A47437:408
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, His Design herein also was to magnify the Law, and make it honourable; the law looses none of it Sanction by Jesus Christ; the law required Man to keep it, Man to yield perfect Obedience to God therein, and Man to dye, and bear the Penalty for the breach of it.
But lo! here is a Man, (nay one more then Man, even God-Man, the Son of God, made Man, made of a Woman, made under the Law) come on purpose to stand in our Law-place, to honour this Law, to yield active and perfect Obedience unto it, and to dye for our breach thereof. This is more than the Law could, or did require; the law hath more then it's just Demand, for by Christ's keeping of it, and ⟨p. 79⟩dying for our Sin•, he hath merited as well as satisfied; he hath merited those things of God, which the Law could not have given us; had we never broke it, that could not have made us so near to God, so great, so glorious, and so happy for ever, as we are made by the merits, and purchase of Jesus Christ. But more of that by and by.
But lo! here is a Man, (nay one more then Man, even God-Man, the Son of God, made Man, made of a Woman, made under the Law) come on purpose to stand in our Law-place, to honour this Law, to yield active and perfect Obedience unto it, and to dye for our breach thereof. This is more than the Law could, or did require; the law hath more then it's just Demand, for by Christ's keeping of it, and ⟨p. 79⟩dying for our Sin•, he hath meritted as well as satisfied; he hath meritted those things of God, which the Law could not have given us; had we never broke it, that could not have made us so near to God, so great, so glorious, and so happy for ever, as we are made by the merits, and purchase of Jesus Christ. But more of that by and by.
Do we make void the law through' Faith, God forbid: 1Yea we establish the law: In that by Christ's Obedience to the Law, or by his perfect active Obedience, and Death, apprehended by Faith we are Justified, and the Law for ever silenced: Christ having satisfied the Justice of God, broke the Thunders of the Law, and dissolved the frame of all its Anathema's: He being made a Curse for us, 2he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law: He hath abolished the Obligation of the Moral Law as to its Condemning Power, and hath by his blood sealed another Covenant, a New-Covenant, a better Covenant: the first hath been perfectly kept, and the sentence of it hath been undergone;3 and its killing power is taken away to all that are in Christ Jesus. And thus, see how the Law is magnified, lifted up, and made Honourable: i. e. rather then that shall loose any of its Honour, the Son of God will become Man and answer all its Demands, in doing, and suffering what we ought to have done, and suffered, and for our default must have endured for ever.
Do we make void the law thro' Faith, God forbid: 1Yea we establish the law: In that by Christ's Obedience to the Law, or by his perfect active Obedience, and Death, apprehended by Faith we are Justified, and the Law for ever silenced: Christ having satisfied the Justice of God, broke the Thunders of the Law, and dissolved the frame of all its Anathema's: He being made a Curse for us, 2he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law: He hath abolished the Obligation of the Moral Law as to its Condemning Power, and hath by his blood sealed another Covenant, a New-Covenant, a better Covenant: the first hath been perfectly kept, and the sentence of it hath been undergone;3 and its killing power is taken away to all that are in Christ Jesus. And thus, see how the Law is magnified, lifted up, and made Honourable: i. e. rather then that shall loose any of its Honour, the Son of God will become Man and answer all its Demands, in doing, and suffering what we ought to have done, and suffered, and for our default must have endured for ever.
Thirdly, God's design hereby also was to destroy the Works of the Devil, in respect of Original Sin, which was Satan's Work, and of all actual Sins, which are his cursed works also: i. e. such works that he employs all Men in, and stirs them up to do, until they are delivered out of his Kingdom:1 For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the Works of the Devil: Who is the Author of all Sin, and the Worker of all Iniquity: and as God's design was to destroy Sin, the work of the Devil, so it was also hereby to destroy Satan's Design ⟨p. 80⟩likewise, which was to rob God of the Glory of his own Work and Purpose, in creating of Man; he thought to have utterly ruined Mankind, and laid him for ever as low as Hell, but God by this means, by this Spiritual Ladder, shows his purpose is to raise hi• up to the highest Heavens. This brings me to the last thing Proposed, as Gods design hereby.
Thirdly, God's design hereby also was to destroy the Works of the Devil, in respect of Original Sin, which was Satan's Work, and of all actual Sins, which are his cursed works also: i. e. such works that he imploys all Men in, and stirs them up to do, until they are delivered out of his Kingdom:1 For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the Works of the Devil: Who is the Author of all Sin, and the Worker of all Iniquity: and as God's design was to destroy Sin, the work of the Devil, so it was also hereby to destroy Satans Design ⟨p. 80⟩likewise, which was to rob God of the Glory of his own Work and Purpose, in creating of Man; he thought to have utterly ruined Mankind, and laid him for ever as low as Hell, but God by this means, by this Spiritual Ladder, shews his purpose is to raise hi up to the highest Heavens. This brings me to the last thing Proposed, as Gods design hereby.
Fourthly, Gods design hereby was to raise up poor fallen Man into a more happy and glorious State, than he was in before he fell: Every Believer is made hereby a Son or Daughter of God, born of God, adopted by the Free-grace of God, and made an Heir of God; nay, married to the Son of God, and clothed with the Righteousness of God, or with […] Righteousness, who is God, and from this State can never fall. So mu•h as to the First thing proposed i.e In what respects this Ladder, Jesus Christ, should be b• held.
Fourthly, Gods design hereby was to raise up poor fallen Man into a more happy and glorious State, than he was in before he fell: Every Believer is made hereby a Son or Daughter of God, born of God, adopted by the Free-grace of God, and made an Heir of God; nay, married to the Son of God, and cloathed with the Righteousness of God, or with 〈…〉 Righteousness, who is God, and from this State can never fall. So mu•h as to the First thing proposed i.e In what respects this Ladder, Jesus Christ, should be b• held.
Secondly, I shall show you how, or in what respect we should behold Jesus Christ.
Secondly, I shall shew you how, or in what respect we should behold Jesus Christ.
1First, Exclusively, or by way of opposition to all other Objects or Things: We should behold Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, exclusive of all other Ways, Object, or Means of obtaining eternal Life, whatsoever.
1. Exclusively, or in Opposition to the Law, and the Righteousness any can obtain by their own personal Obedience thereunto, we ought to behold Jesus Christ: Some, in the Apostles time, expected Justification by their own Obedience to the moral and ceremonial Law; 1but Israel, that followed after the Law of Righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness: vers. 31. Wherefore? because they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law; for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone. vers. 32. They being ignorant of Gods Righteousness, and going about to establish their own Righteousness. have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God. 2That is, by their personal, and own inherent Righteousness.
1. Exclusively, or in Opposition to the Law, and the Righteousness any can obtain by their own personal Obedience thereunto, we ought to behold Jesus Christ: Some, in the Apostles time, expected Justification by their own Obedience to the moral and ceremonial Law; 1but Israel, that followed after the Law of Righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of R•ghteousness: vers. 31. Wherefore? because they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law; for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone. vers. 32. They being ignorant of Gods Righteousness, and going about to establish their own Righteousness. have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God. 2That is, by their personal, and own inherent Righteousness.
2. Exclusive of all our Works, or Righteousness done by us, or wrought in us as part •f the matter of our Justification before God; or as any procuring Cause, or Condition of our Justification and eternal Life. For since all Boasting is excluded, all Works done by us, and Righteousness wrought in us, are excluded; but all Boasting is excluded &c. Where is boasting then? it is excluded, 1by what Law? of Works; nay, but by the Law of Faith.
3. Exclusive of any other Sacrifice for Sin, or Mediators: The Papists look to their own vain Sacrifices, Offerings and Penance, an• seek to other Mediators also, to the detracting from the worth and satisfactory Sacrifice of Christ once for all; but as there is but one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus;1 so there is but one Propitiatory Sacrifice, which he offered up upon the Cross.2
3. Exclusive of any other Sacrifice for Sin, or Mediators: The Papists look to their own vain Sacrifices, Offerings and Pennance, an• seek to other Mediators also, to the detracting from the worth and satisfactory Sacrifice of Christ once for all; but as there is but one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus;1 so there is but one Propiciatory Sacrifice, which he offered up upon the Cross.2
4. Nay, we should behold this Ladder, i.e. Jesus Christ, exclusive of Faith it self, either as an habit,1 or act, or in respect of its being any Condition, or Cause, procuring our Justification;2 or as touching the effects, or fruits of it, or any ways else whatsoever, save only as an Instrument by which we apprehend or receive Jesus Christ:3 For it is not Faith which Justifieth us, but the Object which it apprehends and takes hold of;4 it was not the eye that beheld the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness that healed those that were stung, but the Brazen Serpent, that was beheld or looked unto.
4. Nay, we should behold this Ladder, i.e. Jesus Christ, exclusive of Faith it self, either as an habit,1 or act, or in respect of its being any Condition, or Cause, procuring our Justification;2 or as touching the effects, or fruits of it, or any ways else whatsoever, save only as an Instrument by which we apprehend or receive Jesus Christ:3 For it is not Faith which Justifieth us, but the Object which it apprehends and takes hold of;4 it was not the eye that beheld the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness that healed those that were stung, but the Brazen Serpent, that was beheld or lookt unto.
Secondly, We must behold Jesus Christ by an eye of Faith, or believe in him, venture our Souls upon him; Thus it is to behold him.
1. To believe there is no Salvation, but by and through' Jesus Christ alone;1 Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved. No other Saviour for Soul or Body, for Pardon or Peace.
1. To believe there is no Salvation, but by and thro' Jesus Christ alone;1 Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved. No other Saviour for Soul or Body, for Pardon or Peace.
2. To believe, tho' there is no Salvation in any other, or in nothing else; yet that there is Salvation ⟨p. 82⟩in Christ, for all that come unto him, or savingly believe in him;1 Whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish but have everlasting Life. And indeed, to this end is Christ lifted up (as a Ladder, the top of which reaches to Heaven: As the Brazen Serpent was lifted up,) that the vilest Sinners who behold him by an eye of Faith might be saved.
3. To believe in Christ, or thus to behold him, is to lay the whole stress of our Salvation upon him, and upon his Atonement, upon his Righteousness, or upon the Merits of his Blood alone.
4. To behold Christ, is to believe that he hath made our Peace with God; that God is satisfied and well pleased in him; that divine Wrath is appeased in him;1 and that he Dyed for you, or in your stead.
