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

Lastly, He so finished it, that he hath left nothing to be done either by Angels or men, in that way and kind as he did. Therefore all these doctrines that maintain free-will, that hold the mediation and intercession of Saints in heaven, that maintain merits and satisfactions, all these blaspheme the sufficiency of Christ, and say, Christ hath not finished his work, for either Christ was a total and perfect Mediator, or else a partial; if a total and perfect, then there ⟨p. 123⟩needeth no more, one Sun is sufficient, all things added are superfluous, if a partial Mediator, then he did not finish his work, then he did it by halves, and so Angels and Men are to share with him in his glory; It's true they have many distinctions to mince the matter, but these fig-leaves cannot cover Adams nakedness, and it's made the sinful property of man fallen, to seek out many inventions; God made man upright, but they have sought •ut many inventions, Eccl. 7.29. They have many colours and pretences, many distinctions and excuses to cover their sins with; But you will say, If Christ hath done all, ¹and we are to do nothing, then what need we be diligent and zealous in the ways of godliness? Sin or not sin, it will be all one; Christ hath done all, therefore we may eat and drink, and rise up to all excess of riot; No, that is a Non sequitur?² For our duties are not required to that end which Christs was, but yet they are necessarily commanded for other ends; Though Christ did work and finish his work, yet thou must work and endeavour to finish thy work too; But how? It's good to understand this, for here Popery and the true Religion part, here they oppose one another: We plead the necessity, the presence, the command of good and holy works as well as they, only we differ in the end; They press them for such an end as Christ did his work for us, for merit, for justification, for our salvation; This we say is to derogate from Christ;

Lastly, He so finished it, that he hath left nothing to be done either by Angels or men, in that way and kinde as he did. Therefore all these doctrines that maintain free-will, that hold the mediation and intercession of Saints in heaven, that maintain merits and satisfactions, all these blaspheam the sufficiency of Christ, and say, Christ hath not finished his work, for either Christ was a totall and perfect Mediator, or else a partiall; if a totall and perfect, then there