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

3. It was not only his work but our work, ¹Alas Christ was not obliged to these duties for his own sake, but it was for our sake, so that the godly with great affection may consider of these works of Christ, for they concern thee; They are our works both impetrativè they merit for us, they procure good for us, and imputativè we are made the righteousness of God, as our sins were accounted his.

3. It was not only his work but our work, ¹Alas Christ was not obliged to these duties for his own sake, but it was for our sake, so that the godly with great affection may consider of these works of Christ, for they concern thee; They are our works both impetrativè they merit for us, they procure good for us, and imputativè we are made the righteousnesse of God, as our sins were accounted his.

1. 13. His works are our works.

4. The necessity of this working, and working so perfectly, and that doth appear from the justice of God and purity of the Law, and partly from our impotency,¹ from the justice of God, for that being infinite nothing could satisfy him but what was of infinite worth; It would have been injustice in God to have given us heaven otherwise, and then partly from the holiness of the Law, that admits of no works but perfect, pure, and holy; Therefore to say God accepts of imperfect holiness, and accounts that as complete which is not so, is to attribute false judgement unto God, and lastly our own impotency proclaimeth the necessity of Christs perfection, for take us as we are in our selves, so we are nothing but sin and a curse; In stead of working Gods work we do the devils, and take us as regenerated then though we be partakers of Gods grace, yet the remnant of corruption within us doth stain and infect all that we do.