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

2. He finished it universally for parts, and not only so, but fully for degrees: He did not only do every duty the Law required, but every duty in every degrees: he did not only love God, but he loved him as much as the Law required. The Law was possible to him, though to us it be impossible; all that he did was so fully done, that there wanted not the least degree of grace in any duty. As he had not the Spirit in measure, so neither was his obedience in ⟨p. 122⟩measure, thus far as is with us, to whom God giveth not such a measure of grace, as to be able perfectly to conform to the Law in this life; and here again the godly heart may lift up it self and be comforted, for what though thou come short many degrees of what the Law requireth, yet Christ did not: What though all thou dost may be better, yet Christ did all things so, that they could not be better, Perfectum est cui nihil deest: Now nothing was wanting to Christs obedience, otherwise Christ himself would have needed a Mediator as well as we; if he had failed in his trust he had been guilty of sin, and so needing of pardon; now it were blasphemy to say so of Christ, for the Apostle, Heb. 7.27. aggravateth and preferreth Christ our High Priest above the legal High Priest in this, because such an one was to offer for his own sins, as well as the sins of the people. Oh then it's no wonder if Paul be thus affected with Christ, and his righteousness, seeing all fullness and perfection is in it.

2. He finished it universally for parts, and not only so, but fully for degrees: He did not only do every duty the Law required, but every duty in every degrees: he did not only love God, but he loved him as much as the Law required. The Law was possible to him, though to us it be impossible; all that he did was so fully done, that there wanted not the least degree of grace in any duty. As he had not the Spirit in measure, so neither was his obedience in ⟨p. 122⟩measure, thus farre as is with us, to whom God giveth not such a measure of grace, as to be able perfectly to conform to the Law in this life; and here again the godly heart may lift up it self and be comforted, for what though thou come short many degrees of what the Law requireth, yet Christ did not: What though all thou dost may be better, yet Christ did all things so, that they could not be better, Perfectum est cui nihil deest: Now nothing was wanting to Christs obedience, otherwise Christ himself would have needed a Mediator as well as we; if he had failed in his trust he had been guilty of sinne, and so needing of pardon; now it were blasphemy to say so of Christ, for the Apostle,