of his oountenance, but
that of his word" the fulness of grace and
truth" The TRANSPORTATION of the bodily
features of our Master may not be uisible to
as, but aoe may perceiUe the spiritual beauty
of his toord, the glory of his grace and truth,
and find that ,Uord abundantlg confirmed
by GoD Himself, through His Spirit in our
hearts, and by all His holy prophets since
the toorId began. As Ue grolo more and
more "into the knowledge of the truth as it
is in JESUS" zoe more and more recognize
reverence of those tOhose privilege 1t ,Uas to
be in daily Intercourse Nth him, and lOe,
too. are transformed By the renelOing of our
minds, into the Divine image, groaoing in
grace as zoe gro'0 in the knoacIedge Of the
LORD.
THE MASTERS COMMAND.
TELL NO MAN.-As they were descending
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION, JESUS SOL
EMMY charged the disciples that they tell no