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
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
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
open his Mouth for the Dumb to wit for the Sons of Destruction and to plead the Cause of the poor and needy Prov. 31.8 9. If we knew the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ so as the Word reveals it we would believe we would hope and would notwithstanding all Discouragements wait for the Salvation of the Lord. But there are many things that hinder wherefore Faith and Prayer and Perseverance are made difficult things unto us But if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And God shall sight for you and you shall hold your Peace was once a good Word to me when I could not pray Fifthly As we should improve this Doctrine for the Improvement and Encouragement of these Graces So we should improve it to the Driving of Difficulties down before us to the getting of Ground upon the Enemy Resist the Devil drive him back this is it for which thy Lord Jesus is an Advocate with God in Heaven and this is it for the Sake of which thou art made a Believer on Earth 1 Pet. 5.9 Heb. 13.4 wherefore has God put this Sword we have an Advocate into thy Hand but to fight thy way through the World. Fight the good Fight of Faith lay hold on eternal Life And say I will go in the Strength of the Lord God And since I have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous I will not despair tho the Iniquity of mine Heels should compass me about Psal. 49.5 Vse 5. Fifthly Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us with God to plead with him for us against the Devil Let this teach us to stand up to plead for him before Men to plead for him against the Enemies of his Person and Gospel This is but reasonable For if Christ stands up to plead for us why should not we stand up to plead for him He also expecteth this at our Hands saying who will rise up for me against the evil Doers Who will stand up for me against the Workers of Iniquity The Apostle did it and counted himself engaged to do it where he saith he preached the Gospel of God with much Contention 2 Thes. 2.2 Nor is this the Duty of Apostles or Preachers only but every Child of God should earnestly contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jud. 3. And as I said there is Reason why we should do this He standeth for us And if we 1. Consider the Disparity of Persons to plead it will seem far more reasonable He stands up to plead with God we stand up to plead with Men. The Dread of God is great yea greater than the Dread of Men. 2. If we consider the Persons pleaded for He pleads for Sinners for the inconsiderable vile and base We plead for Jesus for the Great Holy and Honourable 'T is an Honour for the Poor to stand up for the Great and Mighty But what Honour is it for the Great to plead for the base Reason therefore requireth that we stand up to plead for him tho there can be but little rendered why he should stand up to plead for us 3. He standeth up to plead for us in the most Holy Place tho we are vile And why should we not stand up for him in this vile World since he is holy 4. He pleads for us though our Cause is bad why should not we plead for him since his Cause is good 5. He pleads for us against fallen Angels why should we not plead for him against sinful Vanities 6. He pleads for us to save our Souls why should not we plead for him to sanctifie his Name 7. He pleads for us before the Holy Angels why should not we plead for him before Princes 8. He is not ashamed of us tho now in Heaven why should we be ashamed of him before this Adulterous and sinful Generation 9. He is unwearied in his pleading for us why should we faint and be dismayed while we plead for him My Brethren is it not reasonable that we should stand up for him in this World Yea is it not Reason that in all things we should study his Exaltation here since he in all things contrives our Honour and Glory in Heaven A Child of God should study in every of his Relations to serve the Lord Christ in this World because Christ by the Execution of every one of his Offices seeks our Promotion hereafter If these be not sufficient Arguments to bow us to yield up our Members our selves our whole selves to God that we may be Servants of Righteousness unto him Yea if by these and such like we are not made willing to stand up for him before Men 't is a Sign that there 's but little if any of the Grace of God in our Hearts Yea further that we should have now at last in Reserve Christ as authorized to be our Advocate to plead for us for this is the lâ—st of his Offices for us while we are here And is to be put in practice for us when there are more than ordinary Occasions This is to 〈…〉 we say at a dead lift Even then 〈…〉 a Christian is taken for a Captive Or when he sinks in the mire where is no standing or when he is cloathed in filthy Garments or when the Devil doth desperately plead against us our evil Deeds or when by our Lives we have made our Salvation questionable and have forfeited our Evidences for Heaven And why then should not we have also in reserve for Christ And when Profession and Confession will not do When Loss of Goods and a Prison will not do When Loss of Country and of Friends will not do Then to bring it in then to bring it in as the Reserve and as that which will do To wit willingly to lay down our Lives for his Name Isa. 24.15 Joh. 21.19 and since he doth his part without grudging for us let us do ours with rejoicing for him Vse 6. Sixthly Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us and that of his meer Grace and Love Then this should teach Christians to be watchful and wary how they sin against God. This Inference seems to run Retrograde but whoso duly considers it will find it fairly fetch'd from the Premises Christianity teaches Ingenuity and aptness to be sensible of Kindnesses and doth instruct us to a lothness to be over-hard upon him from whom we have all a free-cost Shall we sin that Grace 〈◊〉 abound God foâ—bid Shall we do evil 〈◊〉 good may come God forbid Shall we sin 〈◊〉 cause we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid Rom. 6.1 2 15. It is the most disingenious thing in the World not to care how chargeable we are to that Friend that bestows all upon us gratis When Mephibosheth had an Opportunity to be yet more chargeable to David he would not because he had his Life and his All from the meer Grace of the King 2 Sam. 19.24
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
have 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
and stumbleth thereat And says Christ because I tell you the truth ye believe me not Joh. 8.45 Hence believing is called labouring Heb. 4.11 and 't is the forest Labour at times that any Man can take in Hand because assaulted with the greatest Oppositions but believe thou must be the Labour never so hard and that not only in Christ in a general way but in him as to his several Offices and as to this of his being an Advocate in particular else some Sins and some Temptations will not in their Guilt nor vexations Trouble easily depart from thy Conscience no not by Promise nor by thy Attempts to apply the same by Faith. And this the Text insinuateth by it's setting forth of Christ as Advocate as the only or best and most speedy Way of Relief to the Soul in certain Cases There is then an Order that thou must observe in the Exercise of thy Soul in a way of believing 1. Thou must believe unto Justification in general and for this thou must direct thy Soul to the Lord Christ as he is a Sacrifice for Sin and as a Priest offering that Sacrifice So as a Sacrifice thou shalt see him appeasing Divine Displeasure for thy Sin and as a Priest spreading the Skirt of his Garment over thee for the covering of thy Nakedness thus being cloathed thou shalt not be found naked 2. This when thou hast done as well as thou canst thou must in the next Place keep thine Eye upon the Lord Christ as improving as Priest in Heaven the Sacrifice which he offered on Earth for the continuing of thee in a state of Justification thy Life time notwithstanding those common Infirmities that attend thee and to which thou art incident in all thy holy Services or best of thy Performances Rom. 5.10 Exod. 28.31 38. For therefore is he a Priest in Heaven and by his Sacrifice interceding for thee 3. But if thy Foot slippeth if it slippeth greatly then know thou 't will not be long before a Bill be in Heaven preferred against thee by the Accuser of the Brethren wherefore then thou must have Recourse to Christ as Advocate to plead before God thy Judge against the Devil thine Adversary for thee 4. And as to the badness of thy Cause let that nothing move thee save to Humility and self-Abasement For Christ is glorified by being concerned for thee Yea the Angels will shout aloud to see him bring thee off For what greater Glory can we conceive Christ to obtain as Advocate than to bring off his People when they have sinned noâ—withstanding Satans so charging of them for them as he doth He gloried when he was going to the Cross to die he went up with a Shout and the Sound of Trumpet to make Intercession for us And shall we think that by his being an Advocate he receives no additional Glory 'T is Glory to him doubtless to bear the Title of an Advocate and much more to plead and prosper for us against our Adversary as he doth 5. And I say again for thee to think that Christ will reject thee for that thy Cause is bad is a kind of thinking Blasphemy against this his Office and his Word For what doth such a Man but side with Satan while Christ is pleading against him I say 't is as the Devil would have it for it puts Strength unto his Plea against us by increasing our Sin and Wickedness But shall Christ take our Cause in Hand and shall we doubt of good Success This is to count Satan stronger than Christ and that he can longer abide to oppose than Christ can to plead for us Wherefore away with it not only as to the Notion but also as to the Heart and Root thereof Oh! When shall Jesus Christ our Lord be honoured by us as he oughâ— this dastardly Heart of ours when shall it be more subdued and trodden underfoot of Faith when shall Christ ride Lord and King and Advocate upon the Faith of his People as he should He is exalted before God before Angels and above all the Power of the Enemy there is nothing comes behind but the Faith of his People Obj. 3. But since you follow the Metaphor so close I will suppose if an Advocate be entertained some Recompence must be given him His Fee who shall pay him his Fee I have nothing could I do any thing to make this Advocate part of Amends I could think I might have Benefit from him but I have nothing what say you to this Answ. Similitudes must not be strained too far but yet I have an Answer for this Objection There is in some Cases Law for them that have no Money ay Law and Lawyers too And this is called a suing in Forma Pauperis and such Lawyers are appointed by Authority for that Purpose Indeed I know not that it is thus in every Nation but 't is sometimes so with us in England and this is the way altogether in the Kingdom of Heaven before the Bar of God. All is done there for us in Forma Pauperis on free câ—st For our Advocate or Lawyer is thereto designed and appointed of his Father Hence Christ is said to plead the Cause not of the rich and wealthy but of the Poor and Needy not of those that have many Friends but of the Fatherless and Widow not of them that are fat and strong but of those under sore Afflictions Prov. 22.22 23. chap. 23.10 11. chap. 31.9 He shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.31 or as it is in the Margent from the Judges of his Soul. This then is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men He doth freely what he doth not for Price nor Reward I have raised him up says God And I will direct all his Ways he shall build my City and he shall let go my Captives not for Price nor Reward Isa. 45.13 This I say is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men he pleads he sues in Forma Pauperis gratis and of meer Compassion And hence it is that you have his Clients give him thanks for that is all the Poor can give I will greatly praise the Lord with my Mouth I will praise him among the Multitude for he shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.30 They know but little that talk of giving to Christ except they mean they would give him Blessing and Praise He bids us come freely take freely and tells us that he will give and do freely Rev. 22.17 chap. 21.6 Let him have that which is his own to wit thy self for thou art the Price of his Blood. David speaks very strangely of giving to God for Mercy bestowed on him I call it strangely because indeed 't is so to Reason What says he shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits I will take this Cup and call for more Psal. 116.12
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
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. 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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