Holy-Ghost for every sacred Person of the blessed Trinity shines forth in equal Glory in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of our Salvation by Jesus Christ. 1. The Glory of the Father is manifested in Election or in Chusing all that shall be Saved in Christ. 2. The Glory of the Son in Redemption or in dying to redeem them 3. The Glory of the Holy Spirit in Sanctification or in Renewing and Regenerating of them So many the Father Elected so many the Son Redeemed and so many the Spirit Sanctifies So in Justification Christ's Righteousness being called a Robe the three Persons are equally Glorified and Exalted 1. The Father prepar'd the Matter out of which the Robe of Righteousness is made viz. The Body of Christ. 2. The Son wrought it by his own active and passive Obedience 3. The Holy-Ghost puts it upon us by working Faith in us And not only the Glory of God personally consider'd but also the Glory of all the divine Attributes or Perfections of the blessed God-head are Magnified and Exalted also hereby 1. The Glory of his infinite Love Mercy and Goodness which you have heard is the grand Motive that moved God the Father or put him upon this glorious Contrivance which is the rise spring and fountain of all our Happiness 2. Moreover the Glory of his infinite Wisdom Truth Justice Power and Holiness The Glory of his Justice God is Just he can as soon cease to be as cease to be Just. God declar'd if Man Sinn'd he should dye therefore either he must destroy Man to preserve his Truth and Justice and see his Law not violated and turned upside down and so conceal his Mercy or else find out a way to satisfy his Justice and preserve his Truth that his Love and Mercy may appear therefore his VVisdom found out a way for the Honour both of Justice and Mercy by laying our Sins upon his own Son as our Surety and to undergo that Wrath and Punishment which we must otherwise have undergone for ever Here is Brethren no changing the Sentence against Sin but of the Person our Sins and Punishment are transferred upon Jesus Christ and since it was infinite Justice our Sins had wronged an infinite Punishment must be Suffered which none but one that was God could bear nor satisfy for and now the full Payment or Satisfaction Christ made to divine Justice put a Bar or delivered hâ—m from the eternal duration of the Punishment for the cause why Sinners lye in Hell or in Prison for ever arises from their inability to satisfie or pay their Debts but from the worth and dignity of Christ's Person Justice is Satisfieâ— and he acquitted and discharged out of Prison and we in him Besides none but God could be a proper Judge what could be a sufficiâ—nt Satisfaction to his vindictive Wrath and Justice but when God declares that in his Son he is well pleased and satisfied who shall say this could not be a proper and legal discharge for us Moreover this discovers Goâ—'s infinite Holiness and hatred of Sin more than if we had suffered for ever in his making his own Son a Sacrifice for our Sins and not sparing him when he stands in our Law-place Here as one observes was the Beauty of his Holiness as well as the exactness of his Justice with the vinâ—â—cation of the Honour of his Law displaying the Purity of his Nature by sheathing his Sword with Indignâ—â—â—on in the Bowels of Sin while he pierced the Heart of his beloved Son The like I might speak of all God's other blessed Attributes his end was to magnifie them hereby as well as his Wisdom Love Mercy and Justice But to proceed Secondly His Design herein also was to magnify the Law and make it honourable the law looses none of it Sanction by Jesus Christ the law required Man to keep it Man to yield perfect Obedience to God therein and Man to dye and bear the Penalty for the breach of it But lo here is a Man nay one more then Man even God-Man the Son of God made Man made of a Woman made under the Law come on purpose to stand in our Law-place to honour this Law to yield active and perfect Obedience unto it and to dye for our breach thereof This is more than the Law could or did require the law hath more then it 's just Demand for by Christ's keeping of it and dying for our Sinâ— he hath meritted as well as satisfied he hath meritted those things of God which the Law could not have given us had we never broke it that could not have made us so near to God so great so glorious and so happy for ever as we are made by the merits and purchase of Jesus Christ. But more of that by and by Do we make void the law thro' Faith God forbid Yea we establish the law In that by Christ's Obedience to the Law or by his perfect active Obedience and Death apprehended by Faith we are Justified and the Law for ever silenced Christ having satisfied the Justice of God broke the Thunders of the Law and dissolved the frame of all its Anathema's He being made a Curse for us he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law He hath abolished the Obligation of the Moral Law as to its Condemning Power and hath by his blood sealed another Covenant a New-Covenant a better Covenant the first hath been perfectly kept and the sentence of it hath been undergone and its killing power is taken away to all that are in Christ Jesus And thus see how the Law is magnified lifted up and made Honourable i. e. rather then that shall loose any of its Honour the Son of God will become Man and answer all its Demands in doing and suffering what we ought to have done and suffered and for our default must have endured for ever Thirdly God's design hereby also was to destroy the Works of the Devil in respect of Original Sin which was Satan's Work and of all actual Sins which are his cursed works also i. e. such works that he imploys all Men in and stirs them up to do until they are delivered out of his Kingdom For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Who is the Author of all Sin and the Worker of all Iniquity and as God's design was to destroy Sin the work of the Devil so it was also hereby to destroy Satans Design likewise which was to rob God of the Glory of his own Work and Purpose in creating of Man he thought to have utterly ruined Mankind and laid him for ever as low as Hell but God by this means by this Spiritual Ladder shews his purpose is to raise hiâ— up to the highest Heavens This brings me to the last thing Proposed as Gods design hereby Fourthly Gods design hereby was to raise up poor fallen Man into a more happy and glorious State than he was
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
of Grace Christ is not a common head to all Adam's Seed no but only of them that the Father gave to him 2. So many as were ordained to eternal Life shall by Christ be saved True the Blood of Christ hath vertue or worth enough in it to save the whole World but it can be effectual to none but to those for whom it was shed or to them to whom the Holy Ghost doth apply it which is to all that do believe all that Christ died for he prayed for and doth now interceâ—d for that they may receive of the Merits of his Blood but he did not pray for the World yet he tis able to save to the uttermost even to the last round of the Ladder all that come to God by him seeing he ever lives observe it to make intercession for them No Man can ascend this Ladder without the mighty power of God nay no Man can come to it except the Father draw him the Election of the Father the Redemption of the Son and the Application of the Spirit are of like and the same Extention All that the Father hath given to me shall come unto me the Holy Spirit will enlighten them work Faith in them bring them all to take hold of and ascend this Ladder So wide as the speâ—iâ—l love of God is so wide is this spiritual Ladder and it is indeed so broad that Three Thousand Persons could set their Feet upon it and ascend up at one and the same time no ' Man ever by an act of true and saving Faith attempted to ascend thereon that found it too narrow and straight for him tho' the way to Heaven comparatively is narrow Fifthly A Ladder which reacheth from Earth unto Heaven ought also to be exceeding strong and firm Now Jesus Christ this spiritual Ladder tho' he be Man yet he is also God the most high God Co-eternal Co-essential and Co-equal with the Father and therefore he is mighty strong he is able to bear the weight of all our Sins and of our Persons and Infirmities He is mighty to save Cast thy Burden on the Lord and he shall sustain thee Though he is represented in our Text by a Ladder yet he is also called a Rock a strong Rock a high Rock an everlasting Rock and pray what is firmer than a Rock A Rock is locus exelus a high place Rocks as One notes tho' they have their Roots very low and deep yet their Tops are high and â—o â—ring and lifted up above the surface of other paâ—â—â— of the Earth Some Rocks reach to the Cloudâ— the Lord Jâ—sus is a high Rock in regard of the Dignity of his Person He that cometh 〈◊〉 Hâ—aven is above all He is the brightnes◠〈◊〉 the Father's Glory God hath exalted him and given him a Name above every Name A Roâ—◠〈◊〉 locus stabilis a place of Firmness and Stability Rocks keep their place and move not Now this Ladder is as firm as a Rock Christ is the power of God Originally Essentially 〈◊〉 Perfectly without Alteration without Diminition 1. In Christ all the Attributes of God are united together to save all that venture on him Justice and Mercy in him are met together and Fiss each other He is the Man of God's Right Hand made strong for himself as well as for us 2. Christ is not only Strong as Mediator in respect of his Person but also by God's Eternal Deâ—ree and Purpose God's absolute Decrees are compared to Mountains of Brass he is fixed and stands firm and sure by God's Eternal Purpose hence called a sure Foundation No need to fear venturing up upon such a Ladder should Millions of Sinners at once get upon it 't is strong enough to bear them tho they are never so heavy laden with Sin and Iniquity He that hath born the weight of Divine Wrath and Vengeance can bear and sustain the weight of all that come unto him and venture themselves upon him by Faith and Dependance tho' never so vile and notorious Sinners Sixthly A Ladder so exceeding high must have many Rounds or Gradations to ascend by So Jesus Christ in undertaking our Salvation proceeded gradually Step by Step. 1. He came down from Heaven to fix his Foot in our Nature upon the Earth 2. He was Incarnate or assumed a Body prepared for him by the Father A Body hast thou prepared me 3. He was Born of a Virgin tho' without Sin That 's the third Gradation 4. He lived a Holy and Spiritual Life in exact Conformity to that holy Law which we had broken and violated to procure a Title for us unto Eternal Life 5. He died the Cursed death of the Cross to satisfy divine Justice for us and in our stead 6. He Rose again from the Dead the Third Day for our Justification 7. He Ascended up into Heaven there is the top of the Ladder there he is now in Person tho' he is with his People on Earth by his spirit Lo I am with you alway 8. He makes Intercession pleading the Merits of his Blood for us These are some of those Gradations or Steps of Jacob's Ladder by which all Believers ascend to Heaven Seventhly He that would attain to what he desireth by climbing or descenâ—ing up upon 〈◊〉 Ladder must first come to the Foot of it anâ— so Gradually ascend Step by Step. So that Man that would go to Heaven musâ— be first brought to the Foot of Jesus Christ i. e. he must see his own lost and miserable Condiâ—â—on and know the Impossibility of getting to Heaven any other way All Self righteous Person were never brought to the Foot of this Laâ—deâ— to the Foot of Jesus Christ to acknowledgâ— themselves wretched and undone Sinners◠〈◊〉 No Alas they seeâ—inâ— Necessity of Christ nor oâ— his Righteousness They like the Jews of Old being ignorant of God's Righteousness go abouâ— to establish their own Legâ—â—â— or Inherent Righteousness He that thinks he can get Wings tâ— fly up to Heaven or can build aâ— Tower witâ— his own hands whose Top shall reach thither so that he can that way be saved will neglect nay slight this glorious Contrivanceâ— of God 〈◊〉 infinite Wisdom of Saving Sinners by Jesus Christ and so never come to Christ's Foot 〈◊〉 it is â—aiâ—â— God called Abraham to his Foot A 〈…〉 maybe said to be brought to the Foot of 〈◊〉 Christ who is effectually Convinced of the 〈…〉 he is in without Christ and of 〈◊〉 own I â—ability any other way to Step one Steâ— towards Heaven but with the Publican cryâ— out Lord have Mercy upon me a Sinner Brethrâ—n there are none but sensible Sinners meaâ—â— and heavy-lâ—deâ— Sinners that will come to Christ the â—leâ—t before called are in the same Condition â—or state of Wrath with the rest of Mankinâ— and are enlightned
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
did in his Name 2. By his Power 3. To his Praise and Glory 4. Also in shewing all Knowledge Learning Parts Righteousness moral Vertues Gifts and all Duties of Religion are Nothing or avail Nothing to a Man out of Christ because it is his Righteousness his Mâ—rits exclusive of all or any thing else that is the matter of our Justification before God 3. All the holy Angels likewise exalt Christ adore and magnify hiâ— Thirdly God haâ—â— exalted him from Earth to Heaven in respect of his Office in which alsâ— he is the Antitype of Jacob's Lâ—â—deâ— whâ—c◠〈◊〉 I have hinted at already yet I â—â—all add 〈…〉 1. Christ is chosen of God aâ— I said to be the only Mediator between God and Man our Days-Man that lays his hands upon both and as Mediator he is a King Priest and Prophet First He is a Priest excelling the High-priests under the Law being the substance and Antitype of all those Priests he is both Priest Altar and Sacrifice they were made Priests by men he is made a Priest by God himself they without an Oath he by an Oath they had Infirmities he had none The Priest under the Law could not continue by reason of Death he abideth a Priest for ever They offered up Sacrifices that could not take away Sins but by his one Sacrifice all sins are done away for ever He bore the sins of his People indeed he entered into the holiest of all he appears before God indeed they only Typically He made Attonement indeed they but Typically and Ceremonially He Judgeth of Uncleanness indeed they but Typically he maketh true Judgment because he knows all mens Hearts He offers up unto God the true Incense he blesseth the People by conferring Grace and divine Habits to them and by turning them from their evil ways He beyond the Priests under the Law doth determine all yea the hardest Controversies he resolves all doubts between God and Man such as these following 1. How God is Just and yet Gracious or how an offended God can and doth justify guilty Sinners 2. In and by by him we see how Justice and Mercy meet together and Righteousness and Truth kiss each other The one exalting the highest Satisfaction on terms of pure and severe Justice and the other crying for infinite Mercy 3. He resolves this Question viz How an unrighteous and ungodly Man can be justified with God 4. How Sin can be Punished and yet Pardoned 5. How the Debt can be Paid and yet be freely forgiven Brethren Christ is a Priest and as a Priest he is the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder and as so considered he is exalted on high for in and by this Office he brings God and Man Heaven and Earth together I mean by that Attonement he hath made by his bloody Sacrifice It pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things on Earth or things in Heaven Heaven and Earth are not at a farther distance from each other as Naturally we are unto God in respect of our state and Spirits such Enmity is in the hearts of all unrenewed Sinners against God but saith the Apostle But now in Christ Jesus ye that were afar off are made near by the Blood of Christ. The way is by his Death by his Blood which was shed upon the Earth here we were and here is the Foot of the Ladder God's Justice requires an infinite Satisfaction and Christ being God reached Heaven i. e. the full demands of divine Justice Such a Days-Man we needed who layeth his hands upon both By his being a Priest in his oâ—â—ering up that one Sacrifice he reconciled God to us and by his Spirit he reconciles us to God by his applying and making the Attonement efficacious or effectual to us that in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ. This is done in him even in Christ alone none but he hath done it or could do it God by him who stands at the top of the Ladder comes down to us as well as we go up to God it is by Christ that God comes down to us in a way of Mercy Peace and Reconciliation and it is by Christ we go up to God in a way of Faith and dependance Beloved God and poor Sinners meet together on this Sacred Ladder or blessed Medium and contrivances of infinite Wisdom in Christ we who were Strangers and Enemies meet with a holy and just God with joy and comfort You that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your Minds by wicked Works hath he reconciled in the body of his Flesh through Death When we were Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son Now this is done by Christ as a Priest in dying But Secondly He is the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder as our High-Priest also by his Intercession now in Heaven 1. He interceeds with God for us in Heaven also 2. He interceeds by his Spirit in us By his Intercession in heaven he prevails with God for the Blessings of his Attonement and by his Spirits intercession in us all those Blessings are applyed and so made effectual to us By vertue of his Satisfaction God is brought near to us and thro Application of his Blood by his Spirit we are brought near unto God And thus is Christ the blessed Medium or Way by which Peace is made between Heaven and Earth or God and Sinners Moreover by this glorious Meâ—ium we have free access unto God which is the effects of Christ's Priestly Office It is on this Sacred Ladder we come with holy boldness to the Throne of Graâ—e It is by the blood of Jesus through him by one Spirit we have both that is Jews and Gentiles access unto the Father Again he saith In whom we have boldness and access with Confidence through Faith of â—im Christ is the Way of our Union with God and also of our Comâ—union All that divine and blessed intercourse that passeth between God and us is in and by Jesus Christ Seeing then we have a great High-Priâ—â—t tâ—â—t is passed into Heaven let us therefore come â—oldly to the Throne of Grace c. Again he saiâ—h Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Secondly Christ is exalted as he is a King and also as King he is the Antitype of Jacob's Ladder and in this respect wonderfully exalted Him hath God exalted at his Right-hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and remission of Sins Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Potentate It is by him Kings reign and Princes decree Judgment He pulls down one and sets up another as it pleaseth him 1. Christ my Brethren is the Father's Heir his First-born 2. He is also qualified with all Princely Wisdome
this look is of a Soul-transforming Nature but we all beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. This beholding of Christ will cause you to contemn all things here below and to account them as nothing nay worse than nothing in comparison of him for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but Dung that I may win Christ. Syriac and others Dog's Meat refuse cast to Dogs Thus do all that behold him in point of Justification in comparison of Christ esteem as nothing all good Works good Duties flowing from a sanctified Heart nay all inherit Holiness with Faith it self in respect of any Trust and Confidence therein So much is the object of Faith valued by all that thus behold him 6. It will draw the Souls of all that thus behold him to him and after him and to follow him whithersoever he goes When I am lifted up I will draw all Men to me When I am beheld on the Cross dying for them or in their stead Lo we have forsaken all and have followed thee They did thus and presently too as soon as he called them These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Those who thus see him are even sick of Love Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth c. Tell him I am sick of love O Sinners labour thus to behold him i.e. pierced for you â—ying and bleeding on the Cross for you offering himself to you standing at your Doors woing and entreating you to open to him to love him imbrace him and espouse him Consider by way of Excitation 1. Can you behold him entering into a Covenant of Redeâ—ption from Eternity for you and not love him Can you see hiâ— strike Hands with the Father leaving out your Names anâ— only putting his own Name in that Covenant as your Surety to pay all your Debts to sâ—tisfie divine Justice for all your Sins and dye in yâ—ur room and not love him 2. Can you see him take your nature upon him and become Man born of a poor Virgin a Babe laid in a Manger expâ—sed to the rage and malice of Men and Devils and not love him 3. Can you behold him and think of that purpose of Grace eternal Love and good Will unto you from eâ—erlasting and not love him 4. Can you behold him Betrayed left by his own Diâ—ciples Deny'd by Peter Spit upon Scourged his Hair Torn from his Beard and all be sprinkled with Blood condemned as a Malefactor â— owned with Thoâ—ns and not love him 5 Can you behold him in his bloody Agâ—ny sweating great drops of Blood Can you see him Nailed to a Tree and his Side pierced with a Spear which run into his Heart and all this for you and not love him Thirdly Reproof What vile Wretch dost thou do wilt thou Wound him again sight him grieve him and prefer thy Sins and Lusts above him befâ—re thou didst never truly behold him Shall God tâ— us display the glory of his Free grace and magnifie all his Attributes in our Redemption by Christ and dost thou â—iâ—ht and coâ—tâ—mn this glorious Contrivance aâ—d with thâ— Face of Impudence seek another way to go â—o â—eaven by Morality by the Light within bâ—â—â—â—â—ing something of thine own with his 〈◊〉 anâ—â—o think to go to Heaven by a Laddeâ— of â—â—y oâ—u â—evâ—siâ—g Fourthly By â—hâ— you 〈◊〉 see you that are Professors whetâ—â—â— you did â—ver Savingly behold the Lord Jesus or not have true Faith oâ— not Fifthly For Incouragement to aâ—â—to behold him 1. He is able to save you tho' neveâ— so vile and abominable Sinners to save you all to save all to the uttermost that come to God by him i.e. by this Ladder by this new and living Way 2. He is also willing as weâ—l as able This appears 1. By his Expressions and Invitations Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest How often would I have gathered thy Children together c. 2. By his Affections Behold me behold me What love hath he shewed and what Complaints of Sorrow and Grief at Sinners Unbelief 3. By his Actions even every wâ—y what Love greater Love infinite Love and williâ—gness can be shewed how hath he manifested his Readiness to save Sinners Sixthly Terror You must behold him by an eye of Faith or perish He that believes not shall be Damned He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him Obj. Perhaps some Sinner will say I dare not believe yet I am not humbled enough I am not fitted and prepared to come to Christ. Ans. Dost thou see thy self Sick here 's thy Physician what is required of the Sick before they come for Healing Dost thou see thy self a Sinner O then come here is thy Saviour Dost thou find Guilt to lye upon thy Conscience who can take it off but Christ Jesus Dost thou see thy Filthiness what can cleanse thee but Christ's Blood Come as thou art to the Fountain Dost thou Thirst after Happiness 't is no where to be found but in Christ tho' thou hast therefore no Money yet come thou canst not believe in Christ too soon Lastly By way of Consolation to Believers you are saved already have eternal Life in you Grace is the Seed of Glory you have drank of the water of Life and that will be a Well of Water in you springing up to everlasting Life You are going to Heaven on Jacob's Ladder and all the Devils and Powers of Darkness can't throw you down You shall never perish O bless the Lord and admire Free-grace and live to him all your Days with Joy and Thankfulness But no more now at this time SERMON IV. GENESIS xxviij xij xiij And behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it I Clos'd the last Day with the former part of our Text I shall give you one short Sermon God assisting concerning the holy Angels whom Jacob in his Vision saw ascending and descending upon it that is Antitypically upon Jesus Christ. Our blessed Saviour alludes as I told you to this Vision in the Gospel And he said unto him Verily verily I say unto you hereafter you shall see the Heavens open and the Angels of God ascending descending upon the Son of Maâ— Our Annotators assert as their Opinions That our Lord refers to Jacob's Vision Gen. 28.12 which doubtless puts a great glory on it it being no trifle or small thing that was represented unto him in that Dream and Vision but what a sight Nathaniel had afterwards of the Angels ascending and descending upon Christ the Son of Man I know not Some think it might be some further appearance