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 Juâ—ge 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 I say is a great Mystery and deserves to be pry'd into by all the godly both because much of the Wisdom of Heaven is discovered in it and because the best Saint is or may be concerned with it Nor must we by any means let this truth be lost because it is the truth the Text has declared it so And to say otherwise is to belye the Word of God to thwart the Apostle to sooth up Hypocrites and to rob Christians of their Privilege and to take the Glory from the Head of Jesus Christ Luk. 18.11 12. The best Saints are most sensible of their Sins and most apt to make Mountains of their Mole-hills Satan also as has been already hinted doth labour greatly to prevail with them to sin and to provoke their God against them Job 2.9 by pleading what is true or by surmising evilly of them to the end they may be left with him to be try'd that they may be accused by him Great is his malice towards them great is his Diligence in seeking their Destruction wherefore greatly doth he desire to sift to try and winnow them if perhaps he may work in their Flesh to answer his Design that is to break out in sinful Acts that he may have by Law to accuse them to their God and Father Wherefore for their Sakes this Text abides that they may see that when they have sinned they have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And thus have I shew'd you the Nature the Order and Occasion of this Office of our blessed Lord Jesus I come now to shew you How Jesus Christ doth manage this his Office of an Advocate for us And that I may do this to your Edification I shall choose this Method for the opening of it First shew you how he manages this Office with his Father Secondly I shall shew you how he manages it before him against our Adversary How he manages this his Office of Advocate with his Father First He doth it by himself by no other as Deputy under him No Angel no Saint no Work has place here but Jesus and Jesus only This the Text implies we have an Advocate speaking of one but one one alone without an Equal or an Inferior We have but one and he is Jesus Christ. Nor is it for Christ's Honour nor for the Honour of the Law or of the Justice of God that any but Jesus Chrisâ— should be an Advoâ—â—â—e for a sinning Saint Besides to assert 〈◊〉 contrary what doth it but lessen Sin and make the Advocateship of Jesus Christ superfluous It would lessen Sin should it be removed by a Saint or Angel It would
pleading a bad Cause is a Mystery ib. The best Saints are most sensible of their sins Page 27 Second To shew how Christ does manage his Office. Page 28 1. ALONE Not by any Proxy or Deputy ib. 2. Christ pleads at God's Bar the Cause cannot be removed into another Court. Page 29 If removed from Heaven we have no Advocate on Earth Page 30 In pleading Christ observes these Rules 1. He granteth what is charged on us ib. 2. He pleads his own goodness for us Page 32 He payeth all our debt down Page 33 All mouths stopped who would not have the sinner delivered Page 34 Christ requires a Verdict in order to our deliverance ib. The sinner is delivered God contented Satan confounded and Christ applauded Page 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 Page 37 Satan rebuked for finding fault therewith Page 38 2. He pleads God's Interest in his People Page 39 Haman's mishap in being ingaged against the King's Queen NB. Page 40 It seems a weak Plea because of Man's unworthiness But it 's a strong Plea because of God's worthiness Page 41 The Elect are bound to God by a seven-fold cord Page 42 43 The weight of the Plea weighed Page 44 3. Christ pleads his own Interest in them Page 45 A Parallel between Cattel in a Pound and Christ's own Sheep Page 46 Six weighty Reasons in this Plea. Page 47 1. They are Christ's own ib. 2. They cost him dear ib. 3. He hath made them near to himself Page 48 They are his Spouse his Love his Dove They are Members of his Body Page 49 A Man cannot spare a Hand a Foot a Finger Page 50 Nor can Christ spare any Member Page 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 Page 52 5. Christ pleads Satan's enmity against the godly Page 53 Satan is the Cause of the Crimes he accuses us of Page 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 Page 58 Eight Considerations to clear that Page 60 61 Seven more Considerations to the same end Page 62 63 Men care most for Children that are infirm ib. A Father offended hath been appeased by a Brother turning Advocate Page 64 Third Head To shew who have Christ for an Advocate Wherein are three things contained Page 65 I. This Office of Advocate differs from that of a Priest. ib. 1. They differ in Name ib. 2. They differ in Nature Page 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 Page 67 II. How far this Office of an Advocate is extended In five Particulars Page 68 III. Who have Christ for their Advocate ib. 1. In general All adopted Children Page 69 Obj. The Text saith if any Man sin Page 70 Answ. Any Man is not any of the Woâ—ld But any of the children of God. A difference in Children some bigger than some Page 73 Christ an Advocate for strong men Page 74 75 2. In particular to shew if Christ be our Advocate Page 76 I. If one have entertained Christ to plead a Cause ib. Quest. How shall I know that Page 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. Page 79 An Example of one revealing his Cause to Christ in a Closet Page 80 In Order to this one must know Christ 1. To be a Friend Page 81 2. To be faithful Page 82 III. If one have committed a Cause to Christ. Page 83 In order to this one must be convinced 1. Of Christ's Ability to defend him Page 84 2. of Christ's Courage to plead a Cause ib. 3. Of Christ's Will for this Work. Page 85 4. Of Christ's tenderness in case of his Clients dulness ib. 5. Of Christ's unweariedness Page 86 IV. If one wait till things come to a legal Issue Page 87 Quest. What is it thus to wait Page 88 Answ. 1. To be of good Courage Look for deliverance Page 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. Page 90 6. To wait waking Not sleeping ib. Ordinances and Minister compared to a Post-house and Carriers of Letters Page 91 The Clients comfortable conclusion about his Advocate and Cause ib. But yet doubting and desponding Page 92 93 The Author's reply to and comply with the Clients conclusion And his Council in the case Page 94 Fourth Head To shew the Clients Privileges by the benefit of this Office of Advocate Page 95 Priv. 1. The Advocate pleads a price paid ib. Of a rich Brother and his poor Brethren Page 96 Of the ill-conditioned Man their Enemy ib. Farther cleared by three considerations Page 97 Priv. 2. The Clients Advocate pleads for himself also both concerned in one bottom Page 99 1. He pleads the price of his own Blood. ib. 2. He pleads it for his own Page 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 Page 101 Answ. Christ cannot lose one Page 102 Priv. 3. The Plea of Satan is groundless ib. Satan must be cast over the Bar. Page 103 A Simile of a Widow owing a Sum of Money Page 105 Of an old Law nulled by a new Law. Page 106 Satan pleads by the Old Law Christ by the New. ib. Priv. 4. Is consequential The Clients Accuser must need be overthrown Page 107 The Clients solemn Appeal to the Almighty Page 108 In case the accused have no Advocate Satan prevails ib. Priv. 5. The Advocate hath pity for his Client And indignation against the Aâ—cuser Page 109 Men chuse an Advocate who hath a Quarrel against their Adversary Page 110 Priv. 6. The Judge counts the Accuser his Enemy Page 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 Page 112 He pleads before the God and all the Host of Heaven Page 113 He is the old Friend of Publicans and sinners ib. He pleads a Cause bad enough to make Angels blush Page 114 Love will do and bear and suffer much Page 115 Priv. 8. The Advocate is alway ready in Court. Page 116 He appears consider the Presence of God. Page 117 Priv. 9. Tâ—â— Christ â—â—â—â—cate will not be blinded with Bribes â—â— Page 118 Priv. 10. The Advocate
John Bunnyon THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST AS AN ADVOCATE 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 Bunyan Author of the Pilgrims 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 Offices which God the Father has conferred upon Jesus Christ our Lord this of his being an Advocate with him for us is not the least though to the shame of Saints it may be spoken the blessed benefits thereof have not with that diligence and fervent desire been enquired after as they ought Christ as Sacrifice Priest and King with the glories in and that 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 Though I am verily of opinion that the People of God in this Age have as much need of the knowledge thereof if not more need than had their Brethren that are gone befoâ—â—â—â—em Tâ—â—â—â— words if not more need perhaps may seem to some to be somewhat 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 thought on this and have somewhat considered also the transcendent excellency of the Advocateship of this our Lord And again that but little of the Glory thereof has by writing been in our day communicated to the Church I adventured to write what I have seen thereof and do by what 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 according 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 matters go before their God the Judge And particularly that they shall well come off at last Yea though their Cause as 't is theirs is such in Justification of which themselves don 't dare to shew their Heads Nor have I left the dejected Souls without Directions how to entertain this Advocate to plead their Cause Yea I have also shewen that he will be with case 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 no 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 alwayâ— full Farewel I am thine to serve thee what I may JOHN BUNYAN THE CONTENTS OF THIS TREATISE THe Apostle's divine Policy to beget a due regard to his divine Doctrine of Eternal Life Page 1 The Apostle's Explication of this Expression viz. The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin Page 2 The Apostle's Exhortation to separation from sin as a good effect of a good Cause Viz. forgiveness ib. The Apostle's Addition to prevent misunderstanding viz. we have an Advocate with the Father Page 3 This brings to the Text in which are two great Truths contained ib. 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 Page 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 Page 6 Seven things supposed in the Office of Advocate ib. 1. That God as Judge is on the Throne of Judgment ib. 2. That Saints are concerned at that Bar. Page 7 3. That Christians have an Accuser Page 8 4. That sinning Saints dare not appear at this Bar to plead their own Cause Page 9 5. That Châ—istians are apt to forget their Advocate and remember their Judge Page 10 6. To remember our Advocate is the way to support Faith and Hope Page 11 7. That if our Advocate plead our Cause though that be never so black he is able to bring us off Page 12 The Apostle's triumph in Christ on this account Page 13 An Exhortation to the difficult task of Believing Page 14 Christ's Advocateship declares us to be sorry creatures Page 16 The Method observed in the ensuing discourse Page 17 First To speak of this Advocate 's Office. ib. 1. By touching on the Nature of this Office. Page 18 2. By treating of the Order or Place of this Office Page 19 3. The occasion of this Office viz. some great sin Page 21 Christ as Advocate pleads a bad Cause Page 23 A good Cause will plead for it self Page 24 A pestilent passage of a Preacher Page 25 A bad man may have a good Cause and a good man may have a bad Cause Page 26 Christ the righteous
is Judge in the Client's Cause Page 120 Joseph's Exaltation was Israel's Advantage Page 121 God's care of his Peoples welfare Page 122 Priv. 11. The Advocate hath all that is requisite for an Advocate to have Page 123 Last Head To shew the necessity of Christ for our Advocate Page 124 I. To vindicate the Justice of God against the cavils of the Devil Page 125 Satan charges God with unjust Words Actions Page 126 God is pleased with his design to save sinners ib. II. There is Law to be objected against us Page 128 Christ appeals to the Law it self Page 130 Christ is not ashamed to own the way of Salvation Page 132 III. Many things give our Accuser advantage Page 133 1. Many things relating to the Promises ib. 2. Many things relating to our Lives Page 134 3. The threats annexed to the Gospel Page 137 IV. To plead about our afflictions for sins Page 139 A Simile of a Man indicted at the â—ssize And his malicious Adversary ib. An allusion to Abishai and â—â—iâ—â—ain who cursed David Page 141 V. To plead the efficacy of our Law. â—â—iâ—les to our Inheritance if questionable because of new sins Page 142 Saints do not sell their Inheritance by sin Page 143 VI. Our Evidences are oft out of our hand and we recover them by our Advocate Page 147 Obj. What need all these Offices or nice Distinctions Page 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 Page 152 Obj. 2. My Cause being bad Christ will desert me Page 153 Answ. Sin is a deadly destruction to Faith. ib. A five-fold Order observed in the exercise of Faith. Page 154 Obj â— But who shall pay the Advocate his 〈◊〉 Page 157 Answ. There is Law and Lawyers too without money ib. Christ pleads for the Poor ib. David's strange gift to God. Page 159 Obj. 4. If Christ be my Advocate once he will always be troubled with me Page 160 Answ. He is an Advocate to the utmost Page 162 Vse 1. To consider the Dignity God hath put upon Christ by Offices Places of Trust and Titles of Honour in general ib. Vse 2. To consider this Office of an Advocate in particular By which consideration these advantages come Page 168 1. To see one is not forsaken for sin ib. 2. To take courage to contend with the Devil Page 169 3. It affords relief for discouraged Faith. ib. 4. It helps to put off the Vizard Satan puts on Christ. Page 170 A Simile of a Vizaâ—â— on the Face of a Father Page 171 Study this peculiar Treasure of an Advocate 1. With reference to its peculiarity Page 172 2. Study the Nature of this Office. Page 173 3. Study its efficacy and prevalency ib. 4. Study Christ's Faithfulness in his Office. Page 174 5. Study the need of a share therein Page 175 Vse 3. To wonder at Christ's condescention in being an Advocate for the base and unworthy Page 177 Christ acts in open Court. 1. With an holy and just God. Page 179 2. Before all the Heavenly Host. Page 180 3 The Client is unconcerned for whom the Advocate is engaged Page 181 4. The Majesty of the Man that is an Advocate Page 182 Vse 4. Improve this Doctrine to strengthen Grace ib. 1. To strengthen Faith. ib. 2. To encourage to Prayer Page 184 3. To keep humble Page 186 4. To encourage to perseverance Page 188 Obj. I cannot pray My Mouth is stopped Page 189 Answ. Satan cannot silence Christ. Page 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. Page 191 Nine Considerations to that end Page 192 The last Resâ—â—â—e for a dead lift Page 193 Vse 6. To be wary of sin against God. Page 194 Christianity teaches Ingenuity ib. Christ is our â—â—â—ocate on free cost Page 195 A comely conclusion of a Brute Page 198 Three Considerations added ib. Vse 7. The strong are to tell the weak of an Advocate to plead their Cause Page 199 A word in season is good ib. Vse 8. All is nothing to them that have none to plead their Cause Page 202 An Instance of God's terrible Judgment Page 203 Obj. There is Grace the Promise the Blood of Christ cannot these save except Christ be Advocate ib. Answ. These and Advocate and all little enough Page 204 Christ no Advocate for such as have no Sense of and Shame for sin Page 206 Obj. Is not Christ an Advocate for his Elect uncalled Page 207 Answ. He died and prayeth for all his Elect as Priest as Advocate pleads for the called only ib. ERROR Page 167. line 10. for Matter read Water 1 Joh. II. 1 And if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous THat the Apostle might obtain due regard from those to whom he wrote touching the things about which he wrote he tells them That he received not his Message to them at second or third hand but was himself an Eye and Ear-Witness thereof That which was from the Beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life for the Life was manifest and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal Life which was with the father and was manifest unto us That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you Having thus told them of his ground for what he said he proceeds to tell them also the matter contained in his Errand to wit That he brought them news of Eternal Life as freely offered in the Word of the Gospel to them or rather that that Gospel which they had received would certainly usher them in at the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven were their Reception of it sincere and in truth For saith he then The Blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth you from all sin Having thus far told them what was his Errand he sets upon an Explication of what he had said specially touching our being cleansed from all sin not saith he from a Being of Sin For should we say so we should deceive our selves and should prove that we have no truth of God in us but by cleansing I mean a being delivered from all sin so as that none at all shall have the dominion over you to bring you down to Hell for that for the sake of the Blood of Christ all trespasses are forgiven you This done he exhorts them to shun or sly Sin and not to consent to the Motions Workings Inticeings or the Allurements thereof saying I write unto you that you sin not Let not Forgiveness have so bad an effect upon you as to cause you to be remiss in Christian Duties or as to tempt you to give way to Evil. Shall we sin because we
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. 14.3.1 2 3. Wherefore 't is evident that Saints neither can nor dare 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 his Hand upon them both Chap. 9.33 But our Mercy is we have one to plead our cause an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous who will not suffer our Soul to be spilt and spoiled before the Throne but will surely plead our Cause 6 Another thing that the Apostle would have us learn from the words is this That to remember and to believe that Jesus Christ is an Advocate for us when we have sinned is the next way to support and strengthen our Faith and Hope Faith and Hope are very apt to faint when our sins in their Guilt do return upon us nor is there any more proper way to relieve our Souls than to understand that the Son of God is our Advocate in Heaven True Christ died for our Sins as a Sacrifice and as a Priest he sprinkleth with his Blood the Mercy-seat Ay but here is one that has sinned after Profession of Faith that has sinned grievously so grievously that his Sins are come up before God yea are at his Bar pleaded against him by the Accuser of the Brethren by the Enemy of the godly What shall he do now Why let him believe in Christ. Believe that 's true but how now must he conceive in his mind of Christ for the encouraging of him so to do Why let him call to mind that Jesus Christ is an Advocate with the Father and as such he meeteth the Accuser at the Bar of God pleads for this Man that has sinned against this Accuser and prevaileth for ever against him Here now tho Satan be turned Lawyer tho he accuseth yea tho his charge against us is true for suppose that we have sinned yet our Advocate is with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Thus is Faith encouraged thus is Hope strengthened thus is the Spirit of the sinking Christian revived and made to wait for a good deliverance from a bad cause and a cunning Adversary Specially if you consider 7. That the Apostle also doth further suppose by the Text That Jesus Christ as Advocate if he will but plead our Cause let that be never so black is able to bring us off even before Gods Judgment-Seat to our Joy and the confounding of our Adversary For when he saith we have an Advocate he speaks nothing if he means not thus But he doth mean thus he must mean thus because he seeketh here to comfort and support the Fallen Has any Man sinned we have an Advocate But what of that if yet he be unable to fetch us off when charged for Sin at the Bar and before the Face of a righteous Judge But he is able to do this the Apostle says so in
that he supposeth a Man has sinned as any Man among the Godly ever did for so we may understand it and if he giveth us not leave to understand it so he saith nothing to the purpose neither For it will be objected by some But can he fetch me off tho I have done as David as Solomon as Peter or the like It must be answered yes the openness of the terms anyman the indefiniteness of the word Sin doth naturally allow us to take him in the largest Sense besides he brings in this Saying as the chief most apt and fittest to relieve one crush'd down to Death and Hell by the Guilt of Sin and a wounded Conscience Further methinks by these words the Apostle seems to triumph in his Christ Saying my Brethren I would have you study to be holy but if your Adversary the Devil should get the Advantage of you and besmear you with the filth of Sin you have yet besides all that you have heard already an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Who is as to his Person interest with God his Wisdom and Worth able to bring you off to the comforting of your Souls Let me therefore for a Conclusion as to this give you an exhortation to believe to hope and expect that though you have sinned for I now speak to the fallen Saint that Jesus Christ will make a good end with thee trust I say in him and he shall bring it to pass I know I put thee upon a hard and difficult task for believing and expecting Good when my guilty Conscience doth nothing but clog burden and terrifie me with the Justice of God the Greatness of my Sins and the burning Torments is hard and Sweating work But it must be the Text calls for it thy case calls for it and thou must do it if thou wouldst glorifie Christ. And this is the way to hasten the issue of thy Cause in Hand for believing daunts the Devil pleaseth Christ and will help thee before-hand to sing that Song of the Church saying O Lord thou hast pleaded the Causes of my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life Lam. 3.55 56 57 58 59. Yea believe and hear thy pleading Lord say to thee Thus saith the Lord the Lord and thy God that pleadeth the Cause of his People Behold I have taken out of thy Hand the Cup of trembling even the dregs of the Cup of my Fury thou shalt no more drink it again Isa. 51.20 21 22. I am not here discoursing of the sweetness of Christ's Nature but of the Excellency of his Offices and of his Office of Advocateship in particular which as a Lawyer for his Client he is to execute in the Presence of God for us Love may be where there is no Office and so where no Power is to do us good but now when Love and Office shall meet they will surely both combine in Christ to do the fallen Christian good But of his Love we have treated elsewhere we will here discourse of the Office of this loving One. And for thy further Information let me tell thee That God thy Father counteth that thou wilt be when compared with his Law but a poor one all thy Days Yea the Apostle tells thee so in that he saith there is an Advocate provided for thee When a Father provides Crutches for his Child he doth as good as say I count that my Child will be yet Infirm And when God shall provide an Advocate he doth as good as say my People are subject to Infirmities Do not therefore think of thy self above what by plain Texts and fair Inferences drawn from Christ's Offices thou art bound to think What doth it bespeak concerning thee That Christ is always a Priest in Heaven and there ever lives to make Intercession for thee Heb. 7.24 but this that thou art at thy best in thy self yea and in thy best exercising of all thy Graces too but a poor pitiful sorry sinful Man. A Man that would when yet most holy be certainly cast away did not thy high-Priest take away for thee the iniquity of thy holy things The Age we live in is a wanton Age the Godly are not so humble and low and base in their own Eyes as they should Tho their daily experience calls for it and the Priest-hood of 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 foully 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 behind 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 to 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 Wherefore Secondly The Occasion of his exercising of this Office of Advocate is as hath beeâ— 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 Hiâ—â—ite 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
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 â—roden 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 medleth 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 shall 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 or because of any thing but of his own Will Eph. 1.4 5 6 7 8 9. Fourthly Election includeth in it a permanent Resolution of God to glorifie his Mercy on the Vessels of Mercy Thus fore-ordained unto Glory Rom. 9.15 18 23. Fifthly By the Act of electing Love it is concluded that all things whatsoever shall work together for the Good of them whose Call to God is the Fruit of this Purpose this eternal Purpose of God Rom. 8.28 29 30. Sixthly The Eternal Inheritance is by a Covenant of free and unchangeable Grace made over to those thus chosen And to secure them from the Fruits of Sin and of the Malice of Satan it is sealed by this our Advocate 's Blood as he is Mediator of this Covenant Who also is become surety to God for them to wit to see them forth-coming at the great Day and to set them then safe and sound before his Fathers Face after the Judgment is over Rom. 9.24 Heb. 9.15 chap. 7.22 chap. 13.20 chap. 9.17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. Joh. 10.28 29. Seventhly By this Choice Purpose and Decree the Elect the concerned therein have allotted them by God and laid up for them in Christ a Sufficiency of Grace to bring them through all Difficulties to Glory Yea and they every one of them after the first Act of Faith the which also they shall certainly attain because wrapt up in the Promise for them are to receive the earnest and first Fruits thereof into their Souls 2 Tim. 1.9 Acts 14.22 Eph. 1.4 5 13 14. Now put all these things together and then feel if there be not weight in this Plea of Christ against the Devil He pleads God's Choice and Interest in his Saints against him an Interest that is secured by the Wisdom of Heaven by the Grace of Heaven by the Power Will and Mercy of God in Christ. An Interest in which all the three Persons in the God-head have engaged themselves by mutual Agreement and Operation to make good when Satan has done his All. I know there are some that object against this Doctrine as â—â—â—se But such perhaps are ignorant of some things else as well as of this However they object against the Wisdom of God whose truth it is and against Christ our Advocate whose Argument as he is such it is yea they labour what in them lieth to wrest that Weapon out of his Hand with which he so cudgelleth the Enemy when as Advocate he pleadeth so effectually against him for the rescuing of us from the Danger of Judgement Saying The Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee
suffering and merciful to us For Pity and Compassion are the Fruits of the yearning of God's Bowels towards us while he considereth us as infirm and weak and subject to Slips and Stumbles and Falls because of Weakness And that Christ our Advocate by thus pleading doth turn things to our Advantage consider 1. That God is careful that through our Weakness our Spirits do not fail before him when he chides Isa. 57.16 17 18. 2. He stays his rough Wind in the Day of his East Wind Isa. 27.7 8 9. and debates about the Measure of Affliction when for sin we should be chastened lest we should sink thereunder 3. He will not strictly mark what 's done amiss because if he should we cannot stand Psal. 130.3 4. When he threatneth to strike his Bowels are troubled and his Repentings are kindled together Hos. 11.8 9. 5. He will spin out his Patience to the utmost length because he knows we are such Bunglers at doing Jer. 9.24 6 He will accept of the Will for the Deed because he knows that Sin will make our best Performances imperfect 2 Cor. 8.12 7. He will count our little a very great deal for that he knows we are so unable to do any thing at all Job 1.21 8. He will excuse the Souls of his People and lay the Fault upon their Flesh which has greatest Affinity with Satan if through Weakness and Infirmity we do not do as we should Mat. 26.41 Rom. 7. Now as I said all these things happen unto us both Infirmities and Pity because and for that we were once in the Fire and for that the Weakness of Sin abides upon us to this Day But none of this Favour could come to us nor could we by any Means cause that our Infirmities should work for us thus advantageously But that Christ our Advocate stands our Friend and pleads for us as he doth But again before I pass this over I will for the clearing of this present you with a few more Considerations which are of another Rank to wit that Christ our Advocate as such makes mention of our Weaknesses so against Satan and before his Father as to turn all to our Advantage 1. We are therefore to be saved by Grace because by Reason of Sin we are disabled from keeping of the Law Deut. 9.5 Isa. 64.6 2. We have given unto us the Spirit of Grace to help because we can do nothing that 's good without it Eph. 2.5 Rom. 8.26 Ezek. 16.8 3. God has put Christ's Righteousness upon us to cover our Nakedness therewith because we have none of our own to do it withal Phil. 3.7 8. 4. God alloweth us to râ—â—e in the Bosom of Christ to the Grave and from thence in the Bosom of Angels to Heaven because our own Legs are not able to carry us thither Isa. 40.11 chap. 46.4 Psal. 67.17 Luk. 16.2 5. God has made his Son our Head our Priest our Advocate our Saviour our Captain that we may be delivered from all the Infirmities and all tâ—e â—iends that attend us and that plot to do us Hurt Eph. 1.22 Col. 1.18 Heb. 7.12 6. God has put the fallen Angels into Chains 2 Pet. 2.4 Rev. 20.1 2. that they might not follow us too fast and has inlarged us Psal. 34.7 and directed our Feet in the way of his Steps that we may haste us to the strong Tower and City of Refuge for Succour and Safety And has given good Angels a Charge to look to us Heb. 1 14. 7. God has promised That we at our counting days shall be spared as a Man spareth his own Son that serves him Mal. 3.17 Now from all these things it appears that we have Indulgence at God's Hand and that our Weaknesses as our Christ manages the Matter for us are so far off from laying a Block or Bar in the Way to the Enjoyment of Favour that they also work for our good Yea and Gods Foresight of them has so kindled his Bowels and Compassions to us as to put him upon devising of such things for our Relief which by no means could have been had not Sin been with us in the World And had not the best of the Saints been as a Brand plucked out of the Burning I have seen Men and yet they are worse than God take most care of and also best 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 Yeâ— 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 of 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
have soul-Soul-Causes hourly depending before the Throne of God and thâ—t 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 wouâ—dst thou know if thou hâ—â—â— 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 râ—â—eals his Cause to his Lawyer but puts into his Hands his Evidences Deeds Leases Mortgages Bonds or what else he hatâ— 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 A Man that has Parts sufficient may yet fail â—is Friend for want of Courage Wherefore the Courage and Greatness of Christ's Spirit as to his undertaking of the Cause of his People is also amply set out in Scripture He shall not fail nor be discouraged until he hath set Judgment in the Earth Vntil he hath brought Judgment into Victory Isa. 42.4 Mat 12.20 3. They must also be convinced of his Willingness to do this for them for tho one be able and of Courage sufficient yet if he is not willing to undertake ones Cause what is it the better Wherefore he declareth his Willingness also and how ready he is to stand up to plead the Cause of the Poor and of them that are in want The Lord will plead their Cause and spoil the Soul of those that spoiled them Prov. 22.23 4. They must also be convinced of this That Christ is tender and will not be offended at the Dulness of his Client Some Men can reveal their Cause to their Lawyers better than some and are more serviceable and handy in that Affair than others but saith the Christian I am dull and sorry that way will not Christ be shuff and shy of me because of this Honest Heart he hath a Supply of thy Defects in himself and knoweth what thou wantest and where the Shooe pinches though thou art not able distinctly to open Matters to him The Child is prickt with a Pin and lies crying in the Mothers Lap but cannot shew to its Mother where the Pin is but there is pity enough in the Mother to supply this Defect of the Child Wherefore she undresses it opens it searches every Clout from Head to the Foot of the Child and so finds where the Pin is Thus will thy Lawyer do he will search and find out thy Difficulties and where Satan seeketh an Advantage of thee accordingly will provide his Remedy 5. O but will he not be weary The Prophet complains of some that they weary God Isa. 7.13 And mine is a very cross and intricate Cause I have wearied many a good Man while I have been telling my tale unto him And I am afraid That I shall also weary Jesus Christ. Answer Soul he suffered and did bear with the manners of Israel forty Years in the Wilderness Acts 13.18 and hast thou tryed him half so long The good Souls that have gone before thee have found him a tryed Stone a sure one to be trusted to as to this Isa. 28.16 and the Prophet saith positively That he fainteth not neither is weary and that there is no searching of his Vnderstanding chap. 40.28 let all these
things prevail with thee to believe that if thou hast committed thy Cause unto him he will bring it to pass to a good pass to so good a pass as will glorifie God honour Christ save thee and shame the Devil Fourthly But fourthly wouldest thou know whether Jesus Christ is thine Advocate whether he has taken in hand to plead thy Cause Then I ask Dost thou together with what has been mentioned before wait upon him according to his Counsel until things shall come to a legal Issue Thus must Clients do There is a great many Turnings and Windings about Sutes and Tryals at Law the Enemy also with his Supersedes Cavils and Motions often deferrs a speedy Issue Wherefore the Man whose is the concern must wait as the Prophet said I will look said he unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation But how long Prophet wilt thou wait Why says he until he plead my Cause and execute Judgment for me Mich. 7.7 8 9 10. Perhaps When thy Cause is tryed things for the present are upon this Issue Thy Adversary indeed is cast but whether thou shalt have an absolute Discharge as Peter had or a conditional one as David 2 Sam. 12.10 11 14. and as the Corinthians had that 's the Question True thou shalt be compleatly saved at last but yet whether 't is not best to leave to thee a Memento of God's Displeasure against thy Sin by awarding that the Sword shall never depart from thy House or that some sore Sickness or other Distresses shall haunt thee as long as thou livest or perhaps that thou shalt walk without the Light of Godâ—s Countenance for several Years and a Day Now if any of these three things happen unto thee thou must exercise Patience and wait Thus did David I waited patiently And again He exercises his Soul in this Vertue saying My Soul wait thou only upon him for my Expectation is from him Psal. 62.5 For now we are Judged of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the World And by this Judgment though it sets us free from their Damnation yet we are involved in many Troubles And perhaps must wait many a Day before we can know That as to the main the Verdict hath gone on our Side Thus therefore in order to thy waiting upon him without fainting it is meet that thou shouldest know the Methods of him that manages thy Cause for thee in Heaven And suffer not Mistrust to break in and bear sway in thy Soul For he will at length bring thâ—e forth to the Light and thou shalt behold his Righteousness She also that is thine Enemy shall see it and Shame shall cover her that said unto thee where is thy God But what is it to wait upon him according to his Counsel Answ. 1. To wait is to be of good Courage to live in Expectation and to look for Deliverance tho thou hast sinnâ—â— against thy God. Wait on the Lord be of good Courage and he shall strengthen thy Heart Wait I say on the Lord Psal. 7.14 Psal. 31.24 2. To wait upon him is to keep his way To walk humbly in his Appointments Wait on the Lord and keep his Way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the Land Psal. 37.3 3. To wait upon him is to observe and keep those Directions which he giveth thee to observe even while he stands up to plead thy Cause For without this or not doing this a Man may further marr his Cause in the Hand of him that is to plead it Wherefore keep thee far from an evil Matter have no Correspondence with thine Enemy walk humbly for the Wickedness that thou hast committed and loath and abhor thy self for it in Dust and Ashes To these things doth the Scripture every where direct us 4. To wait is also to encline to harken to those further Directions which thou mayst receive from the Mouth of thine Advocate as to any fresh Matters that may forward and expedite a good issue of thine Affair in the Court of Heaven The want of this was the Reason that the Deliverance of Israel did linger so long in former times O! Says he that my People had harkened unto me and Israel had walked in my Ways I should soon have subdued their Enemies and turned mine Hand against their Adversaries The Haters of the Lord should soon have submitted themselves But their Time should have endâ—â—ed forever Psal. 81.13 14 15. 5. Also if it tarry long wait for it Do 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 thought pass through thy Heart saying This Evil is of the Lord why should I wait upon the Lord any longer 2 King. 6.33 6. But take heed that thou turnest not thy Waiting into Sleeping Wait thou must and wait patiently too but yet wait with much longing and Earnestness of Spirit to see or hear how Matters go above You may observe that when a Man that dwells far down in the Country and has some Business at the Term in this or another of the Kings Courts though he will wait his Lawyers time and conveniency yet he will so wait as still to enquire at the Post-house or at the Carriers or if a Neighbour comes down from Term at his Mouth for Letters or any other Intelligence if possibly he may arrive to know how his Cause speeds and whether his Adversary or he has the day Thus I say thou must wait upon thine Advocate His Ordinances are his Post-house his Ministers are his Carriers where Tidings from Heaven are to be had and where those that are sued in that Court by the Devil may at one time or another hear from their Lawyer their Advocate how things are like to go Wherefore I say wait at the Posts of Wisdom's House go to Ordinances with Expectation to hear from thy Advocate there For he will send in due time Tho it tarry wait for it because it will surely come and will not tarry Hab. 2.1 2 3. And now Soul I have answered thy Request and let me hear what thou sayst unto me Soul. Truly says the Soul methinks that by what you have said I may have this blessed Jesus to be mine Advocate for I think verily I have entertained him to be mine Advocate I have also revealed my Cause unto him yea committed both it and my self unto him And as you say I wait O I wait And my Eyes fail with looking upward Fain would I hear how my Soul standeth in the Sight of God and whether my Sins which I have committed Since Light and Grace was given unto me be by mine Advocate taken out of the Hand of the Devil and by mine Advocate removed as far from me as the Ends of the Earth are asunder Whether the Verdict has gone on my side And what a Shout there was among the Angels when they
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 â—â—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 be baâ—â—eâ— out with a bold Word or two Isa. â—0 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 give 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 Death Col. 2.19 because we hold the Head and have not made Ship wrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 but still as David and Solomon we confess and are sorry for our Sins Thus tho we seem through our Falls to come short of the Promise with Pâ—â—er Heb. 4.3 and leave our Transgressions as stumbling Blocks to the World with Solomon and minister Occasion of a Question of our Salvation among the Godly Yet our Advocate fetches us oâ—â— before God and we shall be found safe and in Heaven at last by them in the next World who was afraid they had lost us in this But all these Points must be managed by Christ for us against Satan as a Lawyer an Advocate who to that end now appears in the Presence of God for us And wisely handleth the very Crisis of the Word and of the Failings of his People together with all those nice and critical Juggles by which our Adversary laboureth to bring us down to the Confusion of his Face 3. There is also the Threatnings that are annexed to the Gospel and they fall now under our Consideration They are of two sorts such as respect those who altogether neglect and reject the Gospel or those that profess it yet fall in or from that Profession thereof The first sort of threatning cannot be pleaded against the Professors of the Gospel as against those that never profess'd it Wherefore he betaketh himself to manage those Threatnings against us that belong to those that have professed and that have fallen in or from that Profession Psal. 109.6 Joshua fell in it Zech. 3.1 2. Judas fell from it And the Accuser stands at the Right Hand of them both to resist them before the Judgment of God. To resist them by pleading the Threatnings against them To wit that God's Soul should have no Pleasure in them If any Man draws back my Soul shall have no Pleasure in them Here 's a Plea for Satan both against one and t'other they are both Apostatized both drawn back and he is subtil enough to manage it Ay but Satan here is also Matter sufficient for a Plea for our Advocate against thee for as much as the next Words distinguish betwixt drawing back and drawing back unto Perdition every one that draws back doth not draw back unto Perdition Heb. 10.38 39. Some of them draw back from and some in the Profession of the Gospel Judas drew back from and Peter in the Profession of his Faith Wherefore Judas perishes but Peter turns again because Judas drew back unto Perdition but Peter yet believed to the saving of the Soul. Nor doth Jesus Christ when he seeth
and Authentick and that cannot be gainsaid Gabriel saith he make this Man understand the Vision Dan. 8.16 And again saith he to another Run speak to this young Man saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without Walls Jerusalem had been in Captivity had lost many Evidences of God's Favour and Love by Reason of her Sin and her Enemy stept in to augment her Sin and Sorrow But there was a Man among the Myrtle trees that were in the bottom that did prevail with her God to say I am returned to Jerusalem with Mercies And then commands it to be proclaimed That his Cities through Prosperity should yet be spread abroad Zech. 1.11 12 13 14 15 16 17. Thus by Virtue of our Advocate we are either made to receive our old Evidences for Heaven again or else are made to understand that they yet are good and stand valid in the Court of Heaven nor can they be made ineffectual but shall abide the test at last because our Advocate is also concerned in the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Christians know what it is to lose their Evidences for Heaven and to receive them again or to hear that they hold their Title by them But perhaps they know not how they come at this Privilege Therefore the Apostle tells them they have an Advocate And that by him as Advocate they enjoy all these Advantages is manifest because his Advocates Office is appointed for our Help when we sin that is commit Sins that are great and heinous If any Man sin we have an Advocate By him the Justice of God is vindicated the Law answered the Threatnings taken off the Measure of Afflicton that for Sin we undergo determined our Titles to eternal Life preserved and our comfort of them restored notwithstanding the Wit and Rage and Envy of Hell. So then Christ gave himself for us as a Priest died for us as a Sacrifice but pleadeth Justice and Righteousness in a way of Justice and Righteousness for such is his Sacrifice for our Salvation from the Death that is due to our soul or high Transgressions as an Advocate Thus have I given you thus far an Account of the Nature End and Necessity of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ And should now come to the use and Application only I must first remove an Objection or two Obj. But what need all these Offices of Jesus Christ or what need you trouble us with these nice Distinctions 't is enough for us to believe in Christ in the general without considering him under this and that Office. Answ. The Wisdom of God is not to be charged with needless doing when it giveth to Jesus Christ such Variety of Offices and calleth him to so many sundry Imployments for us They are all thought necessary by Heaven and therefore should not be counted superfluous by Earth And to put a Question upon thy Objection What 's a Sacrifice without a Priest and what 's a Priest without a Sacrifice And the same I say of his Advocates Office what 's an Advocate without the Exercise of his Office And what need of an Advocates Office to be exercised if Christ as Sacrifice and Priest by God was thought sufficient Each of these Offices are sufficient for the perfecting of the Work for which they are designed but they are not all designed for the self same particular thing Christ as Sacrifice offereth not himself 't is Christ as Priest does that Christ as Priest dieth not for our Sins 't is Christ as Sacrifice does so Again Christ as a Sacrifice and a Priest limits himself to those two Imploies but as an Advocate he lances out into a third And since these are not confounded in Heaven nor by the Scriptures they should not be confounded in our Apprehensions nor accounted useless 'T is not therefore enough for us that we exercise our thoughts upon Christ in an undistinct and general way but we must learn to know him in all his Offices and to know the Nature of his Offices also Our Condition requires this It requireth it I say as we are guilty of Sin as we have to do with God and with our Enemy the Devil As we are guilty of Sin so we need a Sacrifice and because we are also Sinners we need one perfect to present our Sacrifice for us to God We have need also 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 righteous 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 because 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
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 also he pleadeth all their Causes O Lord saith the Church thou hast pleaded the Causes of my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life Lam. 3.58 Mark troubled Christian thou sayst 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 laid to thy Charge And here for thy Encouragement thou readest that the Church hath an Advocate that pleadeth the Causes of her Soul 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 of many bad things Wherefore he hath prepared himself to our Service and to abide with the Father an Advocate for us As Solomon saith of a Man of great Wrath Prov. 19.19 so it may be said of a Man of great Weaknesses and the best of Saints are such he must he delivered again and again Yea many a time saith David did he deliver them Psal. 106.44 45. to wit more than once and twice and he will do so for thee if thou entertain him to be thine Advocate Thou talkest of leaving of him but then whither wilt thou go all else are vain things things that cannot profit 1 Sam. 12.20 21 22 23. and he will not forsake his People tho their Land be filled 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 the whole and Vse 1. First I would exhort the Children to consider the Dignity that God hath put upon Jesus Christ their Saviour For by how much God hath called his Son to Offices and Places of trust by so much he hath heaped Dignities upon him 'T is said of Mordecai That he was next to the King Ahasuerus And what then Why then the Greatness of Mordecai his high Advance must be written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia Esth. â—0 1 2 3. to the end his Fame might not be buried nor forgot but remembred and talked of in Generations to come Why my Brethren God hath exalted Jesus of Nazareth Hath made him the only great one having given him a Name above every Name A Name did I say a Name and Glory beyond all Names and above all Names as doth witness both his being set above all and the many Offices which he executeth for God on behalf of his People 'T is counted no little Addition to Honour when Men are not only made near to the King but also intrusted with most if not almost with all the most weighty Affairs of the Kingdom Why this is the Dignity of Christ he is 't is true the natural Son of God and so high and one that abounds with Honour but this is not all God has conferred upon him as Man all the high and most mighty Honours of Heaven He hath made him Lord Mediator betwixt him and the World. This in general And particularly he hath called him to be his high Priest forever Heb. 7.21 22 23 24. and hath sworn he shall not be changed for another he hath accepted of his Offering once forever counting that there is wholly enough in what he did once to perfect forever them that are sanctified to wit set apart to Glory Heb. 10.11 12 13. He is Captain General of all the Forces that God hath in Heaven and Earth the King and Commander of his People Chap. 9.25 26. He is Lord of all and made Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.22 and is our Advocate with the Father O the Exaltation of Jesus Christ Let Christians therefore in the first Place consider this Nor can it but be profitable to them if withal they consider that all this Trust and Honour is put and conferred upon him in Relation to the Advantage and Advancement of Christians If Christians do but consider the nearness that is 'twixt Christ and them and withal consider how he is exalted it must needs be matter of Comfort to them He is my Flesh and my Bone that is exalted it is my Friend and Brother that is thus set up and preferred 'T was something to the Jews when Mordecai was exalted to Honour they had thereby Ground to
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 Christ 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 hast 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 should make Intercession for them and that by him of Necessity they must approach God and present their Prayers and Services to him But they do not so well see that they need that Christ should also be their Advocate And the Reason thereof is this They forget that their Adversary makes it his Business to accuse them before the Throne of God they 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 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 Honour But that is to â—â—ew how highly God esteems of and dignifies all his Acts and tho this shall tend at last to the greatning of his Honour and Glory in his Kingdom yet the Work it self is amazingly mean. I speak after the manner of Men It is accounted so in this World How ignoble and unrespectful doth a Man make himself specially to his Enemy when he undertaketh to plead a bad Cause if it also happeneth to be the Cause of the base and unworthy And I am sure we are every one so in our selves for whom he is become an Advocate with the Father True we are made worthy in him but that 's no thanks to us as to our selves and our Cause both are yet bad enough And let us now leave off disputing and stand amazed at his Condescention He humbleth himself to behold things that are in Heaven Psal. 113.4 5 6. and Men of old did use to wonder to think that God should so much stoop as to open his Eyes to look upon Man or once so much as to mind him Job 14.1 2 3. Psal. 144.3 4. Job 7.17 Psal. 8.4 And if these be Acts that bespeak a Condescension what will you count of Christ's standing up as an Advocate to plead the Cause of his People Must not that be much more so accounted Oh the Condescention of Christ in Heaven While Cavillers quarrel at such kind of Language let the Saints stay themselves and wonder at it and be so much the more affected with his Grace The Persons are base the Crimes are base with which the Persons are charged wherefore one would think that has but the Reason to think that it is a great Condescention of Christ now in Heaven to take upon him to be an Advocate for such a People Specially if you consider the openness of this Work of Christ for this thing is not done in a Corner This is done in open Court. First with an holy and just God for he is the Judge of all and his Eyes are purer than to behold Iniquity yea his very Essence and Presence is a consuming Fire yet before and with this God and that fâ—â— such a People Jesus Christ the King will be an Advocate For one mean Man to be an Advocate for the base with one that is not considerable is not so much But for Christ to be an Advocate for the base and for the base too under the basest Consideration this is to be wondred at When Bathsheba the Queen became an Advocate for Adonijah unto King Solomon you see how he flounced at her for that his Cause was bad And why saith he dost thou ask Abishai for
Adonijah Ask for him the Kingdom also 1 Kin. 2.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. I told you before that to be an Advocate did run one upon Hazards of Reproach and it may easily be thought that the Queen did blush when from the King her Son she received such a Repulse Nor do we hear any more of her being an Advocate I believe she had enough of this But oh this Christ of God who himself is greater than Solomon he is become an Advocate an Advocate with the Father who is the eternally just and holy and righteous God And that for a People with Respect to him far worse than could be Adonijah in the Eyes of his Brother Solomon Majestly and Justice are dreadful in themselves and much more so when approached by any specially when the Cause as to matter of Fact is bad that the Man is guilty of who is concerned in the Advocateship of his Friend And yet Jesus Christ is still an Advocate for us an Advocate with the Father Secondly Consider also before whom Jesus Christ doth plead as an Advocate and that is before or in the Presence and Observation of all the heavenly Host. For while Christ pleadeth with God for his People all the Host of Heaven stands by on the right Hand and on the Left Mat. 10.32 And tho as yet there may seem to be but little in this Consideration yet Christ would have us know and account it an Infinite Kindness of his to us that he will confess and not be ashamed of us before the Angels of his Father Mark 8.38 Angels are holy and glorious Creatures and in some Respect may have a greater Knowledge of the Nature and baseness of Sin than we while here are capable of and so may be made to stand and wonder while the Advocate pleads with God for a People from Head to Foot cloathed therewith But Christ will not be ashamed to stand up for us before them though they know how bad we are and what vile things we have done Let this therefore make us wonder Thirdly Add to these how unconcerned oft-times those are with themselves and their own desolate Condition for whom Christ as an Advocate laboureth in Heaven with God. Alas the Soul is as far off of knowing what the Devil is doing against it at God's Bar as David was when Saul was threatning to have his Blood while he was hid in the Field 1 Sam. 20.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. But O true Jonathan How didst thou plead for David Only here thou hadst the Advantage of our Advocate thou hadst a good Cause to plead for when Saul thy Father said David shall surely die Thy Reply was wherefore shall he be slain What evil hath he done But Christ cannot say thus when he pleadeth for us at God's Bar nor is our present Senselessness and unconcernedness about his pleading but an Aggravation to our Sin. Perhaps David was praying while Jonathan was playing the Advocate for him before the King his Father But perhaps the Saint is sleeping yea sinning more while Christ is pleading for him in Heaven Oh! This should greatly affect us this should make us wonder this should be so considered by us as to heighten our Souls to Admiration of the Grace and Kindness of Christ. Fourthly join to these the Greatness and Gravity the highness and glorious Majesty of the Man that is become our Advocate says the Text 't is Jesus Christ we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ. Now that he should become an Advocate that he should embrace such an Imploy as this of his Advocateship let this be a wonderment and so be accounted But let us come to the fourth Use. Vse 4. Fourthly Is it so is Jesus Christ the Saviour also become our Advocate Then let us labor to make that Improvement of this Doctrine as tendeth to strengthen our Graces and us in the management of them Indeed this should be the Use that we should make of all the Offices of Christ but let us at this time concern our selves about this Let I say the poor Christian thus expostulate with himself 1. Is Christ Jesus the Lord mine Advocate with the Father Then awake my Faith and shake thy self like a Gyant Stir up thy self and be not faint Christ is the Advocate of his 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 overthrown 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 strengthened 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
25 26 27 28. also David thought it too much for all his Houshold to go to Absalom's Feast bâ—cause 't was made of free-cost Why Christ is our Advocate of free-cost we pay him neither Fee nor In-come for what he doth nor doth he desire ought of us but to accept of his free doing for us thankfully Wherefore let us put him upon this Work as little as may be and by so doing we shall show our selves Christians of the right make and stamp We count him but a Fellow of a very gross Spirit that will therefore be lavishing of what is his Friends because 't is prepared of meer Kindness for him Esau himself was loth to do this and shall Christians be disingenious I dare say if Christians were sober watchfuâ— and of a more self-denying Temper they need not put the Lord Jesus to that to which for the want of these things they do so often put him I know he is not unwilling to serve us but I know also that the â—â—ve of Christ should constrain us to live 〈…〉 Selves but to him that loved us 〈…〉 us and rose again 2 Cor. 5.14 we 〈◊〉 do that which is naught too much 〈◊〉 then when we watch and take care what we can to prevent it Our Flesh when we do our utmost Diligence to resist it will defile both us and our best Performances We need not lay the reins on its Neck and say what care we the more Sin the more Grace and the more we shall see the Kindness of Christ and what Virtue there is in his Advocates Office to save us And should there be any such here I would present them with a Scripture or two The first is this Do ye thus require the Lord O foolish People and unwise Deut. 32.6 and if this gentle check will not do then read the other Shall we say let us do evil that good may come their Damnation is just Rom. 3.8 besides as nothing so swayeth with us as Love so there is nothing so well pleasing to God as it Let a Man love tho he has Opportunity to do nothing 't is accepted of the God of Heaven But where there is no Love let a Man do what he will it is not at all regarded 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. Now to be careless and negligent and that from a supposed Understanding of the Grace of Christ in the Exercise of his Advocateship for us in Heaven is as clear a Sign as can be that in thy Heart there is no Lov◠〈◊〉 â—â—rist and that consequently thou ar◠〈◊〉 nothing instead of being a Chriâ—â—â—â—◠〈…〉 Talk then 〈◊〉 thou wilt and profess never so largeâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ist is no Advocate of thine nor shalt thou thou so continuing be ever the better for any of those Pleas that Christ at Gods Bar puts in against the Devil for his People Christians Christ Jesus is not unwilling to lay out himself for you in Heaven nor to be an Advocate for you in the Presence of his Father But yet he is unwilling that you should render him evil for good I say that you should do so by your remissness and carelesness For want of such a thinking of things as may affect you Hearts therewith 'T would be more comely in you would please him better would better agree with your Profession and also better would prove you gracious to be sound in the Power and Nature of these Conclusions How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Rom. 6.2 Col. 3.1 3 5 6 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right Hand of God. For ye are dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection Evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry for which things sake the Wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience I say 't would be more comely for Christians to say we will not sin because God will pardon we will not commit Iniquity 'cause Christ will advocate for us I write unto you that you sin not tho if any Man sins we have an Advocate with God the Father Why the brute will conclude I will not do so 'cause my Master will beat me I will 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 that 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 Further 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 free out of his Hand Men shall clap their Hands at him and shall hiss him out of his Place Job 27. â—0 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 hâ—s 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 â—everally 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—â—ump 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 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 enquity 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 are so far off from Sense of and Shame fâ—r 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 for 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 righteous FINIS ERRATA PAge 31 Line 22 for acknowledgeth read acknowledged p. 65 l. 13 f. your 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 v. 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 in the Poultrey THere is likewise Published by this Author An useful Book entitled The Holy War made by Christ upon the Devil for the regaining of Man or the losing and taking again of the Town of Man-Soul The Pilgrims Progress from this World to that which is to come delivered in the Similitude of a Dream wherein is discovered the manner of his setting out his dangerous Journey and safe Arrival at the desired Country the First part Price 1 s. The Pilgrims Progress from this World to that which is to come the Second part delivered in the Similtude of a Dream wherein is set forth the manner of the setting out of Christians Wife and Children their dangerous Journey and safe Arrival at the desired Country Price 1 s. A Treatise of the Fear of God shewing what it is and how distinguished from that which is not so Also whence it comes Who has it What are the effects And what the Privileges of those that have it in their Hearts Price 1 s. 6 d. The Life and Death of Mr. Badman presented in a familiar Dialogue between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive Price 1 s. 6 d. The Doctrine of the Law and Grace unfolded or a discourse touching the Law and Grace the Nature of the one and the Nature of the other shewing what they are as they are the two Covenants and likewise who they be and what their conditions are that be under either of these two Covenants Very easie to be read and as easie to be understood by those that are the Sons of Wisdom the Children of the Second Covenant Price 1 s. 6 d. Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners Or a brief and faithful Relation of the exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to his poor Servant John Bunyan Namely in his taking him out of the Dunghil and Converting of him to the Faith of his Blessed Son Jesus Christ. Here is also particularly shewed what sight of and what trouble he had for sin and also what various Temptations he hath met with and how God hath carried him through them Corrected and much inlargged in this Edition Price 1 s. Questions about the Nature and perpetuity of the Seventh Day-Sabbath and proof that the First day of the Week is the true Christian Sabbath Price 6 d. A Book for Boys and Girls or Country Rhimes for Children Price 6 d. Sighs from Hell or the Groans of a damn'd Soul. Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. A Discourse upon the Pharisee and Publican Seasonable Counsel or Advice to Sufferers The barren Fig-tree The Greatness of the Soul. A Discourse of Prayer or I will pray with my Spirit and with my Understanding also Questions about