A47437:181
Christ alone the way to Heaven, or, Jacob's ladder improved containing four sermons lately preached on Genesis XXVIII, XII : wherein the doctrine of free-grace is displayed through Jesus Christ : also discovering the nature, office, and ministration of the holy angels : to which is added one sermon on Rom. 8, 1 : with some short reflections on Mr. Samuel Clark's new book entitled Scripture justification / by Benjamin Keach.Christ alone the way to Heaven, or, Jacob's ladder improved containing four sermons lately preach'd on Genesis XXVIII, XII : wherein the doctrine of free-grace is display'd through Jesus Christ : also discovering the nature, office, and ministration of the holy angels : to which is added one sermon on Rom. 8, 1 : with some short reflections on Mr. Samuel Clark's new book intituled Scripture justification / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by Benja. Harris, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Christ is lifted up, or exalted in that he is the immediate Object of our Faith and Trust: True; the Father is Primarily the object of our Faith, but Brethren, Christ is the immediate Object thereof; Ye believe in God, 1believe also in Me: And this, because he is equal with the Father, and as Mediator we must by him believe in God the Father, and come to the Father by him: No Man cometh to the Father, 2but by me. But again,
5. Brethren, Jesus Christ is lifted up and exalted in that the Government of the World is committed unto him;1 The Father Judgeth no Man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son; the Father Judgeth no Man, but by the Son, all the administration of Judgment, Rule, and Authority in the Church, and in the World, is in the hands of Christ, as Mediator;2 he pulls down and sets up; By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Judgment. All Power and Authority in Heaven and Earth is his;3 it is his essentially as God, and it is given unto him as Mediator.
6. Christ is Lifted up, or exalted,1 in that he is all, and in all, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, &c. but Christ is all, and in all, He is our All to the Father; he is our all with the Father; and our All from the Father, he is our All by way of Merit; he is meritoriously made All to us; he purchased All that good we have, and expect to have, both Grace here, and glory hereafter.
Jesus Christ is All to us by way of Conveyance, as he merited all for us, so it is through him all good things, or divine Blessings, are communicated to us. As he is the Fountain that contains all things, so he is the Conduit-Pipe, through' whom all good is conveyed to us also.
Jesus Christ is All to us by way of Conveyance, as he meritted all for us, so it is through him all good things, or divine Blessings, are communicated to us. As he is the Fountain that contains all things, so he is the Conduit-Pipe, thro' whom all good is conveyed to us also.
Again,1 he is All to us by way of Efficiency ⟨p. 40⟩and Causality; he works all our Works in us, and for us,2 and without him we can do Nothing: It is from him the Head that the whole Body receiveth Nourishment; so he it is that blesseth that Nourishment,3 that Food, viz. himself, his Word, his Ordinances, and all afflictions to us, which we live upon.
Again,1 he is All to us by way of Efficency ⟨p. 40⟩and Causality; he works all our Works in us, and for us,2 and without him we can do Nothing: It is from him the Head that the whole Body receiveth Nourishment; so he it is that blesseth that Nourishment,3 that Food, viz. himself, his Word, his Ordinances, and all afflictions to us, which we live upon.
1Secondly, Christ is wonderfully lifted up, or is exalted to Heaven, if we consider the Persons, who are said to Greaten, and Magnify Him.
1Secondly, Christ is wonderfully lifted up, or is exalted to Heaven, if we consider the Persons, who are said to Greaten, and Magnifie Him.
1Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name above every Name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, &c. Not at the naming of Jesus, but at his Name. that is in respect of his Power, Authority, and Glory which he hath above all in Heaven and Earth considered, as he consisteth in both Natures or as Mediator, God-man.
1Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name above every Name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, &c. Not at the naming of Jesus, but at his Name. that is in respect of his Power, Authority, and Glory which he hath above all in Heaven and Earth considered, as he consi•teth in both Natures or as Mediator, God-man.
2. All the Saints of God, and Faithful Mini• of the Gospel, exalt Jesus Christ: True, they cannot add any thing to his Glory, but they give or ascribe the highest Glory unto him as his due. The Apostle lifted him up above: Moses, above Angels; nay, as equal with the Father; Paul desired,1 to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him Crucified, and resolved he should be magnified in his Body, 2whether it were by Life or by Death. (1.) In that they all, did all things they did, in his Name. (2.) By his Power. (3.)To his Praise, and Glory. (4.) Also in showing all Knowledge, Learning, Parts, Righteousness, moral Virtues, Gifts, and all Duties ⟨p. 41⟩of Religion, are Nothing, or avail Nothing to a Man out of Christ; because it is his Righteousness, his Merits exclusive of all, or any thing else that is the matter of our Justification before God.
2. All the Saints of God, and Faithful Mini• of the Gospel, exalt Jesus Christ: True, they cannot add any thing to his Glory, but they give or ascribe the highest Glory unto him as his due. The Apostle lifted him up above: Moses, above Ang•ls; nay, as equal with the Father; Paul desired,1 to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him Crucified, and resolved he should be magnified in his Body, 2whether it were by Life or by Death. (1.) In that they all, did all things they did, in his Name. (2.) By his Power. (3.)To his Praise, and Glory. (4.) Also in shewing all Knowledge, Learning, Parts, Righteousness, moral Vertues, Gifts, and all Duties ⟨p. 41⟩of Religion, are Nothing, or avail Nothing to a Man out of Christ; because it is his Righteousness, his M•rits exclusive of all, or any thing else that is the matter of our Justification before God.
3. All the holy Angels likewise exalt Christ, adore and magnify hi•.
Thirdly, God ha•• exalted him from Earth to Heaven, in respect of his Office (in which also he is the Antitype of Jacob's L••de• ) wh•c• […] I have hinted at already, yet I ••all add […].
Thirdly, God ha•• exalted him from Earth to Heaven, in respect of his Office (in which als• he is the Antitype of Jacob's L••de• ) wh•c• 〈…〉 I have hinted at already, yet I ••all add 〈…〉.
1. Christ is chosen of God, a• I said,1 to be the only Mediator between God and Man, our Days-Man, that lays his hands upon both; and as Mediator he is a King, Priest, and Prophet.
First, He is a Priest excelling the High-priests under the Law, being the substance and Antitype of all those Priests; he is both Priest, Altar, 1and Sacrifice: they were made Priests by men, he is made a Priest by God himself; they without an Oath; he by an Oath; they had Infirmities, he had none. The Priest under the Law could not continue, by reason of Death, he abideth a Priest for ever: They offered up Sacrifices that could not take away Sins, but by his one Sacrifice, 2all sins are done away for ever. He bore the sins of his People indeed; he entered into the holiest of all; he appears before God indeed, they only Typically. He made Atonement indeed, they but Typically and Ceremonially: He Judgeth of Uncleanness indeed, they but Typically; he maketh true Judgment, because he knows all mens Hearts: He offers up unto God the true Incense; he blesseth the People, by conferring Grace, and divine Habits to them, and by turning them from their evil ways.3
First, He is a Priest excelling the High-priests under the Law, being the substance and Antitype of all those Priests; he is both Priest, Altar, 1and Sacrifice: they were made Priests by men, he is made a Priest by God himself; they without an Oath; he by an Oath; they had Infirmities, he had none. The Priest under the Law could not continue, by reason of Death, he abideth a Priest for ever: They offered up Sacrifices that could not take away Sins, but by his one Sacrifice, 2all sins are done away for ever. He bore the sins of his People indeed; he entered into the holiest of all; he appears before God indeed, they only Typically. He made Attonement indeed, they but Typically and Ceremonially: He Judgeth of Uncleanness indeed, they but Typically; he maketh true Judgment, because he knows all mens Hearts: He offers up unto God the true Incense; he blesseth the People, by conferring Grace, and divine Habits to them, and by turning them from their evil ways.3
He beyond the Priests under the Law, doth determine all, (yea the hardest) Controversies; he resolves all doubts between God and Man, such as these following;
1. How God is Just, and yet Gracious; or how an offended God can, and doth justify guilty Sinners.
2. In and by by him we see how Justice and Mercy meet together, and Righteousness and Truth kiss each other: 1The one exalting the highest Satisfaction on terms of pure and severe Justice; and the other crying for infinite Mercy.
