A47437:190
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.
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.
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.
3. He resolves this Question; viz, How an unrighteous and ungodly Man can be justified with God.
4. How Sin can be Punished, and yet Pardoned:
5. How the Debt can be Paid, and yet be freely forgiven.
Brethren, Christ is a Priest, and as a Priest he is the Antitype of Jacob's-Ladder; and as so considered, he is exalted on high; for in and by this Office he brings God and Man, Heaven and Earth together; I mean by that Atonement he hath made by his bloody Sacrifice; It pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things to himself, whether they be things on Earth, 1or things in Heaven. Heaven and Earth are not at a farther distance from each other, as Naturally we are unto God, in respect of our state and Spirits,2 such Enmity is in the hearts of all unrenewed Sinners against God; but saith the Apostle; But now in Christ Jesus ye that were afar off are made near by the Blood of Christ. 3The way is by his Death, by his Blood which was shed upon the Earth; here we were, and here is the Foot of the Ladder. God's Justice requires an infinite Satisfaction, and Christ being God, reached Heaven; i. e. the full demands of divine Justice: Such a Days-Man we needed, who layeth his hands upon both. By his being ⟨p. 43⟩a Priest in his o••ering up that one Sacrifice he reconciled God to us,4 and by his Spirit he reconciles us to God, by his applying and making the Atonement efficacious, or effectual to us,5 that in the dispensation of the fullness of time, he might gather together in one, all things in Christ.
Brethren, Christ is a Priest, and as a Priest he is the Antitype of Jacob's-Ladder; and as so considered, he is exalted on high; for in and by this Office he brings God and Man, Heaven and Earth together; I mean by that Attonement he hath made by his bloody Sacrifice; It pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things to himself, whether they be things on Earth, 1or things in Heaven. Heaven and Earth are not at a farther distance from each other, as Naturally we are unto God, in respect of our state and Spirits,
This is done in him, even in Christ alone, none but he hath done it, or could do it. God by him, who stands at the top of the Ladder, comes down to us, as well as we go up to God; it is by Christ that God comes down to us in a way of Mercy, Peace, and Reconciliation; and it is by Christ we go up to God in a way of Faith, and dependence. Beloved,1 God and poor Sinners meet together on this Sacred Ladder (or blessed Medium and contrivances of infinite Wisdom) in Christ, we who were Strangers and Enemies, meet with a holy and just God, with joy and comfort: You that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your Minds by wicked Works, 2hath he reconciled in the body of his Flesh, through Death. 3When we were Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son. Now this is done by Christ as a Priest in dying; But
This is done in him, even in Christ alone, none but he hath done it, or could do it. God by him, who stands at the top of the Ladder, comes down to us, as well as we go up to God; it is by Christ that God comes down to us in a way of Mercy, Peace, and Reconciliation; and it is by Christ we go up to God in a way of Faith, and dependance. Beloved,1 God and poor Sinners meet together on this Sacred Ladder (or blessed Medium and contrivances of infinite Wisdom) in Christ, we who were Strangers and Enemies, meet with a holy and just God, with joy and comfort: You that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your Minds by wicked Works, 2hath he reconciled in the body of his Flesh, through Death. 3When we were Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son. Now this is done by Christ as a Priest in dying; But
Secondly, He is the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder, as our High-Priest also,1 by his Intercession now in Heaven.
1. He intercedes with God for us in Heaven also.
1. He interceeds with God for us in Heaven also.
2. He intercedes by his Spirit in us:1 By his Intercession in heaven he prevails with God for the Blessings of his Atonement; and by his Spirits intercession in us, all those Blessings are applied, and so made effectual to us. By virtue of his Satisfaction, God is brought near to us; and through Application of his Blood, by his Spirit, we are brought near unto God: And thus is Christ, the blessed Medium or Way, by which Peace is made between Heaven and Earth, or God and Sinners.
2. He interceeds by his Spirit in us:1 By his Intercession in heaven he prevails with God for the Blessings of his Attonement; and by his Spirits intercession in us, all those Blessings are applyed, and so made effectual to us. By vertue of his Satisfaction, God is brought near to us; and thro Application of his Blood, by his Spirit, we are brought near unto God: And thus is Christ, the blessed Medium or Way, by which Peace is made between Heaven and Earth, or God and Sinners.
Moreover, by this glorious Medium we have free access unto God, which is the effects of Christ's Priestly Office.
Moreover, by this glorious Me•ium we have free access unto God, which is the effects of Christ's Priestly Office.
