The Word in the Original for _transfigured_, is [Greek: metamorphôthê], that is, he was metamorphosed, transform'd, or, if you will, transfigured. And what is to be understood by a _Metamorphosis_, we are to learn not only from the natural Import of the Word, but from the ancient Use of it. Accordingly, it signifies nothing less than the Change or Transformation of a Person into the Forms, Shapes, and Essences of Creatures and Things of a quite different Species, Size, and Figure: But _Jesus_, it is conceived, was not so _transfigured_. Our _Divines_, I suppose, would not have him thought such a _Posture-Master_ for the whole World. If I, or anyone else, should assert, that _Jesus_ upon the Mount transform'd himself into a Calf, a Lyon, a Bear, a Ram, a Goat, an Hydra, a Stone, a Tree, and into many other Things of the animate and inanimate World, I dare say there would, among our orthodox _Divines_, be such Exclamations against me for Blasphemy, as the like were never heard of. They, to be sure, will not hear of such a Transfiguration; nor, like good plain believers, will bear any thing more than that _Jesus_'s _Countenance did shine_ like the Sun, and the Colour of his Vestments was changed; which whether it comes up to the Import of a _Metamorphosis_ or not, they don't care. But to close with our _Divines_, and acknowledge that the glorious Change of _Jesus_'s Countenance, and of the Colour of his Vestments, was a true and proper Transfiguration, and that it was as real and wonderful a Miracle as could be wrought: But then we may, I hope, ask them, what was the particular Reason and Use of this Miracle? Was it a Miracle only for the sake of a Miracle? That's an Absurdity in the Opinion of[56] St. _Augustin_, who says, what is reasonable to think, that all and every one of _Jesus_'s Miracles had its particular End and Use; or he who is the Wisdom as well as Power of God, had never wrought them. And what, I pray, was the life of this Miracle? Of that the evangelical History is silent, and our _Divines_, with all their reasoning Faculties, can say nothing to it.