A47437:382
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.
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, Admire this Sacred Ladder in respect of the Wisdom of God, in contriving of this way to Heaven: As it exceeds the Art and Wisdom of Men to make a Ladder to reach up to Heaven; so it far surpasseth the Wisdom of Men or Angels, to contrive such a way to Heaven, that God may be glorified in all his Attributes, to the highest Perfections, and yet we Saved, Sin Punished, and yet the Sinner Justified: Besides, God had lost the glory of his work in making of Man and this World for his sake, and Satan would have insulted over him, had he not contrived a way to restore him:2 It would have been to the Disparagement of his Wisdom, who pronounced all the Works he had made to be Good; and when he had made Man very Good, to see himself so soon disappointed, and his work marred, I mean the noblest part thereof, all other Creatures being made for Man's use, and so for lower and baser, and more unworthy ends. Brethren, Christ the way, not in vain called the Wisdom of God, because in him God displays the highest acts of his divine Wisdom; ⟨p. 73⟩the holy Angels are amazed at this Wisdom, they pry into this depth, this profound mystery of God manifested in the Flesh. There is a wonderful Mystery in our way to Heaven by Jesus Christ, as well as in the Fellowship of this Mystery, or in the Communication of it;3 it is called the manifold Wisdom of God; To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places, might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God. The Angels who are said to ascend and descend up this Ladder, are not a little astonished with the whole Economy of Man's Redemption, or with this way of raising us to the highest Glory; from hence Paul speaking of our Redemption through Christs blood, 4saith; Wherein God hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence. Brethren, God hath abounded in all Wisdom towards us in contriving of this way for us to come to himself, and his Prudence in ordering and disposing the means consonant thereto. Wisdom (saith one) in drawing the Platform, and Prudence in Digging through all Impediments; and making even the seeming Obstacles serve as Steps to the Execution of it. Brethren, God hath discovered greater Wisdom in restoring man by Jesus Christ, then in his Creating of him; God's Wisdom howbeit shines in the works of Creation, and in his works of Providence;