A47437:442
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.
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.
2. It will cause in you Self-loathing,1 and Self-abhorrence; I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ears; but now mine Eyes see thee, therefore I abhor my self, and repent in Dust and Ashes. When the Prophet saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne, high, and lifted up, and his Train filled the Temple, he cried out; I am undone! mine Eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!2
2. It will cause in you Self-loathing,1 and Self-abhorrance; I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ears; but now mine Eyes see thee, therefore I abhor my self, and repent in Dust and Ashes. When the Prophet saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne, high, and lifted up, and his Train filled the Temple, he cryed out; I am undone! mine Eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!2
3. It will cause you to behold great Beauty and excellencies in him: To you that believe, 1he is precious: Yea, doubtless, I count all things loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord. 2You will say then, that he is the chiefest among ten Thousands, and altogether Lovely.
4. It will change you into his own Image; this look is of a Soul-transforming Nature; but we all, 1beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image, from glory, to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
5. This beholding of Christ, will cause you to contemn all things here below, and to account them as nothing, nay worse than nothing in comparison of him; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 1and do count them but Dung, that I may win Christ. (Syriac and others, Dog's Meat, refuse cast to Dogs) Thus do all that behold him, (in point of Justification) in comparison of Christ; esteem as nothing all good Works, good Duties flowing from a sanctified Heart; nay all inherit Holiness with Faith it self, in respect of any Trust, and Confidence therein: So much is the object of Faith valued by all that thus behold him.
6. It will draw the Souls of all that thus behold him, to him, and after him, and to follow him whithersoever he goes: When I am lifted up, I will draw all Men to me: When I am beheld on the Cross, 1dying for them, or in their stead. Lo! we have forsaken all, 2and have followed thee? They did thus, and presently too, as soon as he called them:3 — These are ⟨p. 88⟩they which follow the Lamb, whithersoever he goeth; Those who thus see him, are even sick of Love; Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth? 4&c. Tell him I am sick of love
