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1. THe words of the Prophet Osee are accomplish∣ed; the nets and toils planted upon mount Ta∣bor, not to catch birds, but hearts. The mountain which before was a den for Tigers and Panthers (ac∣cording to the story) is now beautified by our Saviour, and becomes a place full of sweetness & ravishments. Jesus appears transfigured in the high robes of his glory: The cloud made him a pavillion of gold, and the Sun made his face shine like it self. The heavenly
Father doth acknowledge his Son as a true Prince of glory; Moses and Elias both appear in brightness, the one bearing the Tables of the Law, and the other carried in a burning Chariot (as Origen saith) which made the Apostles know him. For the Hebrews had certain figures of the most famous men of their Nation in books. They both (as Saint Luke saith) were seen in glory and Majesty, which fell upon them by reflection of the beams which came from the body of Jesus, who is the true fountain of bright∣ness. The Apostles lose themselves in the delicious∣ness of this great spectacle; and by seeing more than they ever did, desired to lose their eyes. O that the world is most contemptible to him, that knows how to value God as he ought. So many fine powders, so many pendents and favours of Glass; so many Tow∣ers and Columns of dirt plaistered over with gold, are followed by a million of Idolaters. To conclude, so many worldly jewels are like the empty imagina∣tions of a sick spirit, not enlightened by the beams of truth. Let us rely upon the word (saith Saint Au∣gustine) which remains for ever, while men pass like the water of a fountain, which hides it self in the Spring, shews it self in the stream, and loseth it self at last in the Sea. But God is always himself, there needs no Tabernacle made by the hands of man, to remain with him; for in Paradise, he is both the God and the Temple.
2. Tabor is yet but a small pattern, we must get all the piece; we must go to the Palace of Angels and brightness, where the Tabernacles are not made by the hands of men. There we shall see the face of the living God clearly and at full: There the beau∣ties shall have no vails to hide them from us: Our being shall have no end: Our knowledges will not be subject to errour, nor our loves and affections to displeasure. O what a joy will it be to enjoy all, and desire nothing; to be a Magistrate without a succes∣sour, to be a King without an enemy, to be rich with∣out covetousness, to negotiate without money, and to be ever-living without fear of death.
3. But who can get up to this mountain, except he of whom the Prophet speaks? who hath inno∣cent hands and a clean heart? who hath not recei∣ved his soul of God in vain, to bury it in worldly pelf. To follow Jesus, we must transform our selves into him; by hearing and following his doctrine, since God the Father proposeth him for the teacher of mankind, and commands us to hearken un∣to him. Wee must follow his examples, since those are the originals of all virtues. The best trade we can practise in this world, is that of transfigu∣ration: and we may do it by reducing our form to the form of our Lord, and walking upon earth like men in Heaven. Then will the Sun make us have shining faces, when purity shall accompany all our actions and intentions. Our clothes shall be as white as snow, when we shall once become innocent in our conversations, we shall then be ravished like the Apostles, and after we have been at Mount Ta∣bor, we shall be blind to the rest of the world, and see nothing but Jesus. It is moreover to be noted, that our Saviour did at that time entertain himself with discourse of his great future sufferings, and of his death; to teach us, that his Cross was the step by which he mounted up to beatitude.