A47437:437
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.
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 ⟨p. 85⟩Christ, reconciling the World to himself, not imputing their Tres•asses 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 Attonement: 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 wi•l in no wise cast out. There is an infallible Connexion 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 ment by his giving them to his Son.
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.
5. For Acceptation with the Father;1 who hath made us accepted in the beloved, Christ's acceptance by the Father, is the Spring, or Fountain of our Acceptance, he being accepted for, and in the behalf of ⟨p. 86⟩all his Elect: And no sooner is a Sinner in Christ, but he stands personally Justified, and accepted with the Father; and he being accepted, all his Duties and Services are accepted also, that he performs in Faith, and by the assistance of the Spirit of God.
17. For Strength: Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I Righteousness, and Strength, Righteousness to Justify me, and Strength to Support me, and Assistance to bear all Burdens, resist all Temptations, to strengthen all my Graces, and to perform all holy Duties.
17. For Strength: Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I Righteousness, and Strength, Righteousness to Justifie me, and Strength to Support me, and Assistance to bear all Burdens, resist all Temptations, to strengthen all my Graces, and to perform all holy Duties.
18. For all divine Comforts and Consolations: If there be therefore any Consolations in Christ, if any comfort of Love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, &c. Tho' many may be in Christ, and find no such Consolations, which others meet with, yet there are most precious Consolations in him, and we should look to him for them.
Lastly, We should behold him; look to him for eternal Life: Eternal Life is purchased by Christ, and 'tis to be had in Christ, and all that believe h•ve an undoubted Title thereto.
1First, We Infer from hence that great blindness, and ignorance hath seized upon most of Men, in that they care not to behold Jesus Christ, they can see no Beauty in him to desire him, nor do they marvel to behold this sight.
1First, We Infer from hence that great blindness, and ignorance hath siezed upon most of Men, in that they care not to behold Jesus Christ, they can see no Be•uty in him to desire him, nor do they marvel to behold this sight.
Secondly, Sinner, will you not behold this Christ thy Saviour? Let me Exhort you to behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World; and, O cast a right look unto him!
[Motives.]
1. It will cause, or work godly Sorrow in you f•r all your Sins; They shall look unto him, whom they p•ercea, and shall Mourn, &c.
