2. A Ladder is a proper means, or Medium to attain to that thing, or accomplish that work which it was contrived, or made for, and possibly, without which Medium it was impossible for the Person to reach to that thing, or do that work which he designed, and purposed to attain unto, or to accomplish, and bring to pass: So JESUS CHRIST is the only way, and means which GOD hath found out to bring us to Heaven. The Builders of Babel thought to get up to Heaven by a contrivance of their own, even by erecting a mighty Tower,1 the top of which (they said) should reach to Heaven; but they were soon confounded: And like to them Mystery-babylon hath sought out other ways to Heaven, then by this Mystical Ladder Jesus Christ; they think to get Justification, 2and eternal Life by their own good Works, and by other Sacrifices (then by the one Sacrifice of the Cross) which they offer up for the living, and the dead; but they are but Babel-builders; even blind, and deceived Wretches,3 whom God hath confounded, and will confound: Brethren, there is no other way nor means to obtain eternal Life, but by Jesus Christ alone:4 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no Man cometh unto ⟨p. 12⟩the Father but by me: Jesus Christ went to Heaven, as our blessed Head, and Representative, by his own Blood;5 by his own Blood, he entered in once, into thy holy Place; to show that there is no other way by which Sinners can go to Heaven this only suiting with the Wisdom of God,6 and every ways answering his own glorious Purpose and Design in manifesting, and magnifying the Glory of all his blessed Attributes, and making the Law honourable by Christ• fulfilling all the Precepts thereof, and bearing the penalty of it, to free us from the Curse thereof: Some think to get to Heaven by a Sober, Moral Life; others by their own Faith, and inherent Holiness, and Obedience to the precepts of the Gospel, but in opposition to all these […], Christ is the Way• it is by his Righteousness alone,7 we are Justified in the sight of God, his perfect Obedience to the Law, is our Title to eternal Life,8 and by his death (who bore Hell pangs for us) we are delivered from everlasting Wrath,9 and Condemnation; Neither is there Salvation in any other: For there is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby we must be Saved;
2. A Ladder is a proper means, or Medium to attain to that thing, or accomplish that work which it was contrived, or made for, and possibly, without which Medium it was impossible for the Person to reach to that thing, or do that work which he designed, and purposed to attain unto, or to accomplish, and bring to pass: So JESUS CHRIST is the only way, and means which GOD hath found out to bring us to Heaven. The Builders of Babel thought to get up to Heaven by a contrivance of their own, even by erecting a mighty Tower,1 the top of which (they said) should reach to Heaven; but they were soon confounded: And like to them Mystery-babylon hath sought out other ways to Heaven, then by this Mystical Ladder Jesus Christ; they think to get Justification, 2and eternal Life by their own good Works, and by other Sacrifices (then by the one Sacrifice of the Cross) which they offer up for the living, and the dead; but they are but Babel-builders; even blind, and deceived Wretches,3 whom God hath confounded, and will confound: Brethren, there is no other way nor means to obtain eternal Life, but by Jesus Christ alone:4 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no Man cometh unto ⟨p. 12⟩the Father but by me: Jesus Christ went to Heaven, as our blessed Head, and Representative, by his own Blood;5 by his own Blood, he entered in once, into thy holy Place; to shew that there is no other way by which Sinners can go to Heaven this only suiting with the Wisdom of God,6 and every ways answering his own glorious Purpose and Design in manifesting, and magnifying the Glory of all his blessed Attributes, and making the Law honourable by Christ• fulfilling all the Precepts thereof, and bearing the penalty of it, to free us from the Curse thereof: Some think to get to Heaven by a Sober, Moral Life; others by their own Faith, and inherent Holiness, and Obedience to the precepts of the Gospel, but in opposition to all these 〈…〉, Christ is the Way• it is by his Righteousness alone,7
- 1Gen. 11.•.
- 2Rom. 9.31.32.
- 3Rom. ••.3.
- 4Joh.14.6.Ioh.14.6.
- 5Heb. 9.12.
- 6Rom. 3.•6.
- 7Rom. 3.••, 24, 2•, 2•.
- 81 Pet. 2.24
- 9Act 4.1•.
