A47437:344
Christ alone the way to Heaven, or, Jacob's ladder improved containing four sermons lately…
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.
CHRIST ALONE THE Way to Heaven: OR, JACOB'S LADDER IMPROVED, &c. › Sermon 3
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.
1Secondly, Nay, my Beloved, they are not only Adopted Sons and Daughters of God, who believe in Christ; but they are all espoused to Jesus Christ also: Believers see that their first Husband is dead, viz. the Law, by the body of Christ; and they also are become dead […] that;2 Wherefore, my Brethren, ye also are becom• dead to the Law by the body of Christ, that y• should be married to another, even to him that i• raised from the dead, that we should bring fort• Fruit unto God. Jesus Christ espouseth all true Believers, •very Soul that rightly ascends up this ⟨p. 61⟩Ladder; I have espoused you to one Husband, 3••at I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ. Our union with Christ is commonly expressed in ••e Scripture, under the notion of a Marriage:4 How to be married to the Prince of Princes, to •he Prince of the Kings of the Earth, is a wonderful elevation: Should an earthly Pri•ce set •is heart upon, and marry a poor Virgin one ••at was but a Scullion-maid, or a Beggar, clothed with filthy Rags, what an advancement would this be, for such a one to become a Queen, and save a Crown of Gold set upon her Head, and be embraced in the Arms of a great Monarch, or mighty Prince, and to lie in his Bosom, and to have the attendance of his Servants, or Noble retinue! But alas, what a poor Advancement is that,5 to this; Man in honour abideth not, but is like e Beasts that Perish: Alas that Honour may be but for a Day, and besides, to be advanced to earthly grandeur may prove the ruin of the Soul for ever. Christ is the Heir of both Worlds, Heir of God, Heir of all things;