ubject, which is--_the
three lessons_ taught by the Transfiguration.

_The first of these is_--THE LESSON OF HOPE.

One thing for which the Transfiguration took place was to show us
what we may hope to be hereafter, if we are the servants of Christ.
We are told how Jesus appeared on this occasion. His glory is
described. The brightness and glory that shone around him exceeded
that of the noonday sun. But there is no particular description given
Moses and Elias. We are not told how they looked. It is only said of
them that--"they appeared in _glory_." St Luke ix: 31. I suppose the
meaning of this is that they shared in the glory which Jesus himself
had when he was transfigured. Their raiment was as white as his; and
the same brightness and beauty beamed forth from their faces which
made his so glorious. They shared their Master's glory. And, if we
are loving, and serving Jesus, this is what we may hope to share
with him hereafter. This is what we are taught to pray for in the
beautiful Collect for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. These are
the words of that prayer: "O God, whose blessed Son was manifested
that he might make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life;
Grant us, we beseech thee, that having this hope, we may purify
ourselves, even as he is pure; that when he shall appear again, with
power and great glory, _we may be made like unto him in his eternal
and glorious kingdom;_ where, with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy
Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever One God, world without end.
Amen."

And it is right to offer such a prayer as this, because the Bible
teaches us to hope for this great glory. How well a hope like this
may be called "_a hope that maketh not ashamed_," Rom. v: 5; "_a good
hope through grace_," II. Thess. ii: 16; "that _blessed hope_," Tit.
ii: 13; "_a lively hope_," I. Peter i: 3. And how well it may be
spoken of as "_a helmet_"--to cover the head in the day of battle;
and as "an anchor" to keep the soul calm and steadfast when the
storms of life are bursting upon it! Moses and Elias appeared with
Jesus at his Transfiguration, and shared his glory on purpose to
teach us this lesson of hope, and to show us what we shall be
hereafter. We shall be as glorious as Jesus was on the Mount of
Transfiguration! This seems something too great and too good to be
true. But no matter how great, or how good it is--_it is true_. Jesus
taught this lesson of hope when he said--speaking of the time w