A47437:426
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.
2. When our Consciences accuse us, 'tis our Duty and Privilege to Plead the Blood of Christ;1 and look up to him who is our Advocate at the Father's Right-h•nd.
2. When our Consciences acc•se us, 'tis our Duty and Priviledge to Plead the Blood of Christ;1 and look up to him who is our Advocate at the Father's Right-h•nd.
3. When Men accuse us for our Faults and Failings, we must behold Jesus Christ, and believe the Sufficiency of his Righteousness, and the Virtue and Merits of his Blood:1 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is God that Justifies. Who is he that Condemneth? it is Christ that dyed, yea, rather that is risen again; who is even at the Right-hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who can Implead such, or put in any Accusation against them whom God actually Acquits, Justifies and ⟨p. 83⟩pronounceth Righteous? The Apostle saith; (our late •nnotators say)that such: one may throw down the Gauntlet, and challenge all the World; let Conscience, Carnal Reason, Law, Sin Hell and Devils bring forth a•• they can say, it will not be sufficient to Condemnation.
3. When Men accuse us for our Faults and Failings, we must behold Jesus Christ, and believe the Sufficiency of his Righteousness, and the Vertue and Merits of his Blood:1 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is God that Justifies. Who is he that Condemneth? it is Christ that dyed, yea, rather that is risen again; who is even at the Right-hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who can Implead su•h, or put in any Accusation against them whom God actually Acquits, Justifies and ⟨p. 83⟩pronounceth Righteous? The Apostle saith; (our late •nnotators say)that such: one may throw down the Gauntle•, and challenge all the World; let Conscience, Carnal Reason, Law, Sin Hell and Devils bring forth a•• they can say, it will not be sufficientto Condemnation.
Thirdly, To behold Jesus Christ by Faith, is to go directly to him as your Saviour, and Advocate; let your sins be what they will, knowing that he is able to save you, and that he hath b•rn all the punishment due that your sins deserved; and this without thinking of bringing any thing with you to Commend you to him: He requires no previous Qualifications of us; Sinners must look to Christ, come to Christ in their Sins, beholding their loathsome Filth, and abominable Guilt, feeling and finding that their Wounds bleed, and are corrupt; and not to think to Wash themselves from their Sins by Repentance, and Tears of Sorrow for Sin, that they may Believe, but come to him, to be Washed; Believe in him that they may be Justified and Healed; Faith will produce Repentance; They shall look to him whom they pierced, and they shall mourn, as a Man mourns for his only Son;1 and be in bitterness, as a Man is in bitterness for his First-born.
Thirdly, To behold Jesus Christ by Faith, is to go directly to him as your Saviour, and Adv•cate; let your sins be what they will, knowing that he is able to save you, and that he hath b•rn all the punishment due that your sins deserved; and this without thinking of bringing any thing with you to Commend you to him: He requires no previous Qualifications of us; Sinners must look to Christ, come to Christ in their Sins, beholding their loathsome Filth, and abominable Guilt, feeling and finding that their Wounds bleed, and are corrupt; and not to think to Wash themselves from their Sins by Repentance, and Tears of Sorrow for Sin, that they may Believe, but come to him, to be Washed; Believe in him that they may be Justified and Healed; Faith will produce Repentance; They shall look to him whom they pierced, and they shall mourn, as a Man mourns for his only Son;1 and be in bitterness, as a Man is in bitterness for his First-born.
Fourthly, We should behold Christ as a Sure way to the Father: This Ladder will bring us to God, who is at the Top of it, or above it; and as this only is the Way, so it is a Sure way: No Man cometh to the Father but by me: By Christ we believe in God,1 and come to God, not directly to God, without eyeing of this Medium; no, no, God out of Christ is an angry God, a consuming ••ire: 2therefore we must come to God, by Christ as our Mediator, and commit our cause to him to plead at God's Bar.
Fourthly, We should behold Christ as a Sure way to the Father: This Ladder will bring us to God, who is at the Top of it, or above it; and as this only is the Way, so it is a Sure way: No Man cometh to the Father but by me: By Christ we believe in God,1 and come to God, not directly to God, without eyeing of this Medium; no, no, God out of Christ is an angry God, a consuming ••ire: 2therefore we must come to God, by Christ as our Mediator, and co•mit our cause to him to plead at God's Bar.
Thirdly, Why we should behold this Ladder, or look unto Jesus Christ?
1. Because he is the way to Heaven,1 which infinite Wisdom hath found out; nay the result of that glorious ⟨p. 84⟩Counsel held between the Father and the Son from eternity:2 Not to behold this Way, this Ladder, this Mediator, is to cast contempt on God, in his contrivance of Salvation by Jesus Christ.
2. Because there is so much divine Love, Grace and Goodness showed to us in Jesus Christ.
2. Because there is so much divine Love, Grace and Goodness shewed to us in Jesus Christ.
3. Because this Sight is so Wonderful a Sight• : Christ Brethren, is the wonder of both Worlds; O 'tis an amazing thing, to see such a Way, such a Ladder prepared for us to go to God!
4. Christ should be beheld because of the Loveliness (as well as the Wonderfulness) of his Person: There is no such Object to be seen in Heaven, nor Earth.
5. Because there is in him all Fullness; We beheld his glory, 1as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. The Word, as one observes, is Emphatical, [itheasametha,] we beheld, as in a Theatre, as Men behold things presented to them on a Stage, with great earnestness, and delight; even as the express Image of the Father's Person; it pleased the Father, 2that in him all fullness should •awe•. He received the Spirit of Grace without measure, and 'tis in him to be Communicated to all his Elect, or Members of his mystical Body, as fullness of Sap is in the Root, to supply all the Branches.
5. Because there is in him all Fulness; We beheld his glory, 1as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. The Word, as one observes, is Emphatical, [itheasametha,] we beheld, as in a Theatre, as Men behold things presented to them on a Stage, with great earnestness, and delight; even as the express Image of the Father's Person; it pleased the Father, 2that in him all fulness should •awe•. He received the Spirit of Grace without measure, and 'tis in him to be Communicated to all his Elect, or Members of his mystical Body, as fulness of Sap is in the Root, to supply all the Branches.
6. Because this of beholding, or looking to Jesus Christ, is the way God hath appointed for our Reception, or Participation of all the Benefits and Merits of his Blood; nor is there any other way, but through' believing in him, for any Adult Persons to be Saved.
6. Because this of beholding, or looking to Jesus Christ, is the way God hath appointed for our Reception, or Participation of all the Benefits and Merits of his Blood; nor is there any other way, but thro' believing in him, for any Adult Persons to be Saved.
7. Because of the absolute necessity Sinners have of him; they are sick, and he is their Physician, &c.
1Fifthly, For what, or to receive what, should we behold Jesus Christ.
1. For Reconciliation and Peace with God: All thi••s are of God, 1who reconciled us unto himself […], 2To […], that God was in ⟨p. 85⟩Christ, reconciling the World to himself, not imputing their Trespasses unto them; This is the meriter•ous cause of our Reconciliation: God in Christ, or by his Blood, is Satisfied, and Reconciled; and all that would have peace with God, must Believe, 3or look to Christ, to receive the Atonement: Christ hath received an actual discharge for Sinners from his Father, and you must come to him for it, and receive the Benefit and Evidence of it to your own Consciences: All that the Father hath given me, 4shall come unto me; and whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. There is an infallible Connection betwixt Faith and eternal Life; and betwixt Election and the Collection of special Grace;5 and as Election is first, special Vocation will follow; and as many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed. For the Father's gift of the Soul to Christ, and of Grace to believe in him, is no doubt here meant by his giving them to his Son.
1. For Reco•ciliat•on and Peace with God: All thi••s are of God, 1who reconciled us unto himself 〈…〉, 2To 〈…〉, th•t God was in
2. •herefore you must first look to him for Grace, 1for Faith; God pours ou• the Spirit of Grace and Supplication first, and then a Sinner looks to him whom he pierced; that is, then and not till then he will believe, or savingly behold Jesus Christ.
2. •herefore you must first look to him for Grace, 1for Fait•; God pours ou• the Spirit of Grace and Supplicat•on first, and then a Sinner looks to him w•om he pierced; that is, then and not till then he will believe, or savingly behold Jesus Christ.
3. Sinners must behold Christ, look to Christ for Union with him, and to be espoused to him:1 Look till they Love; behold him, till they fall in Love with him. The holy Spirit is the bond of this Union,2 by which Christ takes hold of us, and Faith is that Grace, by which we take hold of him.
3. Sinners must behold Christ, look to Christ for Ʋnion with him, and to be espoused to him:1 Look till they Love; behold him, till they fall in Love with him. The holy Spirit is the bond of this Union,2 by which Christ takes hold of us, and Faith is that Grace, by which we take hold of him.
