John Trapp on Matthew 17:4

Verse 4. Lord, it is good [illegible: 1 word] us to be here] [illegible: 1 word] plura absurda quam verba. But he knew not what he should say, he was so amused or rather amazed at that blessefull-sight. So Paul, whether in the body or out of the body, when rapt into the third heaven, he cannot tell, God knoweth, and again he cannot tell, God knoweth, 2 Cor. 12, 2. 3. Only this he can tell, that he heard [non-Latin text not transcribed] Wordlesse Words, such things as words are too weak to utter, and at the thought whereof, Claudicat ingenium, delir at lingua que , mens que . It is as impossible to comprehend heavens joyes, as to compasse the heaven with a span, or contain the Ocean in a [illegible: 1 word]. No wonder then though Peter cry out, it is good being here: Or it is better being here then at [illegible: 1 word], ([illegible: 1 word] St Chrysostom senleth it) whither our Saviour had said he must go, and suffer many things of the Elders, and be killed, &c. That St Peter liked not; but would build here rather. All men would have heaven, but not the rough way that leads to it: they would enter into Paradise but not through that narrow portall of afflictions: they would sit in the seat of honour with Zebedees children, but not drink of Christs cup, much lesle be baptized with his baptisme, that is, be dowzed over head and eares in the waters of miseries. They would feed on manchet, tread on roses, and come to heaven, as [illegible: 1 word] at sea do many times to the haven, whiles they are sleeping, or before they are a ware. But this is no lesse a folly then a delicacy, thus to think to divide between Christ and his crosse, to pull a rose without pricks, to have heaven without hardship. One for thee, one for Moses, one for Elias] He never thought of one for himself, he was so transported: but he had provided [illegible: 1 word] for himself and us, if Christ had taken his [illegible: 1 word]: for so he should have declined death, whereby life and immortality was 2 [illegible: 1 word]. 1. 12. brought to light to the Saints. And this unadvised advie was so much the worse in Peter, because but six daies before he had been sharply shent by our Saviour, and called Satan for such carnall [illegible: 1 word] 9. 31. counsell: and besides that, even then he heard Moses and Elias [illegible: 1 word] with Christ about his departure, confirming him against it. It's hard to say how oft we shall fall into the same fault (though foul) if left to our selves.