A47437:533
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.
CHRIST ALONE THE Way to Heaven: OR, JACOB'S LADDER IMPROVED, &c. › Sermon 4
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.
Quest. Hath every Saint a particular Angel to attend him?
Ans. I Answer: This is asserted by some worthy Writers,1 and by others denied. My Lord Lawrence, a very pious and learned Man, saith, That the Doctrine of the Angel-Guardians hath been exceeding ancient, and not among Christians only. That a multitude of Angels do guard the Saints,2 is denied by none; but whether every Elect person hath a particular Angel deputed for him, or whether all indifferently do attend upon all the Saints. In his Judgment, probably, every Elect person hath his particular Angel; For in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father. 3Some also think the Angel-Guardian begins his Charge when the Child is born, others not until his Baptism; my Author rather thinks as soon as the Soul is infused. But I find Reverend Green••ll does question this, and thinks it is a mistake, that every Elect person hath a particular Angel, &c. and answers that Text about Peter's Angel. I see no advantage this could be to us to have but one Angel particularly to take the Charge of us more than a multitude: (1.) Because of their faithfulness ⟨p. 107⟩generally. (2.) Because it is far greater honour to a Prince to have mighty Hosts of honourable Persons to be his Retinue, than one noble Person only. I shall therefore say no more to this, but proceed to the next general Head. Thirdly,4 Why doth Christ employ the holy Angels to minister to his Saints? 1. Because of that great love Jesus Christ hath to his Saints, seeing they have such a multitude of evil Angels to annoy them; therefore he sends them Hosts of good Angels to defend them. 2. To greaten his own Glory; the greater and more glorious the Retinue of a Prince is, which he sends as a guard to his Favourites, the more it sets forth his own Greatness and Grandeur; and since one Angel hath such mighty power, and is so glorious, that the Earth is said to be enlightened with it; (I know that is not a proper Angel, yet it shows the glory of an Angel is very great) What is the glory then of an innumerable Host of them? and yet they are all but Christ's Servants, and poor Nothings in comparison of him. 3. My Author saith, God doth it to preserve that Eutaxy, that good Order which he hath put into things: As thicker Bodies and more inferior are managed by more subtle and powerful; so the bodies of Beasts by a spirit of life, and irrational Spirits by rational.