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
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
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
or quite lose the sight of it and 〈◊〉 step he takes the further he goes from 〈…〉 and the higher he comes to Heaven and hath a clearer Sight of that So he who by Faith and Communion with God gets up upâ—n this spiritual Ladder Jesus Christ hath a clear Prospect of the Glory 〈◊〉 Heaven Moses by Faith saw him that is invisible Faith presented to his view the Angel of the Covenant and God Reconciled in him viz. the Lord Jesus Christ. Carnal or Earthly Persons are at such a great distance from Heaven that they cannot discern the Glory of it they have no Sight no Eyes to see afar off but the Earth and Earthly things appearing to the Carnal sight being always in their view they are exceedingly Affected therewith But Believers who are dwellers above and who daily make a further Progâ—ession Hâ—aâ—e◠〈…〉 the Earth and Earthly this â—s as 〈…〉 â—â—â—ry step they take they go fâ—rtâ—e◠〈…〉 from Earth in their Love and 〈…〉 and Contemplations Our conversatio◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ven Others mind Earthly things 〈…〉 the Earth and therefore speak of 〈…〉 but Believers are said to dwell in Heaâ—â—◠〈…〉 grand Enemy of the Saints is said to open 〈◊〉 Mouth to blaspheme against God to blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and all that dwell in Heaven that is in the Church of God Militant they shall dwell on â—ighâ— they are out of those confused Hurries and Noises Dangers and Perplexities others who dwell below are attended withâ— They are born from above have heavenly Hearts heavenly Principles heavenly Desires heavenly Ends and Aims and heavenly Lives they have Communion with the God of Heaven heavenly things are their Delight they sâ—aâ— so high above that they are Ravished with that sight which they have of Heaven There are some other things that I might speak of as held forth by this glorious Type of Christ or which might be improved for our Instruction from hence but I shall leave them until the next time and close now with a brief word of Application VSE 1. By way of Admiration See what a wonderful person Jesus Christ is Behold the Son of Man or this spiritual Ladder that reacheth from Earth to Heaven behold it with Admiration Who would have thought of such away to Heaven Who but infinite Wisdom could have found out such a way to the Father What Work-man but the eternal God could make such a Ladder The Father is said to be above it or on the top of it to denote this way he Prepared and only by this way we must go to him if ever we come to Heaven Christ is God and Man in One Person Heaven and Earth meet together in him he brings God to us and carries us up to God God is reconciled to us in him and we are reconciled to God by him 2. Be exhorted to get up on this Ladder If ever you think to see the Father he is above it as the end of our Journey as our Hope and Reward he calls upon you Sinners to Adventure up this Ladder to believe in his Son He is above it to direct you uphold you and encourage you therefore fear not nay he is above it declaring himself in Covenant with all that come to him by Jesus Christ and to be their God I am the Lord God of Abraham c. This he spake to Jacob as standing above it or on the top of this Ladder 3. Bless God for Christ for his devising of such a way to raise us up who were sunk so low and had no strength no skill no helper none that could bring us to God nor find out a way to save our Souls but God himself only therefore he saith Deliver him from going down into the Pit I have found a Ransom Reproof This may be also for Reprehension to divers sorts of Persons 1. To such that deny the Dâ—â—ty or God-head of Jesus Christ If he be no more than a meer Man the Ladder is too short to reach up to Heaven He could not reach so high as to satisfy divine Justice or to bring us to God it being through the worth and dignity of his Person who being an infinite Person or God over all there was an infinite Worth and Merit in his Sufferings and Obedience True he might have saved himself being Perfect never having Sinned nor broke God's Law tho' he had been but a meer Man but it is from his being God as well as Man Substituted in our stead and standing in our Law-place as our great Head and â—ponser â—â— that gave such Worth and Merit for us by his Obedience and suffering to the Law and Justice of God Moreover how else also could he have overcome Death the Devil and all our Enemies and have raised himself from the Dead Death would have kept him under it's Power and he had never came out of the Grave to ascend so high as Heaven to raise us thither 2. It Reprehends all such also who seek by any other way or means to go to Heaven We have new Babel-builders or Work-mongers that think to climb up to Heaven by their own Works by their own Faith and sincere Obedience And others by the Light within which is but a branch of the First-covenant or law of God writ in the Heart and if there had been a Law that could have given Life or raised us up to Heaven verily Righteousness had been by the Law But then as the Apostle saith Christ is dead in vain Examin Try your selves by what you have heard whether you have ascended on this Ladder yea or nay 1. Were you ever brought to the Foot of Christ Did you ever see your lost Condition in the first Adam and that there is no other way to be Saved but by the Lord Jesus 2. Are you at the lowest part of the Ladder and there rest or are you got up towards the top thereof There is no resting no stay to be made when you first ascend or first believe in Christ or on any attainment of Grace but you must mount up or ascend up higher from Faith to Faith have you stept up on the Roand of Obedience have you took Christ's yoke upon you this seems too hard a step for some to take are you got above the Earth in your Affections doth the Earth and the things thereof grow less and less every day in your sight as in a natural respect it doth to him that soars very high or climbs upon a Ladder to the very Clouds Are you willing to leave Earth to leave this World to go to Heaven Paul longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ He pressed towards the mark Do you dwell in Communion with God â—las many love to be below they like those lower Regions best See how it is with you but no more at this time SERMON II. GENESIS xxviij xij xiij And behold
of my Heart and Actions by thy Spirit accompanying thy Word that Pride Passion earthly Mindedness nor any evil Inclinations or Affections may lead me astray Fifteenthly It is dangerous for a Man that climbs up a high Ladder that reacheth to Heaven to look backwards So nothing is more dangerous for a Person that makes a Profession of Religion then with the Young Man in the Gospel who was not far from the Kingdom of Heaven to look back He that sets his Hand to the Plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven Our blessed Lord bids us Remember Lot's Wife why so She alas for looking back was turned into a Pillar of Salt as an everlasting monument of God's Displeasure and to fore-warn all Persons to take heed that they do not look back If any Man draw back my Soul shall take no pleasure in him Nay such God's Soul abhors it brings upon them his high Displeasure which is Death or it will procure Death and Perdition on all such in the end But my Brethren know this that all those who look back never made one true step upon this Ladder they never had one Dram of saving Faith but ventured on Christ with a false Faith and from hence could not see a far off but slavish fear possess them and they being afraid faint and so look back and fall down and are destroyed for ever and the higher they 〈◊〉 the greater is their fall But we are not of them that draw back to Perdition Sixteâ—â—thly A Ladder that stands upon the Earth and the Top reacheth to Heaven had need to have â—ore Footing to stand upon Now Jesus Christ our Mediator hath most sure and firm Footing to stand upon i. e. He stands upon the Foot or firm Ground of God's Purpose and everlasting Counsel and blessed Decree tâ—â— ' he was set up upon the Earth in time yet he was in that holy Counsel held between the Father and the Son Set up from everlasting before ever the Earth was The Wisdom the Power Purpose good Pleasure and eternal Counsel of God hath fixed his Standing firm for ever as you heard before Seventeenthly A Man that gets up a Ladder should his Feet thro' carelesness or otherwise sâ—ip he must catch hold of the Ladder with his Hands and by holding fast he may set his Feet right again and prevent a fall or danger of Death Beloved the best of Christians through Carelâ—seâ—s â—â— Satan's Temptations may have their â—â—â—t sâ—ip I mean they may slip or fall into one Sâ—â— or another or into one Error or another What a slip had Noah Lot David and Peter and many more besides them even many a dangerous slip but by taking hold of Christ and of the Covenant and free Promise of Pardon by the hand of Faith they all recovered themselves tho' some of their Slips broke their Bones and cost them many a Tear Nay it made David to Wâ—â—â—eâ— his Couch with his Tears Yet he got safe to Heaven O what an excellent Grace is the Grace of Faith the hand of Faith and how useful and necessary at such a time I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Our Faith in the Seed or habit shall never fail did not Christ preserve our Faith strengthen our Faith our Souls would soon finally fall and perish for ever If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father I will be merciful to their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and their Iniquities I will remember no more I am he that blotteth out thine Iniquities for my own Sake c. O what hold is here when our Feet slip for the hand of Faith to take hold of Jesus Christ my Brethren hath paid all our Debts he hath satisfied the Justice of God for all our Sins for those committed after Faith as well as those committed before Faith and Union with him all Vindictative Wrath is gone for ever no Sin can make a breach in our Justification nor break our Union with Christ Nothing can separate us from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus None can condemn such if sins committed after we believe were not Satisfied for or Pardoned there would be condemnation to every Believer because all have Sin all daily Sin but their Sins are not imputed to them they were all laid upon Jesus Christ and his Righteousness is for ever and at all times imputed to them that are in Christ Jesus and once in him for ever in him So that a true Believer can never fall finally from this spiritual Ladder Eighteenthly To raise up a Ladder whose Foot stands upon the Earth and the Top of it reacheth up to Heaven is not easily done it needs all mighty Strength it calls for great Strength wonderful Power and also much Wisdom and Skill it is hard you know to raise a Ladder that reacheth up but four or five Stories or to the Top of a high House or Building What Power of Man then can raise up such a Ladder that reacheth from Earth to Heaven My Brethren as none could contrive and make such a Ladder i. e. such a way to Heaven but God himself who by his almighty Wisdom and Power built this World So none but he could raise up this Ladder it required infinite Wisdom and Strength to raise up Christ when he was so low being born down under the Guilt and Weight of our Sins even low as Hell for Hell pangs took hold of him O how low was he when in the Garden in his bloody Agony and in the Grave Could Sin Death or Devils yea all the powers of Hell and Darkness have kept him down he had never been raised from the Dead and from under Wrath nor ascended up to Heaven But what is too hard for God to do He was raised by the Power of the Father or by the Glory of the Father as the Apostle words it that is by his glorious Power and to his eternal Glory God hath boâ—h raised up the Lord and will also raise us uâ— by his own Poweâ— He first raised him up as to his Humane Nature out of a dry Root And hath raised up an Horn of Salvatâ—on for us in the House of David An Horn of Salvation or a powerful Salvation Also he raised him up when Sin and Wrath lay upon him and when he was Dead and lay in the Grave Nay my Brethren he raiseâ— himself up as I shall shew you hereafter which is a greater wonder still and more marvellous Ninteenthly A Ladder whose Foot stands upon the Earth and the Top of it reacheth up to Heaven is wonderfully Elivated or Exalted So Christ considered as Mediator is wonderfully Elivated or Exalted both in respect oâ— his Person and Offiâ—es True as he was God and in the form
of Angels 〈◊〉 their ministration to him than the Scripture Records yet perhaps no more is meant hereby than that Nathaniel and other Saints shall see or know that the holy Angels are far inferiour to the Son of Man and do administer to him And also that all that good Believers do receive by the ministration of Angels is alone in and through Jesus Christ our Mediator Moreover that God doth not only make use of the ministration of Angels in governing of the World but also in the preservation safety and good of his Church The way to Heaven is full of holy Angels some going to Heaven for Intelligence and â—thers coming from Heaven either to forward proâ—ect or comfort the Saints 1. Angels are but Christ's Messengers he is the â—ead and Lord of all Principalities and Powers 2. They own themselves to be our Fellow-Serâ—ants I am thy Fellow-Servant of thy Brethren 3. They move at his Command and go and come 〈◊〉 his Pleasure 4. And they move at his Word with all Alacrity â—â—ey are speedy and swift in doing the Will of God 5. Moreover they are sent forth to minister unto â—hem that are the Heirs of Salvation Observe DOCT. That in and thro Jesus Christ the holy Angels minister to Believers while in this World In speaking unto this Proposition I shall take this method viz. 1. I shall speak a little to the nature of Angels 2. Open their Work and Office 3. Give you some Reasons why Christ imploys them to minister to the Saints And 4ly Apply it First They are Creatures they were created by God and within the six Days also By him were all things Created whether in Heaven or Earth visible or invisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him The Heavens and all the Angels which dwell therein were created by him i.e. by the Son of God Jesus Christ Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were Created And this was in the Beginning In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth c. If therefore they had been Created before there should have been a beginning of time work done before that or else Angels were from Eternity and so not Creatures but none is eternal or without beginning but God Besides 't is said that God wrought all his Works in Six Dayes but if it be demanded what day they were created I answer in all likelyhood on the First-day When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God â—â—oued for Joy Even when God laid the foundation oâ— the Earth when the highest Heavens and first maâ—ter was created of Nothing out of which other things were formed Secondly These excellent Creatures are true Substances and do really exist contrary to the Opinion of the Sadduces who denyed Angels and Spirits that is that they thought by the name of Angels waâ— meant nothing but good or ill Inspirations or Motions or else the Wonders and Apparitions which were wrought of God 1. They were I say created therefore they are Substances and not Accidents in another Subject 2. They are endow'd with Understanding and Will by vâ—rtue of which they were capable of Sinning and of departing from the Truth of obeying or disobeying of God until confirmed by an Immutable Head 3. From their Office this is further evident They appear before God they serve him and we are commanded to make them our Patterns they come to us admonish us teach protect and comfort us 4. Because thâ—y are said to appear to Men as to Abraham Jacob and many others tho not in their own spiritual Form As so considered no mortal Creature doubtless could behold them for that is to render the Invisible World to be Visible Sometimes they have appeared in assumption of Bodies tho not for the doing of their Work but to manifest themselves to be familiar with men Aquinas adds That they might manifest the intelligible Society and Converse which men expect with them in another Life 5. Because Christ is said not to take unto him the nature of Angels and hath a Name given him above them And in the Resurrection we shall be like to them As to their Nature they are Spirits incorporate and immaterial Who maketh his Angels Spirits And again it is said Are they not all ministring Spirits Tertullian and some other ancient Fathers asserted they have proper Bodies tho invisible to us but yet he seems to mean no more than a Substance And as the same Author observes If they have any such Composition as may be called a Body it is certainly of the greatest Fineness and Subtilty a spiritual Body and therefore not like to be of that grosness that either the Air is or those Heavens that are framed out of the same Chaos but nearer the substance of the highest Heavens which seem to be made at the same time Lastly saith he it will be safe to say that in Comparison of God they are Bodies but in comparison of us they are pure and mighty Spirits To which let me add I see not that the Saints at the Resurrection tho in some things they shall be as the Angels of God yet not that their Bodies shall be such bodies as the Angels have for tho the Saints be made spiritual Bodies yet shall be material i.e. of the same matter they now consist of only refin'd Thirdly Let it be consider'd saith he that as it is God only that is without beginning so it belongs only to him to be without any possibility of change or shadow of change and that the Angels as Creatures are reducable to nothing by the same hand that made them tho not from their own Nature nor shall they ever cease to be no more than the Spirits of all men yet they are in God's hand tho the best pieces of Nature and if he withdraw his hand they all moulder to nothing Angels saith my Author may properly be called Incorruptible and Immortal because they are so by Nature I speak not saith he now of the changableness of their Wills but of their Nature and Substance The Reasons are First Because the Angels are not produced out of the power of Matter or corporal Substance as the Souls of Beasts but only by the word of God and therefore as they have internal principles of Being so they have none of Dissolution for there is the same reason of Being and not Being Secondly Angelical Nature as the Souls also of Men are not compounded of Matter and Form but are simple Forms and Substances subsisting by themselves Now all Corruption Mortality and Death is by the separation of the Form from the Matter as when the Soul is separated from the Body which is Corruption or Death or when the accidental Form is separated from the Subject as White from the Wall or Health from the Man Now whatever wants Matter
is corruptible because there is no Composition and so no Separation But the Scripture concludes this best in assimulating the state of Immortality in which we shall be like the Angels I shall speak no more now as to the first thing proposed viz. of the Nature of Angels Secondly I shall open a little of the Work and Office of the good Angels 1. The Work and Office of the Angels of God is to minister unto Christ or attend upon his glorious Person as Mediator as indeed they did in the days of his Humiliation A Reverend Author saith upon the place this ascending descending of the Angels upon this Ladder it does intimate and declare unto us their special regard and respect to him namely Jesus Christ which is very eminent in them these blessed glorious Spirits are very remarkable in their Observation of Christ it is that which we may take notice of in every Mistery and passage concerning him how the Angels were still imployed about him and subservient to him upon all occasions whatsoever Which is indeed very clear from his very Conception to his Ascension Nay the Angels fore-tells to Mary his very Conception Behold thou shalt conâ—eive in thy Womb c. Also the Angel appeared to Joseph and said Joseph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife c. Moreover an Angel appeared to him again to fore-warn him of that Herod who sought the Life of Jesus and so commanded him to take Mary and the Child and to fly into Egypt See how careful the Angels were of our Lord that he might be preserved until his time was come to be offered up a Sacrifice for our Sins The Angels appeared likewise to the Shepâ—erds and published to them the birth of our Lord in a glorious Hymn of Praise Glory unto God on high on Earth Peace good will to Men When God brought his only begotten Son into the World all the Angels of God worshipped him The Angels moreover were instruments in his Preservation when his Life was sought and they also ministred to him in his bloody Agony and comforted him My Brethren Jesus Christ was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted therefore might need like Succour Safety and Comfort from the Angels as we do Also the Anâ—els ministred to him in his Temptations in the Wilderness and at his Resurrection they rol'â— away the Sâ—one from the Sepulchre and brought the tidings of his being risen to the Women Likewise in his Ascension the Angels attended and assured the Disciples of his second Coming they also ascended with him and shall also descend with him at his second Appearance He shall be revealed from Heaven with all his mighty Angels If he be pleased to descend in his Abasement the Angels descend with him if he be pleased to ascend in his state of Exaltation then the Angels ascend with him And thus they may be said to ascend and descend upon the Son of Man personally considered and this out of that great Affection and Love to him but not only so but also in point of Duty and special Obligation to him he being their Lord and Sovereign He is the head of Principalities and Powers As Christ is God they owe to him their very being For by him were all things Created that are in Heaven and that are on Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And by him also the holy Angels are confirmed and so abide in a happy and unchangable condition and hence the more Obliged to adore and worship him 2. And as the Office and Work of the holy Angels is to minister to serve and wait upon Christ so also upon his Spouse and on every Member of his mystical Body True they are called Powers Mights Thrones Dominions c. which shews their Glory Dignity and excellent Power and Authority Some think that there are divers Orders of Angels and some superiour to others beâ—ause we read of Angels and Arch-Angels there are seven Names given to them viz. Seraâ—â—ims Cheâ—uâ—â—â—s Thrones Powers Mights Domiâ—â—ons Princâ—pâ—lâ—ties Angels and Arch-Angels Some add more But no more of this we know but little of the inviâ—iâ—â—e World But let their Dignity and Glory be what it will as to their Office they are all miâ—â—string Spirits none of them no not the mighty Aâ—gelâ— who excel in strength do think it too much or below them for to attend upon the meaneâ—â— Saint Are tâ—ey not all 〈◊〉 Spirits sent forth to ministâ—r unto them thâ—t sâ—all be heirs of sâ—lvation Which words 〈◊〉 be denote that they are sent forth to protect preserve and keep such that are not yet â—â—eirs or to the Elect not yet called and converted but shall be Children begotten and adopted of God in due time and so be Heirs of Salvation Which shews God's great Love to and Care of his Elect before Grace or whilst in their Sins and Unbelief 3. They all wait upon God and behold his Face and Glory they are round about his Thrâ—ne they all worship and fall down before their blessed Lord and attend on him as Servants of their most glorious and blessed Master their most high and exalted Sovereign I saw also the Lord sitting upon a 〈◊〉 high and lifted up and his Train fiâ—â—â—d the Templâ— verse 1. And above it stood the Sâ—raâ—hims and one cried to another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hostâ— c. Called Scrapâ—ims signifying fire or burning 1. Denoting their Nature is bright and glorious subtil and pure 2. Their Property full of zeal and fervent 3. Their Once which here was to execute God's vengeance upon the Jews and to burn them up and consume thâ—m as dross Some assert that the highest Angels do not minister to the Saints but only and immediately wait upon God himself and on our Lord Jesus Christ. But this cannot be true because the Angel Gabriel who stands before the Presence of God was sent to Daniel and to Zacharias and to Blessed Mary 4. They declare the Glory of Almighty God and also ascribe equal Glory to all the Three Persons which as I conceive is hinted in that Text 〈◊〉 6.1 Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts â—oly is the Father Holy is the Son and Holy is the Hâ—ly Spirit and yet as Moses saith Hear O 〈◊〉 the Lord our God is but one Lord i. e. one in Esseâ—â—e c. yet Three Persons 5. They hearken to God's Commands and do his Will with all imaginable chearfulness love delight alâ—crity and swiftness Hence said to have the face of an Eagle the swiftest of Fowls and also to have Wings Tertullian saith every Spirit is winged they can fly in a moment into any part of the World and that swiftly And yet Mr. Greenhill saith as Astronomers observe That
to hinder us Observe my Text Anâ—els are upon the Ladder or in our way to Heaven Now Prayer and Hearing the Word c. are our way to Heaven i. e. means of Grace to fit us for it Quest. Hath every Saint a particular Angel to attend him Ans. I Answer This is asserted by some worthy Writers and by others denied My Lord Lawrence a very pious and learned Man saith That the Doctrine of the Angel-Guardians hath been exceeding antient and not among Christians only That a multitude of Angels do guard the Saints is deny'd 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 Some 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 Greenâ—â—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 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 Why doth Christ imploy 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 Grandure and since one Angel hath such mighty power and is so glorious that the Earth is said to be enlightned with it I know that is not a proper Angel yet it shews 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 inferiour are managed by more subtle and powerful so the bodies of Beasts by a spirit of life and irrational Spirits by rational As Men govern Beasts so by the same reason of proportion the Angels which are invisible Spirits and are all Spirits have an influence upon Men which are partly Spirits and partly Bodies 4. It may be to shew what Honour he is pleased to confer upon his Saints he will spare them his own Courtiers out of Heaven they shall ride in his own Chariots This he may do to honour his People to raise their Glory Sirs could the ungodly but see what an Host of Angels does attend upon the poorest Saint as he passes along they would say Who is this what noble and honourable Person is this that has such a Guard such a Retinue The greatest Monarch in the World hath no such Attendance as the poorest and meanest Saint hath 5. Another reason why God useth the Angels for the good of his People or to attend on them and minister unto them may be because they are the Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Bride Certainly great Honour of right belongs to the Queen considering her near relation to the King And hence she has the like noble Retinue her Life-guard as well as he and so upon the same foot of account Angels may be the Attendants of the Saints their Guard and Retinue Believers are the Bride they are the friends of the Bridegroom and of his noble Consort the Church Certainly in this the honour of the Saints doth exceed the honour of the holy Angels as Chrisâ— took our Nature upon him and not theirs and in that his Church is his Spouse his Wife and not they the glory conferr'd on us seems to excel tho in respect to their Nature Wisdom and â—nowledg they may excel the Saints 6. God may do it fâ—r the safety of his Saints Some obsâ—rve tâ—at were it not for the good Angels the Devils would even tear the very Bodies of the Saints into pieces such is their maâ—ice and rage against them 7. That there may be much love and acquaintance grow between us and the holy Angels with whom we must live for ever and whom we shall be made like unto Now Love grows by mutual Offices as it is seen in the love of Mothers to their Children which increases by fostering and tending them O how happy is every Saint of God in having the tutelage of holy Angels This honour have all Believers and none else for the wicked have no Angels to look to them to care for them the Angels of Christ are enemies to God's enemies and friends to Christ's friends May be as God is good to all so the wicked may be under the general Charge of the holy Angels but the Saints are under their special and peculiar Charge they are properly Guardians and ministring Spirits to the Saints who are the heirs of Salvation Application THis reproves or reprehends those that think it is below them to stoop to obey some of the Commands of Christ. Sirs see what glorious Creatures the Angels are and yet they stoop so low as to minister to the poorest Saints on Earth Michael despised David in her heart for dancing before the Ark of God But did he value that No no if that he seemed vile he would be more vile I will saith he speak also of thy Statutes before Kings and will not be ashamed 2. It reproves also such who are ashamed to own a poor Child of God they can call a Rich man Brother but O! 't is hard to own and to call a Poor man so a man in a Leather-coat or in a poor garb before others Alas the Angels are not ashamed to take care of and own poor Lazarus full of Sores at the Rich Man's gate tho he begg'd for the Crums that fell from his Table and the Dogs came and licked his sores But let such look to it lest Christ one day be ashamed of them Secondly It may be for instruction to us how to do the Will of God even as the Angels do it 1. That we do it in Love to God Love is the great Principle from whence the Holy Angels do all their Service to God so ought we to serve and worship God in Love to him not for Self-profit or Honour or Applause If ye love me keep
my Commandments Simon Son of Jona lovest thou me Yea Lord feed my Sheep I will leave this Charge with none else as if he should so say but such that love me they that love not Christ will not love his Saints 2. To hearken to Christ's Commands the Angels wait to hear what Service God will put them upon but many Professors make the Word to wait for them they come not early to the Assembly to wait for the Word 3. To do the Will of God with speed and all alacrity Angels are swift to do God's Will they are said to have Wings so we should get upon the Wings of Faith 4. To do it chearfully and with utmost Zeal the Angels are like a Flame of Fire all fill'd with burning Zeal and Fervour 5. Also to do the Will of God universally to leave no Precept undone and then we shall with David not be ashamed even when we have respect to all God's Commandments 6. To do God's Will continually never to faint nor be weary for thus the Angels do God's Commands they obey always and thus did David I have inclined mine Heart to perform thy Statutes always to the end Again he saith So shall I keep thy Law continually for ever and ever Thirdly This may administer Terror to the Wicked the holy Angels are against you As they mark the Saints for Preservation so they have Commission oft-times to destroy the Ungodly Slay utterly Old and Young c. and begin at my Sanctuary Fourthly It may be of use by way of Exhortation 1. To walk so as Christians and Members of Churches that the Angels may rejoyce and discharge their Work with Joy and not with Grief Walk reverently in respect of the Angels even as one observes in your Bed-Chambers the Thoughts of the Presence of the Angels should hinder us from doing that which is a shame or dishonour to us but much more the Thoughts of God's Presence 2. Bless God for the Ministration of Angels O! see what Love he hath to his own People and what Honour he hath conferred upon them 3. Have a reverend Esteem and Respect for the Angels and strive to converse with them and be like to them Object But say some What do you leave to Christ and the Holy Spirit to do if Angels do â—o much for us Answ. 1. What will you leave to the Angels to do saith one if they do not Teach Guide Protect and Minister unto us 2. What the Angels do Christ doth they are his Servants he uses them as Instruments in his Hand 3. We leave to Christ to do all by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost yet he makes use of the Angels of the Churches as well as the Angels of Heaven Object But you may say Christ needs not the Ministration of Angels Answ. No more doth he need the Ministration of Mâ—n nor the Use of Ordinances yet he is pleased to make use of both for the Good of his Church Fifthly This may administer much Comfort to Believers Reprobates tho Princes on Earth have no such Guards to attend them as you have Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to minâ—ster to them that shall be Heirs of Salvation O! what a Glorious Retinue have you Your Way is full of Angels who go to and fro therein The Wicked are left to the wide World but Christ is pleased to give his Saints Tutors Governours and Guardians to Preserve Protect and Wait upon them the Holy Angels welâ— know their Charge who they are to keep and bâ—ar up in their Hands and save from danger 2. See how dear and precious you are to God yea how honourable in his Sight every Elect Person is He hath his Guard Multitudes of Angels to attend him at all times for your sakes they have râ—ceived their Charge their Commission He hath given his Angels charge over thee You are weak but they are strong you sleep sometimes but they are always awake and sleep not Sirs God sends his own Guards to watch over you to protect and keep you he knows what a Multitude of Devils would gladly destroy you and therefore as you have heard he has sent a Multitude of Angels to defend and save you you have not only Ministers on Earth the Angels of the Churches but the Angels of Heaven to be your Servants And the End why God sends them and imploys them is expressed not that we should worship them no no they disclaim this utterly See thou do it not saith the Angel I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets that have the Testimony of Jesus Worship God it is to keep us in all his Ways and they exactly and diligently observe their Charge They shall bear thee up in their Hands lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone These O Child of God accompany thee minister unto thee incamp round about thee go before thee and wait upon thee but take heed you go not out of God's Ways it is in all his Ways they are to keep thee do not venture on the Devil's Ground the Angels are always upon this Ladder that reacheth to Heaven which goes through Satan's Territories the Air where there are Multitudes of Devils who strive to push thee down as thou climbest up but these do boldly resist them and defend thee continually against those Evil Spirits Admiration Do Angels minister to us then ye Saints wonder Behold the Angels of God ascending and descending O what hath Christ done to procure such Guardians such Helps such Guides for us poor feeble Travellers Never fear tho the Ladder be high Angels have Wings they can soon be with us they descend to bring them up that are given to Christ and they ascend with such that are going up You must fly by Faith and Prayer up with them from Step to Step from Faâ—th to Faith from Strength to Strength from Glory to Glory until you come to the end of your Journey O ye Darlings of Heaven Tho others regard you not but reproach you slight you despise you yet matter it not the mighty Angels have you by the Hand they love you they know you are the Spouse of their Sovereign his blessed Bride whom they serve and therefore they honour you O what a degree of Glory ye Princely Ones are you raised to Moreover What Love is this what Grandure is here conferr'd upon vile sinful Creatures as we are Have we such a Guard Doth Christ's chief Courtiers above wait upon us below Must we ride in the King 's own Chariot to Heaven Do Angels wait on the Heirs of Salvation Heirs of Glory Come then ye Holy and High-born Nobles and take state upon you and say We are not for dunghil Earth not base slaves of Sin nor of this World nor of the Devil We are Princes nobly descended born from above and have the Guard of the King