It may be necessary to speak a little briefly by way of Explication and chiefly to shew what may be either Primarily or more Remotely or Subordinately signified or held forth by this Ladder 1. I understand by this Ladder directly and Primarily is meant our Lord Jesus Christ Nor am I alone in this respect for divers learned Men hint the same thing among which I might mention our late 〈◊〉 upon the Holy Bible on the place beâ—â—â— by Reverend Mr. Pool He says This Ladder represents Christ by whom Heaven and Earth are united who is called the way to Heaven which this Ladder was Moreover very evident it is that our Saviour himself refers to Jacob's Ladder Joh. 1.51 speaking of himself and of the Angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man 2. But more Remotely or Subordinately it may refer as some think to the Church of Christ Some being on Earth and others in Heaven of their going from Earth to Heaven and as thus it may represent God's special Providence and Care of Jacob either Personally considered or Mystically i. e. the whole Church bearing the name of Jacob who by degreeâ— thro' the Providence and blessed Favour of God and ministration of the Angels ascend from a low State to an exalted State or from a State of Grace on Earth to a state of Glory in Heaven It may represent saith Mr. Pool to Jacob the Providence of God who though he dwells in Heaven extends his Care and Goverment to the Earth and particularly maketh use of Angels as ministering Spirits for the good of his People who are not Idle but always in motion Behold a Ladder c. This word Behold hath various Acceptations sometimes it calls for Observation and Attention and sometimes for Admiration Behold what manner of Love is this c. It may referr to both these in my Text Such a Ladder the Foot standing upon the Earth and the Top of it reaching to Heaven calls both for diligent Attention and Observation and also for the highest Admiration The Second Branch of this Vision is That of the Angels of God ascending and descending upon this Ladder or upon the Son of Man Verily verily I say unto you hereafter ye shall see Heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man There are Two Things to be noted 1. The Persons mentioned 2. The Motions of the Persons 1. The Persons mentioned are the Angels of God 2. The Motion of these Persons they ascended and descended Reciprocally upon this Ladder that is upon Christ either Personally or Mystically considered and as one Observes when they are said to ascend they Minister to Christ Personally considered and when said to descend they minister to Christ Mystically considered i.e. to the Church How the Angels minister to Christ and to his Church I purpose to speak unto and open that in one Sermon upon this Text and shall therefore speak no more to it now And behold the Lord God stood above it In our Text this word behold is thrice repeated which doubtless may denâ—te the important matter signified thereby By the Lord God I understand GOD the FATHER who is represented above it as the contriver and maker of this mystical Ladder who indeed prepared the Body of Christ and so found out this wonderful way to Heaven and said I am the Lord thy God that is in Christ I am thy God or a God in Covenant with thee Jacob and with all thy true Spiritual Seed who strive to ascend up to me by this glorious Medium for doubtless God the Father being above it it doth also denote that this Ladder is the only way to the Father No man cometh to the Father but by me So much by way of Explication I. Observ. God knows how even by Dreams to instruct and comfort his People The Apostle saith That God at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets Sometimes by Angels sometimes by special Inspiration sometimes by Visions and sometimes by Dreams In a Dream in a Vision of the Night when deep Sleep falleth upon Men in slumbring upon their Beds then he openeth the ears of Men and sealeth their Instruction I shall speak a little as to Dreams in general of whâ—elâ— there are three sorts 1. Natural Dreams 2. Diabolical Dreams 3. Divine Dreams 1. Some Dreams are meer natural Dreams and these may arise from the Temperature of the Body Melancholy and Flegmatick Persons have their special Dreams so have those that are of a Sanguine or of a Cholerick Complexion The First as Naturalists observe are inclined to Dream of things â—enâ—ing to Sadness perhaps of Death of Graves or of dead Men. The Second of Sottish things The Third of Pleasant and Delightful things The Fourth of War Blood Contention or of Fighting and Wranglings 2. A Dream cometh through multitude of Business Commonly as Mr. Caryl observes a Man Dreams at Night of what he hath been doing in the Day as experience shews 3. Natural Dreams some affirm are caused by the Diet or Food which we eat some Meat especially inclining to some special thoughts and Dreams 4. As the same Author noteth also Natural Dreams arise from vehement Affections to or desire of what we want the Prophet signifieth The hungry Man Dreameth he Eateth and the thirsty Man Dreameth he Drinketh These are called Natural Dreams because they arise from Natural Causes or the rise of them are seated in Nature Secondly There are some Dreams that are no doubt Diabolical or arise from the Injections of the Devil I am subject to think but few godly Christians but by sad experience may find they at some times have been afflicted by filthy or hateful Dreams dreaming of such things which their Souls abhor ask them and they will tell you The Devil well knows what Corruptions are in our Hearts or in the Unregenerate part and if God restrains him not he may work upon and stir up those evil Humours when we are asleep Take Mr. Caryl's words Satan is skilful and diligent in soliciting our Lusts and Corruptions both Day and Night both Sleeping and Waking Yea the Devil can inspire false Doctrines and Opinions by Dreams as well as provoke to wicked Practises of such Dreams If there be among you a false Prophet or a dreamer of Dreams c. False Prophets had many Dreams and as the good Prophets had their Dreams from GOD so the false Prophets had their Dreams from the Devil All diabolical Dreams are either Dreams of Lies or Falshood like Satan himself or else Filthy and Defiling for he is an unclean Spirit Thirdly There are some Divine Dreams Dreams are of three sorts saith Reverend Mr. Perkins Natural arising from the Constitution of the Body Diabolical such as come by the Suggestion of the Devil Divine which come from God Some Dreams may be called Divine Dreams 1.
God but from the Devil 3. Moreover let no person now expect God should speak unto them by Dreams or Visions for tho' he did so frequently before Christ came yet Now in these last days God hath spoken unto us by his Son and we have a more sure Word of Prophecy God now as reverend Perkins notes doth not usually speak to us by Dreams yet he being a free Agent may so do if he please and no doubt sometimes he doth thus speak tho' not commonly for the Instruction and Consolation of his People Yet let aâ—â— take heed they are not deceived by Dreams Lutheâ— observes how many in his time were deluded bâ— Dreams and Visions which they falsly attributeâ— to God as the immediate Author of them and froâ— hence prayed earnestly about two things 1. That God would give him a good Understanding of the Scriptures and of his Mind revealed therein 2. That he would not send him Dreams or Visions Yea saith he I contracted with God that hâ— would not Brethren the holy Scriptures are those sacred Oracles by which God speaks to us and 〈◊〉 them iâ— contained all things which are necessary for us to know as to Faith and Practice being sufficient to make every Man Wise to Salvation thro' Faith in Jesus Christ and Perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works Therefore certainly such that are not satisfied to adhere to the holy Scriptures as a sufficient Rule in all points of Faith and Practice but desire God to speak unto them by Dreams oâ— Visions are deluded by Satan and do thereby casâ— great contempt upon the holy Scriptures But no more as to Dreams in general we will now come to this remarkable Dream and Vision Jacob had And behold a Ladder c. II. Observ. The Lord Jesus may fuly be compareâ— to a Ladder that is set upon the Earth and the Toâ— of it reaching to Heaven This Proposition I shall open God assisting And First I shall run a parallel between Jesus Christ and Jacob's Ladder And Shew that Christ may be compared to Jacob's Ladder In respect both of his Person and Offices Now Before I proceed I know not my Brethren why we may not run the Parallel so far as there is a clear Parity and it is consistent with the Analogy of Faith 1. A Ladder is the contrivance of the Wisdom of Man for the reaching attaining or doing of some thing which the Author designed thereby to do So JESUS CHRIST as Mediator GOD-MAN in one Person is the rare and wonderful contrivance of the infinite Wisdom of God for his attaining or accomplishment of his own most glorious design and purpose which is the Glory and Exaltation of his own Name and the Salvation of his Elect who on this Mystical Ladder must ascend to Heaven 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 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 and 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 whom God hath confounded and will confound Brethren there is no other way nor means to obtain eternal Life but by Jesus Christ alone I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh unto the Father but by me Jesus Christ went to Heaven as our blessed Head and Representative by his own Blood 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 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 Christâ— 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 Wayâ— it is by his Righteousness alone we are Justified in the sight of God his perfect Obedience to the Law is our Title to eternal Life and by his death who bore Hell pangs for us we are delivered from everlasting Wrath and Condemnation Neither is there Salvation in any other For there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be Saved For either Soul or Body there is no other Person no other Sacrifice no other Righteousness no other way or thing But by this Mystical Ladder Jesus Christ alone by which we can be Saved 3. A Ladder must be long enough to to reach the thing desiâ—ed Now Jesus Christ in respect of his two Natures is prepared so by the Wisdom of God that in his Person he may be said to reach from Earth unto Heaven 1. As touching his Humane Nature which is the Fâ—ot of this Ladder this stands as it were upon the Earth And 2. As touching his divine Nature which is the Top of the Ladder this reacheth unto Heaven and in these two Natures in the Person of Christ we have what is represented by Jacob's Ladder for as these two Natures are in his Person united together Heaven and Earth are united together And now that he is God see John 1.1.2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God Christ in respect of his divine Nature is here called the Word he was before the beginning of the Word even 〈◊〉 everlasting or ever the Earth wâ—s He was with God and was God not a Creature he was not Created at the beginning but was the Creator the Maker of Heaven and Earth all things were made by him not as the Instrumental Cause of all things or any Instrument in the Father's hand but as a Principle Efficient Cause of all things Without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh. The Word was made Flesh and dweit among us That is the Son of God or second Person in the Trinity The Evangelist as one observes rather saith he was made
Flesh then he was made Man more plainly to distinguish the two Natures in Christ to assert the truth of his Humane Nature to let us know that Christ assumed his Humane Nature in common not the particular Nature of any it is not said he was changed into Flesh but by his assuming it he was made Flesh or He the Word Took upon him the Seeâ— of Abraham even the same common Nature of all the Elect. Brethren Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man in one Person therefore his Person may truly be said to reach from Earth to Heaven Pray Observe Jacob saw the Foot of the Ladder to stand upon the Earth The Foot went not lower than the Earth this might signify Christ should take upon him the Seed of Abraham or the Nature of Man not the Nature of Angels it was to raise to Heaven the Inhabitants of the Earth not the infernal Spirits or Devils of Hell Had the foot of the Ladder only reached to the Air or come down into the middle Centre of the Earth it might have seemed doubtful whether st was prepared for Fallen Angels or for fallen Mankind to get up to Heaven but the foot of it standing on the Earth denotes no doubt the same thing which the Apostle speaks Verily he took not hold on the Nature of Angels but of the Seed of Abraham he taketh hold First It was requisite He should be MAN and so have his Foot upon the Earth 1. That he might in our Nature perform that perfect Obedience to the holy Law of God which was required of Mankind for no Righteousness short of that can Justify us or carry us to Heaven 2. He must be Man that he might be capable to Suffer and Dye for Mankind God considered simply in himself could not dye 3. Because the Justice of God required the same Nature which Sinned to suffer even the same Nature that broke the Law to dye and to bear the Wrath of God 4. He must be Man that so he might Simpathize with us or have a feeling of our Infirmities it must be such a Nature of Man that was cloathed with Infirmities which we have or are atttended with since the Fall because he came to raise fallen Man Now our Infirmities are of two sorts 1st Penal and Painful 2ly Sinful and Culpable Infirmities It was the first of these Christ did take he had a Nature that could Hunger and Thirâ—◠〈◊〉 be Weary and suffer Pain and Misery both 〈◊〉 and Body as we are liable to We have 〈…〉 Priest which cannot be touched with â—â—e feeling of â—â—r Infirmities but was in all points Tempted like as we are yet without Sin This shews he was really Man or had a true Humane tho not a Sinful Nature It behoved him to be made like unto â—is Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People For in that he himself hath suffered being Tempted he is able to succour them that are Tempted Secondly It was necessary also that he should be GOD. 1. That he might reach Heaven I mean the full demands of God's Justice by way of Satisfaction A mere Man could not satisfy infinite Justice or make up that Wrong our Sins haâ— done to God but seeing both the Natures in Christ make but one Person when Christ dyed he that was truly God dyed Hence it is said God purchased the Church with his own Blood Which was an infinite Satisfaction to divine Justice had we all lain in Hell for ever we could not have paid one Farthing of that Debt we owed to God and because we could not Satisfy therefore must have Suffered for ever 2. That he might sustain in his Body the Wrath of God and severe Punishment due to us for our Sins for none but he that was God could bear so great a Burden and heavy Wrath as all the Sins of the Elect were and did incur Suppose the Sins but of one Person and he be none of the greatest Sinners neither yet if charged upon him would they not sink him down to Hell Oh! what Power what Strength then save the Strength of an infinite Person could bear as well as satisfy for all the Sins of so many Thousand Persons even the whole number of God's Elect. 3. He must be God that he might be able to overcome all our Enemies not only for us but also in us and preserve us from the greatest Evils and bestow upon us the greatest Good He must lay his Hands upon both viz. He must bring God down to us and carry us up to God I mean reconcile God to Man and Man to God which he could not do unless he be God blessed for evermore how could he know our Hearts our Wanâ— our Necessities except he was the Eternal Goâ— How also could he Quicken us and raise us from 〈◊〉 Dead and destroy the Power of Satan in oâ— Souls and take away that cursed Enmity which naturally is in our Hearts against God Now thus we may clearly perceive that the Spiritual Ladder is long enough to reach from Earth to Heaven Fourthly As a Ladder must be long enough 〈◊〉 reach to the thing or place desired so also must be broad or wide enough if there are moâ—â— than one to go up even many Persons it must 〈◊〉 wide enough for them all Even so this Ladder this way is broad enougâ— for so many that are appointed or ordained to gâ— to Heaven or to be Saved Brethren Christ is a 〈◊〉 Way or Medium to carry all the Elect to Heaven Not One but All. 1. In that he took not into Union with his Divine Nature the Single Person of any but thâ— common Nature of all that Sinned who shalâ— be Saved Take here what a worthy Write Notes If Christ had only taken the Person 〈◊〉 a Man then there must have been two Persons 〈◊〉 Christ a Person Assuming and a Person Assumed yea then that only Person which Christ Assumed should have been advanced and Saved 〈◊〉 should have Saved that Person and no other 〈◊〉 he had Assumed the Person of a Man with us the Soul and Body united make a Person but in Christ the Soul and Body were so united as to have their subsistance not of themselves as in us but in the God-head No sooner was the Soul united to the Body but both Soul and Body had subsistance iâ— the second Person in the Trinity So not the Assuming of a Person but the Nature of Man common to all c. He took not the Nature of Angels bâ—â— the Seed of Abraham Thoâ— it was the common Nature of all Men or of all the Sons and Daughterâ— of Adam which he took yet the Holy Ghost calls it the Seed of Abraham intimating that the design and purpose of God was that Christ should die for no more than were comprehended in the Election
me behold me what is that but to believe in him lastly and sometimes for Consolation Now the Word here no doubt calls for Observation for Admiration for Faith and Dependance and also for Consolation Behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reacheth to Heaven Of what a length is this Ladder Astronomers according to Reverend Greenhill observe 't is 160. Millions of Miles from Earth to Heaven A wonderful thing An amazing height so it is a wonderful thing to behold Christ Jesus the Way to Heaven Behold with Admiration be Astonished who could have thought of such a way to the Father to be Saved by a dying Jesus by a poor Man hanged on a Tree to be Justified by his Righteousness and by his Death to be delivered from Hell this is a marvelous thing Angels wonder beholding this Person Observe from hence DOCT. II. That the way which God hath found out to save lost Man namely Jesus Christ ought to be beheld with the greatest Care or utmost Diligence and with the greatest Admiration and Wonderment 1. I shall shew wherein in speaking to this Proposition the wonderfulness of this spiritual Ladder doth consist 2. How we should behold Jesus Christ. 3. Shew you why we should behold him 4. For what Sinners should behold Christ or look to him 5. Apply it To the first of these 1. To behold this spiritual Ladder in respect of the Cause or Motive that moved God to make or prepare it 2. In respect of the Wisdom of God that did prepare it 3. In respect of the Matter of which it is made or doth consist 4. In respect of the great and glorious Design of God in making or preparing of it First we may well admire this spiritual Ladder Jesus Christ in respect of thâ— Motive which moved God to prepare it which was his infinite Love Mercy and Goodness to Sinners to shew so great Compassiâ—n towards sinful and râ—bellious Creatures who deservâ—d instead of being raised up to Heaven to be immediately cast down to the lowest Hell What is Man that thou art mindful of him that thou shouldst magnifâ—â— him and set thy heart upon him Sirs it was the love of God the Father I say that tâ—is way was prepared it sprang or proceeded from the greatness of his love God so loved the Wâ—rld if it had not been the product of the Father's Loâ—e it wâ—â—lâ— not be to the praise of 〈◊〉 Grace the love of the Fâ—ther in this case in Moving was as great as the 〈◊〉 in Consenting O how did his Bowels work and move in him O the miraculousness of divine goodness by the law we had broke we were guilty insolently taking up Arms against our Maker plunging ourselves into a Sea of divine Wrath and Vengeance guilty of Millions of Sins meritting Millions of Deaths yet has love would not let him rest until he had found out a way to raise us up from the lowest Hell to the highest Heaven And in making his Son his only begotten Son the way and that by Abasing of him making him so Poor that was so Rich so Low that was so High and Glorious so Cursed that was so Blessed yea Blessedness it self nay so miserable for a time to make our way to Heaven thro' the rending his Flesh and taring his Soul to pieces and pouring forth his most precious Blood and this for such who hated him and were cursed Traitors against him well might the holy Ghost say Behold a ladder behold a new and living way which he hath provided and consecrated thro' the Veil that is to say the Flesh of his own Son O my Brethren the way to enter into the Holiest is by the blood of Jesus Doth not God hereby shew greater Love and Grace than if he had saved lost Sinners on a way of simple Mercy without the Death of his own Son Therefore as one Observes God resolvâ—d to signalize his Love to us he would have it reâ—ch the highest Note and it could not be screw'd up to an higher Peg than to Sacrifice his Son for us with his own Hand it pleased the Lord to Praise him Be astonished both Men and Angels Now may our Meditations swim in this boundless bottomless bankless Ocean of the Fathers Love God spared not his own Son Brethren the Love of the Father was the Motive that moved him to contrive this way to Heaven yea and the fullest the freest and the most amazing Love that ever was shewed free to us but expensive to him it cost him the Blood of his Son more costly than the making of Millions of Worlds he lay in his Bosom and there was none besides him from Eternity to put up a request it was the Result of his own Bowels before the being of any Creature 't was the effect of his Power Tho' our Justification Sanctification and eternal Blessedness be the Fruits and Merits of Christ's Death yet whatsoever is Meritted for us by Christ it is all the Fruits of God's Love Christ did not merit the Fathers Love nor did he merit the Office of being a Mediator no this sprung only from the Love of God to us Christ did not I say dye to procure the Fathers Love tho' thereby he makes us more lovely unto him by washing us from our natural Filthiness and by the fruits of his Death thro' the Spirit by stamping his Image upon our Souls Brethren God could not shew greâ—ter Love to us as Abraham could not to God than by the Offering up his own Son Isaac whom he so dâ—arly loved Secondly Admire this Sacred Ladder in respect of the Wisdom of God in contriving of this way to Heaven As it exceeds the Art and Wisdom of Men to make a Ladder to reach up to Heaven so it far surpasseth the Wisdom of Men or Angels to contrive such a way to Heaven that God may be glorified in all his Attributes to the highest Perfections and yet we Saved Sin Punished and yet the Sinner Justified Besides God had lost the glory of his work in making of Man and this World for his sake and Satan would have insulted over him had he not contrived a way to restore him It would have been to the Disparagement of his Wisdom who pronounced all the Works he had made to be Good and when he had made Man very Good to see himself so soon disappointed and his work marr'd I mean the noblest part thereof all other Creatures being made for Man's use and so for lower and baser and more unworthy ends Brethren Christ the way not in vain called the Wisdom of God because in him God displays the highest acts of his divine Wisdom the holy Angels are amazâ—d at this Wisdom they pry into this depth this profound mystery of God manifested in the Flesh. There is a wonderful Mystery in our way to Heaven by Jesus Christ as well as in the Fellowship of this Mystery or in the
from the Center of the Earth which is Three thousand to the Surface up to the Sun is above Four Millions of Miles to the Firmament where the sixed Stars are above Fourscore Millions of Miles and from thence to the place of the blessed Saints and Angels are more Millions than from the Earth to the Firmament so that according to their Account it must be many Millions of Miles from Heaven to Earth O then what was the height or length of this Ladder in my Text the Foot stood upon the Earth and the Toâ— reâ—â—hed to Heaven And O what is the swiftness of an Angel that can come from Heaven to the Earth in a moment Reverend Greenâ—ill notes That a â—ullet â—ut of a Musket flies swiftly i. e. it hâ—ts the Lâ—rd or Mark before the Report is heard and will fly 180 Miles in one hour according to its motion The Sun moves swifter 160000 Miles in one hour The fixed Stars about the Equinoctial 42 Millions each hour and yet saith he the Motion of an Angel is swifter being a Spirit and passing through the Air without opposition No Creature in Heaven and Earth moves faster than an Angel Thus Greenhill 6. Angels are endowed with much Wisdom and Knowledg as the Woman of Tekoah intimated to David touching his great Wisdom For as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King My Lord is wise according to the Wisdom of an Angel of God To know all things that are in the Earth They have no doubt great understanding Hence said to have the face of a Man The face of a Man 1. Signifieth according to Greenhill and divers others that the Administration of the Angels is with Knowledg and Equity The face of a Man saith he is put to shew the Excellency of Reason which must have the introduction into and the management of all Actions else they are not Humane nor Angelical 2. By the face of a Man is noted their Humanity and Love to Mankind Angels are of a loving Nature and most careful of Men especially of Believers or such that are actually espoused to their great Master Jesus Christ. 7. Angels are very strong and couragious and hence said every one to have the face of a Lâ—on a Creature of great courage and strength What is stronger than a Lion 8. They are also very faithful and unwearied in their work and mighty patient Creatures hence said to have the face of an Oxâ— a patient faithful and an unwearied Servant to their Master 9. And tho Angels are Creatures of great Glory and Dignity yet are very humble never thinking any thing to be too mean or tâ—o low for them to do when commanded to do it no tho it be to wait upon a poor Beggar as Lazarus whilâ— he lived and to carry his Soul to Heaven when he died 10. And they always wait for their Commission will not do any thing without God's Command hence said to wait fâ—r his Word These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth Therefore are they set before us as our pattern that the Will of God may be done on Earth by us as it is done in heaven by them Quest. 〈◊〉 service are the holy Angels imployed in 〈…〉 Almigâ—â—y 1. God useth them in the Government of the World as it may be seen in Ezek. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 c. The Jews thought that the Angels only governed Jerusalem and that neither God nor his Angels did appear â—r rule any-where else But to take away this conceit God appears to Ezekiel in Babylâ—â— to convince him that he and his Angels do govern there and man quarters of the World as well as in Sioâ— And that tho God rules the World is granted yet the Angels under him are imployed in this Work is evident I argue thus It is plain that God gives or admits the Evil Angels to rule as a Prince the Devil is called the Prince of the Power of the Aâ—â— that now worâ—eth in the hearts of the Childâ—â—â— of disobedience The Devil saith Reveâ—â—â—d Greenhill hath great power in the Air to â—aise Winds to cause Storms Thunder and Lightning Now if the Evil Angels be as Gods and Princes in this World have Power in the Air and Hearts of wicked Men then it must needs follow that the Good Angels are as Gods and Princes and have as much power in the World and Hearts of good Men otherwise the Devils should gain by their fall more than ever they had by their standing And it is not credible that wicked and damned Spirits should have more honourable Titles and larger Power than the good are imployed in 2. More particularly they are imployed to inform us of God's Will nay and God of our Ways tho it is true he knows all things and need not that they tell him no more than he doth need that we acquaint him with our evil hearts and many wants yet he will hear how Matters are from them and from us also They acquaint us with the Mind and Will of God Angels told Abraham and Lot what God would do with Sodom and Angels told Eliâ—ah what to say to the Messengers of the King of Samaria also an Angel told the Apostles that Christ should return in the same manner as they saw him go up to Heaven and sent an Angel to testify those things in the Churches Also an Angel told Daniel what things should come to pass in the World even to the end thereof and also gave him Wisdom Skill and Understanding And an Angel informed Joseph of the Mind of God touching Mary Moreover the Angels go up the Ladder as well as down in and by Christ they ascend to God as well as descend to Men they beheld all the Earth sat still and was at rest Thus God for his honour not of necessity imployeth Angels 3. They are imployed to withstand and oppose the Enemies of Christ and his Church And hence it appears they meddle with Kings and Kingdoms and in the great Affairs thereof and as their Power is great so they sometimes exercise it in the destruction of wicked Men Knowest thou whether I come unto thee and now will I return and fight with the King of Persia. And this Angel Gabriel opposed as my Author notes the cruel Edict of Cambyses King of Persia who laboured to keep the Jews in Captivity longer and to oppress them sorer than others had done Moreover it is said that Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his Angels 4. To execute Judgment upon the Wicked they destroyed Sodom and the First-born of Egypt is said to be done by a destroying Angel the destroying Angel smote the People with the Pestilence in David's time Also an Angel smote of the Assyrians in one night 185000 it was an Anâ—el that smote Herod so that he was eaten of Worms 5. The Angels
But by being Renewed we are capable and do enjoy sweet Fellowship with the Father and the Son Believers walk with God and God with them Jesus Christ and Believers set together dwell together walk together yea sup together and daily visit each other Christ and they mind the same things the interest of Christ and Believers are one and the same Christ Sympathizeth with his Saints in their Afflictions and Rejoyces with them in their Consolations such a high Priest became us But O what an high Advancement is this that such a low base and contemptible Creature as Man is as in himself should be allowed to have Communion and Fellowship with the great and most glorious God of Heaven and Earth and with Jesus Christ the only Potentate and Prince of the Kings of the Earth Seventhly The Saints in Christ are so exalted and lifted up in Grandure and Honour that they are God's choice and precious Jewels or his chiefest Treasure They shall be mine saith the Lord in that day I make up my Jewels They are the Favourites of Heaven the Lord saith They that touch them touch the Apple of his Eye No King hath such a value of his greatest Favourites as God hath for his Saints they are the Persons that the King delights to Honour What is it to be honoured by poor Mortals to this honour If any Man serve me him will my Father honour He honours them here he gives them honourable Titles What are the airy and empty Titles of Earl Marquiss Duke c. that pull up Ambitious Spirits to those high and honourable Titles God confers on believers as Sons of God Heirs of God most excellent or most magnificent He hath made us Kings c. and Princes These are high Titles indeed when conferred upon us by the eternal God My Brethren they are not only hâ—noured with the highest Titles but also beloved with the highest Love I gave Egypt for thy Ransom Ethiopia and Sâ—ba for thee since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee He loves them with the love of Complacency he rejoyces over them as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride Nay he loveth them with the same Love wherewith he loves Jesus Christ And hast loved them as thou hast loved me And as he loveth and honoureth them so he will also cause all Men yea Kings and such that now hate them to bow before them The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all that despised thee shall bow themselves at the soles of thy Feet The Gentiles shall see their Righteousness and all Kings their Glory Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Nay the Lord Jesus himself will honour them Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Eighthly and Lastly He honoureth them with his own glorious Train or Noble Retinue He commands his Servants those glorious Courtiers that attend and wait round about his Throne to wait on them to administer unto them and continually to be a Guard unto them that love and fear his Name they ride as I may so say in his own Chariots The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels And these are on this Ladder they ascend and descend upon the Son of Man But more of this hereafter They encamp round about such that fear the Lord and are sent to minister unto them that are heirs of Salvation VSE 1. How may this raise the Hearts of Believers Alas they little think what glory God hath in Jesus Christ conferr'd upon them How would they lift up their Heads and rejoyce did they contemplate on that great Dignity they are raised unto 2. And what Reproof may this be to the ungodly World who slight despise and hate these honourable Ones as if they were the Off-scouring of all things and not worthy to live on the Earth when indeed the world is not worthy of them These precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine Goâ—d are accounted as Earthen Pitchers Moreover it may reprove those for their horrid Folly who esteem and value the vain Honour of Men above the Honour that comes from God That had rather be Great in the Sight of Men than Great and Glorious in the Sight of God 3. This also may cause us to admire Jesus Christ who hath raised us to sucâ— Dignity and Honour his Exaltation Beloved is our Exaltation we had never been raised to this Honour had not he been Abased and then highly Exâ—lted Christ's Exaltation was only a mediatory Exaltation he was not advanced in respect of the essential Glory of his God-head for as so he was always possessed with that so that their could be no Addition of Glory made to that but it was a Glory or Exaltation of his Person as God-man the Glory of Christ as God is the same from everlasting with the Father therefore it was the exaltation of his Person as Mediator as he is our head and blessed Representative he is Exalted that we in him may be Exalted also As he Beloved was raised up from the dead so were we in him and as he was Justifiâ—d so were we in him and as he Ascended up to Heaven so did we Ascend in him and so also assuredly shall all his Elect be raised spiritually from Sin to a state of Grace here and in â—oâ—â—y and Soul to an eternal State of Glory hereafter If Christ be raised we shall be raised because he was raised as our publick Head and is ascended into Heaven as our Fore-runner 4 This may be also for Tryal By this we may know my Brethren who they are that are upon Jacobs Ladder or in Jesus Christ see what Spirits what Hearts what Principles what Ends and Aims you have and what Liâ—eâ— you live Do you dwell on â—igh yet pray labour to ascend higher and higher every day but is your Conversation in Heaven do you mount up as with Eagles Wings 't is thus if you are true Believers Earth is behind your backs and all the things of the World are little in your sight if you are elivated on high But to proceed there is one or two things more concerning this Ladder that I must take notice of Mind well the word behold and behold a Ladder this as I hinted is a word that sometimes calls for Observation and Attention Behold I am at the Door and knock sometimes it calls for Commiseration Behold is there any Sorrow like my Sorrow Sometimes it calls for Imitation Behold the perfect Man Sometimes it calls for Admiration Behold what manner of love is this c. Sometimes it calls for Faith and Dependance Behold the Lamb of God c. I said behold