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

Thirdly, Though the godly have a respect to all Gods Commandments, yet they acknowledge an order amongst the commands, they know some are greater, and others less; And therefore when there cometh an indispensable omission of one, they pass by the least, and the contrary to this is grand hypocrisy, which our Saviour doth often condemn in the Pharisees; They omitted the great things of the Law, and Judgement, and Mercy, but were very diligent in the inferior things; Saul lost both a temporal and spiritual Kingdom in this respect; For Samuel tells him, Obedience was better then Sacrifice, 1 Sam. 15.22. and Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft; There is the great command of loving God with all our heart and soul, to which all others must bow.

Thirdly, Though the godly have a respect to all Gods Commadements, yet they acknowledge an order amongst the commands, they know some are greater, and others lesse; And therefore when there cometh an indispensable omission of one, they passe by the least, and the contrary to this is grand hypocrisie, which our Saviour doth often condemn in the Pharisees; They omitted the great things of the Law, and Judgement, and Mercy, but were very diligent in the inferiour things; Saul lost both a temporall and spirituall Kingdom in this respect; For Samuell tels him, Obedience was better then Sacrifice, 1 Sam. 15.22. and Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft; There is the great command of loving God with all our heart and soul, to which all others must bow.

Fourthly, We must always distinguish between the Integrity of parts of our obedience, and the intension of degrees; The godly though they reach to the former yet not to the latter: It's true by what reason we do any command in the integrity of it, we are bound to the perfection of it; But God giveth not such a measure of grace in this life; It's said of David and Zechariah with his Wife, that they walked in all the Commandments of God: Yet that cannot be understood perfectly, for how often did David fail and Zechariah for his unbelief was stricken dumb; There is no such thing as a Popish perfection; The Fathers abhorred it, our perfection is to acknowledge our imperfection, and then the Commandments are by Gods grace accounted done, when what is not done is forgiven and pardoned; These things premised let us consider why the godly are obedient to Gods commands, they dare not omit known duties, or commit known sins.