Wherefore Secondly The Occasion of his exercising of this Office of Advocate is as hath been hinted already when a Child of God shall be found guilty before God of some heinous Sin of some grievous thing in his Life and Conversation For as for those Infirmities that attend the best in their most spiritual Sacrifices if a Child of God were guilty of ten thousand of them they are of Course purged through the much Incense that is always mixed with those Sacrifices in the golden Censer that is in the Hand of Christ And so he kept clean and counted upright notwithstanding those Infirmities And therefore you shall find that notwithstanding those common Faults the the Children of God are counted good and upright in Conversation and not charged as Offenders David saith the Text did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his Life save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite 1 Kin. 15.5 But was David in a strict Sense without Fault in all things else No verily But that was foul in a higher degree than the rest and therefore there God sets a blot Ay and doubtless for that he was accused by Satan before the Throne of God For here is Adultery and Murder and Hypocrisie in David â—s doings Here is notorious matter a great Sin and so a great Ground for Satan to draw up an Indictment against the King and a thundering one to be sure shall be preferred against him This is the time then for to Christ stand up to plead For now there is room for such a Question can David's Sin stand with Grace or is it possible that a Man that has done as he has should yet be found a Saint and so in a Saved State Or can God repute him so and yet be Holy and Just Or can the Merits of the Lord Jesus reach according to the Law of Heaven a Man in this Condition Here is a Case dubious here 's a Man whose Salvation by his foul Offences is made doubtful Now we must to Law and Judgment wherefore now let Christ stand up to plead I say now was David's Case dubious Psal. 51. he was afraid that God would cast him away and the Devil hoped that he would and to that end charged him before God's Face if perhaps he might get Sentence of Damnation to pass upon his Soul. But this was David's Mercy he had an Advocate to plead his Cause by whose Wisdom and Skill in Matters of Law and Judgment he was brought off of those heavy Charges from those gross Sins and delivered from that eternal Condemnation that by the Law of Sin and Death was due thereto This is then the occasion that Christ taketh to plead as Advocate for the Salvation of his People to wit the Cause he pleadeth the Cause of his People Not every Cause but such and such a Cause the Cause that is very bad and by the which they are involved not only in Guilt and Shame but also in danger of Death and Hell. I say the Cause is bad if the Text be true if Sin can make it bad yea if Sin it Self be bad If any Man sin we have an Advocate An Advocate to plead for him for him as considered guilty and so consequently as considered in a bad Condition 'T is true we must distinguish between the Person and the Sin and Christ pleads for the Person not the Sin but yet he cannot be concerned with the Person but he must be with the Sin for tho the Person and the Sin may be distinguished yet they cannot be separated He must plead then not for a Person only but for a guilty Person for a Person under the worst of Circumstances If any Man sin we have an Advocate for him as so considered When a Man's Cause is good it will sufficiently plead for it self yea and for its Master too specially when it is made appear so to be before a Just and Righteous Judge Here therefore needs no Advocate the Judge himself will pronounce him righteous This is evidently seen in Job Thou movest me against him this said God to Satan to destroy him without a Cause Job 2.3 Thus far Job's Cause was good wherefore he did not need an Advocate his Cause pleaded for its self and for its owner also But if it was to plead good Causes for which Christ is appointed Advocate then the Apostle should have written thus If any Man be righteous we have an Advocate with the Father Indeed I never heard but one in all my Life preach from this Text and he when he came to handle the Cause for which he was to plead pretended it must be good and therefore said to the People see that your Cause be good else Christ will not undertake it But when I heard it Lord thought I if this be true what shall I do and what will become of all this People yea and of this Preacher too Besides I saw that by the Text the Apostle supposeth an other Cause a Cause bad exceeding bad if Sin can make it so And this was one Cause why I undertook this work When we speak of a Cause we speak not of a Person simply as so considered For as I said before Person and Cause must be distinguished Nor can the person make the Cause good but as he regulates his Action by the Word of God If then a good a righteous man doth what the Law condemns that thing is bad and if he be indicted for so doing he is indicted for a bad Cause and he that will be his Advocate must be concerned in and about a bad Matter and how he will bring his Client off therein doth lie the Mystery I know that a bad Man may have a good Cause depending before the Judge and so also good Men have Job 31. but then they are bold in their own Cause and fear not to make mention of it and in Christ to plead their Innocency before the God of Heaven as well as before Men Psal. 71.3 4 5. 2 Cor. 1.23 Gal. 1.20 Phil. 1.8 But we have in the Text a Cause that all Men are afraid of a Cause that the Apostle concludes so bad that none but Jesus Christ himself can save the Christian from it It is not only sinful but Sin it self If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Wherefore there is in this Place handled by the Apostle one of the greatest Mysteries under Heaven To wit That an innocent and holy Jesus should take in hand to plead for one before a just and righteous God that has defiled himself with Sin. Yea that he should take in Hand to plead for such an one against the fallen Angels and that he should also by his Plea effectually rescue and bring them off from the Crimes and Curse whereof they were verily guilty by the Verdict of the Law and Approbation of the Judge This
John Bunnyon THE ADVOCATESHIP OF JESUS CHRIST Clearly Explained AND Largely Improved FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS FROM 1 John 2.1 And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous By JOHN BVNYAN Author of the Pilgrim's Progress London Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in the Poultry 1688. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader OF all the excellent 〈…〉 God the Father haâ— conferred upon 〈◊〉 Châ—iâ—t ouâ— Lord this of his being an Advocate with him for us is not the least tho to the shame of Saints it may be spoken the blessed benefits thereof have not with that diligence and fervenâ— desire been enquired after as they ought Christ as Sacrifice Priest and King with the glories in and thaâ— flow from him as such has God be thanked in this our day been much discovered by our Seers and as much rejoiced in by those who have believed their words but as he is an Advocate with the Father an Advocate for us I fear the excellency of that doth still too much lie hid Tho I am verily of opinion that the Peâ—ple of God in this Age have as much need of the knowledge thereoâ— if not more need than had their Brethren that are gone before them These words if not more need Perhaps may seem to some to be 〈◊〉 what out of Joint but let the Godly-wise consider the Decays that are amongst us as to the Power of Godliness And what abundance of foul miscarriages the generality of Professors now stand guilty of as also how diligent their great Enemy is to accuse them at the Bar of God for them And I think they will conclude that in so saying I indeed have said some truth Wherefore when I have thoughâ— on this and have somewhat conâ—idered also the transcendent excellency of the Advocateship oâ— this our Lord And again that but little of the Glory thereof has by writing been in our day communicated to the Chuâ—ch I adventured to write what I have seen thereof and do by â—hat doth follow present it unto her for good I count not my self sufficient for this or for any other truth as it is in Jesus But yet I say I have told you somewhat of it accordding to the proportion of Faith. And I believe that some will thank God for what I here have said about it but it will be chiefly those whose Right and Title to the Kingdom of Heaven and Glory doth seem to themselves to be called in question by their Enemy at the Bar of the judge of all These I say will read and be glad to hear that they have an Advocate at Court that will stand up to plead for them and that will yet secure to them a right to the heavenly Kingdom Wherefore it is more particularly for those that at present or that hereafter may be in this dreadful plight that this my Book is now made publick Because it is as I have shewed for such that Jesus Christ is Advocate with the Father Of the many and singular advantages therefore that such have by this their Advocate in his Advocating for them this Book gives some account As where he pleads how he pleads what he pleads when he pleads with whom he pleads for whom he pleads and how the Enemy is put to shame and silence before their God and all the holy Angels Here is also shewed to those herein concerned how they indeed may know that Jesus is their Advocate Yea and how their matâ—ers go before their God the Judge And particularly that they shall well come off at last Yea tho their Cause as 't is theirâ— is such in Justification of which themselves don 't dare to shew their Heads Nor have I left the dejected Souls without Directionâ— how to entertain this Advocate to plead their Cause Yea I have also shewn that he will be with ease prevailed with to stand up to plead for such as one would think the very Heavens would blush to hear them named by him Their comfort also is that he never lost a Cause nor a Soul for whom he undertook to be an Advocate with God. But Reader I will on longer detain thee from the perusal of the Discourse Read and think read and compare what thou readest with the Word of God. If thou findest any benefit by what thou readest give the Father and his Son the Glory and also pray for me If thou findest me short in this or to exceed in that impute all such things to my weakness of which I am always full Fare-wel I am thine to serve thee what I may JOHN BUNYAN The Contents of this Treatise Page THe Apostles divine Policy to beget a due regard to his divine Doctrine of Eternal Life 1 The Apostles Explication of this Expression viz. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin 2 The Apostles Exhortation to separation from sin as a good effect of a good cause Viz. forgiveness ib. The Apostlâ—s addition to prevent misunderstanding viz. we have an Advocate with the Father 3 This brings to the Text in which are two great truths contained 1. A Supposition viz. that Men in Christ may sin ib. 2. An Expression by way of Consolation in case of Sin viz. we have an Advocate with the Father ib. An Enquiry into the First Viz. what our Apostle means by Sin In which is considered a difference in the Person and in the Sin. 4 5 An Enquiry into the Second viz what it is for Christ to be an Advocate viz. To plead for another in a Court of Judicature 6 Seven things supposed in the Office of Advocate 1. That God as Judge is on the Throne of Judgment ib. 2. That Saints are concerned at that Bar. 7 3. That Christians have an Accuser 8 4. That sinning Saints dare not appear at this Bar to plead their own Cause 9 5. That Christians are apt to forget their Advocate and remember their Judge 10 6. To remember our Advocate is the way to support Faith and Hope 11 7. That if our Advocate plead our Cause tho that be never so black he is able to bring us off 12 The Apostles triumph in Christ on this account 13 An Exhortation to the difficult task of believing 14 Christ's Advocateship declares us to be sorry creatures 16 The Method observed in the ensuing discourse 17 First To speak of this Advocate 's Office. ib. 1. By touching on the Nature of this Office. 18 2. By treating of the Order or Place of this Office. 19 3. The occasion of this Office viz. some great Sin. 21 Christ as Advocate pleads a Bad Cause 23 A good Cause will plead for it self 24 A pestilent passage of a Preacher 25 A bad man may have a Good Cause and a good man may have a Bad Cause 26 Christ the righteous pleading a Bad Cause is a mystery ib. The best Saints are most sensible of their Sins 27 Second To shew how Christ does manage his
Office. 28 1. ALONE Not by any Proxy or Deputy No Virgin Mary Or Saint or Angel. ib. 2. Christ pleads at Gods Bar the Cause cannot be removed into another Court. 29 If removed from Heaven we have no Advocate on Earth 30 In pleading Christ observes these Rules 1. He granteth what is charged on us ib. 2. He pleads his own goodness for us 32 He payeth all our debt down 33 All mouths stopped who would not have the Sinner delivered 34 Christ requires a Verdict in order to our deliverance ib. The Sinner is delivered God contented Satan confounded and Christ applauded 35 II. How Christ manages his Office of an Advocate against the Adversary by Argument ib. 1. He pleads the pleasure of his Father in his Merits 37 Satan rebuked for finding fault therewith 38 2. He pleads God's Interest in his People 39 Haman's mishap in being ingaged against the Kings Queen N B. 40 It seems a weak Plea because of Man's unworthiness But it 's a strong Plea because of God's worthiness 41 The Elect are bound to God by a seven-fold cord 42 43 The weight of this Plea weighed 44 3. Christ pleads his own Interest in them 45 A Parallel between Cattel in a Pound and Christ's own Sheep 46 Six weighty Reasons in this Plea. 1. They are Christ's own 47 2. They cost him dear ib. 3. He hath made them near to himself 48 They are his Spouse his Love his Dove They are Members of his Body 49 A Man cannot spare a Hand a Foot a Finger 50 Nor can Christ spare any Member 51 4. Christ pleads his right in Heaven to give it to whom he will. ib. Christ will Satan will not Christ's Will stands 52 5. Christ pleads Satan's enmity against the godly 53 Satan is the Cause of the Crimes he accuses us of 55 A Simile of a weak-witted Child ib. 6. Christ can plead those Sins of Saints for them for which Satan would have them damned 58 Eight Considerations to clear that 60 61 Seven more Considerations to the same end 62 63 Men care most for Children that are infirm ib. A Father offended hath been appeased by a Brother turning Advocate 64 Third Head To shew who have Christ for an Advocate Wherein are three things contained 65 I. This Office of Advocate differs from that of a Priest. ib. 1. They difer in Name ib. 2. They differ in Nature 66 3. They differ as to their Extent ib. 4. They differ as to the Persons with whom they have to do ib. 5. They differ as to the Matter about which they are employed ib. 6. Christ as Priest preceeds Christ as Advocate succeeds 67 II. How far this Office of an Advocate is extended In five Particulars 68 III. Who have Christ for their Advocate ib. 1. In general All adopted Children 69 Obj. The Text saith if any Man sin 70 Ans. Any Man is not any of the World But any of the children of God. A difference in Children some bigger than some 73 Christ an Advocate for strong men 74 75 2. In particular to shew if Christ be our Advocate 76 I. If one have entertained Christ to plead a Cause ib. Que. How shall I know that 77 Answ. By being sensible of an Action commenced against thee in the high Court of Justice ib. II. If one have revealed a Cause to Christ. 79 An example of one revealing his Cause to Christ in a Closet 80 â—n Order to this one must know Christ. â— To be a Friend 81 â— To be faithful 82 â—II If one have committed a Cause to Christ. 83 â—n order to this one must be convinced Of Christ's Ability to defend him 84 Of Christ's Courage to plead a Cause ib. Of Christ's Will for this work 85 Of Christ's tenderness in case of his Clients dulness ib. Of Christ's unweariedness 86 IV. If one wait till things come to a legal Issue 87 Que. What is it thus to wait 88 Answ. 1. To be of good Courage Look for deliverance 89 2. To keep his way in waiting ib. 3. To observe his Directions ib. 4. To hearken to future Directions which may come from the Advocate ib. 5. To come to no ill conclusion in waiting viz. that the Cause is lost because one hears not from Court. 90 6. To wait waking Not sleeping ib. Ordinances and Ministers compar'd to a Post-house and Carriers of Letters 91 The Clients comfortable conclusion about his Advocate and Cause ib. But yet doubting and desponding 92 93 The Authors reply to and comply with the Clients conclusion And his Council in the case 94 Fourth Head. To shew the Clients Privileges by the benefit of this Office of Advocate 95 Priv. 1. The Advocate pleads a price paid ib. Of a rich Brother and his poor Brethren 96 Of the ill-conditioned Man their Enemy ib. Farther cleared by three considerations 97 Priv. 2. The Clients Advocate pleads for himseâ—f also both concerned in one bottom 99 1. He pleads the price of his own Blood. ib. 2. He pleads it for his Own. 100 A Simile of a lame Horse ib. Of Men going to Law for a thing of little worth ib. Obj. I am but one 101 Answ. Christ cannot lose one 102 Priv. 3. The Plea of Satan is groundless ib. Satan must be cast over the Bar. 103 A Simile of a Widow owing a Sum of Money 105 Of an Old Law nulled by a New Law. 106 Satan pleads by the Old Law Christ by the New. ib. Priv. 4. Is consequential The Clients Accuser must need be overthrown 107 The Clients solemn appeal to the Almighty 108 In case the accused have no Advocate Satan prevails ib. Priv. 5. The Advocate hath pity for his Client And indignation against the Accuser 109 Men chuse an Advocate who hath a Quarrel against their Adversary 110 Priv. 6. The Judge counts the Accuser his Enemy 111 To procure the Judges Son to plead is desirable ib. Priv. 7. The Clients Advocate hath good courage He will set his Face like a Flint 112 He pleads before the God and all the Host of Heaven 113 He is the Old Friend of Publicans and Sinners ib. He pleads a Cause bad enough to make Angels blush 114 Love will Do and Bear and Suffer much 115 Priv. 8. The Advocate is alway ready in Court. 116 He appears NOW in the Presence of God. 117 Priv. 9. The Advocate will not be blinded with Bribes 118 Priv. 10. The Advocate is Judge in the Clients Cause 120 Joseph's Exaltation was Israel's advantage 121 God's care of his Peoples welfare 122 Priv. 11. The Advocate hath all that is requisite for an Advocate to have 123 Last Head. To shew the necessity of Christ for our Advocate 124 I. To vindicate the Justice of God against the cavils of the Devil 125 Satan charges God with unjust Words Actions 126 God is pleased with his design to save Sinners ib. II. There is Law to be objected against us 128 Christ appeals to the Law it Self 130 Christ is not ashamed to
own the way of Salvation 132 III. Many things give our Accuser advantage 1. Many things relating to the Promises 133 2. Many things relating to our Lives 134 3. The threats annexed to the Gospel 137 IV. To plead about our afflictions for Sins 139 A Simile of a Man indicted at the Assize And his malicious Adversary ib. An allusion to Abishai and Shimei who cursed David 141 V. To plead the efficacy of our Old Titles to our Inheritance if questionable because of New Sins 142 Saints do not sell their Inheritance by Sin. 143 VI. Our Evidences are oft out of our hand And we recover them by our Advocate 147 Obj. 1. What need all these Offices or nice distinctions 150 Answ. The Wisdom of God is not to be charged with folly ib. God's People are baffled with the Devil for want of a distinct knowledge of Christ in all his Offices 152 Obj. 2. My Cause being bad Christ will desert me 153 Answ. Sin is a deadly obstruction to Faith. ib. A five-fold Order observed in the exercise of Faith. 154 Obj. 3. But who shall pay the Advocate his Fee 157 Answ. There is Law and Lawyers too without money ib. Christ pleads for the Poor ib. David's strange gift to God. 159 Obj. 4. If Christ be my Advocate once he will always be troubled with me 160 Answ. He is an Advocate to the utmost Vse 1. To consider the Dignity God hath put upon Christ by Offices Places of trust and Titles of honour in general 162 Vse 2. To consider this Office of an Advocate in particular By which consideration these advantages come 168 1. To see one is not forsaken for Sin. ib. 2. To take Courage to contend with the Devil 169 3. It affords relief for discouraged Faith. ib. 4. It helps to put off the Vizard Satan puts on Christ. 170 A Simile of a Vizard on the Face of a Father 171 Study this peculiar Treasure of an Advocate 1. With reference to it's peculiarity 172 2. Study the Nature of this Office. 173 3. Study its efficacy and prevalency ib. 4. Study Christ's Faithfulness in his Office. 174 5. Study the need of a share therein 175 Vse 3. To wonder at Christ's condescention in being an Advocate for the base and unworthy 177 Christ's acts in open Court. 1. With an holy and just God. 179 2. Before all the heavenly Host. 180 3. The Client is unconcerned for whom the Advocate is engaged 181 4. The Majesty of the Man that is an Advocate 182 Vse 4. Improve this Doctrine to strengthen Grace ib. 1. To strengthen Faith. ib. 2. To encourage to Prayer 184 3. To keep humble 186 4. To encourage to perseverance 188 Obj. I cannot pray My Mouth is stopp'd 189 Answ. Satan cannot silence Christ. 190 5. Improve this Doctrine to drive Difficulties down ib. Vse 5. If Christ pleads for us before God we should plead for him before Men. 191 Nine Considerations to that end 192 The last Reserve for a dead lift 193 Vse 6. To be wary of Sin against God. 194 Christianity teaches Ingenuity ib. Christ is our Advocate on free-cost 195 A comely conclusion of a Brute 198 Three Considerations added ib. Vse 7. The strong are to tell the weak of an Advocate to plead their Cause 199 1. Many things relating to the Promises 133 2. Many things relating to our Lives 134 3. The threats annexed to the Gospel 137 IV. To plead about our afflictions for Sins 139 A Simile of a Man indicted at the Assize And his malicious Adversary ib. An allusion to Abishai and Shimei who cursed David 141 V. To plead the efficacy of our Old Titles to our Inheritance if questionable because of New Sins 142 Saints do not sell their Inheritance by Sin. 143 VI. Our Evidences are oft out of our hand And we recover them by our Advocate 147 Obj. 1. What need all these Offices or nice distinctions 150 Answ. The Wisdom of God is not to be charged with folly ib. God's People are baffled with the Devil for want of a distinct knowledge of Christ in all his Offices 152 Obj. 2. My Cause being bad Christ will desert me 153 Answ. Sin is a deadly obstruction to Faith. ib. A five-fold Order observed in the exercise of Faith. 154 Obj. 3. But who shall pay the Advocate his Fee 157 Answ. There is Law and Lawyers too without money ib. Christ pleads for the Poor ib. David's strange gift to God. 159 Obj. 4. If Christ be my Advocate once he will always be troubled with me 160 Answ. He is an Advocate to the utmost Vse 1. To consider the Dignity God hath put upon Christ by Offices Places of trust and Titles of honour in general 162 Vse 2. To consider this Office of an Advocate in particular By which consideration these advantages come 168 1. To see one is not forsaken for Sin. ib 2. To take Courage to contend with the Devil 16â— 3. It affords relief for discouraged Faith. ib 4. It helps to put off the Vizard Satan puts on Christ. 170 A Simile of a Vizard on the Face of a Father 171 Study this peculiar Treasure of an Advocate 1. With reference to it's peculiarity 172 2. Study the Nature of this Office. 173 3. Study its efficacy and prevalency ib. 4. Study Christ's Faithfulness in his Office. 174 5. Study the need of a share therein 175 Vse 3. To wonder at Christ's condescention in being an Advocate for the base and unworthy 177 Christ acts in open Court. 1. With an holy and just God. 179 2. Before all the heavenly Host. 180 3. The Client is unconcerned for whom the Advocate is engaged 181 4. The Majesty of the Man that is an Advocate 182 Vse 4. Improve this Doctrine to strengthen Grace ib. 1. To strengthen Faith. ib. 2. To encourage to Prayer 184 3. To keep humble 186 4. To encourage to perseverance 188 Obj. I cannot pray My Mouth is stopp'd 189 Answ. Satan cannot silence Christ. 190 5. Improve this Doctrine to drive Difficulties down ib. Vse 5. If Christ pleads for us before God we should plead for him before Men. 191 Nine Considerations to that end 192 The last Reserve for a dead lift 193 Vse 6. To be wary of Sin against God. 194 Christianity teaches Ingenuity ib. Christ is our Advocate on free-cost 195 A comely conclusion of a Brute 198 Three Considerations added ib. Vse 7. The strong are to tell the weak of an Advocate to plead their Cause 199 A word in season is good ib. Vse 8. All is nothing to them that have none to plead their Cause 202 A doleful cry of a Doctor of great note for godliness when on the Bier in the Church to be buried viz. I am accused at the Judgment of God. The People ran all away amazed The next day he arose again and cried I am judged at the just Judgment of God. The People ran away again fearfully frighted The third day he arose and cried more dolefully I
Advocate An Advocate is one who pleadeth for another at any bar or before any Court of Judicature but of this more in its place So then we have in the Text a Christian as supposed committing Sin and a Declaration of an Advocate prepared to plead for him If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father And this leads me first to enquire into what by these words the Apostle must of necessity presuppose For making use here of the Similitude or Office of an Advocate thereby to shew the preservation of the sinning Christian He must 1. Suppose That God as Judge is now upon the Throne of his Judgment For an Advocate is to plead at a Bar before a Court of Judicature Thus it is among Men and for as much as our Lord Jesus is said to be an Advocate with the Father it is clear that there is a Throne of Judgment also This the Prophet Micaiah affirms saying I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne and all the Host of Heaven standing by him on the Right hand and on the Left 1 Kin. 22.19 20. Sitting upon a Throne for Judgment for from the Lord as then sitting upon that Throne proceeded that Sentence against King Ahab that he should go and fall at Ramah-gilead And he did go and did fall there as the award or fruit of that Judgment That 's the First 2. The Text also supposeth that the Saints as well as Sinners are concerned at that Bar for the Apostle saith plainly That there we have an Advocate And the Saints are concerned at that Bar because they transgress as well as others and because the Law is against the Sin of Saints as well as against the Sins of other Men. If the Saints were not capable of committing of Sin what need would they have of an Advocate 1 Chr. 21.3 4 5 6. 1 Sam. 12.13 14. Yea though they did sin yet if they were by Christ so set free from the Law as that it could by no means take cognisance of their Sins what need would they have of an Advocate none at all If there be twenty places where there are Assizes kept in this Land yet if I have offended no Law what need have I of an Advocate specially if the Judge be Just and knows me altogether as the God of Heaven does But here 's a Judge that 's just and here 's an Advocate also an Advocate for the Children an Advocate to plead for an Advocate as such is not of use but before a Bar to plead therefore here is an Offence and so a Law broken by the Saints as well as others That 's the Second thing 3. As the Text supposeth that there is a Judge and Crimes of Saints So it supposeth that there is an Accuser one that will carefully gather up the Faults of good Men and that will plead them at this Bar against them Hence we read of the Accuser of the Brethren that accuseth them before God day and night Rev. 12.10 11 12. For Satan doth not only tempt the godly Man to sin but having prevailed with him and made him guilty he packs away to the Court to God the Judge of all and there addresses himself to accuse that Man and to lay to his charge the heinousness of his offence pleading against him the Law that he has broken the light against which he did it and the like But now for the relief and support of such poor People the Apostle by the Text presents them with an Advocate That is with one to plead for them while Satan pleads against them With one that pleads for Pardon while Satan by accusing seeks to pull Judgment and Vengeance upon our Heads If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous That 's the Third thing 4. As the Apostle supposeth a Judge crimes and an Accuser So he also supposeth that those here-in concerned to wit the sinning Children neither can nor dare attempt to appear at this Bar themselves to plead their own Cause before this Judge and against this Accuser For if they could or durst do this what need they have an Advocate for an Advocate is of use to them whose cause themselves neither can nor dare appear to plead Thus Job pray'd for an Advocate to plead his Cause with God Job 16.20.21 And David cries out Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant O God for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified Psal. 143.1 2 3. Wherefore 't is evident that Saints neither can nor dâ—re adventure to plead their cause Alas the Judge is the Almighty and Eternal God. The Law broken is the holy and perfect Rule of God in it self a consuming Fire The Sin is so odious and a thing so abominable that 't is enough to make all the Angels blush to hear it but so much as once mentioned in so holy a place as that is where this Great God doth sit to judge This Sin now hangs about the neck of him that hath committed it yea it covereth him as doth a mantle The Adversary is bold cunning and audacious and can word a thousand of us into an utter Silence in less than half a quarter of an hour What then should the Sinner if he could come there do at this Bar to plead Nothing nothing for his own Advantage But now comes in his Mercy he has an Advocate to plead his Cause If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous That 's the fourth thing But again 5. The Apostle also supposeth by the Text That there is an aptness in Christians when they have sinned to forget that they have an Advocate with the Father Wherefore this is written to put them in Remembrance If any Man sin let him remember we have an Advocate We can think of all other things well enough namely that God is a just Judge that the Law is perfectly holy that my Sin is an horrible and an abominable thing and that I am certainly there of accused before God by Satan These things I say we readily think of and forget them not Our Conscience puts as in mind of these our Guilt puts us in mind of these the Devil puts us in mind of these and our Reason and Sense holdeth the Knowledge and Remembrance of these close to us all that we forget is that we have an Advocate an Advocate with the Father that is one that is appointed to take in hand in open Court before all the Angels of Heaven my cause and to plead it by such Law and Arguments as will certainly fetch me off tho I am cloathed with filthy Garments But this I say we are apt to forget as Job when he said Oh that one might plead for a Man with God as one pleads for his Neighbour Job 16.21 Such an one Job had but he had almost at this time forgot it as he seems to intimate also where he wisheth for a days-man that might lay
Jesus Christ too But above all the Advocateship of Jesus Christ declares us to be sorry Creatures For that Office does as it were predict that some time or other we shall basely fall and by falling be undone if the Lord Jesus stand not up to plead And as it shews this concerning us so it shews concerning God that he will not lightly or easily lose his People He has provided well for us Blood to wash us in a Priest to pray for us that we may be made to persevere and in case we soully fall an Advocate to plead our Cause and to recover us from under and out of all that danger that by Sin and Satan we at any time may be brought into But Having thus briefly passed through that in the Text that I think the Apostle must necessarily presuppose I shall now endeavour to enter into the Bowels of it and see what in a more particular Manner shall be found therein And for my more profitable doing of this work I shall chuse to observe this Method in my discourse First I shall shew you more particularly of this Advocate 's Office or what and wherein Christ's Office as Advocate doth lie Secondly After that I shall also shew you how Jesus Christ doth manage this Office of an Advocate Thirdly I shall also then shew you who they are that have Jesus Christ for their Advocate Fourthly I shall also shew you what excellent Privileges they have who have Jesus Christ for their Advocate Fifthly And to silence Cavillers I shall also shew the necessity of this Office of Jesus Christ. Sixthly I shall come to answer some Objections And Lastly to the Use and Application To begin with the First of these namely to shew you more particularly of Christ's Office as an Advocate and wherein it lieth The which I shall do these three ways 1. Touch again upon the Nature of this Office. And then 2. Treat of the Order and Place that it hath among the rest of his Offices And 3. Treat of the Occasion of the Execution of this Office. First To touch upon the Nature of this Office. It is that which impowereth a Man to plead for a Man or one man to plead for another not in common Discourses and upon common Occasions as any man may do but at a Bar or before a Court of Judicature where a Man is accused or impleaded by his Enemy I say this Advocate 's Office is such both here and in the Kingdom of Heaven An Advocate is as one of our Attorneys at least in the general who pleads according to Law and Justice for one or other that is in trouble by Reason of some Miscarriage or of the naughty Temper of some that are about him who trouble and vex and labour to bring him into danger of the Law. This is the Nature of this Office as I said on Earth and this is the Office that Christ executeth in Heaven Wherefore he saith If any Man sin we have an Advocate one to stand up for him and to plead for his deliverance before the Bar of God Joel 3.2 Isa. 66.16 Ezek. 38.22 Jer. 2. For tho in some Places of the Scripture Christ is said to plead for his with Men and that by terrible Arguments as by Fire and Sword and Famine and Pestilence yet this is not that which is intended by this Text for the Apostle here saith he is an Advocate with the Father or before the Father to plead for those that there or that to the Fathers Face shall be accused for their Transgressions If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous So then this is the imploy of Jesus Christ as he is for us an Advocate He has undertaken to stand up for his People at God's Bar and before that great Court there to plead by the Law and Justice of Heaven for their Deliverance when for their Faults they are accused indicted or impleaded by their Adversary 2. And now to treat of the Order or Place that this Office of Christ hath among the rest of his Offices which he doth execute for us while we are here in a State of Imperfection And I think it is an Office that is to come â—ehind as a Reserve or for an Help at last when all other Means shall seem to fail Men do not use to go to Law upon every Occasion or if they do the Wisdom of the Judge the Jury and the Court will not admit that every Brangle and foolish Quarrel shall come before them but an Advocate doth then come into Place and then to the Exercise of his Office when a Cause is counted worthy to be taken notice of by the Judge and by the Court. Wherefore he I say comes in the last Place as a reserve or help at last to plead and by pleading to set that right by Law which would otherwise have caused an increase to more doubts and to further Dangers Christ as Priest doth always works of Service for us because in our most spiritual things there may faults and Spots be found and these he taketh away of Course by the Exercise of that Office. For he always wears that Plate of Gold upon his Fore-head before the Father whereon is written Holiness to the Lord. But now besides these common Infirmities there are Faults that are highly gross and foul that oft are found in the Skirts of the Children of God. Now these are they that Satan taketh hold on these are they that Satan draweth up a Charge against us for And to save us from these it is that the Lord Jesus is made an Advocate When Joshua was cloathed with filthy Garments then Satan stood at his right Hand to resist him and then the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus pleaded for his Help Zech. 3. By all which it appears that this Office comes behind is provided as a Reserve that we may have help at a pinch and then be lifted out when we sink in mire where there is no standing This is yet further hinted at by the several Postures that Christ is said to be in as he exerciseth his Priestly and Advocate 's Office. As a Priest he sits as an Advocate he stands Isa. 3.13 The Lord stands up when he pleads His sitting is more constant and of Course Sit thou c. but his standing is occasional when Joshua is indicted or when Hell and Earth is broken loose against his Servant Stephen For as Joshua was accused by the Devil and as then the Angel of the Lord stood by so when Stephen was accused by men on Earth and that Charge seconded by the fallen Angels before the Face of God 't is said the Lord Jesus stood on the Right Hand of God Act. 7.55 wit to plead for so I take it because standing is his Posture as an Advocate Heb. 10. not as a Priest for as a Priest he must sit down but he standeth as an Advocate as has been shew'd afore
again The Lord is well pleased for for his Christ's Righteousness Sake Isa. 42.21 All that enter Actions against others pretend that wrong is done either against themselves or against the King. Now Satan will never enter an Action against us in the Court above for that wrong by us has been done to himself he must pretend then that he sues us for that Wrong has by us been done to our King But behold we have an Advocate with the Father and he has made Compensation for our Offences He gave himself for our Offences But still Satan maintains his Suit and our God saith he is well pleased with us for this Compensation Sake yet he will not leave off his Clamor Come then says the Lord Jesus the Contention is not now against my People but my self and about the Sufficiency of the Amends that I have made for the Transgressions of my People But he is near that justifieth me that approveth and accepteth of my Doings Therefore shall I not be confounded Who is mine Adversary let him come near me Behold the Lord God will help me Isa. 50.7 8 9. Who is he that condemneth me Lo they shall all were there ten thousand times as many more of them wax old as a Garment the Moth shall eat them up Wherefore if the Father saith Amen to all this as I have shew'd already that he hath and doth the which also further appeareth because the Lord God has called him the Saviour the Deliverer and the Amen What follows but that a Rebuke should proceed from the Throne against him And this indeed our Advocate calls for from the Hand of his Father saying O Enemy The Lord rebuke thee Yea he doubles this Request to the Judge to intimate his Earnestness for such a Conclusion or to shew that the Enemy shall surely have it both from our Advocate and from him before whom Satan has so grievously accused us Zech. 3. For what can be expected to follow from such an Issue in Law as this is but sound and severe snibs from the Judge upon him that hath thus troubled his Neighbour and that hath in the Face of the Country cast Contempt upon the highest act of Mercy Justice and Righteousness that ever the Heavens beheld And all this is true with reference to the Case in Hand wherefore The Lord rebuke thee is that which in Conclusion Satan must have for the Reward of his Works of Malice against the Children and for his contemning of the Works of the Son of God. Now our Advocate having thus established by the Law of Heaven his Plea with God for us against our Accuser there is way made for him to proceed upon a Foundation that cannot be shaken Wherefore he proceedeth in his Plea and further urges against this Accuser of the Brethren Secondly God's Interest in this People and prayeth that God would remember that The Lord rebuke thee O Satan the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee True the Church the Saints are despicable in the World wherefore Men do think to tread them down The Saints are also weak in Grace but have Corruptions that are strong and therefore Satan the God of this World doth think to tread them down But the Saints have a God the living the eternal God and therefore they shall not be troden down Yea They shall be holden up for God is able to make them stand Rom. 14.4 It was Haman's mishap to be ingaged against the Queen and the Kindred of the Queen 'T was that that made him he could not prosper that brought him to Contempt and the Gallows Had he sought to ruin another People probably he might have brought his Design to a desired Conclusion But his compassing the Death of the Queen spoiled all Satan also when he fighteth against the Church must be sure to come to the worst For God has a Concern in that Therefore it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it but this hindreth not but that he is permitted to make almost what Spoils he will of those that belong not to God Oh! how many doth he accuse and soon get out from God against them a Licence to destroy them As he served Ahab and many more But this I say is a very great Block in his Way when he medleâ—h with the Children God has an Interest in them Hath God cast away his People God forbid Rom. 11.1 2. The Text intimates That they for Sin had deserved it and that Satan would fain have had it been so But God's Interest in them preserved them God hath not cast away his People which he fore-knew Wherefore when Satan accuseth them before God Christ as he pleadeth his own Worth and Merit pleadeth also against him that Interest that God has in them And tho this to some may seem but an indifferent Plea for what Ingagement lieth may they say upon God to be so much concerned with them for they sin against him and often provoke him most bitterly Besides in their best State they are altogether Vanity and a very thing of nought What 's Man sorry Man that thou art mindful of him or that thou shouldest so be I answer tho there lieth no Ingagement upon God for any Worthiness that is in Man yet there lieth a great deal upon God for the Worthiness that is in himself God has ingaged himself with his having chosen them to be a People to himself And by this means they are so secured from all that all can do against them that the Apostle is bold upon this very Account to challenge all despite to do its worst against them saying who sâ—all lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.33 Who Saith Satan Why that will I. Ay saith he but who can do it and prevail It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth ver 34. By which Words the Apostle clearly declareth That Charges against the Elect tho they may be brought against them must needs prove ineffectual as to their Condemnation 'cause their Lord God still will justifie for that Christ has died for them Besides a little to enlarge The Elect are bound to God by a seven-fold Cord and a three-fold one is not quickly broken First Election is eternal as God himself and so without Variableness or Shadow of Change. And hence it is called an eternal Purpose and a Purpose of God that must stand Eph. 3.11 Rom. 9.11 Secondly Election is absolute not conditional And therefore cannot be overthrown by the Sin of the Man who is wrapt up therein No Works foreseen to be in us was the Cause of God's chusing of us No Sin in us shall frustrate or make Election void Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Rom. 9.11 chap. 11.6 7. Thirdly By the Act of Election the Children are involved wrapt up and covered in Christ he hath chosen us in him not in our selves not in our Vertues no not for
provide for those of their Children that have been most infirm and helpless And our Advocate shall gather his Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom Yea and I know that there is such an Art in shewing and making mention of Weaknesses as shall make the Tears stand in a Parents Eyes and as shall make him search to the bottom of his Purse to find out what may do his Weakling good Christ also has that excellent Art as he is an Advocate with the Father for us He can so make mention of us and of our Infirmities while he pleads afore God against the Devil for us that he can make the Bowels of the Almighty yearn towards us and to wrap us up in their Compassions You read much of the pity Compassion and of the yearning of the Bowels of the mighty God towards his People All which I think is kindled and made burn towards us by the pleading or our Advocate I have seen Fathers offended with their Children but when a Brother has turned a skilful Advocate the Anger has been appeased and the means have been concealed We read but little of this Advocate 's Office of Jesus Christ yet much of the Fruit of it is extended to the Churches But as the Cause of Smiles after Offences committed is made manifest afterward so at the Day when God will open all things we shall see how many times our Lord as an Advocate pleaded for us and redeemed us by his so pleading into the injoyment of Smiles and Imbraces who for Sin but a while before were under Frowns and Chastisements And thus much for the making out how Christ doth manage his Office of being an Advocate for us with the Father If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And I shall come now to the Third Head to wit To shew you more particularly who they are that have Jesus Christ for their Advocate In my handling of this Head I shall shew 1. That this Office of an Advocate differeth from that of a Priest and how 2. I shall shew yout how far Christ extendeth this his Office of Advocateship I mean in Matters concerning the People of God And then 3. I shall come more directly to shew who they are that have Christ for their Advocate For the first of these That this Office of Christ as an Advocate differeth from that of a Priest. That he is a Priest a Priest for ever I heartily acknowledge But that his Priesthood and Advocateship should be one and the self-same Office I cannot believe 1. Because they differ in Name We may as well say a Father as such is a Son or That Father and Son is the self same Relation as say a Priest and an Advocate as to Office are but one and the same thing They differ in Name as much as Priest and Sacrifice do A Priest is one and a Sacrifice is another and tho Christ is Priest and Sacrifice too yet as a Priest he is not a Sacrifice nor as a Sacrifice a Priest. 2. As they differ in Name so they differ in the Nature of Office. A Priest is to slay a Sacrifice an Advocate is to plead a Cause A Priest is to offer his Sacrifice to the end that by the Merit thereof he may appease An Advocate is to plead to plead according to Law. A Priest is to make Intercession by Virtue of his Sacrifice an Advocate is to plead Law because Amends is made 3. As they differ in Name and Nature so they also differ as to their Extent The Priesthood of Christ extendeth it self to the whole of God's Elect whether called or in their Sins But Christ as Advocate pleadeth only for the Children 4. As they differ in Name in Nature and Extent so they differ as to the Persons with whom they have to do We read not any where that Christ as Priest has to do with the Devil as an Antagonist But as an Advocate he hath 5. As they differ in these so they differ as to the Matters about which they are imployed Christ as Priest concerns himself with every wry thought and also with the least Imperfection or Infirmity that attends our most holy things but Christ as Advocate doth not so as I have already shewed 6. So that Christ as Priest goes before and Christ as an Advocate comes after Christ as Priest continually interceeds Christ as Advocate in Case of great Transgression pleads Christ as Priest has need to act always but Christ as Adâ—ocate sometimes only Christ as Priest acts in times of Peace but Christ as Advocate in times of Broils Turmoils and sharp Contentions Wherefore Christ as Advocate is as I may call him a Reserve And his time is then to arise to stand up and plead when his are cloathed with some filthy Sin that of late they have fallen into as David Joshua or Peter When some such thing is committed by them as ministreth to the Enemy a shew of Ground to question the truth of their Grace Or when 't is a Question and to be bebated whether it can stand with the Laws of Heaven with the Merits of Christ and the Honour of God that such an one should be saved Now let an Advocate come forth now let him have time to plead for this is a fit Occasion for the Saints Advocate to stand up to plead for the Salvation of his People But Secondly I come next to shew you How far this Office of an Advocate is extended I hinted at this before so now shall be the more brief 1. By this Office he offereth no Sacrifice he only as to Matter of Justice pleads the Sacrifice offered 2. By this Office he obtains the Conversion of none He only thereby secureth the converted from the Damnation which their Adversary for Sins after Light and Profession endeavoureth to bring them to 3. By this Office he prevents not temporal Punishment But by it he chiefly preserveth the Soul from Hell. 4. Be this Office he brings in no justifiing Righteousness for us he only thereby prevaileth to have the Dispose of that brought in by himself as Priest for the justifiing of those by a new and fresh Act who had made their Justification doubtful by new Falls into Sin. And this is plain in the History of our Joshua Zech. 3. o often mentioned before 5. As Priest he hath obtained eternal Redemption for us and as Advocate he by Law maintaineth our Right thereto against the Devil and all his Angels I come now to shew you Who they are that have Jesus Christ for their Advocate And this I shall do first more generally and then shall be more particular and distinct about First more generally They are all the truly Gracious those that are the Children by Adoption And this the Text affirmeth I wriâ—e unto you little Children that you sin not And if any Man sin we have on Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous They are
and say Sir I am in Trouble and am to have a Tryal at Law with mine Enemy pray undertake my Cause but he must also Reveal to his Lawyer his Cause He must go to him and tell him what is the Matter how things stand where the shooe pinches and so Thus did the Church of old and thus doth every true Christian now For tho nothing can be hid from him yet he will have things out of thine own Mouth He will have thee to Reveal thy Matters unto him Mat. 20.32 O Lord of Hosts said Jeremy that judgest righteously and tryest the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for unto thee have I revealed my Cause Jer. 11.20 And again But O Lord of Hosts that tryest the righteous and seest the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for unto thee have I opened my Cause Chap. 20.12 Seest thou here how Saints of old were wont to do How they did not only in a general way intreat Christ to plead their Cause but in a particular way go to him and Reveal or open their Cause unto him O 't is excellent to behold how some Sinners will do this when they get Christ and themselves in a Closet alone When they upon their bare Knees are pouring out of their Souls before him Or like the Woman in the Gospel telling of him all the Truth Mark 5. O Saith the Soul Lord I am come to thee upon an earnest Business I am arrested by Satan the Bailiff was mine own Conscience and I am like to be accused before the Judgment-Seat of God my Salvation lies at Stake I am questioned for my Interest in Heaven I am afraid of the Judge my Heart condemns me 1 Joh. 3.20 Mine Enemy is subtil and wanteth not Malice to prosecute me to Death and then to Hell. Also Lord I am sensible the Law is against me for indeed I have horribly sinned and thus and thus have I done Here I lie open to Law and there I lie open to Law Here I have given the Adversary Advantage and there he will surely have a hank against me Lord I am distressed undertake for me And there are some things that thou must be acquainted with about thine Advocate before thou wilt venture to go thus far with him As 1. Thou must know him to be a Friend and not an Enemy unto whom thou openest thy Heart and until thou comest to know That Christ is a Friend to thee or to Souls in thy Condition thou wilt never reveal thy Cause unto him Not thy whole Cause unto him And it is from this That so many that have soul-Soul-Causes hourly depending before the Throne of God and that are in Danger every day of eternal Damnation forbear to entertain Jesus Christ for their Advocate and so wickedly conceal their Matters from him But he that hideth his Sins shall not prosper Prov. 28.13 This therefore must first be believed by thee before thou wilt reveal thy Cause unto him 2. A Man When his Estate is called into Question I mean his Right and Title thereto will be very cautious specially if he also questions his Title to it himself unto whom he reveals that Affair He must know him to be one that is not only friendly but faithful to whom he reveals such a Secret as this Why thus it is with Christ and the Soul. If the Soul is not somewhat perswaded of the Faithfulness of Christ to wit that if he can do him no good he will do him no harm he will never reveal his Cause unto him But will seek to hide his Counsel from the Lord. This therefore is another thing by which thou mayst know that thou hast Christ for thine Advocate If thou hast heartily and in very Deed revealed thy Cause unto him Now they that do honestly reveal their Cause to their Lawyer will endeavour to possess him as I hinted before with the worst They will with Words make it as bad as they may for think they by that Means I shall prepare him for the worst that mine Enemy can do And thus Souls deal with Jesus Christ. See the fifty first Psalm also the thirty eighth with several others that might be named and see if God's People have not done so I said saith David That I would confess my Transgressions against my self and thou forgavest the Iniquity of my Sin. But Thirdly Hast thou Jesus Christ for thine Advocate Or wouldst thou know if thou hast Then I ask again hast thou committed thy Cause to him When a Man entertains his Lawyer to stand for him and to plead his Cause he doth not only reveal but commit his Cause unto him I would seek unto him says Eliphas to Job and unto him would I commit my Cause Job 5.8 Now there is a Difference betwixt revealing my Cause and committing of it to a Man. To reveal my Cause is to open it to one and to commit it to him is to trust it in his Hand Many a Man will reveal his Cause to him unto whom he will yet be afraid to commit it But now he that entertains a Lawyer to plead his Cause doth not only reveal but commit his Cause unto him As suppose Right to his Estate be called into Question why then he not only reveals his Cause to his Lawyer but puts into his Hands his Evidences Deeds Leases Mortgages Bonds or what else he hath to shew a Title to his Estate by And thus doth the Christians deal with Christ They deliver up all unto him to wit all their Signs Evidences Promises and Assurances which they have thought they have had for Heaven and the Salvation of their Souls and have desired him to peruse to search and try them every one Psal. 139.23 And if there be Iniquity in me lead me in the way everlasting This is committing of thy Cause to Christ and this is the hardest Task of all For the Man that doth thus he trusteth Christ with all and and implyeth that he will live and die stand and fall lose and win according as Christ will manage his Business thus did Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 and thus Peter admonisheth us to do Now he that doth this must be convinced 1. Of the Ability of Jesus Christ to defend him For a Man will not commit so great a Concern as his All is to his Friend no not to his Friend be he never so faithful if he perceives not in him Ability to save him and to preserve what he hath against all the Cavils of an Enemy And hence it is that the Ability of Jesus Christ as to the saving of his People is so much insisted on in the Scripture As I have laid Help upon one that is mighty Psal. 89.19 I that speak in Righteousness mighty to save Isa. 63.1 And again I will send them a Saviour and a great one Chap. 19.20 2. As they must be convinced of his Ability to help them so they must of his Courage
Haters of the Lorâ— should soon have submitted themselves But theiâ— Time should have endured forever Psal. 81.13 14 1â— 5. Also if it tarry long wait for it Dâ— not conclude that thy Cause is lost because at present thou dost not hear from Court Cry if thou wilt O when wilt thou come unto me But never let such a wicked thoughâ— pass through thy Heart saying This Evil iâ— of the Lord why should I wait upon the Lord anâ— longer 2 King. 6.33 6. But take heed that thou turnest no thy Waiting into Sleeping Wait thou must and wait patiently too but yet wait witâ— much longing and Earnestness of Spirit tâ— see or hear how Matters go above Yoâ— may observe that when a Man that dwells faâ— down in the Country and has some Busineâ— at the Term in this or another of the Kingâ— Courts though he will wait his Lawyeâ— time and conveniency yet he will so waiâ— as still to enquire at the Post-house or at thâ— Carriers or if a Neighbour comes dowâ— from Term at his Mouth for Letters oâ— any other Intelligence if possibly he maâ— arrive to know how his Cause speeds anâ— â—hether his Adversary or he has the â—ay Thus I say thou must wait upon thine â—dvocate His Ordinances are his Post-house â—is Ministers are his Carriers where Tidings â—â—om Heaven are to be had and where those â—hat are sued in that Court by the Devil â—ay at one time or another hear from â—heir Lawyer their Advocate how things â—re like to go Wherefore I say wait at â—he Posts of Wisdom's House go to Ordiâ—ances with Expectation to hear from thy Adâ—ocate there For he will send in due time â—ho it tarry wait for it because it will surely â—â—me and will not tarry Hab. 2.1 2 3. And â—ow Soul I have answered thy Request â—nd let me hear what thou sayst unto me Soul. Truly says the Soul methinks â—â—at by what you have said I may have this â—lessed Jesus to be mine Advocate for I â—â—ink verily I have entertained him to be â—ine Advocate I have also revealed my Cause â—nto him yea committed both it and my self â—nto him And as you say I wait O I â—ait And my Eyes fail with looking upâ—ard Fain would I hear how my Soul â—â—andeth in the Sight of God and whether â—â—y Sins which I have committed Since â—ight and Grace was given unto me be by â—ine Advocate taken out of the Hand of the Devil and by mine Advocate removed 〈◊〉 far from me as the Ends of the Earth are asunder Whether the Verdict has gone oâ— my side And what a Shout there was among the Angels when they saw it went weâ—â— with me But alas I have waited and thaâ— a long time and have as you advise raâ— from Ordinance to minister and from Minister to Ordinance or as you phrase it from the Post to the Carrier and from thâ— Carrier to the Post-house to see if I coulâ— hear ought from Heaven how Matters wenâ— about my Soul there I have also asked thoâ—â— that pass by the way if they saw him whom 〈◊〉 Soul loveth and if they had any thing to coâ—municate to me but nothing can I get 〈◊〉 find but Generals as that I have an Advocaâ—â— there and that he pleadeth the Cause of 〈◊〉 People and that he will throughly pleâ—â— their Cause but what he has done for 〈◊〉 of that as yet I am ignorant I doubt my Soul shall by him effectually be secure that yet a conditional Verdict will be awarâ—ded concerning me and that much Bitter 〈◊〉 be mixed with my Sweet and that I 〈◊〉 drink Gall and Wormwood for my Follâ— For if David and Asa and Hezekiah 〈◊〉 such good Men were so served for their 〈◊〉 2 Chron. 16.7 12. why should I look for ther Dealing at the Hand of God But as â—his I will endeavour to bear the Indignation of â—he Lord because I have sinned against him Isa. 39.3 8. and shall count it an infinite Mercy if this Judgment comes to me from him that I may not be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11.32 I know it is dreadful walking in Darkness but if that also shall be the Lord's Lot upon me I pray God I may have Faith enough to stay upon him till Death and then will the Clouds blow over and I shall see him in the Light of the Living Mine Enemy the Devil as you say is of an inveagling Temper and although he has accused me before the Judgment-Seat of God yet when he comes to me at any time he glavers and flatters as if he never did mean me harm But I think 't is that he might get further Advantage against me But I carry it now at a further distance than formerly and O that I was at the remotest Distance not only from him but also from that self of mine that laboureth with him for my undoing But altho I say these things now and to you yet I have my solitary hours and in them I have other strange thoughts For thus I think my Cause is bad I have sinned and I have been vite I am ashamed my self of mine own doings and have given mine Enemy the best end of the Staff. The Law anâ— Reason and my Conscience plead for hiâ— against me and all is true he puts into hiâ— Charge against me That I have sinned more time than there be Hairs on my Head. I know not oâ— any thing that ever I did in my Life but it haâ— flaw or wrinkle or Spot or some such thing in it Mine Eyes have seen vileness in the best of my doings what then think you must God needs see in them Nor can I do any thing yet for all I know that I am accused by my Enemy before the Judgment-seat of God better than what already is imperfect I lie down in my Shame and my Confusion covers my Face I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of Men Jer. 3.24 25. Job 7.20 Reply Well Soul I have heard what thou hast said and if all be true which thou hast said it is good and gives me Ground of Hope That Jesus Christ is become thine Advocate And if that be so no Doubt but thy Tryal will come to a good Conclusion And be not afraid because of the Holiness of God for thine Advocate has this for his Advantage that he pleads before a Judge that is just and against an Enemy that is unholy and rejected Nor let the thoughts Of the badness of thy Cause terrifie thee over much Cause thou hast indeed to be humble and thou dost well to cover thy Face with Shame And 't is no matter how base and vile thou art in thine own Eyes provided that it comes not by renewed Acts of Rebellion but through a spiritual Sight of thine Imperfections Only let me advise thee here to stop let not thy Shame nor thy self-abasing Apprehension of thy self drive thee from the firm and permanent Ground of Hope
by the Law and the Prophets who consent that it should be unto all and upon all them that believe for their Justification Rom. 3.20 21. And that the mighty God suffereth the Prince of the Devils to do with the Law what he can against this most wholesome and godly Doctrine it is to shew the Truth Goodness and Permanency thereof For this is as who should say Devil do thy worst When the Law is in the Hand of an easie Pleader tho the Cause that he pleadeth be good a crafty Opposer may overthrow the right but here is the Salvation of the Children in debate and whether it can stand with Law and Justice The Opposer of this is the Devil his Argument against it is the Law he that defends the Doctrine is Christ the Advocate who in his Plea must justifie the Justice of God defend the Holiness of the Law and save the Sinner from all the Arguments Pleas Cavils Stops and Demurrs that Satan is able to put in against it And this he must do fairly righteously simply Pleading the Voice of the self-same Law for the Justification of what he standeth for which Satan pleads against it For tho it is by the new Law that our Salvation comes yet by the old Law is the new Law approved of and the way of Salvation thereby by it consented to This shews therefore that Christ is not ashamed to own the way of our Justification and Salvation no not before Men and Devils It shews also that he is resolved to dispute and plead for the same tho the Devil himself shall oppose it And since our Adversary pretends a Plea in Law against it 't is meet that there should be an open Hearing before the Judge of all about it But for as much as we neither can nor dare appear to plead for our selves our good God has thought fit we should do it by an Advocate we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous This therefore is the second thing that shews the need that we have of an Advocate to wit our Adversary pretends that he has a Plea in Law against us and that by Law we should be otherwise disposed of than to be made Possessors of the Heavenly Kingdom But Thirdly There are many things relating to the Promise to our Life and to the Threatnings that minister Matter of Question and Doubt and give the Advantage of Objections unto him that so eargerly desireth to be putting in Cavils against our Salvation all which it hath pleased God to refel by Jesus Christ our Advocate 1. There are many things relating to the Promises as to the largeness and straitness of Words as to the Freeness and Conditionality of them which we are not able so well to understand and therefore when Satan dealeth with us about them we quickly fall to the Ground before him we often conclude that the Words of the Promise are too narrow and strait to comprehend us we also think verily that the Conditions of some Promises do utterly sâ—ut us out from hope of Justification and Life But our Advocate who is for us with the Father he is better acquainted with and learned in this Law than to bafled out with a bold Word or two Isa. 50.4 or with a subtil piece of Hellish Sophistication He knows the true Purport Intent Meaning and Sense of every Promise and piece of Promise that is in the whole Bible and can tell how to plead it for Advantage against our Accuser and doth so And I gather it not only from his Contest with Satan for Joshua Zech. 3. and from his Conflict with him in the Wilderness Mat. 4. and in Heaven Rev. 14. but also from the Practice of Satan's Emissaries here For what his Angels do that doth he Now there is here nothing more apparent than that the Instruments of Satan do plead against the Church from the pretended Intricacy Ambiguity and Difficulty of the Promise whence I gather so doth Satan before the Tribunal of God but there we have one to match him we have an Advocate with the Father that knows Law and Judgment better than Satan and Statute and Commandment better than all his Angels And by the Verdict of our Advocate all the Words and Limits and Extensions of Words with all Conditions of the Promises are expounded and applyed And hence it is that it sometimes falleth so out that that very Promise that we have thought could not reach us to comfort us by any Means has at another time swallowed us up with Joy unspeakable Christ the true Prophet has the right Understanding of the Word as an Advocate has pleaded it before God against Satan and having overcome him at the common Law he hath sent to let us know it by his good Spirit to our Comfort and the Confusion of our Enemy Again 2. There are many things relating to our Lives that minister to our Accuser occasions of many Objections against our Salvation for besides our daily Infirmities there are in our Lives gross Sins many horrible Backslidings also we oft-times suck and drink in many abominable Errors and deceitful Opinions of all which Satan accuseth us before the Judgment-Seat of God and pleadeth hard that we may be damned forever for them Besides Some of these things are done after Light received against present Convictions and Disswasions to the contrary against Solemn engagement to Amendment when the Bonds of Love were upon us Jer. 2.20 These are crying-Sins they have a loâ—d voice in themselves against us and gâ—ve to Satan great Advantage and Boldness to sue for our Destruction before the Bar of God. Nor doth he want Skill to aggravate and to comment profoundly upon all Occasions and Circumstances that did attend us in these our Miscarriges to wit that we did it without a Cause also when we had had we had Grace to have used them many things to have helpt us against such Sins and to have kept us clean and upright There is also a Sin unto Death 1 Joh. 5. and he can tell how to labour by Argument and Slight of Speech to make our transgressions not only to border upon but to appear in the Hue Shape and Figure of that and thereto make his Objection against our Salvation He often argueth thus with us and fastneth the Weight of his Reasons upon our Consciences to the almost utter Destruction of us and the bringing of us down to the Gates of Despair and utter Destruction The same Sins with their aggravating Circumstances as I said he pleadeth against us at the Bar of God But there he meeteth with Jesus Christ our Lord and Advocate who entereth his Plea against him unravels all his Reasons and Arguments against us and shews the guile and falshood of them he also pleadeth as to the Nature of Sin as also to all those high Aggravations and proveth that neither the Sin in it self nor yet as joined with all its advantageous Circumstances can be the Sin unto
of him as Priest to present our Persons and Services to God. And since God is just and upon the Judgment-Seat and since also we are subject to sin grievously and again since we have an Accuser who will by Law plead at this Bar of God our Sins against us to the end we might be condemned we have need of and also have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the â—ighteous Alas How many of God's precious People for the want of a distinct Knowledge of Christ in all his Offices are at this day sadly baffled with the Sophistications of the Devil To instance no more than this one thing When they have committed some heinous Sin after Light received How are they I say tossed and tumbled and distressed with many Perplexities They cannot come to any Anchor in this their troubled Sea. They go from Promise to Promise from Providence to Providence from this to that Office of Jesus Christ but forget that he is or else understand not what it is for this Lord Jesus to be an Advocate for them Hence they so often sink under the Fears that their Sin is unpardonable and that therefore their Condition is desperate Whereas if they could but consider that Christ is their Advocate and that he is therefore made an Advocate to save them from those high Transgressions that are committed by them and that he waits upon this Office continually before the Judgment-Seat of God they would conceive Relief and be made hold up their Head and would more strongly twist themselves from under that Guilt and Burden those Ropes and Cords wherewith by their Folly they have so strongly bound themselves than commonly they have done or do Obj. 2. But notwithstanding what you have said this Sin is a deadly stick in my way It will not out of my Mind my Cause being bad but Christ will desert me Answ. 'T is true Sin is and will be a deadly stick and stop to Faith attempt to exercise it upon Christ as considered under which of his Offices or Relations you will And above all the Sin of Vnbelief is the Sin that doth so or most easily beset us Heb. 12.1 2. And no marvel for it never acteth alone but is backed not only with Guilt and Ignorance but also with carnal Sense and Reason He that is ignorant of this knows but little of himself or of what believing is He that undertaketh to believe sets upon the hardest Task that ever was proposed to Man not â—ecause the things imposed upon us are unreasonable or unaccountable but because the Heart of Man the more true any thing is the more it sticketh and stumbleth thereat And says Christ because I tell you the truth ye â—â—lieve me not Joh. 8.45 Hence believing is called labouring Heb. 4.11 and 't is the sorest Labour at times that any Man can take in Hand because assaulted with the greatest Oppositions but believe thou must be the Labour never so hard and that not only in Christ in a general way but in him as to his several Offices and as to this of his being an Advocate in particular else some Sins and some Temptations will not in their Guilt nor vexatious Trouble easily depart from thy Conscience no not by Promise nor by thy Attempts to apply the same by Faiâ—h And this the Text insinuateth by it's setting forth of Christ as Advocate as the only or best and most speedy Way of Relief to the Soul in certain Cases There is then an Order that thou must observe in the Exercise of thy Soul in a way of believing 1. Thou must believe unto Justification in general and for this thou must direct thy Soul to the Lord Christ as he is a Sacrifice for Sin and as a Priest offering that Sacrifice So as a Sacrifice thou shalt see him appeasing Divine Displeasure for thy Sin and as a Priest spreading the Skirt of his Garment over thee for the covering of thy Nakedness thus being cloathed thou shalt not be found naked 2. This when thou hast done as well as thou canst thou must in the next Place keep thine Eye upon the Lord Christ as improving as Priest in Heaven the Sacrifice which he offered on Earth for the continuing of thee in a state of Justification thy Life time notwithstanding those common Infirmities that attend thee and to which thou art incident in all thy holy Services or best of thy Performances Rom. 5.10 Exod. 28.31 38. For therefore is he a Priest in Heaven and by his Sacrifice interceding for thee 3. But if thy Foot slippeth if it slippeth gâ—eatly then know thou 't will not be long â—efore a Bill be in Heaven preferred against thee by the Accuser of the Brethren wherefore then thou must have Recourse to Christ as Advocate to plead before God thy Judge against the Devil thine Adversary for thee 4. And as to the badness of thy Cause let that nothing move thee save to Humility and self-Abasement For Christ is glorified by being concerned for thee Yea the Angels will shout aloud to see him bring thee off For what greater Glory can we conceive Christ to obtain as Advocate than to bring off his People when they have sinned noâ—withstanding Satans so charging of them for them as he doth He gloried when he was going to the Cross to die he went up with a Shout and the Sound of Trumpet to make Intercession for us And shall we think that by his being an Advocate he receives no additional Glory 'T is Glory to him doubtless to bear the Title of an Advocate and much more to plead and prosper for us against our Adversary as he doth 5. And I say again for thee to think that Christ will reject thee for that thy Cause is bad is a kind of thinking Blasphemy against this his Office and his Word For what doth such a Man but side with Satan while Christ is pleading against him I say 't is as the Devil would have it for it puts Strength unto his Plea against us by increasing our Sin and Wickedness But shall Christ take our Cause in Hand and shall we doubt of good Success This is to count Satan stronger than Christ and that he can longer abide to oppose than Christ can to plead for us Wherefore away with it not only as to the Notion but also as to the Heart and Root thereof Oh! When shall Jesus Christ our Lord be honoured by us as he oughâ— this dastardly Heart of ours when shall it be more subdued and trodden underfoot of Faith when shall Christ ride Lord and King and Advocate upon the Faith of his People as he should He is exalted before God before Angels and above all the Power of the Enemy there is nothing comes behind but the Faith of his People Obj. 3. But since you follow the Metaphor so close I will suppose if an Advocate be entertained some Recompence must be given him His Fee who shall pay him his Fee I have nothing
could I do any thing to make this Advocate part of Amends I could think I might have Benefit from him but I have nothing what say you to this Answ. Similitudes must not be strained too far but yet I have an Answer for this Objection Theâ—e is in some Cases Law for them that have no Money ay Law and Lawyers too And this is called a suing in Forma Pauperis and such Lawyers are appointed by Authority for that Purpose Indeed I know not that it is thus in every Nation but 't is sometimes so with us in England and this is the way altogether in the Kingdom of Heaven before the Bar of God. All is done there for us in Forma Pauperis on free cost For our Advocate or Lawyer is thereto designed and appointed of his Father Hence Christ is said to plead the Cause not of the rich and wealthy but of the Poor and Needy not of those that have many Friends but of the Fatherless and Widow not of them that are fat and strong but of those under sore Afflictions Prov. 22 2â— 23. chap. 23.10 11. chap. 31.9 He shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.31 or as it is in the Margent from the Judges of his Soul. This then is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men He doth freely what he doth not for Price nor Reward I have raised him up says God And I will direct all his Ways he shall build my City and he shall let go my Captives not for Price nor Reward Isa. 45.13 This I say is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men he pleads he sues in Forma Pauperis gratis and of meer Compassion And hence it is that you have his Clients give him thanks for that is all the Poor can give I will greatly praise the Lord with my Mouth I will praise him among the Multitude for he shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.30 They know but little that talk of giving to Christ except they mean they would give him Blessing and Praise He bids us come freely take freely and tells us that he will give and do freely Rev. 22.17 chap. 21.6 Let him have that which is his own to wit thy self for thou art the Price of his Blood. David speaks very strangely of giving to God for Mercy bestowed on him I call it strangely because indeed 't is so to Reason What says he shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits I will take this Cup and call for more Psal. 116.12 13. God has no need of thy Gift nor Christ of thy Bribe to plead thy Cause Take thankfully what is offered and call for more That 's the best giving to God. God is rich enough Talk not then of giving but of receiving for thou art poor Be not too high nor think thy self too good to live by the Alms of Heaven And since the Lord Jesus is willing to serve thee freely and to maintain thy Right to Heaven against thy Foe to the saving of thy Soul without Price or Reward Let the Peace of God rule in thee to the which thou art also called as is the rest of the Body and be thou thankful Col. 3.15 This then is the Privilege of a Christian we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous One that pleadeth the Cause of his People against those that rise up against them of his Love Pity and meer good Will. Lord open the Eyes of dark Readers of disconsolate Saints that they may see who is for them and upon what Terms Obj. 4. But if Christ doth once begin to plead for me and shall become mine Advocate He will always be troubled with me unless I should of my self forsake him for I am ever in Broils and Suits of Law Action after Action is laid upon me and I am sometimes ten times in a Day summoned to answer my Doings before God. Answ. Christ is not an Advocate to plead a Cause or two nor to deliver the Godly from an Accusation or two He delivereth Israel out of all his Troubles 2 Sam. 22.28 and chuses to be an Advocate for such Therefore the Godly of old did use to make from the Greatness of their Troubles and the abundance of their Troublers an Argument to the Lord Christ to send and lend them help Have Mercy upon me said David consider my Trouble which I suffer of them that hate me Psal. 9.13 And again Many are they that rise up against me many there be that say of my Soul there is no help for him in God Psal. 3.1 2. Yea the Troubles of this Man were so many and great that his Enemies began to triumph over him saying There is no help for him in God ver 7. But could he not deliver him or did the Lord forsâ—ke him No no thou hast smitten saith he all mine Enemies upon the Cheek-bone thou hast broken the Teeth of the ungodly And as he delivereth them from their Troublers so alâ—o he pleadeth all their Causes O Lord â—aith the Church thou hast pleaded the Causes â—f my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life Lam. â— 58 Mark troubled Christian thou â—ayst thou hast been arrested oft times in a Day and as often summoned to appear at God's Bar there to answer to what shall be â—aid to thy Charge And here for thy Encouâ—agement thou readest that the Church hath â—n Advocate that pleadeth the Causes of her â—oul that is all her Causes to deliver her He knows that so long as we are in this World we are subject to Temptation and Weakness and through them made guilty â—f many bad things Wherefore he hath preâ—ared himself to our Service and to abide â—ith the Father an Advocate for us As Soloâ—on saith of a Man of great Wrath Prov. 19. â—9 so it may be said of a Man of great Weakâ—esses and the best of Saints are such he â—ust he delivered again and again Yea maâ—y a time saith David did he deliver them Psal. â—06 44 45. to wit more than once and twice â—nd he will do so for thee if thou entertain 〈◊〉 to be thine Advocate Thou talkest of â—aving of him but then whither wilt thou 〈◊〉 all else are vain things things that cannot â—rofit 1 Sam. 12.20 21 22 23. and he â—ill not forsake his People tho their Land be 〈◊〉 with Sin against the holy One of Israel Jer. 51.5 I know the modest Saint is apt to be abash'd to think what a troublesome one he is and what a make-work he has been in God's House all his Days And let him be filled with holy blushing but let him not forsake his Advocate Having thus spoken to these Objections let us now come to make some use of thâ— whole and Vse 1. First I would exhort the Children 〈◊〉 consider the Dignity that God hath put upon Jesus Christ their Saviour For
This Advocate is ours 1. Study it with reference to its Peculiarity It is for the Children and no body else For the Children little and great This is Childrens Bread this is a mess for Benjamin This is to be eaten in the holy Place Children use to make much of that which by way of speciality is by their Relations bestowed on them And Naboth said to Ahab the Lord forbid it me that I should give tâ—e Inheritance of my Father to thee 1 Kin. 21 3. no truly will I not Why so because it was my Father's Gift not in common to all but to me in special Secondly Study this Office in the Nature of it For therein lies the Excellency of any thing even in the Nature of it Wrong thoughts of this or that abuses it and takes its natural Glory from it take heed therefore of misapprehending while thou art seeking to apprehend Christ as thy Advocate Men judge of Christ's Offices while they are at too great a distance from them but Let them come near says God then let them speak Isa. 41.1 or as Elihu said to his Friends when he had seen them judge amiss Let us chuse to us Judgment let us know among our selves what is good Job 34.4 So say I study to know rightly to know the Advocate-Office of Jesus Christ. It is one of the easiest things in the World to miss of the Nature while we speak of the Name and Offices of Jesus Christ. Wherefore look to it that thou study the Nature of the Office of his Advocateship Of his Avocateship for for so you ought to consider it there is an Advocate for not against the Children of God Jesus Christ the righteous Thirdly Study this Office with reference to its efficacy and prevalency Job says After my Words they spake not again Job 29.22 And when Christ stands up to plead all must keep silence before him True Satan had the first Word but Christ the last in the Business of Joshua and such a last as brought the poor Man off well tho cloathed with filthy Garments Zech. 3. Satan must be speechless after a Plea of our Advocate how rampant soever he is afore or as Elihu has it He was amazed he answered no more he left off speaking Shall he that speaks in Righteousness give place and he who has nothing but Envy and Deceit be admitted to stand his Ground Behold the Angels cover their Faces when they speak of his Glory How then shall not Satan bend before him In the Days of his Humiliation he made him cringe and creep how much more then now he is exalted to Glory to glory to be an Advocate an Advocate for his People If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Fourthly Study The Faithfulness of Châ—ist in his Execution of this Office For he will not fail nor forsake them that have entertained him for their Advocate He will thorowly plead their Cause Jer. 50.34 Faithful and true is one of his Titles and you shall faithfully be served by him You may boldly commit your Cause unto him nor shall the badness of it make him fail or discourage him in his work for it is not the badness of a Cause that can hinder him from prevailing because he hath wherewith to answer for all thy Sins and a new Law to plead by through which he will make thee a Conqueror He is also for sticking to a Man to the End if he once engages for him Joh. 13.1 2. He will threaten and love he will chastise and love he will kill and love and thou shalt find it so And he will make this appear at the last and Satan knows it is so now for he finds the Power of his Repulses while he pleadeth for us at the Bar against him And all this is in very Faithfulness Fifthly Study also the need that thou hasâ— of a Share in the Execution of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ. Christians find that they have need of washing in the Blood of Christ and that they have need of being cloathed with the Righteousness of Christ They also find that they have need that Christ shoulâ— make Intercession for them and that by hiâ— of Necessity they must approach God anâ— present their Prayers and Services to him But they do not so well see that they neeâ— that Christ should also be their Advocatâ— And the Reason thereof is this They forgeâ— that their Adversary makes it his Business tâ— accuse them before the Throne of God the consider not the long Scrowls and many Crimes wherewith he chargeth them in the Presence of the Angels of God I say this is the Cause that the Advocateship of Christ is so little considered in the Churches Yea many that have been relieved by that Office of his have not understood what thereby he has done for them But perhaps this is to be kept from many till they come to behold his Face and until all things shall be revealed that Christ might have Glory given him in the next World for doing of that for them which they so little thought of in this But do not thou be content with this Ignorance because the Knowledge of his advocating of it for thee will yield thee present Relief Study therefore thine own Weakness the Holiness of the Judge the badness of thy Cause the Subtilty Malice and Rage of thine Enemy and be assured that when-ever thou sinnest by and by thou art for it accused before God at his Judgment-Seat These things will as it were by way of Necessity instil into thy Heart the need that thou hast of an Advocate and will make thee look as to the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ to justifie thee so to Christ as an Advocate to plead thy Cause as did holy Job in his Distresses Job 16.21 1 Vse 3. Thirdly Is Christ Jesus not only a Priest of and a King over but an Advocate for his People Let this make us stand and wonder and be amazed at his Humiliation and Condescention We read of his Humiliation on Earth when he put himself into our Flesh took upon him our Sins And made them as his own unto Condemnation and Death And to be an Advocate is an Office reproachful to the malicious if any Man be such an one for those that are base and unworthy Yea and the higher and more honourable the Person is that pleads for such the more he humbles himself The Word doth often in effect account him now in Heaven as a Servant for us and Acts of Service are Acts of Condescention And I am sure some Acts of Service have more of that in them than some And I think when all things are considered that Christ neither doth nor can do any thing for us there of a more condescending Nature than to become our Advocate True he glories in it but that doth not shew that the work is excellent in it self It is also one of his Titles of
People and pleadeth the Cause of the poor and needy And as for Sin which is one great stumble to thine actings O my Faith Christ has not only died for that as a Sacrifice nor only carried his Sacrifice unto the Father into the holiest of all but is there to manage that Offering as an Advocate pleading the efficacy and Worth thereof before God against the Devil for us Thus I say we should strengthen our Faith for Faith has to do not only with the Word but also with the Offices of Christ. Besides considering how many the Assaults are that are made upon our Faith we find all little enough to support it against all the Wiles of the Devil Christians too little concern themselves as I have said with the Offices of Jesus Christ and therefore their Knowledge of him is so little and their Faith in him so weak We are bid to have our Conversation in Heaven and then a Man so hath when he is there in his Spirit by Faith observing how the Lord Jesus doth exercise his Offices there for him Let us often by Faith go to the Bar of God there to hear our Advocate plead our Cause we should often have our Faith to God's Judgment-seat because we are concerned there There we are accused of the Devil there we have our Crimes laid open and there we have our Advocate to plead And this is suggested in the Text for it saith we have an Advocate with the Father Therefore thither our Faith should go for help and relief in the Day of our straits I say we should have our Faith to God's Judgment-Seat and shew it there by the Glass of our Text what Satan is doing against and the Lord Jesus for our Souls we should also shew it how the Lord Jesus carries away every Cause from the Devil and from before the Judgment-Seat to the Comfort of the Children the Joy of Angels and the Shame of the Enemy This would strengthen and support our Faith indeed And would make us more able than for the most part we are to apply the Grace of God to our selves And hereafter to give more strong Repulses to Satan 'T is easie with a Man when he knows that his Advocate has oveâ—thrown his Enemy at the King's Bench Bar or Court of common Pleas less to fear him the next time he sees him and more boldly to answer him when he reneweth his Threats upon him Let Faith then be strenghthened from its being exercised about the Advocateship of Jesus Christ. Secondly As we should make use of Christ's Advocateship for the strengthening of our Faith so we also should make use thereof to the encouraging of us to Prayer As our Faith is so is our Prayer to wit cold weak and doubtful if our Faith be so When â—aith cannot apprehend that we have access â—o the Father by Christ or that we have an Advocate when charged before God for our â—ins by the Devil then we flag and faint in â—ur Prayer But when we begin to take Couâ—age to believe and then we do so when most â—learly we apprehend Christ then we get up â—n Prayer And according as a Man appreâ—ends Christ in his Undertakings and Offices â—o he will wrestle with and supplicate God. â—s suppose a Man believes that Christ died â—or his Sins why then he will plead that in â—rayer with God. Suppose also that a Man â—nderstands that Christ rose again for his â—ustification why then he will also plead that 〈◊〉 Prayer But if he knows no further no â—â—rther will he go But when he shall know â—â—at there is for him also an Advocate with â—â—e Father and that that Advocate is Jesus â—hrist And when the Glory of this Office of â—hrist shall shine in the Face of this Man's â—â—ul Oh then he takes Courage to pray â—ith that Courage he had not before â—â—a then is his Faith so supported and made â—rong that his Prayer is more fervent and â—â—portuning abundance So that I say the Knowledge of the Adâ—â—cateship of Christ is very useful to strengthen then our Graces and as of Graces in generaâ— so of Faith and Prayer in particular Wherefore our Wisdom is so to improve this Doctrine that Prayer may be strengthened thereby Thirdly As we should make use of thiâ— Doctrine to strenghthen Faith and Prayer So we should make use of it to keep us humblâ— For the more Offices Christ executeth for uâ— with the Father the greater Sign that we aâ—â— bad And the more we see our badness thâ— more humble should we be Christ gave foâ— us the Price of Blood but that is not 〈◊〉 Christ as a Captain has conquered Death anâ— the Grave for us but that is not all Chriâ—â— as a Priest intercedes for us in Heaven 〈◊〉 that is not all Sin is still in us and with uâ— and mixes it self with what-ever we do whether what we do be religious or civiâ— For not only our Prayers and our Sermoâ— our Hearings and Preaching and so 〈◊〉 our Houses our Shops our Trades and 〈◊〉 Beds are all polluted with Sin. Nor doâ—â— the Devil our Night and Day Adversaâ—â— forbear to tell our bad Deeds to our Fathâ—â— urging that we might forever be disinheritâ— for this But what should we now do if 〈◊〉 had not an Advocate Yea if we had not 〈◊〉 who would plead in Forma Pauperis yea we had not one that could prevail and 〈◊〉 would faithfully execute that Office for us Why we must die But since we are rescued by him let us as to our selves lay our Hand upon our Mouth and be silent or say not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy Name give Glory And I say again since the Lord Jesus is fain to run through so many Offices for us before he can bring us to Glory O! How low how little how vile and base in our own Eyes should we be 'T is a Shame for a Christian to think highly of himself since Christ is fain to do so much for him and he again not at all able to make him Amends but some whose Riches consist in nothing but Scabs and Lice will yet have lofty looks But are not they much to blame who sit lifting up of lofty Eyes in the House and yet know not how to turn their Hand to do any â—hings so but that another their betters must come and mend their Work. I say is it â—ot more meet that those that are such â—hould look and speak and act as such that â—eclare their Sense of their Vnhandiness and â—heir Shame and the like for their Unprofiâ—ableness Yea is it not meet that to every â—ne they should confess what sorry ones â—hey are I am sure it should be thus with â—hristians and God is angry when it is otherâ—ise Nor doth it become these helpless ones to lift up themselves on high Let Christ's Advocateship therefore teach us to be humble Fourthly as we should improve this Doctrine to strengthen Faith to encourage Prayer
do thus for then my Master will love me And Christians should be above Men brutish Men. And for a Conclusion as to this let me present you with three Considerations 1. Know that it is the Nature of Grace to draw holy Arguments to move to goodness of Life from the Love and Goodness of of God But not thence to be remiss 1 Cor. 5.14 2 Know therefore that they have no Grace that find not these Effects of the Discoveries of the Love and Goodness of God. 3. Know also that among all the Swarms of Professors that from Age to Age make mention of the Name of Christ they only must dwell with him in Heaven that depart from Iniquity and are zealous of good Works 2 Tim. 2.19 He gave himself for these Tit. 2.11 12 13 14 not that they were so antecedent to this Gift But those that he hath redeemed to himself are thus sanctified by the Faith of him Acts 26.18 Seventhly Is it so Is Jesus Christ an Advocate with the Father for us Then this should encourage strong Christians to tell the weak ones where when they are in their Temptations and Fears through Sin they may have one to plead their Cause Thus the Apostle doth by the Text and thus we should do one to another Mark he telleth the weak of an Advocate My little Children I write unto you c. Christians when they would comfort their dejected Brethren talk too much at rovers or in generals They should be more at the Mark. A Word spoke in season how good is it I say Christians should observe and enquire that they may observe the Cause or ground of their Brothers Trouble and having first taken Notice of that in the next place consider under which of the Offices of Jesus Christ this Sin or Trouble has cast this Man and so labour to apply Christ in the Word of the Gospel to him Sometimes we are bid to consider him as an Apostle and High Priest and sometimes as a fore runner and an Advocate And he has as was said afore these divers Offices with others that we by the Consideration of him might be relieved under our manifold Temptations This as I said I perceive John teaches us here as he doth a little before of his being a Sacrifice for us for he presenteth them that after Conversion shall sin with Christ as an Advocate with the Father As who should say my Brethren are you tempted are you accused have you sinned has Satan prevailed against you We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Thus we should do and deliver our Brother from Death there is nothing â—hat Satan more desires than to get good Men into his Sive to sift them as Wheat that if possible he may leave them nothing but bran no Grace but the very husk and shell of Religion And when a Christian comes to know this should Christ as Priest or Advocate be hid from him what could bear him up But let him now remember and believe that we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and â—e forthwith conceiveth Comfort For an Advocate is to plead for me according as has been shewed afore that I may be delivered from the Wrath and Accusation of my Adversary and still be kept safe under Grace Furâ—her by telling of my Brother that he hath an Advocate I put things into his Mind that he has not known or do bring them to Remembrance which he has forgot To wit that tho he hath sinned he shall be saved in a way of Justice For an Advocate is to plead Justice and Law and Christ is to plead these for a Saint that has sinned Yea so to plead them that he may be saved This being so he is made to perceive that by Law he must have his Sins forgiven him That by Justice he must be justified For Christ as an Advocate pleadeth for Justice Justice to himself and this Saint is of himself a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Nor has Satan so good a Right to plead Justice against us tho we have sinned that we might be damned as Christ has to plead it tho we have sinned that we might be saved For Sin cannot cry so loud to Justice as can the Blood of Christ And he pleads his Blood as Advocate by which he has answered the Law wherefore the Law having nothing to object must needs acquit the Man for whom the Lord Jesus pleads I conclude this with that of the Psalmist Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land. Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her Increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall lead us the Way of his Steps Vse 8. Eighthly But what is all this to you that are â—ot concerned in this Privilege The Children indeed have the Advantage of an Advocate but what is this to them that have none to plead their Cause Jer. 30.12 13. They are as we say left to the wide World or to be ground to Powder between the Justice of God and the Sins which they have committed This is the Man that none but the Devil seeks after that is pursued by the Law and Sin and Death and has none to plead his Cause 'T is sad to consider the plight that such an one is in His Accuser is appointed yea ordered to bring in a Charge against him let Satan stand at his right Hand Ps. 109 6 7. in the Place where Accusers stand And when he shall be judged let him be condemned let there be none to plead for his Deliverance If he cries or offereth to cry out for Mercy or Forgiveness let his Prayer become Sin This is the Portion of a wicked Man. Terrors take hold on him as Waters a Tempest stealeth him away in the Night the East Wind carrieth him away and he departeth and as a Storm hurleth him out of his Place For God shall cast upon him and not spare he would fain flee out of his Hand Men shall clap their Hands at him and shall hiss him out of his Place Job 27.20 21 22 23. And what shall this Man do Can he over-stand the Charge the Accusation the Sentence and Condemnation No he has none to plead his Cause I remember that somewhere I have read as I think concerning one who when he was carrying upon Mens Shoulders to the Grave cried out as he lay upon the Bier I am accused before the just Judgment of God and a while after I am condemned before the just Judgment of God. Nor was this Man but strict as to the Religion that was then on Foot in the World but all the Religion of the World amounts to no more than nothing I mean as to eternal
Salvation if Men be denyed an Advocate to plead their Cause with God. Nor can any Advocate save Jesus Christ the righteous avail any thing at all Because there is none appointed but him to that Work and therefore not to be admitted to enter a Plea for their Client at the Bar of God. Obj. But some may say there is God's Grace the Promise Christ's Blood and his second Part of Priesthood now in Heaven Can none of these severally nor all of them jointly save a Man from Hell unless Christ also become our Advocate Answer All these his Advocates Office not excluded are few enough and little enough to save the Saints from Hell For the righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 There must then be the Promise God's Grace Christ's Blood and him to advocate too or we cannot be saved What 's the Promise without God's Grace and what 's that Grace without a Promise to bestow it on us I say what Benefit have we thereby Besides if the Promise and God's Grace without Christ's Blood would have saved us wherefore then did Christ die Yea and again I say if all these without his being for us an Advocate would have delivered us from all those Disadvantages that our Sins and Infirmities would bring us to and into surely in vain and to no purpose was Jesus made an Advocate But Soul there is need of all and therefore be not thou offended that the Lord Jesus is of the Father made so much to his but rather admire and wonder that the Father and the Son should be so concerned with so sorry â— lump of Dust and ashes as thou art And I say again be confounded to think that Sin should be a thing so horrible of Power to pollute to captivate and detain us from God that without all this ado I would speak with Reverence of God and his Wisdom we cannot be delivered from the everlasting Destruction that it hath brought upon on the Children of Men. But I say what is this to them that are not admitted to a Privilege in the Advocates Office of Christ Whether he is an Advocate or no the Case to them is the same True Christ as a Saviour is not divided He that hath him not in all shall have him in none at all of his Offices in a saving manner Therefore he for whom he is not an Advocate he is nothing as to eternal Life Indeed Christ by some of his Offices is concerned for the Elect before by some of them he is But such shall have the Blessing of them all before they come to Glory Nor hath a Man ground to say Christ is here or there mine before he hath ground to say he also is mine Advocate Tho that Office of his as has been already shewed stands in the last place and comes in as a Reserve But can any imagine that Christ will pray for them as Priest for whom he will not plead as Advocate Or that he will speak for them to God for whom he will not plead against the Devil No no they are his own that he loveth to the end Joh. 13. to the end of their Lives to the end of their Sins to the end of their Temptations to the end of their Fears and of the Exercise of the Rage and Malice of Satan against them To the end may also be understood even until he had given them the Profit and Benefit of all his Offices in their due Exercise and Administration But I say what is all this to them that have him not for their Advocate You may remember that I have already told you that there are several who have not the Lord Jesus for their Advocate To wit those that are still in their Sins pursuing of their Lusts those that are ashamed of him before Men and those that are never otherwise but lukewarm in their Profession And let us now for a Conclusion make further enquiry into this matter Is it likely that those should have the Lord Jesus for their Advocate to plead their Cause who despise and reject his Person his Word and Ways Or those either who aâ—e so far off from Sense of and Shame for Sin that it is the only thing they hug and embrace True he pleadeth the Cause of his People both with the Father and against the Devil and all the World besides but open Profaneness Shame of good and without Heart or Warmth in Religion are no Characters of his People It is irrational to think that Christ is an Advocate for or that he pleadeth the Cause of such who in the self same Hour and before his Enemies are throwing dirt in his Face by their profane Mouths and unsanctified Lives and Conversations If he pleads as an Advocate for any he must plead against Satan for them and so consequently must have some special bottom to ground his Plea upon I say a bottom better than that upon which the carnal Man stands Which bottom is either some special Relation that this Man stands in to God or some special Law he hath Privilege by That he may have some ground for an Appeal if need be to the Justice and Righteousness of God But none of these things belong to them that are dead in Trespasses and Sins They stand in no special Relation to God they are not privileged by the Law of Grace Obj. But doth not Christ as Advocate plead for his Elect tho not called as yet Answ. He died â—or all his Elect he prayeth for all his Elect as a Priest But as an Advocate he pleadeth only for the Children the called only Satan objecteth not against God's Election for he knows it not But be objecteth against the called to wit whether he be truly godly or no Job 1.9 10. Zech. 3. or whether they ought not to die for their Transgressions And for these things he has some colour to frame an Accusation against us And now 't is time enough for Christ to stand up to plead I say for these things he has some Colour to frame a Plea against us for there is Sin and a Law of Works and a Judge too that has not respect of Persons Now to overthrow this Plea of Satan is Jesus Christ our Advocate Yea to overthrow it by pleading Law and Justice and this must be done with respect to the Children only My little Children I write unto you that ye sin not And if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righâ—eous FINIS ERRATA PAge 31 Line 22 for acknowledgeth read acknowledged p. 65 l. 13. f. yout r. you p. 70. l. 2 r. his Office is p 77. l. 19 f. world r. word p. 87 l. 13 f. deferrs r. defers p. 102 l. 24 f groundess r. groundless p. 108 l. 15 f. thes r. the p. 118. l. 27 f. affliction r. affection p. 127 l. 10 f. matter r. water A Catalogue of Books Printed for and sold by Dorman Newman at the Sign of the Kings Arms