de that no man can number, to set worthily forth anything like
a complete image of the fulness of Christ. No one man, even raised to
the highest pitch of perfection, and though his nature be widened out
to perfect development, can be the full image of that infinite sum of
all beauty; but the whole of us taken together, with all the
diversities of natural character retained and consecrated, being
collectively His body which He vitalises, may, on the whole, be a not
wholly inadequate representation of our perfect Lord. Just as we
set round a central light sparkling prisms, each of which catches the
glow at its own angle, and flashes it back of its own colour, while
the sovereign completeness of the perfect white radiance comes from
the blending of all their separate rays, so they who stand round
about the starry throne receive each the light in his own measure and
manner, and give forth each a true and perfect, and altogether a
complete, image of Him who enlightens them all, and is above them
all.

And whilst thus all bear the same image, there is no monotony; and
while there is endless diversity, there is no discord. Like the
serene choirs of angels in the old monk's pictures, each one with the
same tongue of fire on the brow, with the same robe flowing in the
same folds to the feet, with the same golden hair, yet each a
separate self, with his own gladness, and a different instrument for
praise in his hand, and his own part in that 'undisturbed song of
pure content,' we shall all be changed into the same image, and yet
each heart shall grow great with its own blessedness, and each spirit
bright with its own proper lustre of individual and characteristic
perfection.

The law of the transformation is the same for earth and for heaven.
Here we see Him in part, and beholding grow like. There we shall see
Him as He is, and the likeness will be complete. That Transfiguration
of our Lord (which is described by the same word as occurs in this
text) may become for us the symbol and the prophecy of what we look
for. As with Him, so with us; the indwelling glory shall come to the
surface, and the countenance shall shine as the light, and the
garments shall be 'white as no fuller on earth can white them.' Nor
shall that be a fading splendour, nor shall we fear as we enter into
the cloud, nor, looking on Him, shall flesh bend beneath the burden,
and the eyes become drowsy, but we shall be as the Lawgiver and the
Prophet who stood