do thus for then my Master will love me And Christians should be above Men brutish Men. And for a Conclusion as to this let me present you with three Considerations 1. Know that it is the Nature of Grace to draw holy Arguments to move to goodness of Life from the Love and Goodness of of God But not thence to be remiss 1 Cor. 5.14 2 Know therefore that they have no Grace that find not these Effects of the Discoveries of the Love and Goodness of God. 3. Know also that among all the Swarms of Professors that from Age to Age make mention of the Name of Christ they only must dwell with him in Heaven that depart from Iniquity and are zealous of good Works 2 Tim. 2.19 He gave himself for these Tit. 2.11 12 13 14 not that they were so antecedent to this Gift But those that he hath redeemed to himself are thus sanctified by the Faith of him Acts 26.18 Seventhly Is it so Is Jesus Christ an Advocate with the Father for us Then this should encourage strong Christians to tell the weak ones where when they are in their Temptations and Fears through Sin they may have one to plead their Cause Thus the Apostle doth by the Text and thus we should do one to another Mark he telleth the weak of an Advocate My little Children I write unto you c. Christians when they would comfort their dejected Brethren talk too much at rovers or in generals They should be more at the Mark. A Word spoke in season how good is it I say Christians should observe and enquire that they may observe the Cause or ground of their Brothers Trouble and having first taken Notice of that in the next place consider under which of the Offices of Jesus Christ this Sin or Trouble has cast this Man and so labour to apply Christ in the Word of the Gospel to him Sometimes we are bid to consider him as an Apostle and High Priest and sometimes as a fore runner and an Advocate And he has as was said afore these divers Offices with others that we by the Consideration of him might be relieved under our manifold Temptations This as I said I perceive John teaches us here as he doth a little before of his being a Sacrifice for us for he presenteth them that after Conversion shall sin with Christ as an Advocate with the Father As who should say my Brethren are you tempted are you accused have you sinned has Satan prevailed against you We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Thus we should do and deliver our Brother from Death there is nothing â—hat Satan more desires than to get good Men into his Sive to sift them as Wheat that if possible he may leave them nothing but bran no Grace but the very husk and shell of Religion And when a Christian comes to know this should Christ as Priest or Advocate be hid from him what could bear him up But let him now remember and believe that we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and â—e forthwith conceiveth Comfort For an Advocate is to plead for me according as has been shewed afore that I may be delivered from the Wrath and Accusation of my Adversary and still be kept safe under Grace Furâ—her by telling of my Brother that he hath an Advocate I put things into his Mind that he has not known or do bring them to Remembrance which he has forgot To wit that tho he hath sinned he shall be saved in a way of Justice For an Advocate is to plead Justice and Law and Christ is to plead these for a Saint that has sinned Yea so to plead them that he may be saved This being so he is made to perceive that by Law he must have his Sins forgiven him That by Justice he must be justified For Christ as an Advocate pleadeth for Justice Justice to himself and this Saint is of himself a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Nor has Satan so good a Right to plead Justice against us tho we have sinned that we might be damned as Christ has to plead it tho we have sinned that we might be saved For Sin cannot cry so loud to Justice as can the Blood of Christ And he pleads his Blood as Advocate by which he has answered the Law wherefore the Law having nothing to object must needs acquit the Man for whom the Lord Jesus pleads I conclude this with that of the Psalmist Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land. Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her Increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall lead us the Way of his Steps Vse 8. Eighthly But what is all this to you that are â—ot concerned in this Privilege The Children indeed have the Advantage of an Advocate but what is this to them that have none to plead their Cause Jer. 30.12 13. They are as we say left to the wide World or to be ground to Powder between the Justice of God and the Sins which they have committed This is the Man that none but the Devil seeks after that is pursued by the Law and Sin and Death and has none to plead his Cause 'T is sad to consider the plight that such an one is in His Accuser is appointed yea ordered to bring in a Charge against him let Satan stand at his right Hand Ps. 109 6 7. in the Place where Accusers stand And when he shall be judged let him be condemned let there be none to plead for his Deliverance If he cries or offereth to cry out for Mercy or Forgiveness let his Prayer become Sin This is the Portion of a wicked Man. Terrors take hold on him as Waters a Tempest stealeth him away in the Night the East Wind carrieth him away and he departeth and as a Storm hurleth him out of his Place For God shall cast upon him and not spare he would fain flee out of his Hand Men shall clap their Hands at him and shall hiss him out of his Place Job 27.20 21 22 23. And what shall this Man do Can he over-stand the Charge the Accusation the Sentence and Condemnation No he has none to plead his Cause I remember that somewhere I have read as I think concerning one who when he was carrying upon Mens Shoulders to the Grave cried out as he lay upon the Bier I am accused before the just Judgment of God and a while after I am condemned before the just Judgment of God. Nor was this Man but strict as to the Religion that was then on Foot in the World but all the Religion of the World amounts to no more than nothing I mean as to eternal
Thus If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous But Fifthly As Christ as Advocate pleadeth for us against Satan his Father's Interest in us and his own and pleadeth also what Right he has to dispose of the Kingdom of Heaven So he pleadeth against this Enemy that Malice and Enmity that is in him and upon which chiefly his Charge against us is grounded to the Confusion of his Face This is evident from the title that our Advocate bestows upon him while he pleads for us against him The Lord rebuke thee O Satan O Enemy saith he For Satan is an Enemy and this Name given him signifies so much And Lawyers in their Pleas can make a great Matter of such a Circumstance as this Saying My Lord we can prove that what is now pleaded against the Prisoner at the Bar is of meer Malice and Haâ—red that has also of a long time lain burning and raging in his Enemy'â— Breast against him This I say will greatly weaken the Plea and Accusation of an Enemy But says Jesus Christ Father here is a Plea brought in against my Joshua that cloaths him with filthy Garments But it is brought in against him by an Enemy by an Enemy in the Supeâ—lative or highest Degree One that hates Goodness worse than he and that loveth Wickedness more than the Man against whom at this time he has brought such an heinous Charge Then leaving with the father the Value of his Blood for the Accused he turneth him to the Accuser and pleads against him as an Enemy O Satan Thou that accusest my Spouse my Love my Members art Satan an Enemy But it will be Objected That the things charged are true Grant it Yet what Law takes Notice of the Plea of one who doth professedly act as an Enemy because 't is not done of Love to Truth and Justice and Righteousness nor intended for the Honour of the King nor for the good of the Prosecuted but to gratifie Malice and Rage and meerly to kill and destroy There is therefore a great deal of Force and Strength in an Advocate â—s pleading of such a Circumstances against an Accuser Specially when the Crimes now charged are those and only those for which the Law in the due execution of it has been satisfied before wherefore now a Lawyer has double and treble ground of Matter to plead for his Client against his Enemy And this Advantage against him has Jesus Christ. Besides 't is well known that Satan as to us is the original Cause of those very Crimes for which he accuses us at the Bar of God's Tribunal Not to say any thing of how he cometh to us sollicites us tempts us flatters us and always in a manner lies at us to do those wicked things for which he so hotly pursues us to the Bar of the Judgment of God. For tho 't is not meet for us thus to plead to wit laying that Fault upon Satan but rather upon our selves yet our Advocate will do it and make work of it too before God. Simon Simon Satan has desired to have thee that he might sift thee as Wheat but I have pray'd for thee that thy Faith fail not Luk. 22.31.32 He maketh here mention of Satan's Desires by way of Advantage against him and doubtless so he did in his Prayer with God for Peter's Preservation And what he did here while on Earth as a Saviour in general that he doth now in Heaven as a Priest and an Advocate in special I will further suppose that which may be supposed and that which is suitable to our Purpose Suppose therefore that a Father that has a Child whom he loveth but the Child has not half that Wit that some of the Family hath and I am sure that we have less Wit than Angels and suppose also that some bad minded Neighbour by tampering with tempting of and by unwearied Sollicitations should prevail with this Child to steal something out of his Father's House or Grounds and give it unto him And this he doth on purpose to set the Father against the Child And suppose again that it comes to the Fathers Knowledge that the Child through the Allurements of such an one has done so and so against his Father Will he therefore disinherit this Child Yea suppose again that he that did tempt this Child to steal should be the first that should come to accuse this Child to its Father for so doing would the Father take Notice of the Accusation of such an one No verily we that are evil can do better than so How then should we think That the God of Heaven should do such a thing since also we have a Brother that is wise and that will and can plead the very Malice of our Enemy that doth to us all these things against him for our Advantage I say this is the Sum of this fifth Plea of Christ our Advocate against Satan O Satan says he Thou art an Enemy to my People thou pleadest not out of Love to Righteousness nor to reform But to destroy my Beloved and Inheritance The Charge wherewith thou chargest my People is thine own Joh. 8.44 not only as to a matter of Charge but the things that thou accusest them of are thine Thine in the Nature of them Also thou hast tempted allured flattered and daily laboured with them to do that for which now thou so willingly wouldest have them destroyed Yea all this hast thou done of Envy to my Father and to Godliness of Hatred to me and my People and that thou mightest destroy others besides 1 Chron. 21.1 And now what can this Accuser say Can he excuse himself Can he contradict our Advocate He cannot He knows that he is a Satan an Enemy and as an Adversary has he sown his Tares among the Wheat that it might be rooted up But he shall not have his End his Malice has prevented him and so has the Care and Grace of our Advocate The Tares therefore he shall have returned to him again but the Wheat for all this shall be gathered into God's Barn Mat. 13.25 26 27 28. Thus therefore our Advocate makes Use in his Plea against Satan of the Rage and Malice that is the Occasion of the Enemies Charge wherewith he accuseth the Children of God. Wherefore when thou readest these Words O Satan say with thy self Thus Christ our Advocate accuseth our Adversary of Malice and Envy against God and Goodness while he accuseth us of the Sins which we commit for the which we are sorry and Christ has paid a Price of Redemption And thus If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous But Sixthly Christ when he pleads as an Advocate for his People in the Presence of God against Satan He can plead those very Weaknesses of his People for which Satan would have them damned for their Relief and Advantage Is not this a Brand plucked â—ut of the Fire This
Advocate An Advocate is one who pleadeth for another at any bar or before any Court of Judicature but of this more in its place So then we have in the Text a Christian as supposed committing Sin and a Declaration of an Advocate prepared to plead for him If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father And this leads me first to enquire into what by these words the Apostle must of necessity presuppose For making use here of the Similitude or Office of an Advocate thereby to shew the preservation of the sinning Christian He must 1. Suppose That God as Judge is now upon the Throne of his Judgment For an Advocate is to plead at a Bar before a Court of Judicature Thus it is among Men and for as much as our Lord Jesus is said to be an Advocate with the Father it is clear that there is a Throne of Judgment also This the Prophet Micaiah affirms saying I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne and all the Host of Heaven standing by him on the Right hand and on the Left 1 Kin. 22.19 20. Sitting upon a Throne for Judgment for from the Lord as then sitting upon that Throne proceeded that Sentence against King Ahab that he should go and fall at Ramah-gilead And he did go and did fall there as the award or fruit of that Judgment That 's the First 2. The Text also supposeth that the Saints as well as Sinners are concerned at that Bar for the Apostle saith plainly That there we have an Advocate And the Saints are concerned at that Bar because they transgress as well as others and because the Law is against the Sin of Saints as well as against the Sins of other Men. If the Saints were not capable of committing of Sin what need would they have of an Advocate 1 Chr. 21.3 4 5 6. 1 Sam. 12.13 14. Yea though they did sin yet if they were by Christ so set free from the Law as that it could by no means take cognisance of their Sins what need would they have of an Advocate none at all If there be twenty places where there are Assizes kept in this Land yet if I have offended no Law what need have I of an Advocate specially if the Judge be Just and knows me altogether as the God of Heaven does But here 's a Judge that 's just and here 's an Advocate also an Advocate for the Children an Advocate to plead for an Advocate as such is not of use but before a Bar to plead therefore here is an Offence and so a Law broken by the Saints as well as others That 's the Second thing 3. As the Text supposeth that there is a Judge and Crimes of Saints So it supposeth that there is an Accuser one that will carefully gather up the Faults of good Men and that will plead them at this Bar against them Hence we read of the Accuser of the Brethren that accuseth them before God day and night Rev. 12.10 11 12. For Satan doth not only tempt the godly Man to sin but having prevailed with him and made him guilty he packs away to the Court to God the Judge of all and there addresses himself to accuse that Man and to lay to his charge the heinousness of his offence pleading against him the Law that he has broken the light against which he did it and the like But now for the relief and support of such poor People the Apostle by the Text presents them with an Advocate That is with one to plead for them while Satan pleads against them With one that pleads for Pardon while Satan by accusing seeks to pull Judgment and Vengeance upon our Heads If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous That 's the Third thing 4. As the Apostle supposeth a Judge crimes and an Accuser So he also supposeth that those here-in concerned to wit the sinning Children neither can nor dare attempt to appear at this Bar themselves to plead their own Cause before this Judge and against this Accuser For if they could or durst do this what need they have an Advocate for an Advocate is of use to them whose cause themselves neither can nor dare appear to plead Thus Job pray'd for an Advocate to plead his Cause with God Job 16.20.21 And David cries out Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant O God for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified Psal. 143.1 2 3. Wherefore 't is evident that Saints neither can nor dâ—re adventure to plead their cause Alas the Judge is the Almighty and Eternal God. The Law broken is the holy and perfect Rule of God in it self a consuming Fire The Sin is so odious and a thing so abominable that 't is enough to make all the Angels blush to hear it but so much as once mentioned in so holy a place as that is where this Great God doth sit to judge This Sin now hangs about the neck of him that hath committed it yea it covereth him as doth a mantle The Adversary is bold cunning and audacious and can word a thousand of us into an utter Silence in less than half a quarter of an hour What then should the Sinner if he could come there do at this Bar to plead Nothing nothing for his own Advantage But now comes in his Mercy he has an Advocate to plead his Cause If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous That 's the fourth thing But again 5. The Apostle also supposeth by the Text That there is an aptness in Christians when they have sinned to forget that they have an Advocate with the Father Wherefore this is written to put them in Remembrance If any Man sin let him remember we have an Advocate We can think of all other things well enough namely that God is a just Judge that the Law is perfectly holy that my Sin is an horrible and an abominable thing and that I am certainly there of accused before God by Satan These things I say we readily think of and forget them not Our Conscience puts as in mind of these our Guilt puts us in mind of these the Devil puts us in mind of these and our Reason and Sense holdeth the Knowledge and Remembrance of these close to us all that we forget is that we have an Advocate an Advocate with the Father that is one that is appointed to take in hand in open Court before all the Angels of Heaven my cause and to plead it by such Law and Arguments as will certainly fetch me off tho I am cloathed with filthy Garments But this I say we are apt to forget as Job when he said Oh that one might plead for a Man with God as one pleads for his Neighbour Job 16.21 Such an one Job had but he had almost at this time forgot it as he seems to intimate also where he wisheth for a days-man that might lay
Jesus Christ too But above all the Advocateship of Jesus Christ declares us to be sorry Creatures For that Office does as it were predict that some time or other we shall basely fall and by falling be undone if the Lord Jesus stand not up to plead And as it shews this concerning us so it shews concerning God that he will not lightly or easily lose his People He has provided well for us Blood to wash us in a Priest to pray for us that we may be made to persevere and in case we soully fall an Advocate to plead our Cause and to recover us from under and out of all that danger that by Sin and Satan we at any time may be brought into But Having thus briefly passed through that in the Text that I think the Apostle must necessarily presuppose I shall now endeavour to enter into the Bowels of it and see what in a more particular Manner shall be found therein And for my more profitable doing of this work I shall chuse to observe this Method in my discourse First I shall shew you more particularly of this Advocate 's Office or what and wherein Christ's Office as Advocate doth lie Secondly After that I shall also shew you how Jesus Christ doth manage this Office of an Advocate Thirdly I shall also then shew you who they are that have Jesus Christ for their Advocate Fourthly I shall also shew you what excellent Privileges they have who have Jesus Christ for their Advocate Fifthly And to silence Cavillers I shall also shew the necessity of this Office of Jesus Christ. Sixthly I shall come to answer some Objections And Lastly to the Use and Application To begin with the First of these namely to shew you more particularly of Christ's Office as an Advocate and wherein it lieth The which I shall do these three ways 1. Touch again upon the Nature of this Office. And then 2. Treat of the Order and Place that it hath among the rest of his Offices And 3. Treat of the Occasion of the Execution of this Office. First To touch upon the Nature of this Office. It is that which impowereth a Man to plead for a Man or one man to plead for another not in common Discourses and upon common Occasions as any man may do but at a Bar or before a Court of Judicature where a Man is accused or impleaded by his Enemy I say this Advocate 's Office is such both here and in the Kingdom of Heaven An Advocate is as one of our Attorneys at least in the general who pleads according to Law and Justice for one or other that is in trouble by Reason of some Miscarriage or of the naughty Temper of some that are about him who trouble and vex and labour to bring him into danger of the Law. This is the Nature of this Office as I said on Earth and this is the Office that Christ executeth in Heaven Wherefore he saith If any Man sin we have an Advocate one to stand up for him and to plead for his deliverance before the Bar of God Joel 3.2 Isa. 66.16 Ezek. 38.22 Jer. 2. For tho in some Places of the Scripture Christ is said to plead for his with Men and that by terrible Arguments as by Fire and Sword and Famine and Pestilence yet this is not that which is intended by this Text for the Apostle here saith he is an Advocate with the Father or before the Father to plead for those that there or that to the Fathers Face shall be accused for their Transgressions If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous So then this is the imploy of Jesus Christ as he is for us an Advocate He has undertaken to stand up for his People at God's Bar and before that great Court there to plead by the Law and Justice of Heaven for their Deliverance when for their Faults they are accused indicted or impleaded by their Adversary 2. And now to treat of the Order or Place that this Office of Christ hath among the rest of his Offices which he doth execute for us while we are here in a State of Imperfection And I think it is an Office that is to come â—ehind as a Reserve or for an Help at last when all other Means shall seem to fail Men do not use to go to Law upon every Occasion or if they do the Wisdom of the Judge the Jury and the Court will not admit that every Brangle and foolish Quarrel shall come before them but an Advocate doth then come into Place and then to the Exercise of his Office when a Cause is counted worthy to be taken notice of by the Judge and by the Court. Wherefore he I say comes in the last Place as a reserve or help at last to plead and by pleading to set that right by Law which would otherwise have caused an increase to more doubts and to further Dangers Christ as Priest doth always works of Service for us because in our most spiritual things there may faults and Spots be found and these he taketh away of Course by the Exercise of that Office. For he always wears that Plate of Gold upon his Fore-head before the Father whereon is written Holiness to the Lord. But now besides these common Infirmities there are Faults that are highly gross and foul that oft are found in the Skirts of the Children of God. Now these are they that Satan taketh hold on these are they that Satan draweth up a Charge against us for And to save us from these it is that the Lord Jesus is made an Advocate When Joshua was cloathed with filthy Garments then Satan stood at his right Hand to resist him and then the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus pleaded for his Help Zech. 3. By all which it appears that this Office comes behind is provided as a Reserve that we may have help at a pinch and then be lifted out when we sink in mire where there is no standing This is yet further hinted at by the several Postures that Christ is said to be in as he exerciseth his Priestly and Advocate 's Office. As a Priest he sits as an Advocate he stands Isa. 3.13 The Lord stands up when he pleads His sitting is more constant and of Course Sit thou c. but his standing is occasional when Joshua is indicted or when Hell and Earth is broken loose against his Servant Stephen For as Joshua was accused by the Devil and as then the Angel of the Lord stood by so when Stephen was accused by men on Earth and that Charge seconded by the fallen Angels before the Face of God 't is said the Lord Jesus stood on the Right Hand of God Act. 7.55 wit to plead for so I take it because standing is his Posture as an Advocate Heb. 10. not as a Priest for as a Priest he must sit down but he standeth as an Advocate as has been shew'd afore
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 Christ should be an Advocate for a sinning Saint Besides to assert the 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 make the Advocateship of Jesus Christ superfluous yea needless should it be possible that Sin could be removed from us by either Saint or Angel. Again If God should admit of more Advocates than one and yet make mention of never an one but Jesus Christ or if John should allow another and yet speak nothing but of Jâ—sus only Yea that an Advocate under that title should be mentioned but once but once only in all the Book of God and yet that divers should be admitted stands neither with the Wisdom or Love of God nor with the Faithfulness of the Apostle But Saints have but one Advocate if they will use him or improve their Faith in that Office for their Help so if not they must take what follows This I thought good to hint at because the times are corrupt and because Ignorance and Superstition always waits for a Countenance with uâ— and these things have a natural tendency as to darken all truth so especially this which bringeth to Jesus Christ so much Glory and yieldeth to the Godly so much Help and Relief Secondly As Jesus Christ alone is Advocate so God's Bar and that alone is that before which he pleads For God is Judge himself Deut. 32 36. Heb. 13.23 Nor can the Cause which now he is to plead be removed into any other Court either by appeals or otherwise Could Satan remove us from Heaven to aâ—other Court he would certainly be too hard for us because there we should want our Jesus our Advocate to plead our Cause Indeed sometimes he impleads us before Men and they are glad of the Occasion for they and he are often one but then we have Leave to remove our Cause and to pray for a Tryal in the highest Court Saying Let my Sentence comeforth from thy Presence and let thine eyes behold the things that are Equal Psal. 17.2 This wicked World doth sentence us for our good Deeds but how then would they sentence us for our bad ones But we will never appeal from Heaven to Earth for Right For here we have no Advocate our Advocate is with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Thirdly As he pleadeth by himself alone and no where else but in the Court of Heaven with the Father So as he pleadeth with the Father for us he observeth this Rule 1. He granteth and confesseth whatever can rightly be charged upon us Yet so as that he taketh the whole Charge upon himself acknowledging the Crimes to be his own O God says he thou knowest my foolishness and my Sins my Guiltiness is not hid from thee Psal. 69.5 And this he must do or else he can do nothing If he hides the Sin or lesseneth it he is faulty If he leaves it still upon us we die He must then take our Iniquity to himself make it his own and so deliver us For having thus taken the Sin upon himself as he lawfully may and lovingly doth for we are Members of his Body so 't is his Hand 't is his Foot 't is his Ear that hath sinned It followeth that we live if he lives and who can desire more This then must be thorowly considered if ever we will have Comfort in a day of Trouble and Distress for Sin. And thus far there is in some kind a harmony betwixt his being a Sacrifice a Priest and an Advocate as a Sacrifice our Sins were laid upon him Isa. 53. as a Priest he beareth them Exod. 28.38 and as an Advocate he acknowledgeth them to be his own Psal. 69.5 Now having acknowledged them to be his own the Quarrel is no more 'twixt us and Satan For the Lord Jesus has espoused our Quarrel and made it his All then that we in this matter have to do is to stand at the Bar by Faith among the Angels and see how the business goes O Blessed God! What a Lover of Mankind art thou and how gracious is our Lord Jesus in his thuâ— managing matters for us 2. The Lord Jesus having thus taken ouâ— Sins upon himself next pleads his own Goodness to God on our Behalf Saying Let not them that wait on thee O Lord God of Hosts be ashamed for my Sake Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my Sake O God of Israel Because for thy Sake I have born Reproach Shame hath covered
again The Lord is well pleased for for his Christ's Righteousness Sake Isa. 42.21 All that enter Actions against others pretend that wrong is done either against themselves or against the King. Now Satan will never enter an Action against us in the Court above for that wrong by us has been done to himself he must pretend then that he sues us for that Wrong has by us been done to our King But behold we have an Advocate with the Father and he has made Compensation for our Offences He gave himself for our Offences But still Satan maintains his Suit and our God saith he is well pleased with us for this Compensation Sake yet he will not leave off his Clamor Come then says the Lord Jesus the Contention is not now against my People but my self and about the Sufficiency of the Amends that I have made for the Transgressions of my People But he is near that justifieth me that approveth and accepteth of my Doings Therefore shall I not be confounded Who is mine Adversary let him come near me Behold the Lord God will help me Isa. 50.7 8 9. Who is he that condemneth me Lo they shall all were there ten thousand times as many more of them wax old as a Garment the Moth shall eat them up Wherefore if the Father saith Amen to all this as I have shew'd already that he hath and doth the which also further appeareth because the Lord God has called him the Saviour the Deliverer and the Amen What follows but that a Rebuke should proceed from the Throne against him And this indeed our Advocate calls for from the Hand of his Father saying O Enemy The Lord rebuke thee Yea he doubles this Request to the Judge to intimate his Earnestness for such a Conclusion or to shew that the Enemy shall surely have it both from our Advocate and from him before whom Satan has so grievously accused us Zech. 3. For what can be expected to follow from such an Issue in Law as this is but sound and severe snibs from the Judge upon him that hath thus troubled his Neighbour and that hath in the Face of the Country cast Contempt upon the highest act of Mercy Justice and Righteousness that ever the Heavens beheld And all this is true with reference to the Case in Hand wherefore The Lord rebuke thee is that which in Conclusion Satan must have for the Reward of his Works of Malice against the Children and for his contemning of the Works of the Son of God. Now our Advocate having thus established by the Law of Heaven his Plea with God for us against our Accuser there is way made for him to proceed upon a Foundation that cannot be shaken Wherefore he proceedeth in his Plea and further urges against this Accuser of the Brethren Secondly God's Interest in this People and prayeth that God would remember that The Lord rebuke thee O Satan the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee True the Church the Saints are despicable in the World wherefore Men do think to tread them down The Saints are also weak in Grace but have Corruptions that are strong and therefore Satan the God of this World doth think to tread them down But the Saints have a God the living the eternal God and therefore they shall not be troden down Yea They shall be holden up for God is able to make them stand Rom. 14.4 It was Haman's mishap to be ingaged against the Queen and the Kindred of the Queen 'T was that that made him he could not prosper that brought him to Contempt and the Gallows Had he sought to ruin another People probably he might have brought his Design to a desired Conclusion But his compassing the Death of the Queen spoiled all Satan also when he fighteth against the Church must be sure to come to the worst For God has a Concern in that Therefore it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it but this hindreth not but that he is permitted to make almost what Spoils he will of those that belong not to God Oh! how many doth he accuse and soon get out from God against them a Licence to destroy them As he served Ahab and many more But this I say is a very great Block in his Way when he medleâ—h with the Children God has an Interest in them Hath God cast away his People God forbid Rom. 11.1 2. The Text intimates That they for Sin had deserved it and that Satan would fain have had it been so But God's Interest in them preserved them God hath not cast away his People which he fore-knew Wherefore when Satan accuseth them before God Christ as he pleadeth his own Worth and Merit pleadeth also against him that Interest that God has in them And tho this to some may seem but an indifferent Plea for what Ingagement lieth may they say upon God to be so much concerned with them for they sin against him and often provoke him most bitterly Besides in their best State they are altogether Vanity and a very thing of nought What 's Man sorry Man that thou art mindful of him or that thou shouldest so be I answer tho there lieth no Ingagement upon God for any Worthiness that is in Man yet there lieth a great deal upon God for the Worthiness that is in himself God has ingaged himself with his having chosen them to be a People to himself And by this means they are so secured from all that all can do against them that the Apostle is bold upon this very Account to challenge all despite to do its worst against them saying who sâ—all lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.33 Who Saith Satan Why that will I. Ay saith he but who can do it and prevail It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth ver 34. By which Words the Apostle clearly declareth That Charges against the Elect tho they may be brought against them must needs prove ineffectual as to their Condemnation 'cause their Lord God still will justifie for that Christ has died for them Besides a little to enlarge The Elect are bound to God by a seven-fold Cord and a three-fold one is not quickly broken First Election is eternal as God himself and so without Variableness or Shadow of Change. And hence it is called an eternal Purpose and a Purpose of God that must stand Eph. 3.11 Rom. 9.11 Secondly Election is absolute not conditional And therefore cannot be overthrown by the Sin of the Man who is wrapt up therein No Works foreseen to be in us was the Cause of God's chusing of us No Sin in us shall frustrate or make Election void Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Rom. 9.11 chap. 11.6 7. Thirdly By the Act of Election the Children are involved wrapt up and covered in Christ he hath chosen us in him not in our selves not in our Vertues no not for
and say Sir I am in Trouble and am to have a Tryal at Law with mine Enemy pray undertake my Cause but he must also Reveal to his Lawyer his Cause He must go to him and tell him what is the Matter how things stand where the shooe pinches and so Thus did the Church of old and thus doth every true Christian now For tho nothing can be hid from him yet he will have things out of thine own Mouth He will have thee to Reveal thy Matters unto him Mat. 20.32 O Lord of Hosts said Jeremy that judgest righteously and tryest the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for unto thee have I revealed my Cause Jer. 11.20 And again But O Lord of Hosts that tryest the righteous and seest the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for unto thee have I opened my Cause Chap. 20.12 Seest thou here how Saints of old were wont to do How they did not only in a general way intreat Christ to plead their Cause but in a particular way go to him and Reveal or open their Cause unto him O 't is excellent to behold how some Sinners will do this when they get Christ and themselves in a Closet alone When they upon their bare Knees are pouring out of their Souls before him Or like the Woman in the Gospel telling of him all the Truth Mark 5. O Saith the Soul Lord I am come to thee upon an earnest Business I am arrested by Satan the Bailiff was mine own Conscience and I am like to be accused before the Judgment-Seat of God my Salvation lies at Stake I am questioned for my Interest in Heaven I am afraid of the Judge my Heart condemns me 1 Joh. 3.20 Mine Enemy is subtil and wanteth not Malice to prosecute me to Death and then to Hell. Also Lord I am sensible the Law is against me for indeed I have horribly sinned and thus and thus have I done Here I lie open to Law and there I lie open to Law Here I have given the Adversary Advantage and there he will surely have a hank against me Lord I am distressed undertake for me And there are some things that thou must be acquainted with about thine Advocate before thou wilt venture to go thus far with him As 1. Thou must know him to be a Friend and not an Enemy unto whom thou openest thy Heart and until thou comest to know That Christ is a Friend to thee or to Souls in thy Condition thou wilt never reveal thy Cause unto him Not thy whole Cause unto him And it is from this That so many that have Soul-Causes hourly depending before the Throne of God and that are in Danger every day of eternal Damnation forbear to entertain Jesus Christ for their Advocate and so wickedly conceal their Matters from him But he that hideth his Sins shall not prosper Prov. 28.13 This therefore must first be believed by thee before thou wilt reveal thy Cause unto him 2. A Man When his Estate is called into Question I mean his Right and Title thereto will be very cautious specially if he also questions his Title to it himself unto whom he reveals that Affair He must know him to be one that is not only friendly but faithful to whom he reveals such a Secret as this Why thus it is with Christ and the Soul. If the Soul is not somewhat perswaded of the Faithfulness of Christ to wit that if he can do him no good he will do him no harm he will never reveal his Cause unto him But will seek to hide his Counsel from the Lord. This therefore is another thing by which thou mayst know that thou hast Christ for thine Advocate If thou hast heartily and in very Deed revealed thy Cause unto him Now they that do honestly reveal their Cause to their Lawyer will endeavour to possess him as I hinted before with the worst They will with Words make it as bad as they may for think they by that Means I shall prepare him for the worst that mine Enemy can do And thus Souls deal with Jesus Christ. See the fifty first Psalm also the thirty eighth with several others that might be named and see if God's People have not done so I said saith David That I would confess my Transgressions against my self and thou forgavest the Iniquity of my Sin. But Thirdly Hast thou Jesus Christ for thine Advocate Or wouldst thou know if thou hast Then I ask again hast thou committed thy Cause to him When a Man entertains his Lawyer to stand for him and to plead his Cause he doth not only reveal but commit his Cause unto him I would seek unto him says Eliphas to Job and unto him would I commit my Cause Job 5.8 Now there is a Difference betwixt revealing my Cause and committing of it to a Man. To reveal my Cause is to open it to one and to commit it to him is to trust it in his Hand Many a Man will reveal his Cause to him unto whom he will yet be afraid to commit it But now he that entertains a Lawyer to plead his Cause doth not only reveal but commit his Cause unto him As suppose Right to his Estate be called into Question why then he not only reveals his Cause to his Lawyer but puts into his Hands his Evidences Deeds Leases Mortgages Bonds or what else he hath to shew a Title to his Estate by And thus doth the Christians deal with Christ They deliver up all unto him to wit all their Signs Evidences Promises and Assurances which they have thought they have had for Heaven and the Salvation of their Souls and have desired him to peruse to search and try them every one Psal. 139.23 And if there be Iniquity in me lead me in the way everlasting This is committing of thy Cause to Christ and this is the hardest Task of all For the Man that doth thus he trusteth Christ with all and and implyeth that he will live and die stand and fall lose and win according as Christ will manage his Business thus did Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 and thus Peter admonisheth us to do Now he that doth this must be convinced 1. Of the Ability of Jesus Christ to defend him For a Man will not commit so great a Concern as his All is to his Friend no not to his Friend be he never so faithful if he perceives not in him Ability to save him and to preserve what he hath against all the Cavils of an Enemy And hence it is that the Ability of Jesus Christ as to the saving of his People is so much insisted on in the Scripture As I have laid Help upon one that is mighty Psal. 89.19 I that speak in Righteousness mighty to save Isa. 63.1 And again I will send them a Saviour and a great one Chap. 19.20 2. As they must be convinced of his Ability to help them so they must of his Courage
sore but he hath not given me over unto Death Psal. 118.18 Satan's Plea was that the Lord would give David over to his Will and to the Tyranny of Death No says our Advocate that must not be to do so would be an Affront to the Covenant under which Grace has put them that would be to deal with them by a Covenant of Works under which they arâ— not There is a Rod for Children anâ— Stripes for those of them that transgress this Rod is in the Hand of a Father and musâ— be used according to the Law of that Relation not for the Destruction but Correction oâ— the Children Not to satisfie the Rage of Satan but to vindicate the Holiness of my Father Not to drive them further from but to bring them nearer to their God. But Fifthly The Necessity of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ is also manifest in this For that there is need of one to plead the efficacy of old Titles to our eternal Inheritance when our Interest thereunto seems questionable by reason of new Transgressions That God's People may by their new and repeated Sins as to Reason at least indanger their Interest in the eternal Inheritance is manifest by such Groanings of theirs as these Why dost thou cast me off Psal. 43.2 Psal. 51.11 Cast me not away fâ—om thy Presence Psal. 60.1 and O God why hast thou cast us off forever Psal. 74.1 Yet I find in the book of Leviticus that tho any of the children of Israel should have sold morgaged or made away with their Inheritance they did not thereby utterly make void their title to an Interest therein but it should again return to them and they again enjoy the Possession of it in the Year of Jubilee In the Year of Jubilee saith God you shall return every Man to his Possession The Land shall not be sold for ever not be quite cut off for the Land is mine for ye are Strangers and Sojourners with me In all the Land of your Possession you shall grant a Redemption for the Land Levit. 25.23 24 25. The Man in Israel that by waxing Poor did sell his Land in Canaan was surely a type of the Christian who by Sin and Decays in Grace has forfeited his Place and Inheritance in Heaven But as the ceremonial Law provided that the poor Man in Canaan should not by his Poverty lose his Portion in Canaan forever but that it should return to him in the Year of Jubilee So the Law of Grace has provided that the Children shall not for their Sin lose their Inheritance in Heaven forever but that it shall return to them in the World to come the last Jubilee or Day of Judgment For then They are not to be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11.32 All therefore that happeneth in this Case is They may live without the Comfort of it here as he that had sold his House in Canaan might live without the Enjoyment of it till the Jubilee They may also seem to come short of it when they die As he in Canaan did that deceased before the Year of Jubilee But as certainly as he that died in Cannan before the Jubilee did yet receive again his Inheritance by the Hand oâ— his relative Surviver when the Jubilee came so certainly shall he that dieth and thaâ— seemeth in his dying to come short of the Celestial Inheritance now be yet admitted at his rising again to the Re-possession of his old Inheritance at the Day of Judgment But here is now Room for a Caviller to object and to plead against the Children saying They have forfeited their Part of Paradise by their Sin what Right then shall they have to the Kingdom of Heaven Now let the Lord stand up to plead for he is Advocate for the Children Yea let them plead the Sufficiency of their first Title to the Kingdom and that it is not their doings that can sell the Land forever The Reason why the Children of Israel could not sell the Land forever was because the Lord their Head reserved to himself a Right therein The Land shall not be sold forever for the Land is mine Suppose two or three Children have a lawful Title to such an Estate but they are all profuse and prodigal but there is a Brother also that has by Law a chief Right to the same Estate This Brother he may hinder the Estate from being sold forever because 't is also his Inheritance and he may when the limited time that his Brethren had sold their share therein is out if he will restore it to them again And in the mean time if any that are unjust should go about utterly and forever to deprive his Brethren he may stand up and plead for them that in Law the Land cannot be sold forever for that it is his as well as theirs he being resolved not to part with his Right O my Brethren Christ will not part with his Right of the Inheritance unto which you are also born Your Profuseness and Prodigality shall not make him let go his hold that he hath for you of Heaven nor can you according to Law sell the Land forever since 't is his and he hath the principal and chief Title thereto This also giveth him Ground to stand up to plead for you against all those that would hold the Kingdom from you forever For let Satan say what he can against you yet Christ can say the Land is mine And consequently that his Brethren could not sell it Yes says Satan if the Inheritance be devided O but says Christ The Land is undivided no Man has his part set out and turned over to himself Besides my Brethren yet are under Age and I am made their Guardian They have not Power to sell the Land forever the Land is mine also my Father has made me Feoffee in trâ—st for my Brethren that they may have what is allotted them when they are all come to a perfect Man to the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. and not before and I will reserve it for them till then and thus to do is the Will of my Father the Law of the Judge and also my unchangeable Resolution And what can Satan say against this Plea Can he prove that Christ has no Interest in the Saints Inheritance Can he prove that we are at Age or that our several Parts of the Heavenly House is already delivered into our own Hands and is in our own Power And if he goes about to do this is not the Law of the Land against him Doth it not say that our Advocate is Lord of all Acts 10.36 that the Kingdom is Christ's that it is laid up in Heaven for us Eph. 5.5 Col. 1.5 Yâ—a that the Inheritance which is incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away is reserved in Heaven for us who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. Thus therefore is our old Title to
of him as Priest to present our Persons and Services to God. And since God is just and upon the Judgment-Seat and since also we are subject to sin grievously and again since we have an Accuser who will by Law plead at this Bar of God our Sins against us to the end we might be condemned we have need of and also have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the â—ighteous Alas How many of God's precious People for the want of a distinct Knowledge of Christ in all his Offices are at this day sadly baffled with the Sophistications of the Devil To instance no more than this one thing When they have committed some heinous Sin after Light received How are they I say tossed and tumbled and distressed with many Perplexities They cannot come to any Anchor in this their troubled Sea. They go from Promise to Promise from Providence to Providence from this to that Office of Jesus Christ but forget that he is or else understand not what it is for this Lord Jesus to be an Advocate for them Hence they so often sink under the Fears that their Sin is unpardonable and that therefore their Condition is desperate Whereas if they could but consider that Christ is their Advocate and that he is therefore made an Advocate to save them from those high Transgressions that are committed by them and that he waits upon this Office continually before the Judgment-Seat of God they would conceive Relief and be made hold up their Head and would more strongly twist themselves from under that Guilt and Burden those Ropes and Cords wherewith by their Folly they have so strongly bound themselves than commonly they have done or do Obj. 2. But notwithstanding what you have said this Sin is a deadly stick in my way It will not out of my Mind my Cause being bad but Christ will desert me Answ. 'T is true Sin is and will be a deadly stick and stop to Faith attempt to exercise it upon Christ as considered under which of his Offices or Relations you will And above all the Sin of Vnbelief is the Sin that doth so or most easily beset us Heb. 12.1 2. And no marvel for it never acteth alone but is backed not only with Guilt and Ignorance but also with carnal Sense and Reason He that is ignorant of this knows but little of himself or of what believing is He that undertaketh to believe sets upon the hardest Task that ever was proposed to Man not â—ecause the things imposed upon us are unreasonable or unaccountable but because the Heart of Man the more true any thing is the more it sticketh and stumbleth thereat And says Christ because I tell you the truth ye â—â—lieve me not Joh. 8.45 Hence believing is called labouring Heb. 4.11 and 't is the sorest Labour at times that any Man can take in Hand because assaulted with the greatest Oppositions but believe thou must be the Labour never so hard and that not only in Christ in a general way but in him as to his several Offices and as to this of his being an Advocate in particular else some Sins and some Temptations will not in their Guilt nor vexatious Trouble easily depart from thy Conscience no not by Promise nor by thy Attempts to apply the same by Faiâ—h And this the Text insinuateth by it's setting forth of Christ as Advocate as the only or best and most speedy Way of Relief to the Soul in certain Cases There is then an Order that thou must observe in the Exercise of thy Soul in a way of believing 1. Thou must believe unto Justification in general and for this thou must direct thy Soul to the Lord Christ as he is a Sacrifice for Sin and as a Priest offering that Sacrifice So as a Sacrifice thou shalt see him appeasing Divine Displeasure for thy Sin and as a Priest spreading the Skirt of his Garment over thee for the covering of thy Nakedness thus being cloathed thou shalt not be found naked 2. This when thou hast done as well as thou canst thou must in the next Place keep thine Eye upon the Lord Christ as improving as Priest in Heaven the Sacrifice which he offered on Earth for the continuing of thee in a state of Justification thy Life time notwithstanding those common Infirmities that attend thee and to which thou art incident in all thy holy Services or best of thy Performances Rom. 5.10 Exod. 28.31 38. For therefore is he a Priest in Heaven and by his Sacrifice interceding for thee 3. But if thy Foot slippeth if it slippeth gâ—eatly then know thou 't will not be long â—efore a Bill be in Heaven preferred against thee by the Accuser of the Brethren wherefore then thou must have Recourse to Christ as Advocate to plead before God thy Judge against the Devil thine Adversary for thee 4. And as to the badness of thy Cause let that nothing move thee save to Humility and self-Abasement For Christ is glorified by being concerned for thee Yea the Angels will shout aloud to see him bring thee off For what greater Glory can we conceive Christ to obtain as Advocate than to bring off his People when they have sinned noâ—withstanding Satans so charging of them for them as he doth He gloried when he was going to the Cross to die he went up with a Shout and the Sound of Trumpet to make Intercession for us And shall we think that by his being an Advocate he receives no additional Glory 'T is Glory to him doubtless to bear the Title of an Advocate and much more to plead and prosper for us against our Adversary as he doth 5. And I say again for thee to think that Christ will reject thee for that thy Cause is bad is a kind of thinking Blasphemy against this his Office and his Word For what doth such a Man but side with Satan while Christ is pleading against him I say 't is as the Devil would have it for it puts Strength unto his Plea against us by increasing our Sin and Wickedness But shall Christ take our Cause in Hand and shall we doubt of good Success This is to count Satan stronger than Christ and that he can longer abide to oppose than Christ can to plead for us Wherefore away with it not only as to the Notion but also as to the Heart and Root thereof Oh! When shall Jesus Christ our Lord be honoured by us as he oughâ— this dastardly Heart of ours when shall it be more subdued and trodden underfoot of Faith when shall Christ ride Lord and King and Advocate upon the Faith of his People as he should He is exalted before God before Angels and above all the Power of the Enemy there is nothing comes behind but the Faith of his People Obj. 3. But since you follow the Metaphor so close I will suppose if an Advocate be entertained some Recompence must be given him His Fee who shall pay him his Fee I have nothing
could I do any thing to make this Advocate part of Amends I could think I might have Benefit from him but I have nothing what say you to this Answ. Similitudes must not be strained too far but yet I have an Answer for this Objection Theâ—e is in some Cases Law for them that have no Money ay Law and Lawyers too And this is called a suing in Forma Pauperis and such Lawyers are appointed by Authority for that Purpose Indeed I know not that it is thus in every Nation but 't is sometimes so with us in England and this is the way altogether in the Kingdom of Heaven before the Bar of God. All is done there for us in Forma Pauperis on free cost For our Advocate or Lawyer is thereto designed and appointed of his Father Hence Christ is said to plead the Cause not of the rich and wealthy but of the Poor and Needy not of those that have many Friends but of the Fatherless and Widow not of them that are fat and strong but of those under sore Afflictions Prov. 22 2â— 23. chap. 23.10 11. chap. 31.9 He shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.31 or as it is in the Margent from the Judges of his Soul. This then is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men He doth freely what he doth not for Price nor Reward I have raised him up says God And I will direct all his Ways he shall build my City and he shall let go my Captives not for Price nor Reward Isa. 45.13 This I say is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men he pleads he sues in Forma Pauperis gratis and of meer Compassion And hence it is that you have his Clients give him thanks for that is all the Poor can give I will greatly praise the Lord with my Mouth I will praise him among the Multitude for he shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.30 They know but little that talk of giving to Christ except they mean they would give him Blessing and Praise He bids us come freely take freely and tells us that he will give and do freely Rev. 22.17 chap. 21.6 Let him have that which is his own to wit thy self for thou art the Price of his Blood. David speaks very strangely of giving to God for Mercy bestowed on him I call it strangely because indeed 't is so to Reason What says he shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits I will take this Cup and call for more Psal. 116.12 13. God has no need of thy Gift nor Christ of thy Bribe to plead thy Cause Take thankfully what is offered and call for more That 's the best giving to God. God is rich enough Talk not then of giving but of receiving for thou art poor Be not too high nor think thy self too good to live by the Alms of Heaven And since the Lord Jesus is willing to serve thee freely and to maintain thy Right to Heaven against thy Foe to the saving of thy Soul without Price or Reward Let the Peace of God rule in thee to the which thou art also called as is the rest of the Body and be thou thankful Col. 3.15 This then is the Privilege of a Christian we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous One that pleadeth the Cause of his People against those that rise up against them of his Love Pity and meer good Will. Lord open the Eyes of dark Readers of disconsolate Saints that they may see who is for them and upon what Terms Obj. 4. But if Christ doth once begin to plead for me and shall become mine Advocate He will always be troubled with me unless I should of my self forsake him for I am ever in Broils and Suits of Law Action after Action is laid upon me and I am sometimes ten times in a Day summoned to answer my Doings before God. Answ. Christ is not an Advocate to plead a Cause or two nor to deliver the Godly from an Accusation or two He delivereth Israel out of all his Troubles 2 Sam. 22.28 and chuses to be an Advocate for such Therefore the Godly of old did use to make from the Greatness of their Troubles and the abundance of their Troublers an Argument to the Lord Christ to send and lend them help Have Mercy upon me said David consider my Trouble which I suffer of them that hate me Psal. 9.13 And again Many are they that rise up against me many there be that say of my Soul there is no help for him in God Psal. 3.1 2. Yea the Troubles of this Man were so many and great that his Enemies began to triumph over him saying There is no help for him in God ver 7. But could he not deliver him or did the Lord forsâ—ke him No no thou hast smitten saith he all mine Enemies upon the Cheek-bone thou hast broken the Teeth of the ungodly And as he delivereth them from their Troublers so alâ—o he pleadeth all their Causes O Lord â—aith the Church thou hast pleaded the Causes â—f my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life Lam. â— 58 Mark troubled Christian thou â—ayst thou hast been arrested oft times in a Day and as often summoned to appear at God's Bar there to answer to what shall be â—aid to thy Charge And here for thy Encouâ—agement thou readest that the Church hath â—n Advocate that pleadeth the Causes of her â—oul that is all her Causes to deliver her He knows that so long as we are in this World we are subject to Temptation and Weakness and through them made guilty â—f many bad things Wherefore he hath preâ—ared himself to our Service and to abide â—ith the Father an Advocate for us As Soloâ—on saith of a Man of great Wrath Prov. 19. â—9 so it may be said of a Man of great Weakâ—esses and the best of Saints are such he â—ust he delivered again and again Yea maâ—y a time saith David did he deliver them Psal. â—06 44 45. to wit more than once and twice â—nd he will do so for thee if thou entertain 〈◊〉 to be thine Advocate Thou talkest of â—aving of him but then whither wilt thou 〈◊〉 all else are vain things things that cannot â—rofit 1 Sam. 12.20 21 22 23. and he â—ill not forsake his People tho their Land be 〈◊〉 with Sin against the holy One of Israel Jer. 51.5 I know the modest Saint is apt to be abash'd to think what a troublesome one he is and what a make-work he has been in God's House all his Days And let him be filled with holy blushing but let him not forsake his Advocate Having thus spoken to these Objections let us now come to make some use of thâ— whole and Vse 1. First I would exhort the Children 〈◊〉 consider the Dignity that God hath put upon Jesus Christ their Saviour For
by how mucâ— God hath called his Son to Offices and Placeâ— of trust by so much he hath heaped Dignitieâ— upon him 'T is said of Mordecai That he waâ— next to the King Ahasuerus And what then Why then the Greatness of Mordecai his higâ— Advance must be written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia Esth. 10.1 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 aâ— 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 rejoice and be glad for that one of themselves was made the Lord Chief by the King and the great Governour of the Land for the good of his Kindred True when a Man thinks of Christ as severed from him he sees but little to his Comfort in Christ's Exaltation but when he looks upon Christ and can say my Saviour my Priest or the chief Bishop of my Soul then he will see much in his being thus promoted to Honour Consider then of the Glories to which God has exalted our Saviour in that he hath made him so high 'T is comely also when thou speakest of him that thou name his Name with some additional Title thereby to call thy Mind to the Remembrance and so to the greater Reverence of the Person of thy Jesus As our Lord Jesus our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus 2 Pet. 2. 20. Heb. 3.1 c. Men write themselves by their Titles As John Earl of such a Place Anthony Earl of such a Place and Thomas Lord c. 'T is common also to call Men in great Places by their Titles rather than by their Names yea it also pleases such great ones well As my Lord High Chancellor of England my Lord Privy-Seal my Lord high Admiral c. And thus should Christians make mention of Jesus Christ our Lord adding to his Name some of his Titles of Honour specially since all Places of Trust and Titles of Honour conferred on him are of special Favour to us I did use to be much taken with one Sect of Christians for that it was usually their way when they made mention of the Name of Jesus to call him The blessed King of Glory Christians should do thus 't would do them good For why doth the Holy Ghost think you give him all these Titles but that we should call him by them and so make mention of him one to another For the very calling of him by this or that Title or Name belonging to this or that Office of his giveth us Occasion not only to think of him as exercising that Office but to enquire by the Word by Meditation and one of another what there is in that Office and what by his exercising of that the Lord Jesus profiteth his Church How will Men stand for that Honour that by Superiors is given to them expecting and using all things to wit Actions and Carriages so as that thereby their Grandure may be maintained And saith Christ ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well for so I am Joh. 13.13 Christ Jesus our Lord would have us exercise our selves in the Knowledge of his glorious Offices and Relative Titles because of the Advantage that we get by the Knowledge of them and the Reverence of and Love to him that they beget in our Hearts The Disciple saith the Text whom Jesus loved said unto Peter It is the Lord. And when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord He girt his Fishers Coat unto him for he was naked and did cast himself into the Sea And the other Disciples came in a little Ship to wit to Shore to wait upon their Lord Chap. 21. The very naming of him under the Title of Lord bowed their Hearts forthwith to come with Joint-readiness to wait upon him Let this also learn us to distinguish Christs Offices aâ—d Titles not to confound them For he exerciseth those Offices and beareth those Titles for great Reason and to our Commodity Every Circumstance relating both to Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation ought to 〈◊〉 duly weighed by us because of that Myâ—â—ery of God and of Man's Redemption that 〈◊〉 wrapt up therein For as there was not a â—â—in nor a loop nor a tack in the Tabernacle â—ut had in it an use of Instruction to the Chilâ—ren of Israel so there is not any part wheâ—her more near or more remote to Christ's â—uffering and Exaltation but is could we â—et into it full of spiritual Advantage to us To instance the Matter that came out of Christ's Side a thing little taken Notice of either by Preachers or Hearers and yet John makes it one of the Witnesses of the Truth â—f our Redemption and a Confirmation of â—he Certainty of that Record that God to the World hath given of the Sufficiency that is
People and pleadeth the Cause of the poor and needy And as for Sin which is one great stumble to thine actings O my Faith Christ has not only died for that as a Sacrifice nor only carried his Sacrifice unto the Father into the holiest of all but is there to manage that Offering as an Advocate pleading the efficacy and Worth thereof before God against the Devil for us Thus I say we should strengthen our Faith for Faith has to do not only with the Word but also with the Offices of Christ. Besides considering how many the Assaults are that are made upon our Faith we find all little enough to support it against all the Wiles of the Devil Christians too little concern themselves as I have said with the Offices of Jesus Christ and therefore their Knowledge of him is so little and their Faith in him so weak We are bid to have our Conversation in Heaven and then a Man so hath when he is there in his Spirit by Faith observing how the Lord Jesus doth exercise his Offices there for him Let us often by Faith go to the Bar of God there to hear our Advocate plead our Cause we should often have our Faith to God's Judgment-seat because we are concerned there There we are accused of the Devil there we have our Crimes laid open and there we have our Advocate to plead And this is suggested in the Text for it saith we have an Advocate with the Father Therefore thither our Faith should go for help and relief in the Day of our straits I say we should have our Faith to God's Judgment-Seat and shew it there by the Glass of our Text what Satan is doing against and the Lord Jesus for our Souls we should also shew it how the Lord Jesus carries away every Cause from the Devil and from before the Judgment-Seat to the Comfort of the Children the Joy of Angels and the Shame of the Enemy This would strengthen and support our Faith indeed And would make us more able than for the most part we are to apply the Grace of God to our selves And hereafter to give more strong Repulses to Satan 'T is easie with a Man when he knows that his Advocate has oveâ—thrown his Enemy at the King's Bench Bar or Court of common Pleas less to fear him the next time he sees him and more boldly to answer him when he reneweth his Threats upon him Let Faith then be strenghthened from its being exercised about the Advocateship of Jesus Christ. Secondly As we should make use of Christ's Advocateship for the strengthening of our Faith so we also should make use thereof to the encouraging of us to Prayer As our Faith is so is our Prayer to wit cold weak and doubtful if our Faith be so When â—aith cannot apprehend that we have access â—o the Father by Christ or that we have an Advocate when charged before God for our â—ins by the Devil then we flag and faint in â—ur Prayer But when we begin to take Couâ—age to believe and then we do so when most â—learly we apprehend Christ then we get up â—n Prayer And according as a Man appreâ—ends Christ in his Undertakings and Offices â—o he will wrestle with and supplicate God. â—s suppose a Man believes that Christ died â—or his Sins why then he will plead that in â—rayer with God. Suppose also that a Man â—nderstands that Christ rose again for his â—ustification why then he will also plead that 〈◊〉 Prayer But if he knows no further no â—â—rther will he go But when he shall know â—â—at there is for him also an Advocate with â—â—e Father and that that Advocate is Jesus â—hrist And when the Glory of this Office of â—hrist shall shine in the Face of this Man's â—â—ul Oh then he takes Courage to pray â—ith that Courage he had not before â—â—a then is his Faith so supported and made â—rong that his Prayer is more fervent and â—â—portuning abundance So that I say the Knowledge of the Adâ—â—cateship of Christ is very useful to strengthen then our Graces and as of Graces in generaâ— so of Faith and Prayer in particular Wherefore our Wisdom is so to improve this Doctrine that Prayer may be strengthened thereby Thirdly As we should make use of thiâ— Doctrine to strenghthen Faith and Prayer So we should make use of it to keep us humblâ— For the more Offices Christ executeth for uâ— with the Father the greater Sign that we aâ—â— bad And the more we see our badness thâ— more humble should we be Christ gave foâ— us the Price of Blood but that is not 〈◊〉 Christ as a Captain has conquered Death anâ— the Grave for us but that is not all Chriâ—â— as a Priest intercedes for us in Heaven 〈◊〉 that is not all Sin is still in us and with uâ— and mixes it self with what-ever we do whether what we do be religious or civiâ— For not only our Prayers and our Sermoâ— our Hearings and Preaching and so 〈◊〉 our Houses our Shops our Trades and 〈◊〉 Beds are all polluted with Sin. Nor doâ—â— the Devil our Night and Day Adversaâ—â— forbear to tell our bad Deeds to our Fathâ—â— urging that we might forever be disinheritâ— for this But what should we now do if 〈◊〉 had not an Advocate Yea if we had not 〈◊〉 who would plead in Forma Pauperis yea we had not one that could prevail and 〈◊〉 would faithfully execute that Office for us Why we must die But since we are rescued by him let us as to our selves lay our Hand upon our Mouth and be silent or say not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy Name give Glory And I say again since the Lord Jesus is fain to run through so many Offices for us before he can bring us to Glory O! How low how little how vile and base in our own Eyes should we be 'T is a Shame for a Christian to think highly of himself since Christ is fain to do so much for him and he again not at all able to make him Amends but some whose Riches consist in nothing but Scabs and Lice will yet have lofty looks But are not they much to blame who sit lifting up of lofty Eyes in the House and yet know not how to turn their Hand to do any â—hings so but that another their betters must come and mend their Work. I say is it â—ot more meet that those that are such â—hould look and speak and act as such that â—eclare their Sense of their Vnhandiness and â—heir Shame and the like for their Unprofiâ—ableness Yea is it not meet that to every â—ne they should confess what sorry ones â—hey are I am sure it should be thus with â—hristians and God is angry when it is otherâ—ise Nor doth it become these helpless ones to lift up themselves on high Let Christ's Advocateship therefore teach us to be humble Fourthly as we should improve this Doctrine to strengthen Faith to encourage Prayer
mine Advocate the Judge of the Nature of the Crime for which I am accused and of matter of Law by which I am accused to wit whether it is in Force against me to Condemnation or whether by the Law of Grace I am set free specially since before my Advocate has espoused my Cause promised me Deliverance and pleaded my Right to the State of eternal Life must it not now go well with me Yes verily The Judge then making thine Advocate the Judgâ— for he hath committed all Judgment unto the Son Joh. 5.22 hath done it also for thy Sake who hast chosen him to be thine Advocate 'T was a great thing that happened to Israel when Joseph was become their Advocate and when Pharoah had made him a Judge Thou says he shall be over my House and according to thy Word shall all my People be ruled See I have set thee over all the Land of Egypt and without thee shall no Man lift up his Hand or Foot in all the Land of Aegypt Only in the Throne I will be greater than thou Gen. 41.39 40 44. Joseph in this was a type of Christ and his Goverment here of the Government of Christ for his Church Kings seldom make a Man's Judge his Advocate they seldom leave the Issue of the whole Affair to the Arbitration of the poor Man's Lawyer But when they do methinks it should even go to the Hearts desire of the Client whose the Advocate is Specially when as I said before the Cause of the Client is become the Concern of the Advocate and that they are both wrapt up in the self same Interest yea when the Judge himself also iâ— therein concerned And yet thus it is with that Soul who has Jesus Christ for his Advocate What sayst thou poor Heart to this The Judge to wit the God of Heaven has made thy Advocate Arbitrator in thy Business He is to judge God has referred the Matter to him and he has a Concern in thy Concern an Interest in thy good speed Christian Man dost thou hear Thou hast put thy Cause into the Hand of Jesus Christ and hast chosen him to be thine Advocate to plead for thee before God and against thy Adversary and God has referred the Judgment of that Matter to thy Advocate so that he has Power to determine the Matter I know Satan is not pleased with this he had rather things should have been referred to himself and then woe had been to the Child of God But I say God has referred the Business to Jesus Christ has made him Vmpire and Judge in thine Affair Art thou also willing that he should decide the Matter Canst thou say unto him as David Judge me and plead my Cause O Lord Psal. 43.1 O the Care of God towards his People and the Desire of their Welfare He has provided them an Advocate and he has referred all Causes and things that may by Satan be objected and brought in against us to the Judgment and Sentence of Christ our Advocate But to come to a Conclusion for this and therefore Priv. 11. Eleventhly The Advantage that he has that has the Lord Jesus for his Advocate therefore is very great Thy Advocate has the Cause has the Law has the Judge has the Purse and so consequently has all that is requisite for an Advocate to have Since together with these he has Heart he has Wisdom he has Courage and Loves to make the best Improvement of his Advantages for the benefit of his Client And that which adds to all is he can prove the Debt paid about which Satan makes such ado a Price given for the Ramsom of my Soul and for the Pardon of my Sins Lawyers do use to make a great Matter of it when they can prove That that very Debt is paid for which their Client is sued at the Law. Now this Christ Jesus himself is Witness to Yea he himself has paid it and that out of his own Purse for us with his own Hands before and upon the Mercy-Seat according as the Law requireth Lev. 16.13 14 15. Heb. 9.11.14.15 16 23 24. what then can accrue to our Enemy or what Advantage can he get by his thus vexing and troubling of the Children of the most High Certainly nothing but as has been said already to be cast down For the Kingdom of our God which is a Kingdom of Grace and the Power of his Christ will prevail Sampson's Power lay in his Hair but Christ's Power his Power to deliver us from the Accusation and Charge of Satan lieth in the Worth of his Undertakings And hence it is said again and they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb Rev. 12.10 11 12. and he was cast out and down And thus much for the Privileges that those are made Pertakers of who have Jesus Christ to be their Advocate I come now to the Sixth last thing which is to shew you what Necessity there is that Christ should be our Advocate That Christ should be a Priest to offer Sacrifice a King to rule and a Prophet to teach All seeing Men acknowledge is of Necessity but that he should be an Advocate a Pleader for his People few see the Reason of it But he is an Advocate and as an Advocate has a Work and Imploy distinct from his Priestly Kingly of prophetical Office John says he is our Advocate and signifieth also the Nature of his Work as such in that very Place where he asserteth his Office. As also I have shew'd you in that which goes before But having already shewed you the Nature I will now shew you the Necessity of this Office. First it is necessary for the more full and ample Vindication of the Justice of God against all the Cavils of the infernal Spirits Christ died on Earth to declare the Justice of God to Men in his justifying of the ungodly God standeth upon the Vindication of his Justice as well as upon the Act thereof Hence the Holy Ghost by the Prophets and Apostles so largely disputeth for the Vindication thereof Rom. 3.24 Isa. Jer. Mal. While it asserteth the reality of the pardon of sin the justification of the unworthy and their glorification with God Rom. 3. chap. 4. chap. 8. Gal. 3 and 4. I say while it disputeth the justness of this high Act of God against the cavils of implacable sinners Now the Prophets and Apostles in those Disputes by which they seek to vindicate the Justice of God in the Salvation of sinners are not only Ministers of God to us but Advocates for him Since as Elihu has it They speak on God's behalf Job 36.2 Or as the Margent has it I will shew thee that there are yet Words for God Words to be spoken and pleaded against his Enemies for the justification of his Actions Now as it is necessary thaâ— there should be Advocates for God on Earth to plead for his Justice and Holiness while he saveth sinners against the cavils of
an ungodly People so it is necessary that there should be an Advocate also in Heaven that may there vindicate the same Justice and Holiness of God from all those Charges that the fallen Angels are apt to charge it with while it consenteth that we tho ungodly should be saved That the fallen Angels are bold enough to charge God to his Face with Vnjustness of Language is evident in the first and second of Job And that they should not be as bold to charge him with Unjustness of Actions nothing can be shewed to the contrary Further that God seeks to clear himself of this unjust Charge of Satan is as manifest for all the Troubles of his Servant Job were chiefly for that purpose And why he should have one also in Heaven to plead for the Justness of his Doings in the Forgiveness and Salvation of Sinners appears also as necessary even because there is one even an Advocate with the Father or on the Father's Side seeking to vindicate his Justice while he pleadeth with him for us against the Devil and his Objections God is wonderfully pleased with his Design in the saving of Sinners it pleases him at the Heart And since he also is infinitely just there is need that an Advocate should be appointed to shew how in a Way of Justice as well as Mercy the Sinner may be saved The good Angels did not at first see so far into the Mysteries of the Gospel of the Grace of God but that they needed further Light thereiâ— for the Vindication of their Lord as Servants Wherefore they yet did pry and look narrowly into it further and also bowed their Heads and Hearts to learn yet more by the Church of the manifold Wisdom of God 1 Pet. 1.12 Eph. 3.9 10. And if the standing Angels were not yet to the utmost perfect in the Knowledge of this Mistery and yet surely they must know more thereof than those that sell could do no Wonder if those Devils whose emnity could not but animate their Ignorance made and do make their Câ—vils against Justice insinuating that it is noâ— impartial and exact because it as it is just justifieth the ungodly That Satan will quarrel with God I have shewed you and that he will also dispute against his Works with the holy Angels is more than intimated by the Apostle Jude Jude 9. And why not quarrel with and accuse the Justice of God as unrighteous for consenting to the Salvation of Sinners Since his best Qualifications are most profound and prodigious Attempts to dethrone the Lord God of his Power and Glory Nay all this is evident since we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And again I say 't is evident that one part of his Work as an Advocate is to vindicate the Justice of God while he pleadeth for our Salvation because he pleadeth a Propitiation For a Propitiation respecteth God as well as us the appeasing of his Wrath and the reconciling of his Justice to us as well as the redeeming of us from Death and Hell. Yea it therefore doth the one because it doth the other Now if Christ as an Advocate pleadeth a Propitiation with God for whose Conviction doth he plead it Not for God's for he has ordained it allows it and gloriously acquiesces therein because he knoweth the whole Virtue thereof It is therefore for the Conviction of the fallen Angels and for the confounding of all those Cavils that can be invented and objected against our Salvation by those most subtil and envious ones But Secondly There is Matter of Law to be objected and that both against God and us At least there seems to be so because of the Sanction that God has put upon the Law and also because we have sinned against it God has said in the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die and the Soul that sinneth it shall die God also standeth still upon the Vindication of his Justice he also saveth Sinners Now in comes our Accuser and chargeth us of Sin of being guilty of Sin because we have transgressed the Law. God also will not be put out of his way and steps of Grace to save us also he will say he is just and righteous still I but these are but say-soes how shall this be proved Why now here is room for an Advocate that can plead to Matter of Law that can preserve the Sanction of the Law in the Salvation of the Sinner He shall magnifie the Law and make it honourable Isa. 42.21 the Margent saith and make him honourable That is he shall save the Sinner and preserve the Holiness of the Law and the Honour of his God. But who is this that can do this It is the Servant of God saith the Prophet ver 1. ver 13. the Lord a Man of War But how can this be done by him The Answer is it shall be done for God is well pleased for his Righteousness Sake For 't is by that that he magnifies the Law and makes his Father honourable That is he as a Publick Person comes into the World under the Law fulfils it and having so done he gives that Righteousness away for he as to his own Person never had need thereof I say he gives that Righteousness to those that have need to those that have none of their own that Righteousness might be imputed to them This Righteousness then he presenteth to God for us and God for this Righteousness Sake is well-pleased that we should be saved and for it can save us and secure his Honour and preserve the Law in its Sanction And this Christ pleadeth against Satan as an Advocaâ—e with the Father for us By which he vindicates his Fathers Justice holdeth tâ—e Child of God notwithstanding his Sins in a State of Justification and utterly overthroweth and confoundeth the Devil For Christ in pleading thus appeals to the Law it self If he has not done it Justice Saying most mighty Law what Command of thine have I not fulfilled what Demand of thine have I not fully answered where is that jot or tittle of the Law that is able to object against my Doings for want of Satisfaction Here the Law is mute it speaketh not one Word by way of the least Complaint but rather testifies of this Righteousness that it is good and holy Rom. 3.22 23 Rom. 5.15 16 17 18 19. Now then since Christ did this as a publick Person it follows that others must be justified thereby For that was the end and Reason of Christ's taking upon him to do the Righteousness of the Law. Nor can the Law object against the Equity of this Dispensation of Heaven For why might not that God who gave the Law his Being and his Sanction dispose as he pleases of the Righteousness which it commendeth Besides if Men be made righteous they are so and if by a Righteousness which the Law commendeth how can Fault be found with them by the Law Nay It is witnessed to
and to keep us humble So we should make Vse of it to encourage to Perseverance that is to hold on to hold out to the end For for all those Causes the Apostle setteth Christ before us as an Advocate There is nothing doth more discourage the truly Godly thaâ— the Sense of their own Infirmities as haâ— been hinted at all along consequently nâ—thing can more encourage them to go on than to think that Christ is an Advocate foâ— them The Services also that Christ haâ— for us to do in this World are full of Difficulty and so apt discourage But wheâ— a Christian shall come to understand that iâ— we do what we can 't is not a failing eitheâ— in Matter or Manner that shall render it wholly unserviceable or give the Devil that Aâ—vantage as to plead thereby to prevail foâ— our Condemnation and Rejection but thaâ— Christ by being our Advocate saves us froâ— our falling short and also from the Rage 〈◊〉 Hell This will encourage us to hold oâ— though we do but hobble in all our goings anâ— fumble in all our doings For we have Chriâ—â— for an Advocate in case we sin in the Managâ—ment of any Duty If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Let us therefore go on in all God's Ways as well as we can for our Hearts and when our Foot slips let us tell God of it and his Mercy in Christ shall hold us up Psal. 84.18 Darkness and to be shut up in Prison is also a great Discouragement to us But our Advocate is for giving us Light and for fetching us out of our Prison True he that Joseph chose to be his Advocate to Pharaoh remembred not Joseph but forgat him Gen. 40.14 23. but he that has Jesus Christ to be his Advocate shall be remembered before God. He remembred us in our low Estate for his Mercy endureth forever Mich. 7.8 9 10. Psal. 136.23 Yea he will say to the Prisoners shew your selves and to them that are in the Prison-House go forth Satan sometimes gets the Saints into the Prison when he has taken them Captive by their Lusts Rom. 7.23 but they shall not be always there and this should encourage us to go on in godly Ways For we must through many Tribulations enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Obj. But I cannot pray says one therefore how should I persevere When I go to Prayer instead of praying my Mouth is stopt What would you have me do Well Soul tho Satan may baffle thee he cannot so serve thine Advocate If thou must not speak for thy self Christ thine Advocate can speak for thee Lemuel was to 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 fight 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. 12.4 wherefore â—as God put this Sword we have an Advoâ—ate into thy Hand but to fight thy way â—hrough 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 tâ—e base Reason therefore requireth that we stand up to plead for him tho there can be but little rendereâ— why he should stand up to plead for us 3. He standeth up to plead for us in thâ— most Holy Place tho we are vile Anâ— why should we not stand up for him in thiâ— vile World since he is holy 4. He pleads for us though our Cause iâ— 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 beforâ— 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 last 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 help as we say at a dead lift Even then when 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 Ingeâ—uity 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 may abound God forbid Shall we do evil that good may come God forbid Shall we sin because 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 25 26 27 28. also David thought it too much for all his Houshold to go to Absalom's Feast because '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 watchful 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 Love of Christ should constrain us to live not to our Selves but to him that loved us that died for us and rose again 2 Cor. 5.14 we shall do that which is naught too much even 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 requite 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 Love to Christ and that consequently thou art a just nothing instead of being a Christian. Talk then what thou wilt and profess never so largely Christ is no Advocate of thine nor shalt thou thou so continuing be ever the better for any of those Pleas that Christ at Godâ—s 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 Coâ—cupiscence 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