CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. Would you Rejoice in this Truth? Then Acquaint your selves with the Imperfection of your graces, and the insufficiency that is in you even when you have done the best; For by this means you will find that every thing within faileth you, Nothing will stand sure enough, and thereby you will be necessitated to seek for a Mediator without: Thus Paul Rom. 7. when he discovered all that dross within himself, That when he would do good evil was present with him, Yet what doth this drive him to at last; I thank God through Jesus Christ; And David upon the apprehension of what defects did cleave to him, prayeth That God would not enter into Judgement, for then no flesh should be justified, Psa. 133. Not any one person in the world because he is flesh; Oh there is little cause for any man to bear up his Head, though he did ten Thousand times more then he did, though he were a Giant in Grace, whereas now he is but a Dwarf, because there is so much Imperfection in the best Duty, that it needs pardon; Not only our sins but our Righteousness needs the Righteousness of Christ, as you see Paul acknowledged, and the Church of old complained comparing them to a menstruous Cloth, Isa. 64.6. Oh then if thou wert settled in this, thou wouldest cry out, Christ he is all in all.

4. Would you Rejoyce in this Truth? Then Acquaint your selves with the Imperfection of your graces, and the insufficiency that is in you even when you have done the best; For by this means you will finde that every thing within faileth you, Nothing will stand sure enough, and thereby you will be necessitated to seek for a Mediatour without: Thus Paul Rom. 7. when he discovered all that drosse within himself, That when he would do good evil was present with him, Yet what doth this drive him to at last; I thank God through Jesus Christ; And David upon the apprehension of what defects did cleave to him, praieth That God would not enter into Judgement, for then no flesh should be justified, Psa. 133. Not any one person in the world because he is flesh; Oh there is little cause for any man to bear up his Head, though he did ten Thousand times more then he did, though he were a Gyant in Grace, whereas now he is but a Dwarf, because there is so much Imperfection in the best Duty, that it needs pardon; Not onely our sinnes but our Righteousnesse needs the Righteousnesse of Chtist, as you see Paul acknowledged, and the Church of old complained comparing them to a menstruous Cloth,