good Men into his Sive to sift them as Wheat that if possible he may leave them nothing but bran no Grace but the very husk and shell of Religion And when a Christian comes to know this should Christ as Priest or Advocate be hid from him what could bear him up But let him now remember and believe that we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and â—e forthwith conceiveth Comfort For an Advocate is to plead for me according as has been shewed afore that I may be delivered from the Wrath and Accusation of my Adversary and still be kept safe under Grace Further by telling of my Brother that he hath an Advocate I put things into his Mind that he has not known or do bring them to Remembrance which he has forgot To wit that tho he hath sinned he shall be saved in a way of Justice For an Advocate is to plead Justice and Law and Christ is to plead these for a Saint that has sinned Yea so to plead them that he may be saved This being so he is made to perceive that by Law he must have his Sins forgiven him That by Justice he must be justified For Christ as an Advocate pleadeth for Justice Justice to himself and this Saint is of himself a Member of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Nor has Satan so good a Right to plead Justice against us tho we have sinned that we might be damned as Christ has to plead it tho we have sinned that we might be saved For Sin cannot cry so loud to Justice as can the Blood of Christ And he pleads his Blood as Advocate by which he has answered the Law wherefore the Law having nothing to object must needs acquit the Man for whom the Lord Jesus pleads I conclude this with that of the Psalmist Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land. Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her Increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall lead us the Way of his Steps Vse 8. Eighthly But what is all this to you that are â—ot concerned in this Privilege The Children indeed have the Advantage of an Advocate but what is this to them that have none to plead their Cause Jer. 30.12 13. They are as we say left to the wide World or to be ground to Powder between the Justice of God and the Sins which they have committed This is the Man that none but the Devil seeks after that is pursued by the Law and Sin and Death and has none to plead his Cause 'T is sad to consider the plight that such an one is in His Accuser is appointed yea ordered to bring in a Charge against him let Satan stand at his right Hand Ps. 109 6 7. in the Place where Accusers stand And when he shall be judged let him be condemned let there be none to plead for his Deliverance If he cries or offereth to cry out for Mercy or Forgiveness let his Prayer become Sin This is the Portion of a wicked Man. Terrors take hold on him as Waters a Tempest stealeth him away in the Night the East Wind carrieth him away and he departeth and as a Storm hurleth him out of his Place For God shall cast upon him and not spare he would fain free out of his Hand Men shall clap their Hands at him and shall hiss him out of his Place Job 27. â—0 21 22 23. And what shall this Man do Can he over-stand the Charge the Accusation the Sentence and Condemnation No he has none to plead hâ—s Cause I remember that somewhere I have read as I think concerning one who when he was carrying upon Mens Shoulders to the Grave cried out as he lay upon the Bier I am accused before the just Judgment of God and a while after I am condemned before the just Judgment of God. Nor was this Man but strict as to the Religion that was then on Foot in the World but all the Religion of the World amounts to no more than nothing I mean as to eternal Salvation if Men be denyed an Advocate to plead their Cause with God. Nor can any Advocate save Jesus Christ the righteous avail any thing at all Because there is none appointed but him to that Work and therefore not to be admitted to enter a Plea for their Client at the Bar of God. Obj. But some may say there is God's Grace the Promise Christ's Blood and his second Part of Priesthood now in Heaven Can none of these â—everally nor all of them jointly save a Man from Hell unless Christ also become our Advocate Answer All these his Advocates Office not excluded are few enough and little enough to save the Saints from Hell For the righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 There must then be the Promise God's Grace Christ's Blood and him to advocate too or we cannot be saved What 's the Promise without God's Grace and what 's that Grace without a Promise to bestow it on us I say what Benefit have we thereby Besides if the Promise and God's Grace without Christ's Blood would have saved us wherefore then did Christ die Yea and again I say if all these without his being for us an Advocate would have delivered us from all those Disadvantages that our Sins and Infirmities would bring us to and into surely in vain and to no purpose was Jesus made an Advocate But Soul there is need of all and therefore be not thou offended that the Lord Jesus is of the Father made so much to his but rather admire and wonder that the Father and the Son should be so concerned with so sorry â—â—ump of Dust and ashes as thou art And I say again be confounded to think that Sin should be a thing so horrible of Power to pollute to captivate and detain us from God that without all this ado I would speak with Reverence of God and his Wisdom we cannot be delivered from the everlasting Destruction that it hath brought upon the Children of Men. But I say what is this to them that are not admitted to a Privilege in the Advocates Office of Christ Whether he is an Advocate or no the Case to them is the same True Christ as a Saviour is not divided He that hath him not in all shall have him in none at all of his Offices in a saving manner Therefore he for whom he is not an Advocate he is nothing as to eternal Life Indeed Christ by some of his Offices is concerned for the Elect before by some of them he is But such shall have the Blessing of them all before they come to Glory Nor hath a Man ground to say Christ is here or there mine before he hath ground
are forgiven or shall we not much matter what manner of Lives we live because we are set free from the Law of Sin and Death God forbid Let Grace teach us another Lesson and lay other Obligations upon our Spirits My little Children saith he these things I write unto you that you sin not What things why tidings of Pardon and Salvation and of that nearness to God to which you are brought by the precious Blood of Christ. Now lest also by this last exhortation he should yet be misunderstood he adds and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous I say he addeth this to prevent desponding in those weak and sensible Christians that are so quick of feeling and of decerning the Corruptions of their Natures For these cry out continually That there is nothing that they do but it is attended with sinful Weaknesses Wherefore in the Words we are presented with two great truths First with a Supposition that Men in Christ while in this World may Sin. If any man sin any man none are excluded for all or any one of the all of them that Christ hath redeemed and forgiven are incident to Sin. By may I mean not a Toleration but a Possibility For there is not a Man not a Just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles. 7.20 1 Kin. 8.46 Secondly the other thing with which we are presented is an Advocate If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Now there lieth in these two truths two things to be enquired into as 1 What the Apostle should here mean by sin 2. And also what he here doth mean by an Advocate If any man sin we have an Advocate There is ground to enquire after the first of these because tho here he saith they that sin have an Advocate yet in the very next Chapter he saith such are of the Devil have not seen God neither know him nor are of him There is ground also to enquire after the Second because an Advocate is supposed in the Text to be of use to them that sin If any Man sin we have an Advocate 1. For the First of these to wit what the Apostle should here mean by Sin If any Man Sin. I answer since there is a difference in the Persons there must be a difference in the Sin. That there is a difference in the Persons is shewed before one is called a Child of God the other is said to be of the wicked One. Their Sin differ also in their Degree at least for no Child of God sins to that Degree as to make himself uncapable of Forgiveness For he that is born of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not Chap. 5.17 18. Hence the Apostle says there is a sin unto Death Mat. 12.32 which is the Sin from which he that is born of God is kept The sins therefore are thus distinguished The Sins of the People of God are said to be sins that Men commit the others are counted those which are the Sins of Devils First the Sins of God's People are said to be Sins which Men commit and for which they have an Advocate tho they who sin after the example of the wicked one have none When a Man or a Woman saith Moses shall commit a Sin which Men commit they shall confess their Sin and an atonment shall be made for them Numb 5.5 6 7. Mark It is when they commit a Sin which Men commit Or as Hosea has it when they transgress the Commandment like Adam Hos. 6.7 Now these are the Sins under consideration by the Apostle and to deliver us from which we have an Advocate with the Father But for the Sins mentioned in the third Chapter since the Persons sinning go here under another Character they also must be of another Stamp to wit a making Head against the Person Merits and Grace of Jesus Christ these are the Sins of Devils in the World and for these there is no Remission These they also that are of the wicked one commit and therefore sin after the similitude of Satan and so fall into the Condemnation of the Devil Secondly but what is it for Jesus to be an Advocate for these If any Man sin we have an 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
Miscarriage or of the naughty Temper of some that are about him who trouble and vex and labour to bring him into danger of the Law. This is the Nature of this Office as I said on Earth and this is the Office that Christ executeth in Heaven Wherefore he saith If any Man sin we have an Advocate one to stand up for him and to plead for his deliverance before the Bar of God Joel 3.2 Isa. 66.16 Ezek. 38.22 Jer. 2. For tho in some Places of the Scripture Christ is said to plead for his with Men and that by terrible Arguments as by Fire and Sword and Famine and Pestilence yet this is not that which is intended by this Text for the Apostle here saith he is an Advocate with the Father or before the Father to plead for those that there or that to the Fathers Face shall be accused for their Transgressions If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous So then this is the imploy of Jesus Christ as he is for us an Advocate He has undertaken to stand up for his People at God's Bar and before that great Court there to plead by the Law and Justice of Heaven for their Deliverance when for their Faults they are accused indicted or impleaded by their Adversary 2. And now to treat of the Order or Place that this Office of Christ hath among the rest of his Offices which he doth execute for us while we are here in a State of Imperfection And I think it is an Office that is to come behind as a Reserve or for an Help at last when all other Means shall seem to fail Men do not use to go to Law upon every Occasion or if they do the Wisdom of the Judge the Jury and the Court will not admit that every Brangle and foolish Quarrel shall come before them but an Advocate doth then come into Place and then to the Exercise of his Office when a Cause is counted worthy to be taken notice of by the Judge and by the Court. Wherefore he I say comes in the last Place as a reserve or help at last to plead and by pleading to set that right by Law which would otherwise have caused an increase to more doubts and to further Dangers Christ as Priest doth always works of Service for us because in our most spiritual things there may faults and Spots be found and these he taketh away of Course by the Exercise of that Office. For he always wears that Plate of Gold upon his Fore-head before the Father whereon is written Holiness to the Lord. But now besides these common Infirmities there are Faults that are highly gross and foul that oft are found in the Skirts of the Children of God. Now these are they that Satan taketh hold on these are they that Satan draweth up a Charge against us for And to save us from these it is that the Lord Jesus is made an Advocate When Joshua was cloathed with filthy Garments then Satan stood at his right Hand to resist him and then the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus pleaded for his Help Zech. 3. By all which it appears that this Office comes behind is provided as a Reserve that we may have help at a pinch and then be lifted out when we sink in mire where there is no standing This is yet further hinted at by the several Postures that Christ is said to be in as he exerciseth his Priestly and Advocate 's Office. As a Priest he sits as an Advocate he stands Isa. 3.13 The Lord stands up when he pleads His sitting is more constant and of Course Sit thou c. but his standing is occasional when Joshua is indicted or when Hell and Earth is broken loose against his Servant Stephen For as Joshua was accused by the Devil and as then the Angel of the Lord stood by so when Stephen was accused by men on Earth and that Charge seconded by the fallen Angels before the Face of God 't is said the Lord Jesus stood on the Right Hand of God Act. 7.55 to wit to plead for so I take it because standing is his Posture as an Advocate Heb. 10. not as a Priest for as a Priest he must sit down but he standeth as an Advocate as has been shew'd afore Wherefore Secondly The Occasion of his exercising of this Office of Advocate is as hath beeâ— hinted already when a Child of God shall be found guilty before God of some heinous Sin of some grievous thing in his Life and Conversation For as for those Infirmities that attend the best in their most spiritual Sacrifices if a Child of God were guilty of ten thousand of them they are of Course purged through the much Incense that is always mixed with those Sacrifices in the golden Censer that is in the Hand of Christ And so he kept clean and counted upright notwithstanding those Infirmities And therefore you shall find that notwithstanding those common Faults the the Children of God are counted good and upright in Conversation and not charged as Offenders David saith the Text did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his Life save only in the matter of Uriah the Hiâ—â—ite 1 Kin. 15.5 But was David in a strict Sense without Fault in all things else No verily But that was foul in a higher degree than the rest and therefore there God sets a blot Ay and doubtless for that he was accused by Satan before the Throne of God For here is Adultery and Murder and Hypocrisie in David â—s doings Here is notorious matter a great Sin and so a great Ground for Satan to draw up an Indictment against the King and a thundering one to be sure shall be preferred against him This is the time then for to Christ stand up to plead For now there is room for such a Question can David's Sin stand with Grace or is it possible that a Man that has done as he has should yet be found a Saint and so in a Saved State Or can God repute him so and yet be Holy and Just Or can the Merits of the Lord Jesus reach according to the Law of Heaven a Man in this Condition Here is a Case dubious here 's a Man whose Salvation by his foul Offences is made doubtful Now we must to Law and Judgment wherefore now let Christ stand up to plead I say now was David's Case dubious Psal. 51. he was afraid that God would cast him away and the Devil hoped that he would and to that end charged him before God's Face if perhaps he might get Sentence of Damnation to pass upon his Soul. But this was David's Mercy he had an Advocate to plead his Cause by whose Wisdom and Skill in Matters of Law and Judgment he was brought off of those heavy Charges from those gross Sins and delivered from that eternal
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 Jesus 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 another 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 come forth 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 thus managing matters for us 2. The Lord Jesus having thus taken our Sins upon himself next pleads his own Goodness to God on our Behalf Saying Let not theâ— 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 my Face Psal. 69.6 7 Mark let them not be ashamed for my Sake let them not be confounded for my Sake Shame and Confusion are the Fruits of Guilt or of a Charge for Sin Jer. 3.25 and are but an enterance into Condemnation Dan. 12.2 Joh. 5.29 But behold how Christ pleads saying Let not that be for my Sake for the Merit of my Blood for the Perfection of my Righteousness for the Prevalency of my Intercession Let them not be ashamed for my Sake O Lord God of Hosts And let no Man object because this Text is in the Psalms as if it were not spoke by the Prophet of Christ for both John and Paul yea and Christ himself do make this Psalm a Prophecy of him Compare ver 9. with Joh. 2.17 and ver 9 with Rom. 15.3 And ver 21. with Matth. 27.48 and Mâ—t. 15.25 But is not this a wonderful thing That Christ should first take our Sins and account them his own and then plead the value and worth of his whole self for our Deliverance For by these Words for my Sake he pleadeth his own self his whole self and all that he is and has And thus he puts us in good Estate again tho our Cause was very bad To bring this down to weak Capacities Suppose a Man should be indebted twenty thousand Pounds but has not twenty thousand farthings wherewith to pay And suppose also that this Man be arrested for this Debt and that the Law also by which he is sued will not admit of a penny bate This Man may yet come well enough off if his Advocate or Attorney will make the Debt his own and will in the Presence of the Judges out with his Bags and pay down every Farthing Why this is the way of our Advocate Our Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 we are sued for them at the Law Luk. 12.59 and the Devil is our Accuser but behold the Lord Jesus comes out with his Worthiness pleads it at the Bar making the Debt his own Mark 12.42 2 Cor. 3.5 and saith now let them not be ashamed for my Sake O Lord God of Hosts let them not be confounded for my Sake O God of Israel And hence as he is said to be an Advocate so he is said to be a Propitiation or a mends-Maker or one that appeaseth the Justice of God for our Sins If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins And who can now object against the Deliverance of the Child of God God cannot for he for Christ's Sake according as he pleaded hath forgiven us all Trespasses
Col. 2.13 Eph. 4.32 The Devil cannot his Mouth is stopp'd as is plain in the Case of Joshua Zech. 3. The Law cannot for that approveth of what Christ has done This then is the way of Christ's pleading You must know That when Christ pleads with God he pleads with a just and righteous God and therefore he must plead Law and nothing but Law And this he pleaded in both these Pleas. First in confessing of the Sin he justified the Sentence of the Law in pronouncing of it evil and then in his laying of himself his whole self before God for that Sin he vindicated the Sanction and Perfection of the Law. Thus therefore he magnifies the Law and makes it Honorable and yet brings off his Client safe and sound in the view of all the Angels of God. Thirdly the Lord Jesus having thus taken our Sins upon himself and presented God with all the Worthiness that is in his whole self for them in the next place he calleth for Justice or a just Verdict upon the Satisfaction he hath made to God and to his Law. Then Proclamation is made in open Court saying take away the filthy Garments from him from him that hath offended and cloath him with Change of Raiment Zech. 3. Thus the Soul is preserved that hath sinned thus the God of Heaven is content that he should be saved thus Satan is put to Confusion and Jesus applauded and cried up by the Angels of Heaven and by the Saints on Earth Thus have I shewed you how Christ doth Advocate it with God and his Father for us and I have been the more particular in this because the Glory of Christ and the Comfort of the Dejected is greatly concerned and wrapt up in it Look then to Jesus if thou hast sinned to Jesus as an Advocate pleading with the Father for thee Look to nothing else for he can tell how and that by himself to deliver thee yea and will do it in a way of Justice which is a Wonder and to the Shame of Satan which will be his Glory and also to thy compleat Deliverance which will be thy Comfort and Salvation But to pass this and to come to the Second thing which is to shew you how the Lord Jesus manages this his Office of an Advocate before his Father against the Adversary For he pleadeth with the Father but pleadeth against the Devil he pleadeth with the Father Law and Justice but against the Adversary he letteth out himself I say as he pleadeth against the Adversary so he enlargeth himself with Arguments over and besides those which he pleadeth with God his Father Nor is it meet or needful that our Advocate when he pleads against Satan should so limit himself to matter of Law as when he pleadeth with his Father The Saint by sinning oweth Satan nothing no Law of his is broken thereby why then should he plead for the saving of his People justifying Righteousness to him Christ when he died died not to satisfie Satan but his Father not to appease the Devil but to answer the Demands of the Justice of God nor did he Design when he hanged on the Tree to triumph over his Father but over Satan He redeemed us therefore from the Curse of the Law by his Blood Gal. 3.13 and from the Power of Satan by his Resurrection Heb. 2.14 He delivered us from righteous Judgment by Price and Purchase but from the Rage of Hell by Fight and Conquest And as he acted thus diversly in the Work of our Redemption even so he also doth in the Execution of his Advocate 's Office. When he pleadeth with God he pleadeth so And when he pleadeth against Satan he pleadeth so And how he pleadeth with God when he dealeth with Law and Justice I have shewed you and now I will shew you how he pleadeth before him against the Accuser of the Brethren First He pleads against him the well Pleasedness that his Father has in his Merits saying This shall please the Lord. Or this doth or will please the Lord better than any thing that can be propounded Psal. 69.31 Now this Plea being true as it is being established upon the liking of God Almighty Whatever Satan can say to obtain our everlasting Destruction is without Ground and so unreasonable I am well pleased saith God Mat. 3.17 and again The Lord is well pleased 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
and Members of his Body 1 Cor. 12.27 Now said Paul to the Church Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular Eph. 5.30 This Relation also makes a Man plead hard Were a Man to plead for a Limb or a Member of his own how would he plead What Arguments would he use and what Sympathy and feeling would his Arguments slow from I cannot lose a Hand I cannot lose a Foot cannot lose a Finger Why Saints are Christ's Members his Members are of himself With what Strength of Argument would a Man plead the Necessaryness of his Members to him and the Vnnaturalness of his Adversary in seeking the Destruction of his Members and the Deformity of his Body Yea a Man would shuck and cringe and weep and intreat and make Demurrs and Halts and Delays to a thousand Years if possible before he would lose his Members or any one of them But I say how would he plead and Advocate it for his Members if Judge and Law and Reason and Equity were all on his side and if by the Adversary there could be nothing urged but that against which the Advocate had long before made Provision for the effectual Overthrow thereof And all this is true as to the Case that lies before us Thus we see what Strength there lieth in this second Argument that our Advocate bringeth for us against the Enemy They are hiâ— Flesh and Bones his Members He cannot spare them He cannot spare this because nor that because nor another because nor any because they are his Members As such they are lovely to him as such they are useful to him as such they are an Ornament to him Yea tho in themselves they are feeble weak and through Infirmity much disabled from doing as they should Thus If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous But Fourthly As Christ as Advocate pleads for us against Satan his Fathers Interest in us and his own So he pleadeth against him that Right and property that he hath in Heaven to give it to whom he will. He has a Right to Heaven as Priest and King it is his also by Inheritance And since he will be so good a Benefactor as to bestow this House on some Body but not for their Deserts but not for their Goodness And since again he has to that end spilt his Blood for and taken a Generation into Covenant-Relation to him that it might be bestowed on them it shall be bestowed on them And he will plead this if there be need if his People sin and if their Accuser seeks by their Sin their Ruin and Destruction Father saith he I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory Joh. 17.24 Which thou hast given me Christ's Will is the Will of Heaven the Will of God shall not Christ then prevail I will saith Christ I will saith Satan But whose Will shall stand 'T is true Christ in the Text speaks more like an Arbitrator than an Advocate More like a Judge than one pleading at a Bar. I will have it so I judge that so it ought to be and must But there is also something of Plea in the Words both before his Father and against our Enemy And therefore he speaketh like one that can plead and determine also yea like one that has Power so to do But shall the Will of Heaven stoop to the Will of Hell Or the Will of Christ to the Will of Satan Or the Will of Righteousness to the Will of Sin Shall Satan who is God's Enemy and whose Charge wherewith he chargeth us for Sin and which is grounded not upon Love to Righteousness but upon Malice against God's Designs of Mercy against the Blood of Christ and the Salvation of his People I say shall this Enemy and this charge prevail with God against the well-grounded Plea of Christ and against the Salvation of God's Elect and so keep us out of Heaven No no Christ will have it otherwise He is the great Donator and his Eye is good True Satan was turned out of Heaven for that he sinned there and we must be taken into Heaven tho we have sinned here this is the Will of Christ and as Advocate he pleads it against the Face and Accusation of our Adversary 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 Hatred that has also of a long time lain burning and raging in his Enemy's 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 Superlative 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 's pleading of such a Circumstance 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 â—â—â—tters us and always in a manner lies at â—s 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 maâ—â—th 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 wife 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 acâ—useth 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 out of the Fire This is part of the Plea of our Advocate against Satan for his Servant Joshua when he said The Lord rebuke thee O Satan Zech. 3.2 Now to be a Brand pluckt out of the Fiâ—e is to be a Saint impared weakned defiled and made imperfect by Sin. For so also the Apostle means when he saith And others sâ—ve with Fear pulling them out of the Fire hatâ—â—ng even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jude 23. By Fire in both these Places we are to understand Sin For that is burns and consumes as Fire Rom. 1.27 Wherefore a Man is said to burn when his Lusts are strong upon him and to burn in Lusts to others when his wicked Heart runs wickedly after them 1 Cor. 7.9 Also when Abraham said I am but Dust and Ashes Gen. 18.27 he means he was but what Sin had left Yea he had something of the Smutch and besmearings of Sin yet upon him Wherefore it was a Custom with Israel in Days of old when they set Days apart for Coâ—fession of Sin and Humiliation for the same to sprinkle themselves with or to wallow in Dust and Ashes Est. 4.1 3. Jer. 6.26 Job 30.9 chap. 42.6 as a token that they did confess that they were but what Sin had left and that they also were defiled weakned and polluted by it This then is the next Plea of our goodly Advocate for us O Satan This is a Brand plucked out of the Fire As who should say thou objectest against my Servant Joshua That he is black like a Coal or that the Fire of Sin at times is still burning in him And whâ—t then the Reason why he is not totally extinct as â—ow is not thy Pity but my Father's Mercy to him I have plucked him out of the Fire yet not so out but that the smell thereof is yet upon him and my Father and I we consider his Weakness and pity him For since he is as a Brand pulled out can it be expected by my Father or me that he should appear before us as clear and do our biddings as well as if he had never been there This is a Brand plucked out of the Fire and must be considered as such and must be born with as such Thus as Mephibosheth pleaded for his Excuse His Lameness 2 Sam. 17.24 25 26. So Christ pleads the Infirm and indigent Condition of his People against Satan for their Advantage Wherefore Christ by such Pleas as these for his People doth yet further shew the Malice of Satan for all this Burning comes through him yea and by it he moveth the Heart of God to pity â—s and yet to be gentle and long
Attorney or Advocate to plead their Cause and so he pleads for them I say hast thou entertained Jesus Christ for thy Lawyer to plead thy Cause Plead my Cause O God said David Psal. 35.1 and again Lord plead thou my Cause Psal. 43.1 This therefore is the first thing that I would propound to thee Hast thou with David entertained him for thy Lawyer or with good Hezekiah cried out O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me Isa. 38.14 What sayst thou Soul Hast thou been with him and prayed him to plead thy Cause and cryed unto him to undertake for thee This I call entertaining of him to be thine Advocate And I chuse to follow the Similitude both because the Scripture seems to smile upon such a way of Discourse and because thy question doth naturally lead me to it Wherefore â— ask again hast thou been with him Hast thou entertained him Hast thou desired him to plead thy Cause Quest. Thou wilt say unto me How should I know that I have done so Answ. I answer art thou sensible that thou hast an Action commenced against thee in that high Court of Justice that is above I say art thou sensible of this For the Defendants and all Gods People are Defendants do not use to entertain their Lawyers but from Knowledge That an Action either is or may be commenced against them before the God of Heaven If thou sayst yea then I ask who told thee that thou standest accused for Transgression before the Judgment-Seat of God I say who told thee so hath the holy Ghost hath the World or hath thy Conscience For nothing else as I know off can bring such Tidings to thy Soul. Again hast thou found a Failure in all others that might have been entertained to plead thy Cause Some make their Sighs their Tears their Prayers and their Reformations their Advocates Hast thou tryed these and found them wanting Hast thou seen thy state to be desperate if the Lord Jesus doth not undertake to plead thy Cause for Jesus is not entertained so long as Men can make shift without him But when it comes to this Point I perish for-ever notwithstanding the Help of all if the Lord Jesus steps not in Then Lord Jesus Lord Jesus good Lord Jesus undertake for me Hast thou therefore been with Jesus Christ as concerned in thy Soul as heartily concerned about the Action that thou perceivest to be commenced against thee Quest. You will say how should I know that Answ. I answer Hast thou well considered the Nature of the Crime wherewith thou standest charged at the Bar of God Hast thou also considered the Justness of the Judge Again I ask hast thou considered what Truth as to Matter of Fact there is in the things whereof thou standest accused Also hast thou considered the Cunning the Malice and Diligence of thine Adversary with the Greatness of the Loss thou art like to sustain Shouldst thou with Ahab in the Book of Kings 1 King. 22.17 18 19 20 21 22. or with the Hypocrites in the sixth of Isaiah Isa. 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. have the Verdict of the Lord God go out from the Throne against thee I ask thee these Questions because if thou art in the Knowledge of these things to seek or if thou art not deeply concerned about the Greatness of the Damage that will certainly over-take thee and that for-ever shouldest thou be indeed accused before God and have none to plead thy Cause Thou hast not nor canst not let what will come upon thee have been with Jesus Christ to plead thy Cause and so let thy Case be never so desperate thou standest alone and hast no Helper Job 30.13 chap. 9.13 or if thou hast they not being the Advocate of God's appointing must needs fall with thee and with thy Burden Wherefore consider of this seriously and return thy Answer to God who can tell if Truth shall be found in thy Answers better by far than any For 't is he that tries the Reins and the Heart and therefore to him I referr thee But Secondly Wouldest thou know whether Jesus Christ is thine Advocate Then I ask again hast thou Revealed thy Cause unto him I say hast thou Revealed thy Cause unto him For he that goeth to Law for his Right must not only go to a Lawyer 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. Miâ—e 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 giâ—en 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
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 or 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 wâ—â—â—e it disputeth the justness of thiâ— high Act of God against the cavils of implacable sâ—â—ners 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 that 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 therein 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 fell could do no Wonder if those Devils whose emnity could not but animate their Ignorance made and do make their Cavils against Justice insinuating that it is not 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
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 of his relative Surviver when the Jubilee came so certainly shall he that dieth and that 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 trust 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 Yea 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 our Heavenly Inheritance made good by our Advocate against the thwartings and branglings of the Devil nor can our new Sins make it invalid but it abideth safe to us at last notwithstanding our Weaknesses Tho if we sin we may have but little Comfort of it or but little of its present Profits while we live in this World. A Spend-thrift tho he loses not his Title may yet lose the present Benefit But the Principal will come again at last for we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Sixthly the Necessity of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ for us further appears in this to wit for that our Evidences which declare that we have a Right to the eternal Inheritance are often out of our own Hand yea and also sometimes kept long from us The which we come not at the Sight or Comfort of again but by our Advocate Specially when our Evidences are taken from us because of a present forfeiture of this Inheritance to God by this or that most soul Offence Evidences when they are thus taken away as in David's Case Psal. 51.12 they were why then they are in the Hand of God laid up I say from the sight of them to whom they belong till they even forget the Contents thereof 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9. Now when Writings and Evidences are out of the Hand of the Owners and laid up in the Court where in Justice they ought to be kept they are not ordinarily got thence again but by the Help of a Lawyer an Advocate Thus it is with the Children of God. We do often forfeit our Interest in eternal Life but the Mercy is the Forfeit falls into the Hand of God not of the Law nor of Satan wherefore he taketh away also so our Evidences if not all yet some of them as he saith I will take away my Peace from this People even loving Kindness and Mercy Jer. 16.5 This he took from David 1 Chron. 17.13 Psal. 51.12 yet not as he took it from him that went before him and he entreats for the Restauration of it saying Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit And Lord Turn us again cause thy Face to shine and we shall be saved Psal. 80.3 7 19. Satan now also hath an opportunity to plead against us and to help forward the Affliction as his Servants did of old when God was but a little angry Zech 1.15 But Jesus Christ our Advocate is ready to appear against him and to send us from Heaven our old Evidences again or to signifie to us that they are yet good
and stumbleth thereat And says Christ because I tell you the truth ye believe me not Joh. 8.45 Hence believing is called labouring Heb. 4.11 and 't is the forest Labour at times that any Man can take in Hand because assaulted with the greatest Oppositions but believe thou must be the Labour never so hard and that not only in Christ in a general way but in him as to his several Offices and as to this of his being an Advocate in particular else some Sins and some Temptations will not in their Guilt nor vexations Trouble easily depart from thy Conscience no not by Promise nor by thy Attempts to apply the same by Faith. And this the Text insinuateth by it's setting forth of Christ as Advocate as the only or best and most speedy Way of Relief to the Soul in certain Cases There is then an Order that thou must observe in the Exercise of thy Soul in a way of believing 1. Thou must believe unto Justification in general and for this thou must direct thy Soul to the Lord Christ as he is a Sacrifice for Sin and as a Priest offering that Sacrifice So as a Sacrifice thou shalt see him appeasing Divine Displeasure for thy Sin and as a Priest spreading the Skirt of his Garment over thee for the covering of thy Nakedness thus being cloathed thou shalt not be found naked 2. This when thou hast done as well as thou canst thou must in the next Place keep thine Eye upon the Lord Christ as improving as Priest in Heaven the Sacrifice which he offered on Earth for the continuing of thee in a state of Justification thy Life time notwithstanding those common Infirmities that attend thee and to which thou art incident in all thy holy Services or best of thy Performances Rom. 5.10 Exod. 28.31 38. For therefore is he a Priest in Heaven and by his Sacrifice interceding for thee 3. But if thy Foot slippeth if it slippeth greatly then know thou 't will not be long before a Bill be in Heaven preferred against thee by the Accuser of the Brethren wherefore then thou must have Recourse to Christ as Advocate to plead before God thy Judge against the Devil thine Adversary for thee 4. And as to the badness of thy Cause let that nothing move thee save to Humility and self-Abasement For Christ is glorified by being concerned for thee Yea the Angels will shout aloud to see him bring thee off For what greater Glory can we conceive Christ to obtain as Advocate than to bring off his People when they have sinned noâ—withstanding Satans so charging of them for them as he doth He gloried when he was going to the Cross to die he went up with a Shout and the Sound of Trumpet to make Intercession for us And shall we think that by his being an Advocate he receives no additional Glory 'T is Glory to him doubtless to bear the Title of an Advocate and much more to plead and prosper for us against our Adversary as he doth 5. And I say again for thee to think that Christ will reject thee for that thy Cause is bad is a kind of thinking Blasphemy against this his Office and his Word For what doth such a Man but side with Satan while Christ is pleading against him I say 't is as the Devil would have it for it puts Strength unto his Plea against us by increasing our Sin and Wickedness But shall Christ take our Cause in Hand and shall we doubt of good Success This is to count Satan stronger than Christ and that he can longer abide to oppose than Christ can to plead for us Wherefore away with it not only as to the Notion but also as to the Heart and Root thereof Oh! When shall Jesus Christ our Lord be honoured by us as he oughâ— this dastardly Heart of ours when shall it be more subdued and trodden underfoot of Faith when shall Christ ride Lord and King and Advocate upon the Faith of his People as he should He is exalted before God before Angels and above all the Power of the Enemy there is nothing comes behind but the Faith of his People Obj. 3. But since you follow the Metaphor so close I will suppose if an Advocate be entertained some Recompence must be given him His Fee who shall pay him his Fee I have nothing could I do any thing to make this Advocate part of Amends I could think I might have Benefit from him but I have nothing what say you to this Answ. Similitudes must not be strained too far but yet I have an Answer for this Objection There is in some Cases Law for them that have no Money ay Law and Lawyers too And this is called a suing in Forma Pauperis and such Lawyers are appointed by Authority for that Purpose Indeed I know not that it is thus in every Nation but 't is sometimes so with us in England and this is the way altogether in the Kingdom of Heaven before the Bar of God. All is done there for us in Forma Pauperis on free câ—st For our Advocate or Lawyer is thereto designed and appointed of his Father Hence Christ is said to plead the Cause not of the rich and wealthy but of the Poor and Needy not of those that have many Friends but of the Fatherless and Widow not of them that are fat and strong but of those under sore Afflictions Prov. 22.22 23. chap. 23.10 11. chap. 31.9 He shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.31 or as it is in the Margent from the Judges of his Soul. This then is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men He doth freely what he doth not for Price nor Reward I have raised him up says God And I will direct all his Ways he shall build my City and he shall let go my Captives not for Price nor Reward Isa. 45.13 This I say is the manner of Jesus Christ with Men he pleads he sues in Forma Pauperis gratis and of meer Compassion And hence it is that you have his Clients give him thanks for that is all the Poor can give I will greatly praise the Lord with my Mouth I will praise him among the Multitude for he shall stand at the right Hand of the Poor to save him from them that condemn his Soul Psal. 109.30 They know but little that talk of giving to Christ except they mean they would give him Blessing and Praise He bids us come freely take freely and tells us that he will give and do freely Rev. 22.17 chap. 21.6 Let him have that which is his own to wit thy self for thou art the Price of his Blood. David speaks very strangely of giving to God for Mercy bestowed on him I call it strangely because indeed 't is so to Reason What says he shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits I will take this Cup and call for more Psal. 116.12
13. God has no need of thy Gift nor Christ of thy Bribe to plead thy Cause Take thankfully what is offered and call for more That 's the best giving to God. God is rich enough Talk not then of giving but of receiving for thou art poor Be not too high nor think thy self too good to live by the Alms of Heaven And since the Lord Jesus is willing to serve thee freely and to maintain thy Right to Heaven against thy Foe to the saving of thy Soul without Price or Reward Let the Peace of God rule in thee to the which thou art also called as is the rest of the Body and be thou thankful Col. 3.15 This then is the Privilege of a Christian we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous One that pleadeth the Cause of his People against those that rise up against them of his Love Pity and meer good Will. Lord open the Eyes of dark Readers of disconsolate Saints that they may see who is for them and upon what Terms Obj. 4. But if Christ doth once begin to plead for me and shall become mine Advocate He will always be troubled with me unless I should of my self forsake him for I am ever in Broils and Suits of Law Action after Action is laid upon me and I am sometimes ten times in a Day summoned to answer my Doings before God. Answ. Christ is not an Advocate to plead a Cause or two nor to deliver the Godly from an Accusation or two He delivereth Israel out of all his Troubles 2 Sam. 22.28 and chuses to be an Advocate for such Therefore the Godly of old did use to make from the Greatness of their Troubles and the abundance of their Troublers an Argument to the Lord Christ to send and lend them help Have Mercy upon me said David consider my Trouble which I suffer of them that hate me Psal. 9.13 And again Many are they that rise up against me many there be that say of my Soul there is no help for him in God Psal. 3.1 2. Yea the Troubles of this Man were so many and great that his Enemies began to triumph over him saying There is no help for him in God ver 7. But could he not deliver him or did the Lord forsâ—ke him No no thou hast smitten saith he all mine Enemies upon the Cheek-bone thou hast broken the Teeth of the ungodly And as he delivereth them from their Troublers so also he pleadeth all their Causes O Lord saith the Church thou hast pleaded the Causes of my Soul thou hast redeemed my Life Lam. 3.58 Mark troubled Christian thou sayst thou hast been arrested oft times in a Day and as often summoned to appear at God's Bar there to answer to what shall be laid to thy Charge And here for thy Encouragement thou readest that the Church hath an Advocate that pleadeth the Causes of her Soul that is all her Causes to deliver her He knows that so long as we are in this World we are subject to Temptation and Weakness and through them made guilty of many bad things Wherefore he hath prepared himself to our Service and to abide with the Father an Advocate for us As Solomon saith of a Man of great Wrath Prov. 19.19 so it may be said of a Man of great Weaknesses and the best of Saints are such he must he delivered again and again Yea many a time saith David did he deliver them Psal. 106.44 45. to wit more than once and twice and he will do so for thee if thou entertain him to be thine Advocate Thou talkest of leaving of him but then whither wilt thou go all else are vain things things that cannot profit 1 Sam. 12.20 21 22 23. and he will not forsake his People tho their Land be filled with Sin against the holy One of Israel Jer. 51.5 I know the modest Saint is apt to be abash'd to think what a troublesome one he is and what a make-work he has been in God's House all his Days And let him be filled with holy blushing but let him not forsake his Advocate Having thus spoken to these Objections let us now come to make some use of the whole and Vse 1. First I would exhort the Children to consider the Dignity that God hath put upon Jesus Christ their Saviour For by how much God hath called his Son to Offices and Places of trust by so much he hath heaped Dignities upon him 'T is said of Mordecai That he was next to the King Ahasuerus And what then Why then the Greatness of Mordecai his high Advance must be written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia Esth. â—0 1 2 3. to the end his Fame might not be buried nor forgot but remembred and talked of in Generations to come Why my Brethren God hath exalted Jesus of Nazareth Hath made him the only great one having given him a Name above every Name A Name did I say a Name and Glory beyond all Names and above all Names as doth witness both his being set above all and the many Offices which he executeth for God on behalf of his People 'T is counted no little Addition to Honour when Men are not only made near to the King but also intrusted with most if not almost with all the most weighty Affairs of the Kingdom Why this is the Dignity of Christ he is 't is true the natural Son of God and so high and one that abounds with Honour but this is not all God has conferred upon him as Man all the high and most mighty Honours of Heaven He hath made him Lord Mediator betwixt him and the World. This in general And particularly he hath called him to be his high Priest forever Heb. 7.21 22 23 24. and hath sworn he shall not be changed for another he hath accepted of his Offering once forever counting that there is wholly enough in what he did once to perfect forever them that are sanctified to wit set apart to Glory Heb. 10.11 12 13. He is Captain General of all the Forces that God hath in Heaven and Earth the King and Commander of his People Chap. 9.25 26. He is Lord of all and made Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.22 and is our Advocate with the Father O the Exaltation of Jesus Christ Let Christians therefore in the first Place consider this Nor can it but be profitable to them if withal they consider that all this Trust and Honour is put and conferred upon him in Relation to the Advantage and Advancement of Christians If Christians do but consider the nearness that is 'twixt Christ and them and withal consider how he is exalted it must needs be matter of Comfort to them He is my Flesh and my Bone that is exalted it is my Friend and Brother that is thus set up and preferred 'T was something to the Jews when Mordecai was exalted to Honour they had thereby Ground to
Adonijah Ask for him the Kingdom also 1 Kin. 2.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. I told you before that to be an Advocate did run one upon Hazards of Reproach and it may easily be thought that the Queen did blush when from the King her Son she received such a Repulse Nor do we hear any more of her being an Advocate I believe she had enough of this But oh this Christ of God who himself is greater than Solomon he is become an Advocate an Advocate with the Father who is the eternally just and holy and righteous God And that for a People with Respect to him far worse than could be Adonijah in the Eyes of his Brother Solomon Majestly and Justice are dreadful in themselves and much more so when approached by any specially when the Cause as to matter of Fact is bad that the Man is guilty of who is concerned in the Advocateship of his Friend And yet Jesus Christ is still an Advocate for us an Advocate with the Father Secondly Consider also before whom Jesus Christ doth plead as an Advocate and that is before or in the Presence and Observation of all the heavenly Host. For while Christ pleadeth with God for his People all the Host of Heaven stands by on the right Hand and on the Left Mat. 10.32 And tho as yet there may seem to be but little in this Consideration yet Christ would have us know and account it an Infinite Kindness of his to us that he will confess and not be ashamed of us before the Angels of his Father Mark 8.38 Angels are holy and glorious Creatures and in some Respect may have a greater Knowledge of the Nature and baseness of Sin than we while here are capable of and so may be made to stand and wonder while the Advocate pleads with God for a People from Head to Foot cloathed therewith But Christ will not be ashamed to stand up for us before them though they know how bad we are and what vile things we have done Let this therefore make us wonder Thirdly Add to these how unconcerned oft-times those are with themselves and their own desolate Condition for whom Christ as an Advocate laboureth in Heaven with God. Alas the Soul is as far off of knowing what the Devil is doing against it at God's Bar as David was when Saul was threatning to have his Blood while he was hid in the Field 1 Sam. 20.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. But O true Jonathan How didst thou plead for David Only here thou hadst the Advantage of our Advocate thou hadst a good Cause to plead for when Saul thy Father said David shall surely die Thy Reply was wherefore shall he be slain What evil hath he done But Christ cannot say thus when he pleadeth for us at God's Bar nor is our present Senselessness and unconcernedness about his pleading but an Aggravation to our Sin. Perhaps David was praying while Jonathan was playing the Advocate for him before the King his Father But perhaps the Saint is sleeping yea sinning more while Christ is pleading for him in Heaven Oh! This should greatly affect us this should make us wonder this should be so considered by us as to heighten our Souls to Admiration of the Grace and Kindness of Christ. Fourthly join to these the Greatness and Gravity the highness and glorious Majesty of the Man that is become our Advocate says the Text 't is Jesus Christ we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ. Now that he should become an Advocate that he should embrace such an Imploy as this of his Advocateship let this be a wonderment and so be accounted But let us come to the fourth Use. Vse 4. Fourthly Is it so is Jesus Christ the Saviour also become our Advocate Then let us labor to make that Improvement of this Doctrine as tendeth to strengthen our Graces and us in the management of them Indeed this should be the Use that we should make of all the Offices of Christ but let us at this time concern our selves about this Let I say the poor Christian thus expostulate with himself 1. Is Christ Jesus the Lord mine Advocate with the Father Then awake my Faith and shake thy self like a Gyant Stir up thy self and be not faint Christ is the Advocate of his People and pleadeth the Cause of the poor and needy And as for Sin which is one great stumble to thine actings O my Faith Christ has not only died for that as a Sacrifice nor only carried his Sacrifice unto the Father into the holiest of all but is there to manage that Offering as an Advocate pleading the efficacy and Worth thereof before God against the Devil for us Thus I say we should strengthen our Faith for Faith has to do not only with the Word but also with the Offices of Christ. Besides considering how many the Assaults are that are made upon our Faith we find all little enough to support it against all the Wiles of the Devil Christians too little concern themselves as I have said with the Offices of Jesus Christ and therefore their Knowledge of him is so little and their Faith in him so weak We are bid to have our Conversation in Heaven and then a Man so hath when he is there in his Spirit by Faith observing how the Lord Jesus doth exercise his Offices there for him Let us often by Faith go to the Bar of God there to hear our Advocate plead our Cause we should often have our Faith to God's Judgment-seat because we are concerned there There we are accused of the Devil there we have our Crimes laid open and there we have our Advocate to plead And this is suggested in the Text for it saith we have an Advocate with the Father Therefore thither our Faith should go for help and relief in the Day of our straits I say we should have our Faith to God's Judgment-Seat and shew it there by the Glass of our Text what Satan is doing against and the Lord Jesus for our Souls we should also shew it how the Lord Jesus carries away every Cause from the Devil and from before the Judgment-Seat to the Comfort of the Children the Joy of Angels and the Shame of the Enemy This would strengthen and support our Faith indeed And would make us more able than for the most part we are to apply the Grace of God to our selves And hereafter to give more strong Repulses to Satan 'T is easie with a Man when he knows that his Advocate has overthrown his Enemy at the King's Bench Bar or Court of common Pleas less to fear him the next time he sees him and more boldly to answer him when he reneweth his Threats upon him Let Faith then be strengthened from its being exercised about the Advocateship of Jesus Christ. Secondly As we should make use of Christ's Advocateship for the strengthening of our Faith so we also should make use thereof to the encouraging of us
open his Mouth for the Dumb to wit for the Sons of Destruction and to plead the Cause of the poor and needy Prov. 31.8 9. If we knew the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ so as the Word reveals it we would believe we would hope and would notwithstanding all Discouragements wait for the Salvation of the Lord. But there are many things that hinder wherefore Faith and Prayer and Perseverance are made difficult things unto us But if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And God shall sight for you and you shall hold your Peace was once a good Word to me when I could not pray Fifthly As we should improve this Doctrine for the Improvement and Encouragement of these Graces So we should improve it to the Driving of Difficulties down before us to the getting of Ground upon the Enemy Resist the Devil drive him back this is it for which thy Lord Jesus is an Advocate with God in Heaven and this is it for the Sake of which thou art made a Believer on Earth 1 Pet. 5.9 Heb. 13.4 wherefore has God put this Sword we have an Advocate into thy Hand but to fight thy way through the World. Fight the good Fight of Faith lay hold on eternal Life And say I will go in the Strength of the Lord God And since I have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous I will not despair tho the Iniquity of mine Heels should compass me about Psal. 49.5 Vse 5. Fifthly Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us with God to plead with him for us against the Devil Let this teach us to stand up to plead for him before Men to plead for him against the Enemies of his Person and Gospel This is but reasonable For if Christ stands up to plead for us why should not we stand up to plead for him He also expecteth this at our Hands saying who will rise up for me against the evil Doers Who will stand up for me against the Workers of Iniquity The Apostle did it and counted himself engaged to do it where he saith he preached the Gospel of God with much Contention 2 Thes. 2.2 Nor is this the Duty of Apostles or Preachers only but every Child of God should earnestly contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jud. 3. And as I said there is Reason why we should do this He standeth for us And if we 1. Consider the Disparity of Persons to plead it will seem far more reasonable He stands up to plead with God we stand up to plead with Men. The Dread of God is great yea greater than the Dread of Men. 2. If we consider the Persons pleaded for He pleads for Sinners for the inconsiderable vile and base We plead for Jesus for the Great Holy and Honourable 'T is an Honour for the Poor to stand up for the Great and Mighty But what Honour is it for the Great to plead for the base Reason therefore requireth that we stand up to plead for him tho there can be but little rendered why he should stand up to plead for us 3. He standeth up to plead for us in the most Holy Place tho we are vile And why should we not stand up for him in this vile World since he is holy 4. He pleads for us though our Cause is bad why should not we plead for him since his Cause is good 5. He pleads for us against fallen Angels why should we not plead for him against sinful Vanities 6. He pleads for us to save our Souls why should not we plead for him to sanctifie his Name 7. He pleads for us before the Holy Angels why should not we plead for him before Princes 8. He is not ashamed of us tho now in Heaven why should we be ashamed of him before this Adulterous and sinful Generation 9. He is unwearied in his pleading for us why should we faint and be dismayed while we plead for him My Brethren is it not reasonable that we should stand up for him in this World Yea is it not Reason that in all things we should study his Exaltation here since he in all things contrives our Honour and Glory in Heaven A Child of God should study in every of his Relations to serve the Lord Christ in this World because Christ by the Execution of every one of his Offices seeks our Promotion hereafter If these be not sufficient Arguments to bow us to yield up our Members our selves our whole selves to God that we may be Servants of Righteousness unto him Yea if by these and such like we are not made willing to stand up for him before Men 't is a Sign that there 's but little if any of the Grace of God in our Hearts Yea further that we should have now at last in Reserve Christ as authorized to be our Advocate to plead for us for this is the lâ—st of his Offices for us while we are here And is to be put in practice for us when there are more than ordinary Occasions This is to 〈…〉 we say at a dead lift Even then 〈…〉 a Christian is taken for a Captive Or when he sinks in the mire where is no standing or when he is cloathed in filthy Garments or when the Devil doth desperately plead against us our evil Deeds or when by our Lives we have made our Salvation questionable and have forfeited our Evidences for Heaven And why then should not we have also in reserve for Christ And when Profession and Confession will not do When Loss of Goods and a Prison will not do When Loss of Country and of Friends will not do Then to bring it in then to bring it in as the Reserve and as that which will do To wit willingly to lay down our Lives for his Name Isa. 24.15 Joh. 21.19 and since he doth his part without grudging for us let us do ours with rejoicing for him Vse 6. Sixthly Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us and that of his meer Grace and Love Then this should teach Christians to be watchful and wary how they sin against God. This Inference seems to run Retrograde but whoso duly considers it will find it fairly fetch'd from the Premises Christianity teaches Ingenuity and aptness to be sensible of Kindnesses and doth instruct us to a lothness to be over-hard upon him from whom we have all a free-cost Shall we sin that Grace 〈◊〉 abound God foâ—bid Shall we do evil 〈◊〉 good may come God forbid Shall we sin 〈◊〉 cause we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid Rom. 6.1 2 15. It is the most disingenious thing in the World not to care how chargeable we are to that Friend that bestows all upon us gratis When Mephibosheth had an Opportunity to be yet more chargeable to David he would not because he had his Life and his All from the meer Grace of the King 2 Sam. 19.24