The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, Illustration – To the reader
John Bunnyon
THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST, AS AN ADVOCATE, Clearly Explained, AND Largely Improved, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. FROM 1 John 2.1. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. By John Bunyan, Author of the Pilgrims Progress.
London, Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry, 1688.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
OF all the Excellent Offices, which God the Father has conferred upon Jesus Christ our Lord, this of his being an Advocate with him for us, is not the least, though to the shame of Saints it may be spoken, the blessed benefits thereof have not with that diligence and fervent desire been enquired after as they ought.
Christ as Sacrifice, Priest, and King, with the glories in, and that flow from him, as such, has, God be thanked, in this our day, been much discovered by our Seers, and as much rejoiced in by those who have believed their words: but as he is an Advocate with the Father, an Advocate for us, I fear the excellency of that doth still too much lie hid. Though, I am verily of opinion, that the People of God in this Age, have as much need of the knowledge thereof (if not more need) than had their Brethren that are gone befo… …em.
T… words (if not more need) perhaps may seem to some to be somewhat out of Joint, but let the Godly-wise consider the Decays that are amongst us, as to the Power of Godliness: And what abundance of foul miscarriages the generality of Professors now stand guilty of; as also how diligent their great Enemy is to accuse them at the Bar of God for them: And I think they will conclude, that in so saying, I, indeed, have said some truth.
Wherefore, when I have thought on this, and have somewhat considered also the transcendent excellency of the Advocateship of this our Lord: And again, that but little of the Glory thereof has by writing been in our day communicated to the Church, I adventured to write what I have seen thereof, and do by what doth follow present it unto her for good.
I count not my self sufficient for this or for any other truth, as it is in Jesus: But yet I say, I have told you somewhat of it, according to the proportion of Faith. And I believe that some will thank God for what I here have said about it; but it will be chiefly those whose Right and Title to the Kingdom of Heaven, and Glory, doth seem to themselves to be called in question by their Enemy, at the Bar of the Judge of all.
These, I say, will read, and be glad to hear that they have an Advocate at Court, that will stand up to plead for them, and that will yet secure to them a Right to the heavenly Kingdom. Wherefore it is more particularly for those that at present, or that hereafter may be in this dreadful plight, that this my Book is now made publick: Because it is, as I have shewed, for such that Jesus Christ is Advocate with the Father.
Of the many and singular advantages therefore that such have by this their Advocate in his Advocating for them, this Book gives some account: As where he pleads, how he pleads, what he pleads, when he pleads, with whom he pleads, for whom he pleads, and how the Enemy is put to shame and silence before their God, and all the holy Angels.
Here is also shewed to those herein concerned, how they indeed may know that Jesus is their Advocate: Yea, and how their matters go before their God, the Judge. And particularly that they shall well come off at last: Yea, though their Cause, as 'tis theirs is such, in Justification of which, themselves don't dare to shew their Heads.
Nor have I left the dejected Souls without Directions how to entertain this Advocate to plead their Cause. Yea, I have also shewen that he will be with case prevailed with to stand up to plead for such, as one would think, the very Heavens would blush to hear them named by him.
Their comfort also is, that he never lost a Cause, nor a Soul, for whom he undertook to be an Advocate with God.
But Reader, I will no longer detain thee from the perusal of the Discourse. Read and think, read and compare what thou readest with the Word of God. If thou findest any benefit by what thou readest, give the Father and his Son the Glory; and also pray for me. If thou findest me short in this, or to exceed in that, impute all such things to my weakness, of which I am alway… full.
Farewel. I am thine to serve thee what I may, JOHN BUNYAN.