The Advocateship of Jesus Christ, Text (3 of 3)

The Advocateship of Jesus Christ · Text (3 of 3)

p. 142Fifthly, 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 f…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 p. 143of 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 p. 144receive again his Inheritance, by the Hand o… his relative Surviver when the Jubilee came so certainly shall he that dieth, and tha… 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 'tis also his Inheritance, and he may, when the limited time that his Brethren had sold their share therein, is out, if he will, restore p. 145it 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 'tis 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 tr…st for my Brethren, that they may have what is allotted them when they are all come to a perfect Man, to the p. 146Measure 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. Y…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 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. p. 147But 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 foul Offence. Evidenc…s 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, …or of Satan) wherefore he taketh away also p. 148so 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 Ch…on. 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 Authentick, and that cannot be gainsaid. Gabriel, saith he, make this Man understand the Vision, Dan. 8.16. And again saith he to another, Run, speak to this young Man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without Walls. Jerusalem had been in Captivity, had lost many Evidences of God's Favour and Love by Reason of her Sin, and her Enemy stept in to augment her Sin and Sorrow. But there was a Man among the Myrtle trees that were in the bottom, that did prevail with her God to say p. 149I am returned to Jerusalem with Mercies: And then commands it to be proclaimed That his Cities through Prosperity should yet be spread abroad, Zech. 1.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Thus by Virtue of our Advocate we are either made to receive our old Evidences for Heaven again, or else are made to understand that they yet are good and stand valid in the Court of Heaven; nor can they be made ineffectual, but shall abide the test at last because our Advocate is also concerned in the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Christians know what it is to lose their Evidences for Heaven, and to receive them again, or to hear that they hold their Title by them: But perhaps they know not how they come at this Privilege. Therefore the Apostle tells them, they have an Advocate. And that by him as Advocate they enjoy all these Advantages, is manifest, because his Advocates Office is appointed for our Help when we sin; that is, commit Sins that are great and heinous. If any Man sin, we have an Advocate.

By him the Justice of God is vindicated, the Law answered, the Threatnings taken off, the Measure of Afflicton that for Sin we undergo, determined; our Titles to eternal Life preserved, and our comfort of them restored, notwithstanding the Wit, and Rage, p. 150and Envy of Hell. So then, Christ gave himself for us, as a Priest; died for us, as a Sacrifice; but pleadeth Justice and Righteousness, in a way of Justice and Righteousness (for such is his Sacrifice) for our Salvation, from the Death that is due to our soul or high Transgressions, as an Advocate.

Thus have I given you (thus far) an Account of the Nature, End, and Necessity of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ: And should now come to the use and Application, only I must first remove an Objection or two.

Obj. But what need all these Offices of Jesus Christ, or what need you trouble us with these nice Distinctions, 'tis enough for us to believe in Christ, in the general, without considering him under this and that Office.

Answ. The Wisdom of God is not to be charged with needless doing, when it giveth to Jesus Christ such Variety of Offices, and calleth him to so many sundry Imployments for us. They are all thought necessary, by Heaven and therefore should not be counted superfluous by Earth. And to put a Question upon thy Objection: What's a Sacrifice, without a Priest; and what's a Priest, without a Sacrifice? And the same I say of his Advocates Office, what's an Advocate without the Exercise of his Office? And what need of an Advocates p. 151Office to be exercised, if Christ …s Sacrifice and Priest, by God, was thought sufficient? Each of these Offices are sufficient for the perfecting of the Work for which they are designed, but they are not all designed for the self same particular thing. Christ as Sacrifice offereth not himself, 'tis Christ as Priest does that: Christ as Priest dieth not for our Sins, 'tis Christ as Sacrifice does so. Again, Christ as a Sacrifice, and a Priest, limits himself to those two Imploies, but as an Advocate, he lances out into a third. And since, these are not confounded in Heaven, nor by the Scriptures, they should not be confounded in our Apprehensions nor accounted useless.

'Tis not therefore enough for us that we exercise our thoughts upon Christ in an undistinct, and general way, but we must learn to know him in all his Offices, and to know the Nature of his Offices also. Our Condition requires this: It requireth it, I say, as we are guilty of Sin, as we have to do with God, and with our Enemy the Devil. As we are guilty of Sin, so we need a Sacrifice; and because we are also Sinners, we need one perfect to present our Sacrifice for us to God: We have need also of him as Priest to present our Persons and Services to God. And since God is just and upon the Judgment-Seat; p. 152and 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 …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 p. 153of 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. 'Tis 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 …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 …lieve me not, Joh. 8.45. Hence believing p. 154is called labouring, Heb. 4.11. and 'tis 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 Fai…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 p. 155thou 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 g…eatly, then know thou, 'twill not be long …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, no… withstanding Satans so charging of them, for them, as he doth.

p. 156He 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! 'Tis 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 'tis 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 ough…? 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 p. 157Faith 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. The…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 'tis 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 p. 156duplicate page p. 157duplicate page p. 158Friends, but of the Fatherless and Widow; not of them that are fat and strong, but of those under sore Afflictions, Prov. 22.2…, 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, Spoke of Cyrus a Type of Christ.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 p. 159him 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 'tis 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.

p. 160Obj. 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 fors…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 al…o p. 161he pleadeth all their Causes: O Lord, …aith the Church, thou hast pleaded the Causes …f my Soul, thou hast redeemed my Life, Lam. ….58. Mark, troubled Christian, thou …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 …aid to thy Charge: And here for thy Encou…agement thou readest that the Church hath …n Advocate that pleadeth the Causes of her …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, …f many bad things: Wherefore he hath pre…ared himself to our Service, and to abide …ith the Father an Advocate for us. As Solo…on saith of a Man of great Wrath, Prov. 19.…9. so it may be said of a Man of great Weak…esses (and the best of Saints are such) he …ust he delivered again, and again. Yea ma…y a time saith David did he deliver them, Psal. …06.44, 45. to wit, more than once and twice; …nd he will do so for thee, if thou entertain … to be thine Advocate. Thou talkest of …aving of him, but then whither wilt thou …? all else are vain things, things that cannot …rofit, 1 Sam. 12.20, 21, 22, 23. and he …ill not forsake his People tho their Land be … with Sin against the holy One of Israel, p. 162Jer. 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 th… 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 muc… God hath called his Son to Offices and Place… of trust, by so much he hath heaped Dignitie… upon him. 'Tis said of Mordecai, That he wa… next to the King Ahasuerus. And what then▪ Why then the Greatness of Mordecai & his hig… 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, a… doth witness both his being set above all, and the many Offices which he executeth for God on behalf of his People: 'Tis counted no little p. 163Addition 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, 'tis 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 p. 164conferred 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. 'Twas 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. 'Tis 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. p. 16520. 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. 'Tis 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; 'twould 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.

p. 166How 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 a…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 p. 167… duly weighed by us, because of that My…ery of God, and of Man's Redemption that … wrapt up therein. For as there was not a …in, nor a loop, nor a tack in the Tabernacle, …ut had in it an use of Instruction to the Chil…ren of Israel; so there is not any part, whe…her more near or more remote to Christ's …uffering and Exaltation, but is, could we …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 …f our Redemption, and a Confirmation of …he Certainty of that Record that God to the World hath given of the Sufficiency that is … his Son to save, Joh. 19.34. 1 Joh. 5.5, …, 7, 8, 9. Gal. 3.17. Rom. 4.9, 10, 11, …2.

When I have considered that the very tim…g of Scripture Expressions, and the Season …f administring of Ordinances, has been argu…entative to the promoting of the Faith, and …ay of Justification by Christ; it has made …e think that both my self and the most of …he People of God, look over the Scriptures …oo slightly, and take too little Notice of that …r of those many Honours that God for our …ood has conferr'd upon Christ. Shall he be cal…ed a King, a Priest, a Prophet, a Sacrifice, an p. 168Altar, a Captain, a Head, a Husband, a Father, a Fountain, a Door, a Rock, a Lyon, … Saviour, &c. and shall we not consider these things? And shall God to all these, add moreover, that he is an Advocate, and shall we take no Notice thereof, or jumble things so together that we lose some of his Titles and Offices, or so be concerned with one, as not to think we have need of the Benefit of the rest? Let's be ashamed thus to do or think and let's give to him that is thus exalted th… Glory due unto his Name.

Vse 2. Secondly, As we should conside… the Titles and Offices of Christ in general So we should consider this of his being an Advocate, in particular: for this is one of th… Reasons which induced the Apostle to presen… him here under that very Notion to us namely that we should have Faith about it and consider of it to our Comfort. If an… Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. An Advocate. A… Advocate as I said is one that hath Power t… plead for another, in this, or that, or an… Court of Judicature. Be much therefore i… the Meditation of Christ as executing of thi… his Office for thee: For many Advantage will come to thee thereby; As,

1. This will give thee to see, that thou a… not forsaken when thou hast sinned; and th… p. 169has not in it a little Relief only, but yieldeth Consolation in time of need.

There is nothing that we are more prone unto than to think we are forsaken when we have sinned, when for this very thing, to wit, to keep us from thinking so, is the Lord Jesus become our Advocate. If any Man sin, we have an Advocate. Christian, thou that hast sinned, and that with the Guilt of thy Sin art driven to the brink of Hell, I bring thee news from God, thou shalt not die but live, for thou hast an Advocate with the Father. Let this therefore be considered by thee because it yieldeth this Fruit.

2. The Study of this Truth will give thee ground to take Courage to contend with the Devil concerning the largeness of Grace, by Faith; since thy Advocate is contending for thee against him at the Bar of God. 'Tis a great Encouragement to a Man to ho…d up his Head in the Country, when he knows he has a special Friend at the Court. Why our Advocate is a Friend at Court, a Friend there ready to give the onset to Satan come he when he will. We have an Advoca…e with the Father. An Advocate, or one to plead against Satan for us.

3. This Consideration will yield Relif when by Satan's …buse of some other of the Offices of Christ, thy Faith is discou…aged and made afraid. p. 170Christ as a Prophet pronounces many a dreadful Sentence against Sin, and Christ as a King is of Power to execute them: And Satan as an Enemy has Subtilty enough to abuse both these to the almost utter Overthrow of the Faith of the Children of God. But what will he do with him as he is an Advocate: Will he urge that he will plead against us? He cannot, he has no such Office. Will he plead against thee with his great Power? No, but he would put Strength into thee, Job 23.3, 4, 5, 6. Wherefore Satan doth all he may to keep thee ignorant of this Office, for he knows, that as Advocate when he is so apprehended, the Saints are greatly relieved by him, even by a believing thought of that Office.

4. This Consideration, or the Consideration of Christ as exercising of this Office, will help thee to put by that vizor wherewith Christ by Satan is misrepresented to thee to the weakning and affrighting of thee. There is nothing more common among Saints, than thus to be wronged by Satan: For as he will labour to fetch Fire out of the Offices of Christ to burn us, so to present him to us with so dreadful and so ireful a Countenance, that a Man in Temptation and under Guilt, shall hardly be able to lift up his Face to God.

But now, to think really that he is my Advocate p. 171this heals all. Put a Vizor upon the Face of a Father, and it may perhaps for a while fright the Child, but let the Father speak, let him speak in his own Fatherly Dialect to the Child, and the Vizor is gone, if not from the Father's Face, yet from the Child's Mind: Yea the Child, notwithstanding that Vizor, will adventure to creep into it's Fathers Bosom. Why thus it is with the Saints when Satan deludes, and abuses them by disfiguring of the Countenance of Christ to their view: Let them but hear their Lord speak in his own natural Dialect, (and then he doth so indeed when we hear him speak as an Advocate) and their Minds are calmed, their Thoughts settled, their Guilt made to vanish, and their Faith to revive.

Indeed the Advocateship of Jesus Christ is not much mentioned in the Word: And because it is no oftner made mention of, therefore, perh…ps it is that some Christians do so lightly pass it over when on the contrary the rarity of the thing should make it the more admirable. And perhaps it is therefore so little made mention of in the Bible, because it should not by the common sort be abused: But is as it were privately dropt in a corner to be found by them that are f…r finding Relief for their Soul by a dilige…t p. 172search of the Scriptures. For Christ in this Office of Advocateship is only designed for the Child of God. The World hath nothing therewith to do. Methinks that which alone is proper to Saints, and that which by God is peculiarly designed for them, they should be mightily taken withal. The peculiar Treasure of Kings; the peculiar Privilege of Saints! Oh! This should be affecting to us. Why Christ as an Advocate is such. Remember me, O Lord, said the Psalmist, with the Favour that thou bearest to thy People: O visit me with thy Salvation: That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy Nation, that I may glory with thine Inheritance, Psal. 106.4, 5. The Psalmist you see here is crying out for a share in, and the Knowledge of the peculiar Treasure of Saints: And this of Christ as Advocate is such, wherefore study it, and prize it so much the more. This Advocate is ours.

1. Study it with reference to its Peculiarity. It is for the Children and no body else. For the Children little and great. This is Childrens Bread, this is a mess for Benjamin: This is to be eaten in the holy Place. Children use to make much of that which by way of speciality is by their Relations bestowed on them. And Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid it me, that I should give t…e Inheritance p. 173of my Father to thee, 1 Kin. 21 3. no truly will I not. Why so? because it was my Father's Gift, not in common to all, but to me in special.

Secondly, Study this Office in the Nature of it. For therein lies the Excellency of any thing, even in the Nature of it. Wrong thoughts of this or that, abuses it, and takes its natural Glory from it, take heed therefore of misapprehending, while thou art seeking to apprehend Christ as thy Advocate. Men judge of Christ's Offices, while they are at too great a distance from them, but Let them come near says God, then let them speak, Isa. 41.1. or as Elihu said to his Friends (when he had seen them judge amiss,) Let us chuse to us Judgment, let us know among our selves what is good, Job 34.4. So say I, study to know, rightly to know the Advocate-Office of Jesus Christ. It is one of the easiest things in the World to miss of the Nature, while we speak of the Name and Offices of Jesus Christ. Wherefore look to it that thou study the Nature of the Office of his Advocateship: Of his Avocateship for, for so you ought to consider it, there is an Advocate for, not against the Children of God, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Thirdly, Study this Office with reference to its efficacy, and prevalency; Job says, After p. 172duplicate page p. 173duplicate page p. 174my Words they spake not again, Job 29.22. And when Christ stands up to plead, all must keep silence before him. True, Satan had the first Word, but Christ the last in the Business of Joshua, and such a last, as brought the poor Man off well, tho cloathed with filthy Garments, Zech. 3. Satan must be speechless after a Plea of our Advocate how rampant soever he is afore; or as Elihu has it, He was amazed, he answered no more, he left off speaking. Shall he that speaks in Righteousness give place, and he who has nothing but Envy and Deceit be admitted to stand his Ground? Behold the Angels cover their Faces when they speak of his Glory: How then shall not Satan bend before him? In the Days of his Humiliation he made him cringe and creep, how much more then now he is exalted to Glory, to glory to be an Advocate, an Advocate for his People? If any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Fourthly, Study The Faithfulness of Ch…ist in his Execution of this Office: For he will not fail nor forsake them that have entertained him for their Advocate. He will thorowly plead their Cause, Jer. 50.34. Faithful and true, is one of his Titles, and you shall faithfully be served by him. You may boldly commit your Cause unto him, nor shall the badness p. 175of it, make him fail or discourage him in his work, for it is not the badness of a Cause that can hinder him from prevailing, because he hath wherewith to answer for all thy Sins, and a new Law to plead by, through which he will make thee a Conqueror. He is also for sticking to a Man to the End if he once engages for him, Joh. 13.1, 2. He will threaten, and love; he will chastise, and love; he will kill, and love; and thou shalt find it so And he will make this appear at the last, and Satan knows it is so now, for he finds the Power of his Repulses while he pleadeth for us at the Bar against him. And all this is in very Faithfulness.

Fifthly, Study also the need that thou has… of a Share in the Execution of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ. Christians find that they have need of washing in the Blood of Christ and that they have need of being cloathed with the Righteousness of Christ: They also find that they have need that Christ shoul… make Intercession for them and that by hi… (of Necessity) they must approach God, an… present their Prayers and Services to him But they do not so well see that they nee… that Christ should also be their Advocat… And the Reason thereof is this: They forge… that their Adversary makes it his Business t… accuse them before the Throne of God; the p. 176consider not the long Scrowls, and many Crimes wherewith he chargeth them in the Presence of the Angels of God : I say this is the Cause that the Advocateship of Christ is so little considered in the Churches. Yea many that have been relieved by that Office of his, have not understood what thereby he has done for them.

But perhaps this is to be kept from many till they come to behold his Face, and until all things shall be revealed, that Christ might have Glory given him in the next World for doing of that for them, which they so little thought of in this. But do not thou be content with this Ignorance, because the Knowledge of his advocating of it for thee, will yield thee present Relief. Study therefore thine own Weakness, the Holiness of the Judge, the badness of thy Cause, the Subtilty, Malice, and Rage of thine Enemy, and be assured that when-ever thou sinnest, by and by thou art for it accused before God at his Judgment-Seat. These things will as it were by way of Necessity instil into thy Heart the need that thou hast of an Advocate, and will make thee look, as to the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ to justifie thee, so to Christ as an Advocate to plead thy Cause, as did holy Job in his Distresses, Job 16.21. 1 Vse 3. Thirdly, Is Christ Jesus not only p. 177a Priest of, and a King over, but an Advocate for his People? Let this make us stand and wonder, and be amazed at his Humiliation and Condescention. We read of his Humiliation on Earth when he put himself into our Flesh, took upon him our Sins: And made them as his own unto Condemnation and Death. And to be an Advocate, is an Office reproachful to the malicious, if any Man be such an one for those that are base and unworthy. Yea, and the higher and more honourable the Person is that pleads for such, the more he humbles himself. The Word doth often, in effect, account him, now in Heaven as a Servant for us, and Acts of Service are Acts of Condescention. And I am sure some Acts of Service have more of that in them than some. And I think, when all things are considered, that Christ neither doth, nor can do any thing for us there, of a more condescending Nature than to become our Advocate. True, he glories in it but that doth not shew that the work is excellent in it self. It is also one of his Titles of Honour. But that is to shew how highly God esteems of, and dignifies all his Acts, and tho this shall tend at last to the greatning of his Honour and Glory in his Kingdom, yet the Work it self is amazingly mean.

I speak after the manner of Men: It is accounted so in this World: How ignoble and p. 176duplicate page p. 177duplicate page p. 178unrespectful doth a Man make himself, specially to his Enemy, when he undertaketh to plead a bad Cause, if it also happeneth to be the Cause of the base and unworthy. And I am sure we are every one so in our selves, for whom he is become an Advocate with the Father. True, we are made worthy in him, but that's no thanks to us; as to our selves, and our Cause, both are yet bad enough. And let us now leave off disputing, and stand amazed at his Condescention. He humbleth himself to behold things that are in Heaven, Psal. 113.4, 5, 6. and Men of old did use to wonder to think that God should so much stoop, as to open his Eyes to look upon Man, or once so much as to mind him, Job 14.1, 2, 3. Psal. 144.3, 4. Job 7.17. Psal. 8.4. And if these be Acts that bespeak a Condescension, what will you count of Christ's standing up as an Advocate to plead the Cause of his People? Must not that be much more so accounted. Oh the Condescention of Christ in Heaven! While Cavillers quarrel at such kind of Language, let the Saints stay themselves and wonder at it, and be so much the more affected with his Grace. The Persons are base, the Crimes are base with which the Persons are charged, wherefore one would think, that has but the Reason to think, that it is a great Condescention of p. 179Christ now in Heaven to take upon him to be an Advocate for such a People: Specially if you consider the openness of this Work of Christ, for this thing is not done in a Corner.

This is done in open Court.

First, with an holy and just God: for he is the Judge of all, and his Eyes are purer than to behold Iniquity, yea his very Essence, and Presence is a consuming Fire, yet before, and with this God, and that for such a People, Jesus Christ the King will be an Advocate. For one mean Man to be an Advocate for the base, with one that is not considerable, is not so much: But for Christ to be an Advocate for the base, and for the base too under the basest Consideration, this is to be wondred at. When Bathsheba the Queen, became an Advocate for Adonijah unto King Solomon, you see how he flounced at her, for that his Cause was bad, And why, saith he, dost thou ask, Abishai, for Ad nijah: 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 p. 180oh! 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. Majesty, 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 p. 181made 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 sl…in? 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 p. 182is 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, 'tis 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 s…lves 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 p. 183of 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 p. 184our 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. 'Tis easie with a Man, when he knows that his Advocate has ove…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 p. 185our Faith is, so is our Prayer, to wit, cold, weak and doubtful if our Faith be so. When …aith cannot apprehend that we have access …o the Father by Christ, or that we have an Advocate when charged before God for our …ins by the Devil, then we flag and faint in …ur Prayer: But when we begin to take Cou…age to believe, and then we do so when most …learly we apprehend Christ, then we get up …n Prayer: And according as a Man appre…ends Christ in his Undertakings, and Offices, …o he will wrestle with and supplicate God. …s suppose a Man believes that Christ died …or his Sins, why then he will plead that in …rayer with God. Suppose also that a Man …nderstands that Christ rose again for his …ustification, why then he will also plead that … Prayer: But if he knows no further, no …rther will he go: But when he shall know …at there is for him also an Advocate with …e Father, and that that Advocate is Jesus …hrist: And when the Glory of this Office of …hrist shall shine in the Face of this Man's …ul; Oh then he takes Courage to pray …ith that Courage he had not before, …a then is his Faith so supported and made …rong that his Prayer is more fervent and …portuning abundance.

So that I say the Knowledge of the Ad…cateship of Christ is very useful to strengthen p. 186then our Graces, and as of Graces in genera… 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 thi… Doctrine to strenghthen Faith and Prayer So we should make use of it to keep us humbl… For the more Offices Christ executeth for u… with the Father, the greater Sign that we a… bad: And the more we see our badness th… more humble should we be. Christ gave fo… us the Price of Blood, but that is not … Christ as a Captain has conquered Death an… the Grave for us, but that is not all. Chri… as a Priest intercedes for us in Heaven, … that is not all: Sin is still in us, and with u… and mixes it self with what-ever we do whether what we do be religious or civi… For not only our Prayers and our Sermo… our Hearings, and Preaching and so; … our Houses, our Shops, our Trades and … Beds are all polluted with Sin. Nor do… the Devil, our Night and Day Adversa… forbear to tell our bad Deeds to our Fath… urging that we might forever be disinherit… 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 … p. 187would 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?

'Tis 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 …hings so, but that another, their betters, must come and mend their Work. I say is it …ot more meet that those that are such, …hould look, and speak, and act as such that …eclare their Sense of their Vnhandiness, and …heir Shame, and the like for their Unprofi…ableness? Yea is it not meet that to every …ne they should confess what sorry ones …hey are? I am sure it should be thus with …hristians, and God is angry when it is other…ise. Nor doth it become these helpless p. 188ones 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, 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 tha… the Sense of their own Infirmities (as ha… been hinted at all along); consequently, n… thing can more encourage them to go on than to think that Christ is an Advocate fo… them. The Services also that Christ ha… for us to do in this World, are full of Difficulty, and so apt discourage: But, whe… a Christian shall come to understand that (i… we do what we can) 'tis not a failing eithe… in Matter or Manner that shall render it wholly unserviceable, or give the Devil that A… vantage as, to plead thereby to prevail fo… our Condemnation and Rejection; but tha… Christ by being our Advocate saves us fro… our falling short, and also from the Rage … Hell: This will encourage us to hold o… though we do but hobble in all our goings, an… fumble in all our doings. For we have Chri… for an Advocate in case we sin in the Manag… ment p. 189of 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 p. 190of 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 p. 191Earth, 1 Pet. 5.9. Heb. 12.4. wherefore …as God put this Sword [we have an Advo…ate] into thy Hand, but to fight thy way …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

p. 1921. 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. 'Tis an Honour for the Poor to stand up for the Great and Mighty: But what Honour is it for the Great to plead for t…e base? Reason therefore requireth that we stand up to plead for him, tho there can be but little rendere… why he should stand up to plead for us.

3. He standeth up to plead for us in th… most Holy Place, tho we are vile: An… why should we not stand up for him in thi… vile World, since he is holy?

4. He pleads for us though our Cause i… 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 befor… Princes?

p. 1938. 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; 'tis 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 p. 194more 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 Inge…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 p. 195all 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 'twas 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 'tis 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 p. 196need 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, 'tis 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 p. 197negligent, 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 God…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. 'Twould 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 p. 198Life is hid with Christ in God. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth; Fornication, Vncleanness, inordinate Affection, Evil Co…cupiscence, and Covetousness which is Idolatry, for which things sake the Wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience.

I say 'twould be more comely for Christians to say, we will not sin, because God will pardon, we will not commit Iniquity, 'cause Christ will advocate for us: I write unto you that you sin not, tho if any Man sins we have an Advocate with God the Father. Why the brute will conclude, I will not do so 'cause my Master will beat me: I will do thus, for then my Master will love me: And Christians should be above Men, brutish Men.

And for a Conclusion as to this, let me present you with three Considerations.

1. Know, that it is the Nature of Grace, to draw holy Arguments to move to goodness of Life, from the Love and Goodness of of God: But not thence to be remiss, 1 Cor. 5.14.

2 Know therefore that they have no Grace that find not these Effects of the Discoveries of the Love and Goodness of God.

3. Know also that among all the Swarms of Professors that from Age to Age make mention of the Name of Christ, they p. 199only 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 p. 200we 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 …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 …e forthwith conceiveth Comfort. For an Advocate is to plead for me according as has been shewed afore, that p. 201I may be delivered from the Wrath and Accusation of my Adversary, and still be kept safe under Grace.

Fur…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 p. 202nigh 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 …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. 'Tis 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 p. 203on him as Waters, a Tempest stealeth him away in the Night, the East Wind carrieth him away, and he departeth, and as a Storm hurleth him out of his Place. For God shall cast upon him and not spare: he would fain flee out of his Hand. Men shall clap their Hands at him and shall hiss him out of his Place, Job 27.20, 21, 22, 23. And what shall this Man do? Can he over-stand the Charge, the Accusation, the Sentence, and Condemnation? No, he has none to plead his Cause. I remember that somewhere I have read, as I think, concerning one, who when he was carrying upon Mens Shoulders to the Grave, cried out as he lay upon the Bier, I am accused before the just Judgment of God; and a while after, I am condemned before the just Judgment of God. Nor was this Man but strict as to the Religion that was then on Foot in the World, but all the Religion of the World amounts to no more than nothing, I mean as to eternal Salvation, if Men be denyed an Advocate to plead their Cause with God. Nor can any Advocate, save Jesus Christ the righteous, avail any thing at all: Because there is none appointed, but him to that Work, and therefore not to be admitted to enter a Plea for their Client at the Bar of God.

Obj. But some may say there is God's Grace, the Promise, Christ's Blood, and his second Part of Priesthood now in Heaven: Can none of these p. 204severally, 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 … lump of Dust and ashes as thou art. And I say again, be confounded to think that Sin should be a thing so horrible, of Power to pollute, to captivate and detain us from p. 205God, that without all this ado (I would speak with Reverence of God and his Wisdom) we cannot be delivered from the everlasting Destruction that it hath brought upon on the Children of Men.

But I say what is this to them that are not admitted to a Privilege in the Advocates Office of Christ? Whether he is an Advocate or no the Case to them is the same. True, Christ as a Saviour is not divided: He that hath him not in all, shall have him in none at all of his Offices in a saving manner. Therefore he for whom he is not an Advocate, he is nothing, as to eternal Life.

Indeed Christ by some of his Offices is concerned for the Elect, before by some of them he is. But such shall have the Blessing of them all before they come to Glory. Nor hath a Man ground to say Christ is here or there mine, before he hath ground to say he also is mine Advocate. Tho that Office of his as has been already shewed stands in the last place and comes in as a Reserve. But can any imagine that Christ will pray for them as Priest, for whom he will not plead as Advocate? Or that he will speak for them, to God for whom he will not plead against the Devil? No, no; they are his own that he loveth to the end, Joh. 13. to the end of their Lives, to the end of their Sins, to the p. 206end of their Temptations, to the end of their Fears and of the Exercise of the Rage and Malice of Satan against them. To the end may also be understood, even until he had given them the Profit and Benefit of all his Offices in their due Exercise and Administration: But I say, what is all this to them that have him not for their Advocate?

You may remember that I have already told you that there are several who have not the Lord Jesus for their Advocate. To wit, those that are still in their Sins pursuing of their Lusts, those that are ashamed of him before Men, and those that are never otherwise but lukewarm in their Profession: And let us now for a Conclusion make further enquiry into this matter.

Is it likely that those should have the Lord Jesus for their Advocate to plead their Cause, who despise and reject his Person, his Word and Ways? Or those either who a…e so far off from Sense of and Shame for Sin, that it is the only thing they hug and embrace? True he pleadeth the Cause of his People, both with the Father and against the Devil, and all the World besides; but open Profaneness, Shame of good, and without Heart or Warmth in Religion are no Characters of his People.

It is irrational to think that Christ is an p. 207Advocate for, or that he pleadeth the Cause of such, who in the self same Hour and before his Enemies are throwing dirt in his Face, by their profane Mouths and unsanctified Lives and Conversations.

If he pleads as an Advocate for any, he must plead against Satan for them, and so consequently must have some special bottom to ground his Plea upon: I say a bottom better than that upon which the carnal Man stands. Which bottom is, either some special Relation that this Man stands in to God, or some special Law he hath Privilege by: That he may have some ground for an Appeal if need be, to the Justice and Righteousness of God: But none of these things belong to them that are dead in Trespasses and Sins. They stand in no special Relation to God; they are not privileged by the Law of Grace.

Obj. But doth not Christ as Advocate plead for his Elect, tho not called as yet?

Answ. He died …or all his Elect, he prayeth for all his Elect as a Priest: But as an Advocate he pleadeth only for the Children, the called only. Satan objecteth not against God's Election, for he knows it not: But be objecteth against the called, to wit, whether he be truly godly or no, Job 1.9, 10. Zech. 3. or whether they ought not to die for their Transgressions. And for these things he has p. 208some colour to frame an Accusation against us: (And now 'tis time enough for Christ to stand up to plead,) I say for these things he has some Colour to frame a Plea against us, for there is Sin and a Law of Works, and a Judge too that has not respect of Persons. Now to overthrow this Plea of Satan is Jesus Christ our Advocate: Yea to overthrow it by pleading Law and Justice, and this must be done with respect to the Children only. My little Children, I write unto you that ye sin not: And if any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righ…eous.

FINIS.