The Epiftle to the Reader.

Right and Title to the Kingdom of Heaven and G rv dorh ftem to thcmfclves to be callM in queAion their t^ncmvj at the Barof/ibf Judge of all.

There, I fliy, will read and be glad "to hear that th have iXwAdvocnte at Court that will fiand up to pic Icr til cm, and that will yet fccure to. them a Riglit the Heavenly Kingdom. Wheref-re it is n.ore pai culurly r->r thofe that at preftntjor that hereafter a be in this dreadful plight, that this my Book is n< j made publick; becaufe it is, as I have fhewM^for fu j that Jcfiis Chrifi is Advocate ii'iih the Father, j Of the many and (ingular Advantages thcrefi

that fuch have by rhis ihtir Advoratc^ in his advo ting for them, this Book gives forae account *, as iih he plead:-, lovj he pleads, <ivhat he pleads, tvaheK plciids, ^:i'h avlom he pleads, for iihoni he pica and how rlic Enemy is put to Shame and Silence icrc tiicir CoJ. and all tiie Holy Angels.

Here is aifo ihew'd to thofe herein concern'd, h ihcy inGc;.d may know that Jcfus is their Advocn yea, and Jiow their Macrers eo before thpir God, Jndge i and particularly, that they fhall come well at lat% yea^.tho* their Caufe (as 'tis theirs) fuch, in Juftification of which themfelvts do not d \ to fhcw tlieir Heads. ^ . "^

J . Kor have I left the dejeftcd Souls without DtVc ons how to entertain this Advocate to plead tl: Caufe : Yea, I have alfo (hewn that he will be w \ tiiem named by him. Their Comfort alfo is, that never loft a Caufe, nor a Soul, for whom he uiic • tcok to be an Advocate with God.

But, Reader, I will no longer detain thee from'

pcrufal of the Difcourfe : Read and think, read i

J^compare what thou rcad'il with the Word of God.

* thou fiad7l any Benefit by what thou read*fl,givc

FAiHer and his Son the 0\oTY^aud alfo pray for ;

If thou find'Cx mc Ihovt \n iWi^ ot t<i'<i^«^^*v^ \\

impute ah fvch thini^s to mv wtft.V.xxt^S^^'^^^^'^^^

ways fiill. FarcwcLV ^yf? thirte hftt-^'^ ♦^^".^iVl

THE

Contents of this Trea tife.

THE Apojtles.divwe PoVuy to hegef n dueRe/furd to his d:i;lr.e DoBtine of Eternal Lifg, I**gC I IhtApoftle's ExfUcation of this Exprej^ov-^ viz» The Blood of Jcfas Chiift cleanfeth from all •Sin. z I The Apoftles Exhorinthn to Separaticr, from 5/Jf, as An EffeSt of a good Caufe, viz^ ForgivcntTs. z

Ibe Apofiles Addition to prevent MifMfidevfiandingj wz. Wc liave an Ativocatc with the Father. 5 7<a:o great 1 ruths in the Text, f. A Sup^ofition^ viz. Thai Men in Ck/ifi may fitu z» An kxpr^ffinn by way of Confolation^ in Cafe of Sin^ viz* Wc have an Advocate with the Father. j

An Encfuiry into both thffs, 4

%mtn J hint's fuppos^d in the Office of Advocate. $ /. That God is on the Throne of yudgment* ibiJ. 2. That Saints are concern d at that Bar* ^ibid.

}. That Chriftians have an Accuftr. 6

4. That finning Saints dare >iot appear at this Bar \ i§ plead their otun Caufe* 7

I, ^ That Chrifiians are apt to forget their Advocate, I and remember their Judge. • 8

i| fi. To remember our Advocate // the vjay to Cup fort Faith and Hope. 9

7. That if our Advocate plead our Caufe (tho* that be never fo black) he is able to bring us off. 10

The Apofile triumphs in Chrifl on this account, 11 An Exhortation to the difficult Task of Bel/rving. ib, Chrijt*s Adtocatjhijt declares ms forry Creatures* IZ The Method ohferv d in the enfuint^ Vifourfe* I ^

Firft, To fpcak of thts Advocate'.*: Office. ibid.

I. By fouchi}7g 0*? the Nature of this Office, ibid. t. By treatir^ of Ihe Order or Place of it, ibi4

Chrifiy ai Advocate, pleads a bad Caufe, i^

A frood Caufe *iviU plead for it fdf, ibid.

'A if/'^/.'t'rt P/rffare of a Preacher, v^

stbaJ Man w.y h/fvs d good Ca\^fc, <CnA a ^wi ' MAn M.ry have a bad Caufe

The Contents.

Secondly, How Chrift manages this Office. ' I. ALONE, ntt ij "n; Proxy or Deputy. «■ Cbriji pleadi M God'i Bar ; tie Caufe cStli

remcvJ into amther Court' In phaMng Chrifi ohfirvti ihefi Ruks i i. H«,

eth ivh'tt it ctntrg'd on mi, Z. Ht pttaii hi.

Gocdnefs far m. H* payith all cur I>ehi dovin. AH Montht Jlopped wb* waiitd not have the i

deliliird. Tht Sinner ii dtliver'dt Gcut contented, Sat-ti

founded, and Chrifi applauded. Haw Chrifi tnnnanet this Ofice tf an Advoci

guinji the Adverfary, i. By pleading the Fli

cf his Father in his Merit]. Satan rebiit'd ftr finding fanlt thereioilh. i. He pleaJi God'i Intirefi in hit People. Hunan / MiOjap in being engag'd againfi the I

Quein: NB. It Jienis a weak Plea, becaufe of Man's JJnvi

nefi ; bnl 'lit afirong Plea, bttaufe ef GttCt

thintfs. The EltH bound te God by afeveiifeld Cord. Chrifi plead) bit tvin Iitterefi in them. A Par.illel between Cattle m a Pound and CI

BWK Sheep. ■'

Six Vfeighty Rrafani la this Plea. I. 7hey art Cir'ifi'i Kvn. X. O'lty lofi him dear. J. He bath mad* ihem «*«■ It himfilf. They fire bis Sieu/e, his Lovtt bis Z)Mw .• The

Members of hii Body. A Man cannot /pare a Bat:d, a Foot, « Finger. 2feT can Cbriji /fare any Member.

4. Chrifi pleadf bit Right in Heawn, t* givt . whom he •wilt

Clrifiwll; Satan vuill rot: Chrifi't Willfiand

5. Cirijipleads Salaits Er.wity againfi the Gtdlj '-'■ - ttt Ca*i/e tftht Crimti ht iKt»fti Kt ^.

m

The Con^efltl

iSiniUe of a weak-fitted Child. ^i

; t'Chrifi can plead the Sinj ef Saifrti for theifii for ' ^hhb 'SaUin -u'oult^ave *em damnd. 4 j

' ^iht CBfiJiderutions to clear that, 45

■ Sete» moreCotifideraito7Js to the fame end. 47 ' Mtn care mofi for Children that are ir^rm, ib.

A Father offended hath *been' of peas'd by a Brother turning Ad'oocate. . \ / .4^

■ ^d Head, to fhcw -wha'Haye Chrift^r an Advocate;

wherein are three *I1iiitgs contained. ib,

1. Tbii Advocated Office di§ers from a PrieflV. ib. f I. Ti&e^ differ in Name. ■ ij,;

i. Thej difftf in Nature, fQ

). 1 hty iifer as to their Extent. jb,

^. They differ as to the Terfons with whppt they

have to do {^\

J. The J differ as to the Matter dhoui iVhUh they ari

imfUyd, ij>;

6. Chrifias Pricft precedes \ Chrlfi as Advocate/i/r-

ceeds. ib.

II. How far this Office of an Advocate is .extended; ' infii>e 'FarticuJiirs. ^t

III. Who have Chriji for an kdvocatc. ' . 5A I. In genefkV^ all ndoped'Children. ^j I. In particular \ to fbe*vD rf Ohrifi be o«r Advocate, ib.

I. If one has entertain d Chriji to plead.a Castfe, 54

II. If one has revealed a Caufe to Chrlfi. 55 . An Example oj one who did Jo in his Ch/et. ^^ lit order Ho tfcii, we jnufl hfow Chrlfi (i.) to he A

Friend \ (i.) tQ he .Faithfttl .57

III. If one has committed, a Caufe to Ohrifi \ his Im^ patience till it is deter mind. 5S

IV. [f one wait till Things come to a Legal IJfue \ what it is thus to wait. 59

i OrdinajKes and Mlnifters compard to a Poftkoufc and J Carrierf of Letters. ^\

jTbe Cyie99t*j corfjj^ortable Conchtfion rtboMt Vis K^n^ cifc a/fi/ CsLufe. ^

fiirz/.v DouLting and Lefpondlvg.

: I

The ContentSi

The Author s refly tOy and comply with tie Cll

Covclufion, ; and hit Counfel in the Cafe* 4th Heaif, to ihcw the Clicni-s Privileges by the

nefit of this OfHcc of 4^vocate. Priv. I. The hdyoctite pleads a Price paid. Of a rich Brother and his poor Brethren, Of the ill-naturd Aian^ their Enemy. Farther clear d by three Confiderations* Priv. 2,.' Ihe Client's AdyoctLit f leads far him/elf i

both concern d in one hpttom* X. He pleadt the Trice of his own Blood* i.. He plead i it for his own. A Simile of a lame Horfe. Of Aden going to Law for a thing of little worth. Ob. I am but one. Anfw. Chrijt cannot lofe one* JPriv. 3. Satan's Plea groundltfs. . Satan mufl he caft over the Bar. A Simile of a WidffW owing a Sum of Money. Of an Old Law nultd ^ a New. Satan pleads by the Old JLawy Chrift by the New. Priv. 4. // confecfuential : The Client s Accufer n

needs be overthrown. •,

The Client's folemn Appeal to the Almighty. In cafe the Accufed hath no Advocatey Satan j

vails. Priv. 5. The Advocate hath Pity for his Client, i

Indignation againft the Accufer. Men chkfe an Advocate who have a parrel agai . their Adverfnry.

Priv. 6. The fudge counts the Accufer his "Enemy, To procure the Judge's Son to plead, is defirahle. Priv. T.The Client's Advocate hath good Courage. '.

will fct his Face like a Flint. tie pleads bcfm Gody and all the Hofi cf Heaven. He is the old Frievd of Publicans and Sinners. Heplekds aCaufe had enoufth to makt Angels Blufi. tfOt/e-'unll doy and hear, ayid /ujfcT wiurb. Triv. Z. The Advocate Is aZu;^)* readj in Court.

I

The Contents.

«

He appears no^ in the Frefence iff God. S8

; Friv. 9. The Advocate will not be btihed ib.

> Priv. 10. The Advocate Is j^ndge in the Client*s

I Caufe, 90

Jofeph'i Exaltatien was Ifraerj Advantage. 91

Ms Care of bis Peoples Welfare. 9^

Friv. 11. The Advocate hath all that is requijite for

an Advocate to have. ib.

\ Priv. u. To fliew the Ncceflity of an Advocate, 95

., I. To vindicate GOD's Jnj}ice againft the Cavils of

j Sutan ib.

Ooi is pleased with his own way of faving us 94

IL There is Law to be objeBed againfi us 96

; Chfifi appeals to the Law ■ 97

(thrift not ajhamed to own the way of Salvatlouy 99

- 111. Many thingi give our Accujer advantage^ rel*'

ting both to the Promi/es and our Livesy ' ib.

IV. To plead our AffliBions for Sin 101

A Simile of a Man indiBed^ at the Affizes ib.

'Mufion to-k\A{!iiiSi\ and &i\mti' l«5

iJ. V. To plead the Efficacy of our old Titles to <Uir In"

A heritance (if quefiionable) becaufe of new Sinsyi06

i\ Saints do not fell their Inheritance by Sin 109

..! VI. Oj»f Evidences are off out of our hands^ and we

recover fiem-by our Advocate 116

-. Oh]. What needs all thefe Diflindions \ 11 x

1: AnC God is not to be charged with Fotiy 1 15

: Qod*s People are bajfTd by the Devils for want of a

:.; difiinB knowledge ofChrifi in all his Offices^ 114

} Ihvid's ftray^e Gift to God it

Obj, tf Chrift be m^ Advocate OAce« he will always

bt troubled with me . ' X19

And Hje is an Advocate to the utmoft i&

Vfe I. To condder the Dignity GOD has put upon

Chrift by Offices, Places of Truft, &>c. lil

XJfe ^.' To condder this Office of an Advocate in

partJctthr, b^ which thefe Aivatxa^ti conie^ \\^

/. Tiffie VM0 ij hot forfaken f^ Sin ^'^

J. 7a faki^ cesiraga and contend witb tbe lBwV>\

>•

* I

"W^

The Contents.

3' ^' affords Relief for dijc^ttag ^Faithy. 4. U -puts off the Vizer StUah. ftUi on Cbrifi, A Simiht^A ViZit^r on the Eue of:a Fathe.r-Vfe 3. Tfo wonder at Chrift's Condcfcenfion ii

an AdvocAC& fof the bafe ^id unwor^hy^^ CJirift aBs In open Court i uvfith m hoiy and a

God.

2. Before aU the Heavenly liofi

3. 7 be Client is ujiconcjepn d jor ivhom thf ^dv. is eng^gd

4. The Ma^ffi) pf him *ti ho is art AdvocMe Vfe 4. TKe iJo^in. o£ uf« to Arci\g.chen Grace, I.". To encourage Truxytt

X. To keep huftible-

}. To encourage FexfjsvanuincB

Jife 5. If Chnft pkad? foe us- before Go(i>we ft

plead for him b^fora Men. Nine Co7\Jideration^^t^ that eri4- .» ' Tlje lajt Referve fan a dtad lift. Vfe 6. To be wary of Sift againfi GOA. Chrifiianity teaches Ingenuity Ckriil is our Advocate on rreecofi A comely concliffion on a Br-^te^ TirttConMeraiiom added' ' '•

y/e 7. *Ine Strong are to tell tic Weak of ao

vocate to plead their Caufe A Word in feafin is good Vfe 8, All is nothing to them that hove noi

plead their Caiiie An htfiance of God's terrible, judgment ■ Obj., There's Gracc> th^ Prpn^i&jthe Bloods of C , cannot thcfc fave except Chi'ift be Advocate Anfw. Grace^ and Ad^jocaie^ and all little enoui Chrifi np Advecate for fucb as have no fenfe of

Jbamo for. Sin ' ^L I& not Chiffki aa /^dvocato for. lu^Xle^

Jfjof. He dfd And J^f4tyet}yUit. «U Vm 'EWH.,**^

"^^"^ v^ * ^^^fi*

I Johnii. I.

^And if Any Manfm^ rve have an Advo€A:\* rvith the Father^ "Jefu^ Chrifi the Righ-^ teous.

THat^hc Afjoftle might obtain due Rcgarc^ from choie to whom he wrote, touchir.i; the things about which he wrote;, he cells them. That he received not his-Meflage to them atfecofld or third hand, but was himielf an Eye aod Ear-witnefs thereof. That which was from thefieginningyWhich we have feen with our Eyes, . ; which we have looked upon, and our Hands have ihandlcd, of the Word of Life, (for the Life wav<s manifeft, and weluve feen it, and bear witneft^ and ihew unto you that Eternal Life which wz^ v^ith the Father, and was manifeft unto us.) chac ^hich we have (een and heard, declare we unto JOD. Having thus told them of bis -Ground for Wlut he faid, he proceeds to tell them alfo i\\e. Mattcrconrain*d in his Errand, to wit, Thar ho itrought them News of Eternal Life, as freely of-f«r'd in the Word of the Gofpel to them, or rarhec liat the Gofpel which they had received would Certainly uftier them in at tbe<Gatcs of the King-lorn of Heaven, were their recc^ption of it fincere tad in truth: For, fiuth he, then the Blood ofjrfus Chrift thf !)t>n o/GoJcieanJethyoufrdthi aU Sii»* Havj'og thus far cold th€mYi\[2X'WK%\i\i^\\%yA^ r fees upon an Explication of viba^ \\(; Vi^.\ ^i^^

B ^^

2 The JdvocateJhJf

efpecially torching our being cleansMfrd Not^ faith ht^from a being of Sin ; For il fay fo, we [hould deceive our felves, at prove that we have no Truth of God in by cleanfingy I mean a being deliver^ Sin, fo as chac none, ac all (hall have the c over^'ou, to bring you down toHelJ, foi the fake of the Blood of Chrift all Trefp forgiven you.

This done, be exhorts them to fhun o: and not to confenr to the motions, entic alurements thereof, faying, I write unto^ you fin not, Lee not Forgivenefs have fc EfTecSt upon you, as to caufe you to be r Chriftian Duties, or to tempt you to giv( Evil. Shall we fin becaufe we are forgi Khali wc not much matter what manner < we live, becaufe we are fet free from the Sin and Death ? > God forbid; let Grace i another Leffon, and lay other Obligatio our Spirits. My iittleChi/drcnfyiih he,/Ar J write untoyeu^thatyoujin not. What thin] tidings of Pardon and SaIvation,and of th nefs to God,to which you are brought by cious Bloodlof Chrift. Now left alfo by Exhonation ht Ihould yet be mifunderft adds, And if *ny manfin^we iMve an Advoc tlje Father^ Jefus Chrift the ri^hteom. I fay derh this to prevent defponding in thofe w fenfible Chriftians that are fo qurck of ifeeJ of difcerning the Corruptions of their N for rhefe cry out continually. That there thing char they do, bvitit w atxct\dcd. wii - nfcakneiTts : Whcrefcte '\n vVitN^'w^^ ireCsnted with two grcat.Tt\x\.V^«.

V Firft, with a Suppofition that Men in Chrift, J while in this Woria, may fin. If any man fin ; I any man, none are excluded; for all, or any one ^ of the all of them that Chrift hath redeemed and

1 forgiven, are incident to Sin. By may I mean noc a Toleration, but a Poflibility; for there is not at mgfi, not ajuft man ufon the earthy that doethgood .\ tndpnneth not^ Ecclef. 7. 20. i Kin. 8. 46!

Secondly, The other thing with which we are :: pTtfcnted is, an Advocate ; If any manfin^xve have .. dH Advocate with the Father, Jefw Chrift the rigk-] Uouf.

Now there lieih in thcfc two truths two things' ;4 10 be enquired into, as,

^ I. What the Apoftle (hould here mean by Sin." 2. And alfo what he here doth mean by an Advocate I If any manfin^ we have an Adzocate.

There is Ground to enquire after the firft of thcfe, becaufe tho* here he faith, they that fin fcavc an Advocate, yet in the very next Chanter i he faith, fuch are of the Devil, have not teen ^^ God, neither know him, nor are of him. ,M There is Ground alfo to enquire after the foi j^ cond,becaufe an Advocate is fupposM in the Text

) to be of ufe to them that fin. If any man fin, we htve an Advocate, ,j I. For the firft cfthefe, to wit, what the Apoftle (hould here mean by Sin, // any man fin.

I anfwer. Since there is a difference in the Per-fonj, there muft be a difference in the Sin. That there is a difference in the Perfons, is fhew'd before; one is call'd a Child of God, the other is faid to be of the wicked One. Their Sins differ Mifn in their degree at leaft, for t\o CV\\\<i ol C*^ &5 fo rAar degree as to make W\ttv^e\i >itvc«^^^

of Forgivcr4efs; for he that is born of God keefttt himfelf\ and that mckedonc toueheth him »0/,Chap 5. 17, 1.8. Hence the Apoftle fays, there is a fit unto Deaths Mat. 1*2. 32. which is the Sinfroa which he that is born of God it kept.

The Sins therefore are thus diftinguifti'd : Thi §ins of the People of God'are faid to be Sins tha Men c6mmit, the others are counted thofe whici are the Sins of Devils.

Firft, The Sins of God's People are faid to hi Sins which Men commit, and for which thcj have an Advocate^ tho' they who fin after tb ^^amplc of (he wicked one have none.

iVben a Man or a Woman^ faith Mofes^ /hal commit a Sin which Men commit^ they (hall cenfej, their fin J md an Atonement fl^aU be made for them Numb. 5. 5, 6,7. Mark, it is when they, commii a Sin which Men commit. Or as Hofea has it when they trM/grefs the Commandment isl^e Adam, liofi 6. 7. Now thefe are the Sins under confide-ration by the Apoftle, and to.deliver us froa which we have 4n advocate with the Father. .B\\\ for «hc Sins meotiorv'd in the third Cb;^pter, finc< fbe Perfons fiqainggohcre under another Cha< laiSl.er, thej alfo.muft ^ pfanother ftamp, to wit a making head againft the Perfon, Merits and Grace ot Jefus Chrift.: thefe.ai'C the Sins of Devils in ihc World ; and far. thefe there is no rc-niiflion : Thefe they Alfo. that are of the wicked one commit, and therefore jfin after the fimili^ ludc of Satan,and fofalliAto theCond^mnatioi: of the Devil.

2t//r, But what is it for Jefus ;to bean Advocati for thefe '? If any nun fin, we Mve an Advocate^ An 44Jvocate is one whopleadech for another ai

ny fiar, or before any Gourc of Judicature, but f this more in its place. So then we have in the Text a Cbriftian, as fuppofed, committing Sin, nd a declaration of an Advocate prepared to lead for him : If any tnanjin^ we have an Advo-tn wtb the Father. And this leads me firft to nqCiire into what by thefe words the A poAle muft if neceflity prefuppofe. For making ule here of .Vic Similitude or Office of an jidvocate, thereby TO (hew the Prefervation of a finning Chriftian^ He mufl:,

I, Suppofe that God^ as Judge, is novp upon the Tbrene of his Judgment j for an Advocate is to ^\cad at a Bar, before a Court of Judicature. Thus if is among Men ; and forafmuch as our Lord Je-fos is (aid to be an Advocate with the Father, it is dear, that there is a Throne of Judgment a!fo : This the Prophet Mieah affirms, faying, ]//7n? the herd fitting upon a Throne, and att the Hoji of Heaven ft anding hy him on the right h(ind, and on the left, I Kjn» 2Z. 19, 20. Sitting upon a Throne for Judgment, for from the Lord, as then fictii?<T upon that Throne,proceededthe Sentence againlt King j^i?4^,That heOiouId go and fall at F{amah-gilea4. And he did go, and did fall there, as the award, or fruit of that Judgment. That's the firft.

X. The Text alfo fuppofeth that the Saints as well as Sinners are concerned at that Bar, for the Apoftle faith plainly, that there we have an Advocate, And the Saints are concerned at that Bar,be-caufe they tranfgrefs as wellasothers,andbecaufc the Law is againft the Sin of Saincs, as well aS a-gainft the Sins of other Men. If thft Si\tv\% n^^x^ 'jot capable of committing SUi, ^YiajftcvttiiL va^^ssNfi ^ejriavc ofzn Advocate ? i Ck. x\» ^> \> S.

B2 ^^'

r Advocatejljip I Sam. II. 13, 14. Yea, iho" ibey did ihcy were by Chrift fo fct free from th itiacit cculd by iiotneansiakecognizan lins, what need would they haveuf an A none at ail. If thtre be cwency placesw arc Aliizes kcpL in ihis Land, yet if I h Ufd n(^Law, wha: need have I of an A ipcciklJy if the Judge be juft, and kno uigeLher, asihe God of Heaven does, a Judge that's jujt, and here's an Adimci .Uvecats for the Children, an Adwcatc {for an Adt/ccaie, as fuch, is not of ufe. a Bar to plead) ihereffire here is an Ori lo a La<« broken by the Sainis as well That's the frcond tbinf.

3. As the Text Tuppofeih that there i anti Ci imti afSainn, lo it fuppofeth th an Accujer j one rbai will carefully fiat Faults of ^W Men, and that will plci this Bar againlt thetn. Hence wc read tuferofthc Brethren, that acci(/ff/j(i'WM tlay and night, Ksv^ H. 10, 11, 11. for . not only tempt the godly man to fin j b jTcvailM with him, and made him gui away to the Court, to God the Judge ( there addrefTcs himfelf to accufe that m lay to his charge the heinoufners of 1: pleading againft him the Law that heh ihe light againft which he did ic, and th now, for the relief and fuppprt of fuch pie, the Apoftle by the Text prefencs 1 an Advaeat€ ; ibat is, with one 10 pie while Saun pleads a'sainft'em ; will ;pleadsfor>fUillon,jWhile$anoby acci j»/'w^7ud,gpKitt,«id-V«8*aJW« a^oti

^ Jcfus Chrift-.

. If AH) manfin;»e have 4n Advocate with the Father

\jeftts Chrift the righteons. That's the third thing.

I 4^ As the Apoftle fuppofeth a Judge, Crimes,

j and on Accufer, fo he alfo fuppoleth, that thofe

hcrem COaceni'd> to wit, the finning ChiUren^nei-

ther can nor dare attempt to appear at this Bar

tbem/ilves,t4>plead their ovm Cauje before this judge

'- and a^atnft this accufer : for if they could oc durft

f do ibis, < what need chey have an advocate ? for

I an Advocate is of ufe to them whofe caufe them-

\ I'elvcs aeicher c^n nor dare appear to piead. Thus

7«^ pray'd > for an Advocate to piead his Caufe

; vtixh God, Job 16. zo, 21. and David cries out.

Enter not into judgment with thy fervant, O God, for

in thjf fight (bail no man living bejuftified^ PC 143

J, 1. 3. Wherefore 'tis evident that Saints neither

I can, not dare venture to plead their caufe. Alas,

; the Judge is the Almighty and Eternal God; the

I Law broken is the holy and perfect Rule of Gt?//,

: ia it felf a confuming Fire ; the Sin is fo odious,

and a ibing fo abominable, that 'tis enough to

' ixuke all the Angels blu(h to hear it but fo much

2S once mentioned in fo holy a place as that is,

where this great God doth fit ro judge. This Sin

uo^ bangs about the neck of him that hath com-

' mitced ic, yea, it covereth him as doth a mantle.

^ die Adverfary is bold, cunning, and audacious,

andean word a thoufand of us into an utter fi-

lence in lefsthanhalf a quarter of an hour. What

then Oiould the Sinner (it he could come there) do

ac this Bar to plead ? Nothing, nothing for bis

own advantage. But now comes in his Mercy, he

has am Advocate toplead his Caufe, If anymanfin,

XH have an Advocate with the F^ither, Jefus Chrift

the riglsteom, Thai's khe fourth thing: But again^

B 4 % A\«.

5. The Apoftlc alfo fuppofeth by the Text,t there is an aptuefiinCbriftians^vphen theyhave^ T.edf to forget that they have an Advocate voith yather ; wherefore this is written to put then remembrance, If any man /inflct'himrcmttxA )vc' hare an Advocate. We can think of all ot ihings well enough, namely, that God is a

J udge, that the Law is perfedHy hoIy,that m) IS an horrible and abominable thing,- and th; 'JL\X\ cerrainly thereof accused before God^by Sai Thcfe things, I fay, we readily think of,; h.rgct them nor. Our Confcience puts us in m nf ihcfe, our Guilt piits us in mind of thefe, . Devil puts us in mind of thefe, and our Rca md Senfe holds thelcnowledge and remcmbra i«f ihcfe clofc to us jail that we forget is, thai ijavc an Advocate j znAdvocate with the Fatl that is, one that is appointed to take in han( cpen Court, before all the Angels of Heaven, Caufe, and to plead it by fuchLaw and Ar mcntsas will.certainly fetch me off, thoM cloath'd with filthy,Garments5 but this, 1 ! we are apt to forget, as Jet, when he faid, /A.!/ on: TTfi^ht fiead for a man with God at f leads for his Neighbour^ Job J 6.21. Such a Sob had, but he had almoft at this time forgoi as he feems to intimate alfo, where he wilheth a bayfman that might lay his Hand uf on them b Chap. 9. 33. But our Mercy is, we have on* plead our Caufe, an Advocate with the Father^ ftis Cbrift tloe righteow, who will not fufFer Soul to be fpilt and'(poil'd before the Thn but will furcly plead our Caufei

6. Another thing that the Apoftle would I1 175 Jram from the words i* thU, That to rtm

L

n] and to believe that Jefm Cbrift is an Aivocaee

ft us ^Hfhen we have finned, is the next way tefuf-

ert andjlrengthen our Faith and H^fe. Faich and

lope are very apt to faint when onr Sins in their

^ilc do return upon us ^ nor is there any more

MTOper way'to relieve our Souls, dian to under**

ibind that the Son of God is onr Advopate in

HLeaven* True, Chrift died for our Sins as aSa«

orifice, and as aPrieft he fprilnkleth wich bis Blood

die Mercy-feat; ay, but here is one that has fin*

ned grievoufly^fo grievoufly that bis fins are come

up before God, yea, are at bis Bar pleaded againft

him by the Accufer of the Brethren, by the Ene-

Uky ofihe-Godly : What (hall he do now ? Why

ler hhn believe in Chrift/ Believe, that*s true ;

Bar how now muft' h^ conceive in his Mind m

Chrift^fbr the encouraging him fo to do ? Whyv

let him call to mind that Jefus Chrift is an Advo^

cote with the Father^ and as fuch he meeteth the

Accufer at the Bar of God, pleads for this Matx

that has finned agaihft this Accuier/and prevail-

eih for ever'againft him. Here now, tho'Satan

be turn'd Lawyer, tho' he accufeth," yea, tho' his

Charge againft us is true, fforfuppofe that we

hive finned) yet our Advocate is with the- Father,

*iefm Cbrift the righteous.

Thus is Faith encourag'd, thus is'Hope ftreng-then'd, thus is the Spirit of the finking Chriftian revived, and made to wait for a good deliverance from a bad Caufe and a cunning Adverfary, c(pe-^ cialJy if you ccnfider,

7. That the Apoftle doth alfo further fuppofe by the Texr, thatjcfus Chrift^ iti 4ivcc.itc, \< Vvsi. m'// bur plead e/^r Caufe^ let that be ncucr Jo UacV 0:1 ^/f fo ir/ng m eff^ -even before Gecf J ^udyncn

B-5 i

JO TJje Jdvoextejbip

/m(, te vurjtyt ^inJthe emftmidmg^our Ad-S^ry i For when he laitb, we h»vf an Advteate Ipealcs nochinj '\{ be means not ihus; but he d mean [hus, he miift mean chus, becaufe he ft vihhere to comfort and fupport the Fallen; anj ttttn finned} ve h»ve *n Jldvocate. But w of [hat. if yet be be unable to fetch us oif w charg'd for Sin at the Bar, and Ixforc the [ of a rigljtepu* Judge ?

But he is able co do this, the Apoftle fays. in that he fuppofes a Man has liuned, as any t among the Godly ever did j for fo we may dcrftaJnd it, and if he giveth us not lenve to derftand it fo, he faith nothing to the purj neither j for "iwill be objeifted by feme, But Jic fetch me off, tho' I have done as D*vid, at lomon, as PettT, or the like } It tnuft be anfwc Tc! ; the opennels of the term ^nj man^ the definitenets of the word [[Sin]] iloihsacurally low us CO take him in the largeft feale ^ belidi brings in this Saying as the chief, moftapt,; titteft to relieve one cruflit down to Death andt by the pmlt of Sin and a wounded Confcienc

Further, meihlnks by ihefe words tte Apo fcems to triumph in his Chrift, faying. My I ihren, 1 would have yeu ftudy to Ik holy ;bu your Adveifary the Devil lliould get theadv lage of yoB, and befmcar you with the ffth Sin, you have yet, befides all that you have he already, nn Advocate with the F.'Jther, Jtfus Ch lie ti^httotisi who is, as to his Perfon, in intci with God's Wifdcm and Worth, able to bi jou otF to the comfort of your Souls.

Let mc therefore for a Conclufibn, ai to t give JOU in Bxboiwionio beUeve, to faope :

eCt, cliat tbo' you have hnned (tor now i ipcaK he fallen Sainc) ihac ]efus Chhft will make a d end with thee ^ truft, I fay, in him, and he I bring it to pafs. I know I put thee upon a 1 and di£5cuic task, for believing and expedl-gooii, when my guilty Confcience doth no-g buc clog, burden, and terrifie me with the ice of God, the greatnefs of my Sins, and cbac tiing Torments is hard and fwearing Work : it maft be^the Text calls for it, thy Cafe calls it, and thou muft do it if thou wouldft glori* Shrift ; and this is the way to haften the liTue hy Caufe in hand,for believing daunts the De-pleafeth Chrift, and will help thee befone-id to (ing that Song of the ChuLch, laying, O 'di, ibou hd/h plea^ei the Cdufes of my Soul, fhoti }rcJeem'dmjf Lt'fe, Lam. 3. 33, 36, 57, 3S, 39. 1, believe, and hear thy pleading Lord fay to r. Thus faith the Lord, the Lord and thy God, ^ pleadeth the Caufe of his People, Behold, I have m out oftbj Hand the Cup of trembling,even the \s of the cup of my fury, thou (halt no more dt inl^ Z^in, Ifa. 31.10, 21, 22. I am not here di£-rfing of the fweecnefs of .Chrift "s Nature, hm be excellency of his Offices, and of his Office Ldvocatefhip in particular, which as a Lawyer bis Client, he is to execute in the prefcncc of 1 for us. Love may be where there is no Of-» and fo where no Power is to do us good ; now^ when Love and Office ihall meet, they I furely both combine in Chrift to do the fal-Chriftian^W. But of his Love we have trea-elfewhcrejWc will here difcourfe of the Office his Loving One : And for thy further Ififor-:ioa let me tell thce^ Thac God \J\^ Ftsj-K^^^

counteth thac thou will be, when cotnpar'd w his Lav), bur Zfer me all thy days ; yea, the poftlc tells thee fo, in that he Iaiih> there is Advocate provided for thee. WhmaFiiherp vides Cruiclies for his Child, he doch as good fay, I count thac my Child will be yet infin and when God fhall provide an Advocate,he d( as gopa as (ay. My People are fiibjedl to Infin ties: Do not therefore cbintr of thy felf abc what by plain Texts and fair Inferences dra* from Chriit's Offices thou art bound to thini "What doth it befpeak concerning thee, Tl Clfriji it alipdp a Priefl in Heaven, and there e-lives tiir.i^tf Innrce^Kn for thee, Heb.7. 24, 1 this, that thou.art at tht b^ in thy felf,- yea, a in thy bcft exercifing of all thy Graces coo, bu poor,pitiful,forry, linfulMan; a Man chat woi (when yet moft holy) be cenainly caft away, ( HOC thy High-prieft take away for ■ thee the I quity of thy holy things. The Age we Hve ii a wanton Age, ihe Godly are not fo humble a lowandbafe-in their own Eyes as they fliou iho" their daily Experience calls for it,'andi friefthood of Jefus Chrift too.

But above alt, the Advocatefliip of Jefus Chi di.clarcs us to be fotry Creatufes, for that Ofl iJocs a^ it were prcdi«, thac fome time or 01! Via llial) bafcly fall, and by-falling- be undone tht Lord [tffus ftand not up 10 plead. And- as fticws this concerning m^, fo ic fricws concern! OciI.tti:it he will not lightly orcafil)"!©!;; his Pi lilc:, He has provided well for us. Blond to w: lis in, a Priclt tg pray for tis, that we may made to pcrfcvcre; and in cafe we foully faH, ^^iTr:>ri- in iiV.-idnur Cai;fr. aod ro recover-

from vtnder^and out of all the danger that by Sin and Satan we at any time may be brought into.

But having thus briefly pafsM thro' that in the Text which I think the Apoftle muft neceflarily prefuppofe, I (hall now endeavour to enter into die Bowels of it, and fee what in a more panicu^' :l lar manner fhall be foutid therein. And for my more profitable doing of this Work, I (hall chufe to obierve this Method in my Difcourfe:

Firft, I (hall (hew you more particularly of this Advocate's Office, or what and wherein Chrift*s Office as Advocate doth* lie. ' Secondly, After that, I (hall alfb (hew you how ]e(b»Chrift doth manage this Office of an Advocate.

Thirdly, 1 (hall alfo then feew^ou who they are that have Jefus Chrift for their Advocate:-

Fourthly, I (hall alio (hew you what excellent Privileges they have, who have Jefus Chrift for their Advocate. * . •

Fifthly, and to (ilence Cavillers, I (haH alio (hew the necefBty of this Office of Jefiw Chrift. :ei Sixthty, I (hall come to anfwer i!ome Oh\c&i^ i ons; and laftly, to the Ufe and Application.'^

c:l T6 begin with ihe-fifft of thefe, namely, tG "I ihew fou more parricuhirly of Chrift's Officre as i"! an Advocate, and wherrin'it lieth j the which .:' I (hall do thcfe three waysr il I. Touch again upon the:Nature of this Officer, and then,

2. Treat of the Order and Place th;.t it hath among the reft of his Offices. An.'

3. Treat of the Occaficnof ihi 2: non oi riiis Office;

Firft, To touch upon the Nature of this Of ficc. 'Tis that which imppwereth a Man tc plead for a Man, or cneMdn to plead for another not in common Di£x>udeSy and upon commor Occafions, as any.&iajimay do, butataBar, oi before a Court of Judicature,where a Man is ac-cua'd or impeach'd by his Enemy : I fay, this Advocate's Office is fuch^ both here and in the Kiiig-dom of Heaven.' An Advocate is as one of oui Attorneys, at leaft in the general, who pleads according to Law and Tuftice for one or other thai is in Trouble by realon of fome Mifcarriage, oi of the naughty Temper of fome that are about him, who trouble, and vex, and labour to brinj bim in danger of the Law. This is the nature of this Office, as I faid, on Earth ^ and this is the Office that Chrift executes in Heaven. Wherefore he faith, Ifanj tnanjia, we have an AJvscate, one to ftand up for him, and to plead for his Deliverance beifore thcBsif of God, Joel ^.z. Jfa, 66.16. Es^el{f3^%i. Jer. x.

For tho'. in fome places of Scripture Chrift is "faid to plead for hi with Men, and that by terri« ble Arguments, as by Fire, and Sword, and Famine, and Peftilence, yet this is intended by this Text; for the Apoftle here laith, he is an /ft/-mcate with thj Father, or before the Father, .to plead for chofe that there (or that to the Father's Face) fhall be accufed for theirTranfgreffions: I) an} ntanjiny we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefui ChriJ} the righteous. So then this is the hn-

Eloy of Jefus Chrift, as he is fopus an Advocate, [e has undertaken to ftand up for his People ai God's Bar, aiid before that great Court there to ftJead by the Law and Tuftice of Heaven, for then

1

I their Deliverance, when for their Faulcs they-I are acciu'd^ indi(^ed, or impeached by their Ad-» I verlary.

a. And now to treat of the Order or Place

^ that this Office of Chrift hath among the reft of

his Offices, which he doch execute for us while

we are here in a ftate of Imperfedion: And I

think it is an Office that is to come behind, as a

^ferve, or for an Help at laft, when all other

'j Means ihall feem to fail. Men do not ufe to go

' to Law upon every Occafion; or if they do, the

I Vifdom of the Judge, the Jury, and the Court

'\ will not admit that every Brangle and fooliflv

V Qparrel (hall come before them, but an Advo*

• ute doth then come into Place, and then to the

'. exercife of his Office, when a Caufe'is counted

worthy to be taken notice of by the Judge, and

by the Court. Wherefore he, I fay, comes in the

laft place, as a Referve or Help at l^ft to plead ;

and by pleading to fet that right by Law whicb

would ocherwi^ have caufed an Inlet to more

Doubts and further Dangers.

Chrift as Pricft, doth always Works of Service for us, becaufe incur moft fpiritual things there may Faults and Spots be found, and thefe hc'ta-keth away of courfe by ihe Exercife of that 0& fice ; for be always wears that Phrc of Gold up^ on his. Forehead before the Father whereon is written, Hormejito the Lord, But now, belidcs thefe common Infirmities, there are Faults that are highly j^rcfs and /aw/, that oft are found in the Skirts of the Children of God : Now thefe are-they that Satan takes hold on, thcfc are ihcy that Satan draws tip a Charge againft us for ; and to fave us from ihefe it is that the Lord Jcfus is

made an Advocate. When Jofhua was clbat with filthy Garments^ Satan ftood at his ri Hand to reilft him i then the Angel of the ( venant,the Lord Jcfus, pleaded for his help,,:^^ By all which it appears, that this Office cor behind, is provided as a Refcrve, that we n ha¥e help at a pinch, and then be lifted out,wl we fink in mire, where there is no ftanding.

This is 7et further hinted at by the fev< Pbftures that Chrift is faid to be in, as he exe feth his Prieftly and Advocate^s Office. A-s a ?r htfitSf as an Advocate heftands^ I(a. 9. 19. 1 hord ftands up when he pleads. His fitting is m conftant, and of courfe; (Sit thou, &c.) but flsinding it occafional, when Jo/hua is indide or when Hell and Earnh is broken loo(b aga fats' Servant Stephen. For as Jofhua vfas accu by the Devil, and as then the Angel'of the L ftood by^, fo when Stephen was accufed by R on Earth, and that-Charge feconded by the fx Angels before the Face of God, 'tis faid the L Jcfus ftood on the Right Hand of God, AHsj, to wit, to plead, for fo I take it, becaufe ftand is his Pofture as an Advocate^ Heb. i o. Not i Prieft, for as a Prieft he muft fit down, but ftamdeih as an Advocate, as has been fhew'd af Wherefore;

Secondly, The Occafion of his exercifinf this Office of Advocate, is, as has been hinted ready, when a Child of God (hall be found g ty before God of fon^re heinous Sin, of fome g ' vous thing in his Life and Converfation. Fo for thofe Infirmiii'S that attend the bcft in t moft

noft i\ iriri^a! Sacfxr.' S; if r. Chiy of God v

uifrv of no, .iiouKiiici of \\'o.. ch:v ai^e (-f cc»

ht o

ei I!

of Jefus Chriff. 17

purgM, through the nhich Incenfe chat is always miz*d with thofe Sacrifices in the Golden Cenfer that is in the Hand of Chrift i and fo he is kept clean^and counted upright, notwithftanding thofe Infirmities : And therefore you (ball find, thtr AOtwithftanding thofe common Faults, the ChiU iren of God are counted good and ufright in Con^ mfatfon^ and not charg'd as Offenders. haviJ, fiuih the Text, did that which wm right in the ejer if the Lord^and turned not afidefirom any thing thnP-k commanded him, all the days of his Life,fave only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, i Kin. 15. 5, t\ But was David in a ft rid): fenfe without fault in is\ dl things elfc ? No verily : But that was foul 30 a higher degree than the reft, and- thercforer diere God fets a bloc; ay, and doubclefs, for char ke was accus'd by Satan before the Throne of €od ; for here is Adultery, and Murder, and Hy-pocrifie in David'^s doings; here is notorious mat^ ter, a great Sin, and fo a great Ground for Satarr to draw up an Indidlment againft the King, and a thundering one to be fure (hall be preferred a-g gainfl him. This is the time then for Ghrift ta a I ftand up to plead ^ for now there is room for el fach a Queflion, Can David's Sim ftand with-r.: Grace ? Or, is it poffible that a Man that has done I as he has, fhould yet be found a Saint, and fo itr f afaved ftate? Or, can God repute him fo/ and*" - yet be Holy and Juft ? Or, can the Merits of the -! lord Jefus reach, according to the Law of Hca-'I ven, a Man in this condition ? Here is a cafe du^ 5 j fcow, here's a Man whofe Salvation, by his foul • j Offences, is made doubtful ^ now we muft to '■ I Law and Judgment, wherefore now let Chrift I ftand up<o plead, f^faV; now wa&Da^oif^C^S^

f ^^

y

i

a n

T. tl

dubioas, (P/«/.si.)he wasa&aidchuGod wduK caft bim away, and ibe Devil boped he would and 10 [bat end cbarg'd him before God's Face, i perhaps he migbi gn Sentence of Damnation t< paft upon bis Soul: But ibis was David's Mercy tie baa an Advocate to plead bis Caufe, by who£ Wifdotn and SIuII in matters of Law and Judg oicnt, be was brought off thofe heavy Charges from tbofe grofs Sins, and deJiver'd from cha £ternal Condemnation that by the Law of Sii and Death was due thereto.

This is then the occaltoo that Chrift takeih a plead, as Advocate, for the Salvation of his Peo pie, to wit, the Caufe ; he plcadeth the Caufe C bis People. Not every Caufe, hmfuch and/ueh ■ Caufe i the Caufe that is very baj, and by ih-which they are involv'd not only in Guilt am Sbatne, but alfo in danger of Death and Hell, {ay, the Caufe is bad, if the Text be trne, if Si can make it bad, yea, if Sin it felf be bad. If an M»» /in, »» liJve an Advotatt -. An Advocate I plead for him ; far hiiin as confidct'd ^k«/;^, an' fo Confeqaently as confider'd in a fcrfa C^-iiii"!!. 'TIS true, we muft diitinguilli between the Ptrfe and the Sin \ and Chrift pleads for the Perfin. not the Sin ; but yet he cannot be concern' with [he Perfin, but he muit be with the Sin, fc ihp' \\x9erfm and the Sin may be diftioguifb'c yet they cannot be fcparaced. He muft plead the not for a Perftn only, but for a g_uilt;f Ptrfin, for Pe.fan under tbe.worft of Circumltances: Ifai Mtnjin, ne have an Advoeale for him, as fo coi fider'd. .

When a Irian's Caufe is geed, it will {iifficien-fypkad fos it, felf, yea, and foE us Mafter too

icially when it is made anpear lb to be before A and righteous Judge. Here therefore needs idvocate^ the Judge himfelf will pronounce

righteom. This is evidently feen in Job^ Thou eft me agdinft him (this faid God to Satan) to ^oy him without a caufe^ Job z. ^. Thus far s Caufe vfsis gooJ, wherefore he did not need idvocate, his Caufe pleaded for it felf and for )wner alfo ; but if ic was to plead jW Cau^ 'or which Chrift is appointed Advocate, then ^paftle ihould have written thus: Ifdnj Man ighteout^ wc have an Advocate with the Father^ :ed I never heard but one in all my Lik preaeb \ this Text, and he, when he came to handle Cau(e for which he was to plead, pretended aft bego^d, and therefore faid to the People^ that jour Caufe begood^ elfe Chrift vriU not un* ake it. But when I heard it, Lord, thought I^. is be true, what (hall I do, and what will be* e of all this People, yea, and of this Preacher

Befides, I faw that by the Text the AfoJUe »ofeth another Caufe, a Caufe bad, exceeding , if Sin can make it fo. (And this was one fe why I undertook this Work.) ^hen we fpeak oiz Caufe, we fpeak not of a m (imply as fo confider'd; for, as I faid be* , Perfon and Caufe muft be diftingui(h'd; nor the Perfon make the Caufe good, but as he re« tes his Actions by ^he Word of Gpdi If thci^ Dd, a righteous Man doth what the Law conns, that thing is bad ; and if he be indidred b doing, he is indiAed for a bad Caufe, and hat will be his Advocate muft be concern'd id about a bad Matter; and how he'll bring Zlient off, r/iere«id6th lie vheilAN&WN*

\

^o The AdvocAtejhip

I know that a bad Man may have a good Cauf^' depending before the Judge, and fo z\(ogcod Metf-have, Job 31. but then they are bold in their owtf Caufe, and fear not to make mention of it, an(^ in Chrift to plead their Innocency before the Goi of Heaven, as well as before Men, P/i/.? 1.3,4,5^ 2 Cor^ .1. 23. GaL i. 20. PhiL i. 8. But we have in the Text a Caufe that all Men are afraid off a Caufe that the Apoftle concludes fo bad, that none butjefus Chrift himfelf can fave a Chriftiaa from it. It is. not onlyjinful, but Sin itfelf. If Any Man fin, we have an Advocate mth the Father.

Wherefore there is in this p^ace handled by the Apoftle one of the greateft Myfterics under Hea-,ven, to wit. That an innocent and- holy Jefuf :Aould take in hand to plead for one before a juifc and righteous God, that has defilM himfelf wicii Sin; yea, th^t he (hould take in hand to plead for fttch a one againft tb^ fallen Angels, and thac he ftbuld alfb by his Plea efTedkitally^refcuevand Brmg thena off-froiirthe Crimes and Curfe whereof they were verily guilty, by the Verdi(ft of the Law and Approbation of the Judge.

This, I fay, is a great Myftery, and deferves t^

be pry'd into by all the Godly, both becaufc much

of the Wifdom of Heaven is difcoverM in it, and

becaufe the beft Saint is, or may be concern*el

with it. Nor muft we by any means let thisTrutia

;y be loft, becaufe it is the Truth, the Text has dc*-

' ciar*d it fo; and to fay otherwife is to belye the

. Word of God, to thwart the Apoftle, to footh up

Hypocrites, to rob Chriftians of theit Privilege,

and to take the Glory from the Head of Jems

Ghrift, Luke 18. 11, 12.

Tb€ freil Szinis are moft Cenfiblc of their Sins,

ft apt to make Mount dins of their MoltbiSsl Ifoy as has been already hinted, doth la** eacjy to prevail with them to fin/ and to I their God againft them,7«^ 2.9. by plea-lat is true, or by furmifing evilly of 'em, rnd they may be accus'd by him. Great is ice towards them, great is his Diligepce in

their Deftrudion, wherefore greatly doth e to fift, to try, and winnow them, if per-: may work in their Flcih to anfwer his ; that is, to break otit in finful A(^s, that

have by Law to accufe them to their God then Wherefore for their fakes this Text

that thty may fee, that when they have

they have an Advocate with the Father^ 'hrift the righteouK

thus have I (bew'd you the Nature, the » and Occafion of this Ofiice of our blelTed , .„ Lord Jefus. I come now to (hew

'^i!^ JT' yo^ *^w y^y*^ ^^^fi ^^^'^ manaj^e

^dvocaui ^** ^"^ ^-^^"^ ''■^^'' Advocate/^r us. And that I may do this to

dificatioB, I (hall chufe this Method for the

g of it.

\y Shew you how he manages this Ofiice

bis Father.

ondly, I fhall (hew you how he manages it

him, again(t our Adverfary. w he manages this his Office of Advocate bis Father.

t. He doch it by himfelf, by no other, ^s ;y under him, no Angely no Saint^ no l4^ork^ ace here, but Jefus,and Jefus only* .This the

implies, H^e have an Aflvi^cate fpeakingxdf Miofif, one alone, wiihouiau TCWi^ot ^xv

Inferior. We have but onty and he is Jefus C

Nor is it for Chrift^s honour^ nor for the k of the Law, or of the Juftice of God, that but Jefus Qirift (hould be an Advocate for fling Sainc Bcfides, to aflert the contrary, doth ic but leflfen Sin, and make the Advocat <»f Jefus Chrift fuperfluous ? It would leflei Ihould it be rem or'd by a Saint or Angel would make the Advocateihip of Jefus Chri pcrfluous, yea, needlefs, (hould it be pofTible Sin could be removed from us by either Sai Aneel. _ ^

Again, if God (hould admit of more Advo than one, and yet make mention of never ar but Jefus Chrift ; or if John (hould allow ther, and yet fpeak nothing but of Jefus c yea, that an Advocate under that Title (hou! mention^ but once,but once only in all the ef Gody and yet that divers (hould be admi ftands neither with the Wifdom or Love of < nor with the Faithfulnefs of the' Apoftle. Saints have but owe Advocate,if they will ufe or imjprove^ their Faith in that Office for i help, 10 ; if not, they muft take what follow

This I thought good to hint ar, becauft times are corruptj undbecnufe Ignorance and St fiition alvfays v^aits for a countenance with us, thefe things have a natural tendency to da all truth, efpccially this, which bringeth to ] Chrift fo much Glory, and yieldeth to rtie g fo much Help and Relief.

iSecotidly,As Jefus Chnft alone is Advoca God's 6ar,and thatalone, is that before whi< pleads, for God is Judge himfelf, Deut: 32. ^^fA 13,^3' Nor can the Caule which now

to plead be removed into any other Court, either by Appeals or otherwife.

Could Satan Tensove us from Heaven to ano-th'e?Court, he would certainly }dttoo hard for us, becaufe there we (honid want our Jefus^ our Ad-vocate, CO plead our Caufe. Indeed fomecimes he impleads us before Men,and they are glad, of the Occafion, for they and he are often one, but then we have Leave toremoveourCaufe,and to pray fora Tryal in the higheft Court, faying, Let my Sentence cmne forth from thy prefince, and let thine eyes behold the tilings that are e^u4l,?[si\. 17. %, This wicked World doth fencence us for our {Qod deedSy but how then would they fentence Bt for our bad anes ? But we will never appeal iiroin Heaven to Earth for ri^ht; for here we •have no Advocate, our Advocate is with the Fa^ ftbfr, Je/tis Chrsfi the righteous. ,

Thirdly, As hepleadcth by himfelf alone, and H9 where el/ehvii in the Court of Heaven with the Father, f^as he pleadeth with the Father for OS, he obferveth this Rule :

t. He granreth and confefTeth whatever can rightly be charged upon us; yet fo, as that he taketh ihc ^hole charge upon himfelf, acknowledging the Crimes to be his own.

O God^ fays he, thou k^novfft my foolijknefs^ and w> 5iiii. :vygui/tinefs is not hid from tbee^ Pfa.69,5, And this he muft do, or elfe he can do nothing: If he hides the Sin, or leflencth it, he is faulty; if he leaves it ftiil upon us, we die : He muft then take our Iniquity to himfelf, make it his own,and fo deliver us; for having thus taken the Sin upon himfelf, as lawfully he may, and lovingly doth, for we are Members of his Body ,(ib *cis hisHa.Kvd^

■^4 ^' jIdvocateJBip

tds his Foot, Ui his Ear that kaih Gnned } icfc lowech thai we live if he lives; ard who can d .fire more i* This then muft be tborowly con: der'd, if ever we will have Comfort in a Day ' Trouble and Diftrefs for Sin.

And chut far there is, in fame kind,a Hannoi betwixt his being a Sacrifice, a Prieft, and an Ai vocate; as a Sacrifice our Sins were laid upt him, Ifa. 53. as a Prieft.he iseareth them, Ex* a8. 38. and as anAdvocare he acknowledges 'c to be his own, Py4/, £9. J. Now having acknov . ledg'd them to be his own,the Quarrel is no mo *twixt us and Satan, for the Lord Jefus has efpoi fed our Qiiarrel, and made it hii. All then th we in this matter have to do, i^ to ftand at H Bar by Faith among the Angels, and lee how tt bufinefs goes. O blelled God I what a Lovxr < Mankind arc c|iou 1 and how gracious is our Loi Jefus, in his thus managing matters for us I

I. The Lord Jefus h&ving thus taken our Sii upon himfelf, next pleads Jiis own Goodnefs 1 God on our behalf, laying, Let jut tbem that im •nthee, O Lord Gad tf Htffii, be ajhamed for n fake i lee nat tbofi that feek^-thit be ccnfaimded ft myfakf,0 Go^/i/Lfracl; becMu/efortbjf,ike Ihm lorn refro/jcli,Jbime hath caver'd mj Face, Pfal.6i 6, 7. MaiV, Let them not be aJhanCdfor mj/ak ietthemnot be csnfitundadfar mj ft\e. SJiameao Confufion arc the Fruifi of Guitr, orof aChar| for Sin, Jcj-,3.25. and arc but an entrance ini . Condemnation, i>in. 12. 2. "Joim 5. 29. But bi kold how Chnft pleads, faying, Let not riiat \ for my fake, for the merit of my Blood, for tt: perfc<^ion of my RighreoufneTs, for the prcvalci cr of niv fnrfrcefTion. Let tlntn net be a-fbaw

r ntyfa\e^ O LerdiGod cf H^fis, And let no man >je(^, bccaufe this-Text is in the Pfalms, as if it ere not fpoke by the Prophet of Chrift, for both )hn and PW, yea, and Chrift himfelf, do make is Pfalm a Prophecy erf him : Compare Vet, 9 iih JtfAw 2. 17. and with /^ww. 15.3. and ver, 11 iih Mat. 17. 48. & 15.15. But is not this a wonderful thing, That Chrift oold iirft take our Sins, and account them his Wh,and then plead the Value and Wbnh of his ide fcif for our Deliverance ? For by thefe ords [^for my/d^e^ ^^ pleads his own felf, his 'hole felf, and all that he is and has: And thus epnts us in good eftate again, tho' our Caufe ^ai very bad.

To bring this down to weak Capacities: Supv ofe a Man fhould be indebted Twenty thoufand tmnds, but has not Twenty thoufand Farthings >pay it with; and fuppofe aifo that this Man be npcftcd for this Debt, and that the Law aho by •fcich he is fiied will.not admit of a Penny bate ; kis Man may yet come well enough off, if his kivocate or Attorney will make the Debt his cw«, ind will, in the prcfe^ce e5f the Judges, out with ttBags,andpay down every Farthing: Why this >iRe way or our Advocate. Our Sins are call'd teis, Man. 6. i i^ we are fucd for them aJ the ■aw, Lul^e II. 39. aAd the Devil is our Accufer, Bt behold, the Lord Jefus comes out with his l^orthincfs, pleads it at the Bar, making the Debt is own, Mark^ 12.41. iCor. 3. 5. and faith, now ^thcm not be ajhanidfor myj.\kcy O LcrJ God of iflsy let them not he confounded for my fal^e, O idoflfr^tl. And hence, as he is faid to be an dvocate, fo he is faid to be a Pro^iuauoci^ot a

C IAjwA^-

.! .1

.,: : cafcth th

,l.,r !*:

cfaved; thus Satan is put to Confufion, and Jens applauded' and cried up by the Angels of ieaven, and by the Saints on Earth.

Thus have I (hewM you how Chrift doth Ad-

neate it with God, and his Father, for us, and I

Hive been the more particular in this, becaufe the

Glory of Chrift and the Comfort of the DejeAed

kgreatly concerned and wrapt up in it. Look then

io]efas, if thou haft (inned ; to Jefus, as an Advcn

titi pleading with the Father for thee: Look to

Boching elfe, for he can tell how, and that by

kimfelf, to deliver thee ; yea, and will do it in a

wiy of Juftice, which is a Wonder, and to the

wme of Satan, which will be his Glory, and al-

f) to thy compleat Deliverance,which will be thy

Comfort and Salvation.

But to pafs this, and come to the fecond thing, ^ch is, to (h«PV you how the Lord Jefus manages ^his office of an Advocate before hij Fat her y 4-■j^fi theAdverfary ; for he pleadeth with the Fa-yfXj but pleadeth againft the Devil; he plead-tth with the Father Law and Juftice, but againft theAdverlary he letteth out himfelf.

Ifky, as he pleads againft the Adverfary, fo he '^ges himfelf with Arguments over and befides |Dfe which he pleads with God his Father.

Nor is it meet or needful that our Advocate^ Mien he pleads againft Satan, (hould fo limit • kimielf to matter of Law, as when he pleadeth with bis Father. The Saint by (inning owes Sa-(U) nothing, no Law of his is broken thereby, ^hy then Ihpuld he plead, for the faving of his kM>Ie, juftifying Righteoufnefs to him ?

Chrift, when he died, died not to farisfie Sz-ito, bur h'ls Father; not to appeafe vV\el3^NikCt^\«.

C X ^^

^o The Advocatejhip

I know that a had Man may have a ^ooJ Cai depending before the Judge, and fo zKogood M have, Job 31. but then they are bold in their o\ Caufe, and fear not to make mention of it, a in Chrift to plead their Innocency before the G of Heaven, as well as before Men, Py<ir/.71.3,4, 2 Cor^A, 13. GaL i. 20. Phil, j, 8. But we ha in the Text a Caufe that all Men are afraid a Caufe that the Apoftle concludes fo bad, tl none but Jefas Chrift himfelf can fave a Chrifti from it. It is not onlyfinful, but Sin itfelf. Jfi Man fin^ we have an Advocate with the Father,

Wherefore there is in this place handled by \ Apoftle one of the grcateft Myfterics under W yen, to wit, That an innocent and- holy Je Aoald take in hand to plead for one before a j and righteous God, that has defilM himfelf w Sin; yea, th^t hefhould take in hand to plead fuch a one againft th^ fatten Angels, and that ■ftbuld alfb fay his Pica efFe(5ltiaUy*refcue, a Bring them off-from^the Crimes and Curfe whe of they were verily guilty, by the Verdidt of Law and Approbationof the Judge.

This, I fay, is a great Myftery, and defervej be pry*d into by all the Godly, both becaufc m of the Wifdom of Heaven is difcoverM in it, i becaufe the beft Saint is, or may be concer with it. Nor muft we by any means let thisTr .;^ be loft, becaufe it is the Truth, the Text has clar*d it fo; and to fay otherwife is to belye . Word of God, to thwart the Apoftle, to footh Hypocrites, to rob Chriftians of theh: Privile and to take the Glory from the Head of Jc Ghrift^, Luke t%. ir,i2.

Tb€ beA. Saints are oioft fenCLble of their S:

to anfwer the Demands of the Juftice of Gc nor did he dclign, when he hang'd on the Tree tf iumph over his Father, but over Satan. He decm'd us therefore from the Cuffe of the-L by his Blood, Gal. 3. 13. and from the Power Satan by his Refurrcdion, Hcb. 2. 14. He d ver'd us from Righteous Judgment by Price 3 Purchafc, but from the Rage of Hell by Fi and Conqueft.

And as he aded thus diverfly in the Work our l^Jemffion, even fo he alfo doth in the E: cution of bis Advocatc^s Office. When he pic. with God, he pleads fo ; and when he pleads gainft Satan, he pleads fo: And how he pie with God when he deals with Law and Jufti I have fliew'd you ; and now I'll fhcw you h he pleads before him againft the Accufcr of Brethrtn. «

Firft, He pleads againft him the vfell-f leafed, that his Father has in his Merits, faying, Tbnfl fleafe ihe Lord; or this doth or wiU pleaie the L better than any thing that can be propound Vfal. 69. 31. Now this Plea being true, as it being eftabliftiM upon the liking of God Alitiij ty, whatever Satan can fay to obtain our Ev laftiBg Deftrudion, is without ground, and fo 1 reafonaUe. lam wellpleafed, faith God,M^i^3. •and again. The Lord i§ wll flenfed fjr f/y«c] Qhfi^ I^ohteouf}ieJifake,.Ut.^Z.ii. All that enter Ai ons againft others, pretend that Wrong is done thcr againft themfelves, or againft the King. N( Satan will never enter an Adion againft us in i Court ahvff, for that Wrong by us his been do rohjmfelf, be muft pretend then, that he fues fjr iHt Wrong has by us bjttv dotve to our Kir

plead be removed into any other Court, either \ Appeals or otherwife.

Could Satan Temove us from Heaven to ano-lerCourt, he would certainly \ittoo h^td for us, ?cau(e there we (honkl want our Jefus, our Ad-[)cate, CO plead our Caufe. Indeed fometimes he Dpleads us before Men,and they are gla^of the )ccafion, for they and he are often one, but then re have Leave to remove our Caufe,and to pray or a Tryal in the higheft Court, faying, Let my mtence ctnne forth from thy frefence^ atidict thine fes heboid'the things that are e^u4i,^[a}, 17. 2* !'his wicked World doth fentencc us for our ood deeds, but bow then would they fentencc IS for our bad ^nes ? But we will never appeal rom Heaven to Earth for ri^ht; for here we ave no Advocate, our Advocate is with the Fa" (vr, Jefus Chrifi the righteous. ,

Thirdly, As he pleadeth by himfelf alone, and • where e//tf but in the Court of Heaven with be Father, f#as he pleadeth with the Father for 8, he obfervcth this Rule :

I. He granteth and confeffeth whatever can ightly be charged upon us; yet fo, as that he aketh ihe vCholecharge upon himfelf, acknow-fdging the Crimes to be his own.

O GoJ^ fays he, tlyou kpovffl my foolifknep^ and iySins. 7'»iy guilt inefs is not hid from thee, Pfa.69.5, ind this he muft do, or elfe he can do nothing: f he hides the Sin, or leffeneth it, he is faulty; if e leaves it ftill upon us, we die : He muft then ike our Iniquity to himfelf, make it his own,and ) deliver us; for having thus taken the Sin upon imfelf, as lawfully hemaj, and lovingly doth, T we arc Members of his Body, ((b *us hisH^tvd^

?o The JdvocOrte/fjip

AA of Mercy, Juftice and Righteoufnefs that the Heathens beheld ? And all this is true \ reftrence to the Cafe in hand ; wherefore, L^rci rebuke thee, is that which, in conclui Saran muft have for the Reward of his Work Malice againft the Children, and for his com ning of the Works of the Son of God.

NdW Our Advocate having thus cftablifh'd the Law of Heaven) his Plea with God" for againft our Accufer, there is a way aiade for to proceed, upon a Foundation chat cannot be ken ; wherefore he proceeds in his Plea,.and ther urges againft this Accufcr of the Brethren,

Secondly, Go4's Intcrcfi in his People, a-nd p eth that God would remember chat: T/v i rebuke thee, O Satan; the l^rd that bath ch Jcrufalem, rebuki thee. True, the Church, Saints are difpicable iii the World, wherefore I do think to tread them down: The Saints alfo weak in Grace, but have Corruptions are ftrong, and therefore Satan, the God of World, doth think to tread them down ; but Saints have a God, the. Living, the Eternal C and therefore (hall net be trodden down, yea,' /hail he holden up, for God is able to muk? t Jiand, Rom. 14. 4.

It was Haman\ Mifhap to be engag'd aga the duecn, and the Kindred of the Queen, 't that made him be could not profper, that broi him rp Contempt and the Gallows; had be foi: to ruin another People, probably he might h brought bis Deftgn to a defir'd Conclufion, his compajjing the Death of the Queen fpoiPd 5^rfln aJfo, when he fighteth againft the Chu: >»«tf l^ litre fo come to ihc yio\ft^ fot Goi. ^

n in that; therefore 'tis faiid; The Gates of fit not ^rev 411 again ft it ; but this hmdrech : that he is permitted to make almoft what le will of thofe that belong not to God y w many doth he accufe, and foon get out od, againft 'iem, a Licenfe to deftroy 'em ! rv'd AbabyZni many more. But this, 1 fay, y great block in his way, when he meddles e Children, God has an Intcreft in them : od caft away his People ? God for hid, Rom. . The Text intimates, That they, for Sin, ferv'd it, and that Satan would fain have been fo ; but God's Intereft in them pre-hem : God hath not caft Away his People tforeknew. Wherefore when Satan accufes rfore God, Chrift (as he pleadeth his own and Merit) pleadeth alfo againft him that that God has in them. this (to fome) may leem but an indifferent ?or what Engagement licth, may they fay, rod to be fo much concern'd with rhem, ' fin' againft him, and often provoke him tterly > Befides, in their beft State they gether Vanit;, and a very thing of nought^ Man (forry Man) that then art mindful of that thou ftiouldft be fo ? "wer, Tho' there lieth no Engagement up-; for any Worthinefs there isin Man, yet *ch a great deal upon God for the Worthi-X. is in himfelf. God has engag'd himfcif LS, having chofen them to be a People to ; and by this means they are fo fecur'd from all can do againft them, that the Apoftle is pon this very account) to challenge all de-do its fvorft againft tHtTn, ^^^vck^^ W^

^o The Advocatejhip

I know that a had Man may have a ^ooJ Cai depending before the Judge, and fo z\(ogcod M have, Jcib 31. but then they are bold in their o\ Caufe, and fear not to make mention of it, ai in Chrift to plead their Innocency before the G of Heaven^ as well as before Men, pyi/.7i.3,4, 2 CoT^ .1. 23. GaL I. 20. Phil, i. 8. But we ha in the Text a Caufe that all Men are afraid • a Caufe that the Apoftle concludes fo bad, tt none but Jefas Chrift himfelf can fave a Chrifti from it. It ii not onlyjinful, but Sin hfelf. Ifi lAanfin^ we have an Advocate with the Father,

Wherefore there is in this pkce handled by t Apoftle one of the grcateft Myfterics under H( ■yen, to wit. That an innocent and- holy Jel ^ould take in hand to plead for one before a j' and righteous God, that has defilM himfelf w Sin; yea, th^t he fhould take in hand to plead fuch a one againft th^faiten Angels, and that ftbuld alfo fay his Pica efFe^JttiaUy* refcue, a Brmg them ofF-from-the Crimes and Curfe whe of they were verily guilty, by the Verdidt of 1 Law and Approbation of the Judge.

This, I fay, is a great Myftery, and deferves be pry'd into by all the Godly, both becaufc m of the Wifdom of Heaven is difcoverMin it, s becaufe the beft Saint is, or may be concer with it. Nor muft we by any means kc thisTr {he loft, becaufe it is the Truth, the Text has clar*d it fo; and to fay otherwife is to belye Word of God, to thwart the Apoftle, to fioth Hypocrites, to rob Chriftians of theh: Privile and to take the Glory from the Head of Jc OhriA, Litk^ 1%. I J, 12.

Tie baft SMim$ are moft fenfiblc ot iVi^vt ^

getlier for the good of them whofe Call to Goi is the Fruit of this Purpofe, this Eternal ?wpoJ §fGoiy Rom. 8. 18,19, 90.

Sixthly, The Eternal Inheritance is by a Cove Banc of free and unchangable Grace made ovc CO thofe thm chofen ; and to fecure them fron the Fruits of Sin, and from the Malice of Satan it is feard by this our Advocate's Blood, a*s he i Mediator of this Covenant, who alfo is bccomi Surety to God for them, to wir, to fee ihcm fonh eoffling at the Great Day, and to fet them thei fafe and found before his Father^s Face after th< Judgment is over, ^om, 9.24. Hth. 9.13. cA.7.12 cfc. 13. to. chaf, 9. 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Jthn 10. a8, 29.

Scventhly,By this Choice, Purpofe, and Decree thcEicA, the concerned therein, have allotted 'en by God, and laid up for 'em in Chrift, a SufHcien cy of Grace to bring them thro' all Difficultie to Glory ; yea, and they, every one of 'cm, afrei the firft Adl of Faith, (che which alfo ihey fhal certainly attain, becanfe wrapt up in the Promifi for them) are to receive the Earncft and Firft-ftnits thereof into their Souls, 2T/i». 1.9. A\:\, ^4. 22, Ephef,\./^, 5, 13, 14.

Now put all thefc things together, and ther fed if there be not weight in this Plea of ChriH againft the Devil;.he p'eads God's Choice anc Intereft in his Siiints againft him, an Intereft tha is fecur'd by the Wifdom of Heaven, by the Gra€< ef Heaven, by the Power, Will, and Mercy o God in Chrift ; an Intereft in which all the Thra Virfons in the Godhead have engaged themfclves by mutual Agreement and Operation,to mak^jrod when Sjran A*s done his 4//. VV^^iio^ ^^-"^^ ^^

C 5 ^

["y. his own C'^'^^'''"^'"«' I

"ny. and xvere &^ 5^^ ^^^nf, "" Intereft in! * " "'"«« before i

lead be TetnovM into any other Court, either Appeals or otherwife.

!ould Satan Temove us from Heaven to ano-^Court, he would certainly \>ttoo hiLtd for us, lufe there we (hon)d want our Jefus, our Ad-ate, CO plead our Caufe. Indeed fometimes he •leads us before Men,and they are gia^of the :afiony for they and he are often one, but then have Leave toremoveourCaufe,and to pray a Tryal in the higheft Court, faying, Let my ience ctnne forth from thy frefence^ and lit thine behold'the things that are e^u4l,?(i]. 17. 2« s wicked World doth fencence us for ^ur d deeds, but bow then would they fentence for our bad ^nes ? But we will never appeal n Heaven to Earth for ri^ht; for here we c no Advocate, our Advocate is with the Fa" \ Jefus Chrifi the righteous. , Thirdly, As he pleitaeth by hinfifelf alone, and where eifehm in the Court of Heaven with Father, r#as he pleadeth with the Father for he obfervcth this Rule : . He granteth and confeffeth whatever can itly be charged upon us; yet fo, as that he !th ihe vCholetharge upon himfelf, acknow-jing the Crimes to be his own. ) GoJ^ fays he, t/>ou kpovffl my foolifkncfs^ and Uns, ^ny guilt inefs is not hid from thee, Pfa.69.5, 1 this he muft do, or elfe he can do nothing: le hides the Sin, or leffeneth it, he is faulcy; if eaves it ftill upon us, we die : He muft then . ? our Iniquity ro himfelf, make it his own,and leliver us; for having thus taken the Sin upon ifelf, as lawfully he may, and \o\\t\^>^ ^«Ccv, vc arc Members of his Bod^ ,^to '*usS\v&\A»^^^:

Trefpafles, Charges^ indAcciifations. R Men know tliat a Man'$ pcoper Goods therefore forfeited, becauie they comir and chcm too great Traafgrefiioiut A Man fin^ x^ have an Aivccati with the E« fm Chriji the- rightnm.

Now the Strength of thb Plea (thus | upon Chrift*s Intercft in his People) is ^ hath many weighty Reafons on its fide,

Eirft, Xbo^ 4rr mint^ therefore in Rea( difpoley iu>t' at. the dii{K)fe of an Adverj while a tning can properly be call'd i Man has {herewith to do bm my felf; (a Mao, nor) Chriit loft his Righc to wb by the weakoefs of chacc thing which is \ SLight», He therefore, as an Adrocate, lotereft, his own Intereft in his People, a muft tali^e place with the Judge of all tl; SbuB not iht Judge ofaiHjtEwrth do l(jg.

Seccmdiy, They cofi him i/^nr, and that

dear bought is not eafily parted with, i (

they were bought with his Blood, £/>&. i,

t, 18,19. they were givwi him for bis B

tiiercfore are dear Children, Epb. 5^. i. foi

his by the higheft P,|-ice; and. this Price \

wcace pieadeth agaioft the Enemy of 01

rion ; yea,, \ will add/ they are his^ be

gave his All foir them, 2 Cw. 8.9. Whc

(hallgiyc hi^ All for this or that, then th

;. h(^ has fo pur«baVd is become his AlL N(

.bas given hi&^//for us^ he made himfel

'»5j Efb* 1.23.. wherefore weare.becom

Ms Piflnffif and fo the Church is caird. J

tcs^r ChriOslikes,v/eli enough oiVid^^

erf Jefus Chriff, j/

a* tc batH coft hini bisdS; The Lims, fays he, f fallen i9 me in pleafunt pUceSy I have n goedfy rhsge, Pfal. 16. Now put all cbefe things coge» er, and there is a ftrong Plea in them. Intereft^ ch an Incereft will not be eafily parted with : at this is not all, for.

Thirdly, As they coft him dear, fo he bath lade rhem near tobimfelf, near by Way 6{ Re-tion. Now thac which did not only coft dear,, tt that by way of Relation is made fo, thac a tan will plead heartily for. Said DaviJ to Abner,. bom/balt not fee my Face, except thou firfi bring [ichaJ, SauFj Daugbter,wken thou comeft to fee my tee, 2 Sam. ^ 13,14. 54u/'s Daughter coft me r4r, I bought her with the jeopardy of my Life;. rsfs Dau]ghter is near to me, (he is my beloved ^ife. He pleaded hard for her, becaufe (he was ar and near co him.

Now, I fay, the £ame is true in Chrift,his Peo-e coft him dear, and he bath mad<e them near tarn ; whevefore, to plead bitereft in them, is to )]d faft by an Argument that isftcong. I. 1 hey are his Spoufe, and be harh made 'eni »; they are his Love, his Dove, hisDarUng,.and * counts them fo. Now, Oiotild a Wretch ac-mpc in open Court to take a-Man's Wife awa^ Dm him,how wouid this caufe the Man to pleadt a, and what Judge thac is juft, and knows thav e Man has this Intereft'in the ^VomanipXtzdtdi r, would yield to, or give a VcrdiA for the* retch, againft the Man whofe PVifc the kf^omati r Thiu Chrift, in p'eading Intereft, in pleading' heugAveft them wi.?j pleads by a ftrong Argtt-ent, an Argumcnc that theEnctl\v caiawci^ x^n^i^ ijtc. True, were Chrlit to p\cad dav^W^^ .^«. i:

j8 The Advoutejbif

Saul, iSam, 15.44. or before Samffim*sy ther, the ?hiiiftin, Judf.i 4.2o. perhaps: cherous Judges would give, ir againft a But 1 have told you; the Court in wbi( pleads is the higheft and the jufteft,and which there can be no Appeal; wherefg Caufe, and To the Caufe of the Childrei iBuft bfe try'd before their Father,from w to be fure juft Judgment (hall proceed.

2. Asi they are caird his Spoufe, fo caird his Flelh^and Members of his Bo 11.17. Now faid P^w/ to the Churchy Body of Cbrift, and Members in particuU 30; ' This Relation alfo makes a man p Were a man to plead for a Limb or M hi» own, how would he plead! what A would he uie! and what fympithy ai would his Arguments flow from I ■ I oinhot loie a Hand, I cannot lofe a 1 not lofe a. Finger; why. Saints are Chri bersi How fttenuoufly would a man necejfarineji of fats Members to him, an nafuralnefi of hi» Adverfary in feeking i. &ion of his Members, and the Defonr fiody I yea, a man would (krug^r and ci wtep. and entreat, and make demurrs tpA delays xo.Looo.Years (ifpoflible) would iofe. his Hand, or any other mein

But, I (ay, how would he plead am h for his members, if Judge, Law, Re S^icy were all on his fide, and if by t £117, there could be nothing urg^d^ut tl wh-ich the Advocate had long before m; &>n for the efieftual overthrew thereof

> Is true, ai CO the Cafe litait Um befoi

*^^

■■

of Jefus Chrift. 3 9

Thus we fc« whac ftrengch there liech in this Iccond Argument that our Advocate bringeth for IS againft the Enemy. They are his Flefli and Bones, his memberSy.he cannot fpare 'em; he can-Bocfpare thk^ becaufe;. nor thai^ becaufe $ nor !»;, becaufe they are hi& members: As fuch; they are dear tohim, as fuch they are ufeful to him, as iticb they are an Ornament to him; yea^ tho'in Uicmfelves they are feeble, and thro* Infirmities vnch difabled from doing as they ought. Thus ff^ny Man fin f x^e have an AdvocMt§ with $he Fa* ili#r, Jefm Chrift the righteow. Bur,

Fourthly, As Chrift,' as Advocate^ pleads for us againft Satan, his Father's Intereft in us, and his own, fo he pleadeth againft- hioi that Right and-Property he has in Heaven to give it to whom he will. He has a Right to Heaven-as Prieft and King; 'tis his alfo by Inheritance, and iiuce he mill be Co good a Benefador, as to beftow this on fime^ but not for their defens ; and finee again he bas to that endfpilt his B/ro</for,and taken a Ge* neration into Covenant-relation to him, that it might be bcftow'd on them, it ihali be beftow'd OQthem ; and he will plead thisif there be need^ if his People fin, and if their A ecu fer feeks, by :beir Sin, their ruin and deftru&ion. FatherJ^ziih )e, I'tviU ihat'tljcfe wham thf*u~ baft given me be 91 tb me where I am^ that they may behold my GUry^ [ph. 17. 24. iVhieb theu hafi given me ; Chrift^s 9i\\\ is the will of Heaven, the will of God^f. Uiall not Chrift then prevaij ?

IW//, faith Chrift-; I. will, laifh Satan ; but fvhofe will (hall ftand ^ *Tis true, Chrift in the Hext fpeaks more like an Arhitratw thal\^lv Ad* MAr/<, more like a Judge thau oi&e ^U9jdJvE\% ^\. x

Bar. 1 will have it fo, I judge that To it c be, and muft. But there is alfo fomething in the words both before his Father and euc Enemy; and therefore he Ipeaketh ii that can plead and determine alio, yea, 1: that bai Power fo to do : But fhall the Heaven ftoop to the will of Hell ? Or i of ChVift TO the will of Satan ? Or the Righcaoufhefs to the will of Sin ? Shall «fho>is God's Enemy, and whofe Charge with he chargeth us for Sin, and which is ded not upon love to Righceoufnefs, bi maliceagainft God'g'Defigm of Mercy, tb« tfood of Chrift, and the Salvation of I pie; I ray,Shsllthis Enemy andihisChai vail with Qod againft the well-grounded Chrift, and againft the Salvation cf God'; and fo keep us out of Heaven ? No, no, will have it otherwife, he is the great / and bi* Eye is good. True, Satan was tui of Hieaven becaufe be finned there, ani \ beialtetrintflHeaten, ibo'we have'finne thw is the will of Chrift.and as Advocate h< it againft the Face and Accufation of our fary. Thus, If any man Jin, we bav: an A ■miththt Fat.'jtr, ^rfm Cwi/i t!ic righteous,

'Fifthly, As Chrift as Advocate pleadetl againft Satan, his Father's Intereft in us : 6*rt, and pitadcth alfo what Riglit he ha XpeCe of the Kingdom of Bcaven ; fo he p againft this Enemy that Malic- and Eum bin him, and upon which chiefly bisCh

fair.ft usisgroHt^ded, rothecoiifufionofh 'biiiscvii)ent from the Title that ourAi ^Som^ upon him whilehc t<\eads^wt w

him. The Lord rehire thee^ O Satan^ O Enemy^ faith k^ for Satan is an Enemy, and this Name given Mmfignifies fo much. And Lawyers in their Pleas can make a great matter of fuch a Circumftance as this, faying. My Lord, ve can prove that what knowpieaded againft the Vrifiner at the bar i tf meer malice and hatred, that bm alfo a l/m^ time km burning and raging in hn Enemas breaft a^ liinfi him. This, I fay, will greatly weaken the Plea and Accufaticn of an Enemy : But (aysjefus Cbn&y Father, l^ere is a ?Icsl brought in againft my [olhua, that cloaths him with filthy Garments, but '\tu brvught in againft him by an Enemy, by one that \ites Goodnefiwoyfe than he, and that lovetb Pf^iC" Mnefi more than the Man again^ whom at thia^ ime he has brought fitch a heinous Charge. Then caving with the Father the Value of his Blood brche Accufed, he turneth him to theAccufer, od pleads againft him as an Enemy; O Satan ! bou that accufeft my Sfoufe, my Love, my Members^ rt an Enemy ; But it will be objeded, That the kings charged are true \ grant it, yet what Law akes notice of the Plea of one who doth profefled* y ^ as an Enemy ? for *tis not done in love to rrutb, Juftice, and Righteoufnefs, nor intended )r the honour of the King, or the good *of the Irofecuted, but to gratifie Malice and Rage, and leerly tokillanddeftroy. Therein therefore a cal of fot-ce and ftrength in an Advocate's plead* )g of fuch a Circumftance againft an Accufer, fpeciaJly when the Crimes now charged are thofc nly for which the Law, in the due execution of it, IS been fatisfied before; wherefore now a Law«» er haft double and treble groiitul ot ti\ax.vt.x \a \ead br his Clkn t againft his Etvcm^ ^ KxA ^>]^

•*«

Advantage againft him has JefusChrift.

Belides, 'tis well known that Satan, as to is the original Caufe of thofe very Crimes which he accufes us at the Bar of God's Tribu Not to fay any thing of how he cometh'to us, licice^uSy tempts us, flatters us, and always ( manner) lies at us to do thofe wicked things whicli he fo hotly purfucs us to the Bar of Jv mcnt J for tho* tis not meet for us thus to pi to wit, laying that fault upon Satan, but ra np^n our fclves, yet our Advocate will do it, make work of it too before God: Simcn, Sii ^atan has defired toh.tve thee^ that he mighi thee as l^^eat^ but I have frayed for thee, tha Faith fail not, Luke ii. 31^ 32. He maketh mention of Satan s Dffires, by way of ad van againft him, and doubtlefs fo he did in his Pr with God fur ?eter*s prefervation. And whi did here, while on Earth, as a Saviour In gen that he doth now in Heaven as a ?rieji an Advocate in (pecial. . .

I will further fuppofe that which may be pofed, and that which is fuitable to our pur Suppofe therefore that a Father that hasaC whom helovcth, but the Child has not ha^f ¥^it that fome of the Family hath, (and I am that we have lefs wit than Angels) and fuj gtlfothat fome bad-minded Neighbour, by pering with, tempting of, and by unweariec licitatioAS (hould prevail with this Child to ibmethiog out of his Father's Houfe or Groi and give it unto him i and this he doth on pofe to fet the Father againft the Child. And pofe again that it comes to the Father^s Ki ledge^ eb4t r/ie Child, thrd" t^t kWat^tnet

:h a one has done /o and fo againft his Father, IJ be cherefore difinheric this Child ? Yea, fap-le again that he that did tempc this Child to al fliould be the firft that fhould come to accufe s Child to its Father, for fo doing, would the [her take notice of the Accufation of fuch an \ ? No verily ; we that are evil can do better n fo. How then (hould we think that the* God Heaven (hould do fuch a thing, fince alfo we re a brother that is wife, and that will and can id the Ycry malice of our Enemy, that doth to ill thefe things againft him, for our advantage ? y, this is the fum of this fifth Plea of Cifrr//? owr TQcntc^ againft Satan^ O Satan, fays be, thou an Enemy to my People, thou pleadeft not out [ov€ to Righceoufnefs, nor to reform, but to roy my Beloved and Inheritance j the Charge jrewith thou chargeft my People is thine^ oven, , £. 44. not only as to a matter of charge, bnc things that thou accu(eft them of, arc thine ; e in the nature of 'cm ; alfo thou haft tempt-iliured, flatcer'd, and daily laboured with 'em o that for which now thou fo willingly if$uld t 'em dcftroy'd; yea, all this haft thou done avy ro my Father; and to godlinefs ;,of hatred e and my People, and thaf thou wightefl </f-^others bsfides, 1 Chron. ii. i. .And now what this Accufer fay ? Can be excufe himfelf ? he contraduft our Advocate ? He cannot; knows that be is zSatan^ an Enemy, and'as idverfary has he (own his Tares among the !ac, that it might be rooted up ;- but he (hall have his end, bis Malice has prevented him, fo has the Care and Grace ofour Advocate t« r Tmtcs tbercforcbc Aall hi$$ ttixitiCd ioVvkx

again, but the Wheat for all this Iball be gachei'i

into God's Barn, A4«f. 13.1;, if.zT; z8. ,

Thns therefore our Advocate makes ufe,'int Plea againft ggian, of the rage and malice ihit thcoccaiion of the Enemies charge, wherewi he accufeth the Children of God ; wbercfci when thou read'ftthefe words ^OSaf.»i]fay wi thy felf. Thus Chrift our Advocate accufeth 1 . Advcrfaryof Malice and Envy againit Goda Goodnefs, while he accufc;th as of the Sins wbi we commit:, for which we arc forry, and QrijJ has paid a Price of Redemption : Anii (thiu]lL attj man Jin, we htvt im AivcAte nitb the Fuhd^ Jtfui Chrift the righieout. Bot, *

Sixthly, Chrift, when he pleads asaaAdvW cateforhis Peop'e in theprcfence of God.agiiii^ S*tan, he can plead thqfe very IVeak^fJfes tf W VitfltfoT which Sat4n would b*vt them dtna^A fet tbth relief and tidvantsve ; Is not tblt * itt»t f!uck*d out 1/ the Fire > T^is is pari of the Pfc* ofour Advocate againft Satan, for his SetTU' JofhuA, when he faid, tl>e Lordrchukf thee,OSt f'M, Zech. 3. 1. Now to be a Brand pluckt bn of the Fire, is to be a Sain: impatient, weakoe^ d(&'cd, and made imperfed by Si:i; forfoalfi the Apoftic means when he faiih. And othert ft* wlthfeitr, fuSing them out of the Fire, htting eve the Garment ffi>it:d bj tit F!',jh,\ad^Z%. By Firt kiboth thefe places wc .tre to underftand Si» for that it bums and ccnf: :ncs as Fire, Upm. i. 27 Wherefore a man is faid tc '• um when bis Luft are ftrong upon him; a.id to bum in Lnft n others, when his widced Heart runs wickcdlj ■after them, 1 Cor. 7,9.

Alih lohfa Ahrtkjtm CuA. 1 jn but Jiift atl«Av

D. 18. 27, he means, be was but what Sin ha<l I yea^ he had fotxitching cf the fmuc and be-rarings of Sin yet upon him : wherefore 'twas luftoKi with //rtff/indays ofold, when they Days apart for Confeflion of Sin, and Humi-:ion for the fame, to fprinkie thcmfelves with, to wallow in Duft and Aihes, Efth. 4. 1,9. Jer. 16. Job 30. 9* cbaf, 42.6. as a token that chey dconfefs they were but what Sin had left, and iit they were dcfiCd^ weal^ncd and foliutea by it. This then is the next PJea of our goodly Advo* Ite for QS, O SaUfif this is a brntid plucked out of hi Fire. As who ihould fay, thou objedefl againft By Servant Jofkua that he is black like a Coal, or Au the Fire of Sin, at times, is Aiti burning in \ku And what then ? the reafon why he is not hittUy extinAasTow, is not thy Pity, but my hther's Mercy to him : I have pluckd him out iifthe Fire, yet not fo out biit that the fmell there* Jfisyet upon him ; and tny Father and I, wc soofider his weaknefs, and pity him ; for fincc he % Ziz Brand pulled outf can it be expeded by my ?aiher or me, that he fhould appear before us as dear, and do our biddings as welj.as^ he had ever been there ? Ibis is a Brand f lucked out of he Fiyej and muft be ccnliJer'd as fuch, and muft e born with as much. Thus as Mefhibxfl^eth leadedfor his Excufe, his lamenefs, x Sain* ij. 4,25,x6.fo Chnft pleads the infirm and indi* ei)t condition of his Perp!e againft Satan for leir AdTa4fttage.

Wherefore Chrift:, by fuch Pleas as thefe for is People, dcrhyct furi-hcr flicw the malice of atari, (for all this burning comes tV\ro' \viT^\>i^^^ "Jd by it he aiorccb the Heart of Godui ^\x?iN3J^

7. God has promis'd, That wc ac our countii days ihall be Ipard, as a Man fparcch his o^^ Son chat fcrvcshim, Mai 3.17.

Now, from all chefe things it appears that u have Indulgence at God's hand, and that 01 WeaknefTes, as our Chrilt manages the mattcrfc uSy anp fo far off from laying a Block or Bar i the way to the enjoyment of Favour, chat the alfo wotk^fifr our good ; yea, and God's foreiightG *em has fo kindled bis Bowels and Com palSon to uSy^s to put hitn upon devifing of fuch tbkng for our relief, which by no means ceuld bavi been, had not Sin been with us in the World and had not t^ie beftof the Saints been as 4 brsm f lucked out of the, burning.

I have fecn Men (and yet they are worfe thar God) take moft care of, and alfo beft provide foi thofe of their Children that have been moft infirm attd helplefs i fand our Advocate fhall gather hit Lambs with his Arm, and carry them in his Bo-fom.) Yea, and I know that there is fuch an Att in (hewing and making n>entioh of Weakneflei^ as Ihali make the Tears ftand in a Parentis Eyes, and as (hall make him fearch to the bottom of his Furfe to find out what may do his kVeakling goal Cbrirft alfo has thatexceiient Art, as he is an Ai^ voeate with the Father for us ^ he can fo make mention of us and our Infirmities, while he pleads before God.agairift the Devil, for us, that he can make the Bowels of the Almijghty yearn toNvardi u%i and to wrap us up in their Companions.

'You rcad>nuch of the P«y, Compalfion, anJ

of the yearning ofthc Bowels of tke mighty Godt'

towards hisPeopk-; all which, I think, iskindrJ*

and m^Je burn towards us, b-^ tV\« \»\f:^4\t^^<J|

ourydav^catf.

have feen Fathers offended with their Chi'-1, but when a Brother has turnM a skilful Ad-ff, the Anger has been appeas*d,and the means I been concealM. Wc read but little of this ocate's Office of Jefus Chrift, yet much of the it of it is extended to the Churches: But a;; Caufe of Smiles, after Offences committed, is le manifeft afterward,fo at the Day when God I open all things, we (hall fee how many times rLord,^ as an Advocate, pleaded for us, and re" »*d us by his fo pleading into the enjoyment Smiles and Embraces, who for Sin, but a while bre, were under Frowns and Chaftifements, bd thus much for the making out how Chrifi li manage his Office of an Advocate for us h the Father: If any Man fifty we have an Ad-ite with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous.' i I (hall come now to the Third Head, to wit, %ewjou more particularly nho they are tl>at have Hi Chrift for their Advocate. nmy handling of this Head, I fliall (hew, . That this Office of an Advocate ditfercth n that of a Prieft^ andJiow. !. I (hall (hew you how far Chrift extendcth his Office of Advocatefhip ; 1 mean in matters :erning the People of God ; and then, . I (hall come more diredly to (hew who they that have Chrift for their advocate, w the firft of thefe. That thi^ Office of Chrift n Advocate, differeth from that of a Piieft : It he is a Prifft, a Prieft for ever, I heartily ac-wjedge ; but that his Prirfthoodzf\d Advocate^ (hould be one and the fame, I can't believe. , Bccaufe tha differ in JVifwc* We ma.^ as wril I /^4f//ffr (as fuch) is a Son, or, tV\a\. F*tbcY 20c\^

Son is the Jelf'fame Relation, as fay a Priejl s Advocate^, as to Office, are but one and (he thing. They differ in Name as much as and Sacrifice do : A Prieft is one, and a.'54 is another ; and tho* Cbrift is Prieft and^4 too, yec as a Prieft he is not a SAcrifice, no Sacrijice a Prieft^

2. As they differ in Name^ fo they differ Nature of Office ; a PriVy^ is to flay a 54^ an Advocate is to plead a C4fi/^: A Prieft offer his Sacrifice, to the end that by the' thereof he may appeafe ; an Advocate is to to fiead according to Law : A Prieft is<to. Interceflion by yertue of his Sacrifice ; an cate is to plead Law, becaule Acaends.is m

g. As they differ in Name.and Nature, .£

. alfo differ as to their Extent. The Priefthc

Chrtft extendech it felfto the whole of Go

ledt, whether caird, or in their Sins ; but <

(as Advocate) pleadeth only for the Cfaildrei

4« As they differ in Name, in Nature, an

tent, fo they differ as to the Perfons with ^

they have to do. We read not any wher

Chrifk (as Prieft) has to^o with the Devil,

. Anugonift, but as an Advocate he hath.

5. As they differ in thefe, fo they differ the matters about which they are imploy'd, as Prieft concerns himfclf with every wry th< and alfo with the ]eaft Imperfe^ion or In£ that atendsourmoft Holy Things ; but Cb Advocate doth not.fo, as 1 have already \l\c\

6. So that Chrift as Pricfl goes before Chrift as Advocate comes after ; Chrift as continually intercedes ; Chrift sls Advocate, i

of^vczt T'ranlgreffions, pleads : CVkuft. ^s

has need to z^St always ; but Chrift as Advocate fomecimcs only. Chrift as Jl*rieft adts in times of Peace $ but Chrift as Advocate in times of Broils, TurmoilSy and fliarp Contentions ; wherefore Chrift, as Advocate^ is, as I may call him, a /(e-fer^; and his time is then to arife, to ftand up and plead, when hi are cleath'd with fomq filthy •Sin that of late they have fallen into, z^Davidy 3^/htta, or Piter. When fome fuch thing is committed by them, as miniftreth to the Enemy a .Aew of ground to queftion tlie truth of their Grace ; or when *tis a Queftion, and to be debated, whether it can ftand with the Laws of Hea-Ten, with the Merits of Chrift, and the Honour of God, that fuch a one fhould be favM ; now let an Advocate come forth, now let him have dme to plead, for this is a fit Occafion for the faints Advocate to ftand up to plead for the Salvation of his Peeple. Bur,

Secondly, I come next to (hew you how far this Office of an Advocate is extended. I hinted at this before, fo now fliall be the more brief,

1. By this Office he offers no Sacrifice, he only ai to matter of Juftice pleads the Sacrifice offer'd.

2. By this Office he obtains the Converfion of none ; he only thereby fecureth the Converted TOffi the Damnation*which their Adverfary, for Sins after Light and Profeflion, cndeavoureth to >ring them to.

3. By this Office he prevents not temporal Pu-jiflimentjbut by it he prefcrvesthe Soul from Hell..

4. By this Office he brings in no juftifyingRigh-eoufhefs for us, he only thereby prevails to have he difpofe of that brought in by himfelf as Priefi^ QF tbcjuAifying of thole by a t\tvj ai\A ^ttScv K^,

who had made their Juftificadon doubtful by r Falk into Sin. And this is plain in the Hiftor] our Jo/kua, Zech. 9. fo often mcntionM before

3. As Prieft he hath obtained eternal R(?dem] on for us,and zs Advocate he by Law maintains < Right thereto, againft the Devil and his Angel

I ccmie now to Ihew you veho they are that b. Jefui CbriH for their Advocate. And this I ft do firft more generally, and then (hall be qi< particular and diftindl about it.

Firft, more generally. iThcy are all the tri Gracious, thofe that are the Children by Adop on J and this the Text aflSrmeth, / mite untoj. little Children, that you Jin not ; and if any man J we hav: an Advocate with the Father, Jefw Chr thfi righteow. They are then the Children by . adoption that arc thePerfons concerned in the A vocatefhip of Jefus Chrift. The Priefthood Chnft extendeth itfelf to the whole body of t Eled, but the Advocatefliip of Chrift doth not f this is further clearM by this Apoftlc, and that this very Text, if you confidcr what iirmediat ly follows, IVe have an Advocate^ fays he, and . u alfo the Profitiationfcr our Sins'. He is our A vocate, and alfo our Prieft. As an Advocate,* a« only ; but as a Prcpitiatioq, not ou^s only, but a fo for xhe Sins of the whole World j to be fu for the Elcd: throughout the World, and th< that vviH extend it.for her, let em.

Af;d 1 fa.y again, had he net intended that thei

fhouid have been a ftreighrcr liiiMt put to th(^ Ac

vocatefhip of Chrift than he would have us put i

his Pnetti) Office,what needed hc,whcn he fpe«

/^i/f r./rhe Propitiation which relates to Chnlt i

vvr//, /^ I c adckJ, And not for cm> j ow Iji ? K% '

cfjefus Cferift. ^ ^

dvoeace then he engagech for us that are Cbil-en ^ and as a Prieft too be hath appeas'd God^s 'rath for our Sins : Bursas an Advocate^ hisOf-es are confined to the Children only, but as icft be is not fo. He is the Propitiation for our is„ dnd noffor ours onlj. The lenfe therefore of ! Apoftle fhould, I think, be this; That Chrift, a Prieft, bath offered a Propitiatory Sacrifice for ; bur^ as an Advocate, he pleadeth only for the lUdren. Children, we have an Advocate to our (^es, and be is alfo our Prieft ; but as he is a lefty he is n9t ours only, but maketh, as fuch, a-nds for all that (hall be fav'd. The Eled there-c have the Lord Jefus for their Advocate then, en they are by Calling put among the Chi!-:n, becaufe as Advocate he is entirely the Chil-:ns; Mjf Utile Children^ vpe have art Advocate. ObjeA. But he alfo faith. If any man Jin, xve n an Advocate ; any man that finneth fcems iy Text, notwithftanding what ^ou fay, to have an vocate mth the Father.

4nf By any man muft not be meant any of the 3rld,norany of thcEleA, but any man in Faith 1 Grace ; for he ftill limits this general term 7 marr\ with this reftriiSion [^wf] : Children, .ny man [in, we have an Advocate. iVe, any .n of w. And this is yet further made appear, :e he faith, that 'tis to them he writes, not only e, but further in this Chapter ; / witc unto , little Children: IvQtite unto you, Fathers: t te unto you, Toungmen, vcr. 12, 13, 14, Thele the Perfons intended in the Text, ifor under fe three Heads are comprehended all Men, for y are either Children, and fo Men in Nature, Voungmen, and fo Men in SttetiijJft. \ c^i ^'5.

D \ ^^^

;hcy are Fathers, and fo aged and of Experience, Add to this, by [^any Man"] that the Apoftle ia* tended not to enlarge hiinfclf beyond the Perfons that are in Grace, but to fupply what v^^as wanting by that teem [Jittle Children^ ; for fince the ftrongeft Saint may have need of an Advocate, as v^cil as^the moji feeble of the Flock,^ why (hould' the Apoillc leave it to be fo underftood, aS if the' Children, and they only, had an Intercft in that' Office ? Wherefore after he had faid; My HttU Children, I mite untoydu, thut ye fin not, he thirh adds with enlargement, // any Man fin, vie hMife an Advocate with the Father^ Yet th6 little Children may well be mention'd firft, fince they moft ■ want the knowledge of it, are inoft feeble, arid fo by Sin may be forc'd moft frequently to a(^ Faith* on Chrift, as Advocate: befides, they are moft teady thro' Temptation to queftion whether they hzsQ p) good 2iK\%\\x. to Chrift in all his Offices as has better and more Well-grown Saints j therefore they, in this the Apoftle's Salutation, are firft fet down, My little Children, 1 write unto you, that ye fin not: If any Manfin,xoe have an Advocate ficc. So then the Children of God are they who have the Lord Jefus an Advocate for 'em with the Father. Firft, Since then the Children have Chrift for their Advocate, Art thou a Child? Art thou begotten of God by his Word ? Jam. i. i8. Haft thou in thee the Spirit of Adoption ? Gal. 4. 6. Canft thou in Faith fay Father, Father, to God? Then is Chrift thy Advocate, now to affeat in the fie'fence of God before thee^ Heb. 9.24. to appear there, and 10 plead ibere, in the face of the Court of Heaven for rhee, to plead ihcte agil^ft thine ^ivcrfary^whoCQ A.CQufariDi)iS arc dtt^At\A,vi\sfefe

l&ubcilcy is great, whole Malice is inconceivable, Itad whoie Rage is incolerable; co plead there be-ijforea juftGod, a righteous God, before whofe . Ftce thon wouldft die if chou was to (hew thy felf. aid at his Bar co plead thy own Caufe. But,

Secondly, There is a differetKe in Children, fane are bigiger chanfome ; there are Children, mi Unle Children i My lit fie Children, I mite un--(tjfMf. Little Children ; feme of the little. Cbil* hen can neither fay Father, nov fo much as know tiitt they chemfeives are Children.

This is true in Nature, and fo ii is in Grace: Vherefore notwithftanding what was faid under thefirft Head, it doth not follow, that if I be a Child I muft certainly know it,, and alfo be able to call God Father. Let the firft then ferve to poiie aodbaiance the confident ones, and let this be for the relief of thoie more feeble ; for they that are Children,whether they know it or no, have Jcfus Chrift for their Advocate, for Chrift is alTign'dto ' be our Advocate by the Judge, by the King, by oar God and Father, tho* we have not known it. True, at prefent there can come from hence to them that are thus concern^ in the Advocatefhip ofChrift.buc little Comfort, but yet it yields'em great Security ; they have an Advocate with the Father, Je/uj Chrifi the righteous, Gcd knows this, the Devil feels this, and the Children (hall have the comfort of it afrerwards. I fay, the time is coming when they fhall know, that ei'en then, when they knew it nor, they had an Advocate xoith the Father ; an Advocate who was neither loih," afraid, nor afham*d to plead for their Defence a-gainft the proudeft Foe.

And win not this when the^ \cuQW vx.,^\^^''^'^

D 4 ^^"cc

comfort? Doubtlefs it will, yea, more, anc betterkind than that which flows from the ; ie^ge that one is born to Crowns and Kingdc Again : As he is an Advocate for the Chii (6 he is alfo, as before was hinted, for the) and experienced; for no ftrengrh in this Wor cureth from the Rage of Heii, nor can any E riencfe while we arc here fortifie us againlt b faults. There is alfo an incidency in the beft i and the Hgger man,the tlgj^ertht fall^for the hurt, the greater damage. Wherefore *tis of i fjlutc neceflity that an Advocate be provide the ftroDg as for the weak. Any man ; he tl moft holy, moft reformed, mcfk refin'd, and purified, may as foon be in the Dire as the v eft Chriftian; arid, fo far as I can fee, Satan j(i;n is againft them moft ; I am fure the gn Sins-have been committed by the biggeft Sain this way^faring Man came to Davld^s Houfe, when he ftood up againft Ifrael^he provoked E fo number the Veople^z Sam. 12.4,7. i Cbr. 2 wherefore they have as much need of an Adi as the youngeft and fecbleft of the Flock. ^ a mind had he to try a fall with Peter ? and quickly did he break the Neck oi Judas ? like, without doubt, he had done to ?eter, ha Jefus, by ftepping in, prevented. As long as I is in ourfleih, there is danger. Indeed he fai the young men, thzt they are Jlronz^ and thai have overcome the VQJcked one ; but he does no they have kjlPd him : As long as the Devil Jive there is danger, and tho'aftrong Chri may be too hard for, and may overcome hi one thing, he may be too hard for, yea, and oierccme him two for owe afictwaiAs. TV

•r

of Jtfus Clmfk. 57

kferv'd DaviJ, and thus he ferv'd ?eter, and thus he

UD our day has fcrv'd many more. 1 he flron^clt

are weak, the wlfefl arc Fools, when fulfirr'd to be

Iftcd as Wheat in S4tan*s Sieve ; yea, and ha/c

[often been foprov'd, to the wounding of theic

i|reac Hearts, and the diflioiiour of Rcligif.n.

> To conclude this : God, of his nurcy, ha:h

fafficientiy declared the ftrongtft and moft fan-

Aificd, as well as for the leaft, weakeft, and mon:

feeble Saint, an Advocate. My little Child'en^ I

write unto you that you flu not ; and if any man fviy

we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chriji

the righteous.

Obj. But fome may objeB^ That what has been fiid as to difcoveringfor whom Chriji is an Advocate^ his been too general, and therefore would have me C9me more to particulars, elfe they can get no comfort.

Atif, Well, enquiring Soul, fo I will, and-there-fore hearken to what I fay. .

FirftjWOuldft thou know whether Chrift is ihlne Advocate or no ? 1 ask, Haft thouentertain'd him fo to be ? When men have Suits of Law depending in any of the King's Courts above, they entertain their Attorney or Advocate to plead their Caufe, and fo he pleads for them.

I fay, haft thou entertain d Jefus Chrift for thy lawyer, to plead thy Caufe ? Viead my Caufr^ O Gsdj faid David, ?fal 3 5.1, and again. Lord, plead thsu'my caufe P/T 43. i. This therefore is the firft tiring that I would propound to thee ; Haftrhou with David entertained him for thy Lawyer, or with good Hes^ekiah cried owr, O Lord, I aw op-pieffed, undertake for me, Ifa, 3S. I4.wha: fay'ft thou, Soul ?. Haft thou been with himjand pray'd him4:o plead thy Caufe, and cried viv«iq \ot\ t^i u^^-

dcrtA\efor thee ? This I C2i\\ entertaining hifn tq be thy Advocate. And Ichufe to follow the Similitude, both becaufe the Scripture feenas t;o fmil < upon fuch a way of difcourie, and becaufe the Queftion doth naturally lead me to it. Wherefore I ask again, Haft thou been with him ^ Haft thot entermin'd him, or delirM him to f lead thy Caufe i

Q^t&.Thou wilt faj unto me. How fi)oulJ I lotion that I have donefo ? .

Anf. I afifwer, Art (hou fenfible that thou bad an A^ion commenced againft thee in that higb Court of Juftice that is above? I fay, Arc thoti fenfible of this ? for the Defendants (and all God's People are Defendants) do not ufe to entertain their Lawyers, but from knowledge that an hdor on either is or may be commenced againft ^em be* &re the God of Heaven. If t;hou fayft yea, ther I ask,who cold thee that choa.ftand^ft accus'd foe TranfgreiTibn befbr:C the Judgment-feat of God ? I fay, who told thee fo ? Hath the Holy Ghoftg hath the World, or hath thy Confcience ? for nothing elfe, as I know of, can bring fuch tidings to thy SouL

Again; Haft thou found a failure in all others that might have been c«ffr^/«i«V. to plead thy Caufe? Some make their Sighs^ theirTff4r/,tbeir Prayers^ and their Reformations their Advocates, Haft thou try'd thefe, and found 'em wanting ?

Haft thou feen thy ftate to be defperate, if the Lord Jefus dorh norundertake to ple^4 thy cattje; for Jefiis is not entertained fo long £5s Men can make (hifc without him : But vJmn it comes to this point, I perifli for ever, notwithftanding the £eIp'ofall, ifcbe Lord Jefus ftepsnourv \ then Lord '^C/^-^,£0(;JLorJJeJus^ underuhfi /or we.

MBHVI^HHH

0/Jefus Chrifl. ' 59

H^ft thott therefore been with Jirfus Chrift as eoncern*d in thy Soul, as hearcii) concerny,a«-boac the Action that thou perceiveft to be com-Bienc^d againft thee ? .

Qiieft. Tou will fay ^ How/hotdd I know that?

Anf. I anfwer. Haft thou well confider'd the nature of the Crime wherewith thou ftandeft charg'd at the Bar of God ? Haft thou artfo con-fider'd the juftnefs 0/ the Judge } Again I ask^ Haft thou confider'd what truth, as to matter of Fad, there is in the things whereof thou ftandeft accused ? Alfo baft thou con(ider'd the cunning, the malice and diligence of thine Adverfary, with the greatnefs of the iols thou art like to fuftain ? Shbuldft thou with Ahah (in the Book of K^ngi) I Kjn. zi, 17, to 23. or with the Hypocrites in }faiah6. I, to lo. have the Verdi«3: of the Lord God gone out from theThrone againft thee? I ask thee tbefe Queftions, becaufe if thou arc in the knowledge of thefe things to fee^ or if thou arc not deeply concerned about the greatnefs of the damage that will certainly overtake thee,and that forever, (ftiouldft thou be indeed accus'd before God, and ha^e none to plead thy Caufe) thou haft not, nor canft not, let what will come upon* thee, have been with Jefus Chrift to plead thy Caufe ; and fo, let thy Cafe be never fo dcfpe-rate, thou ftandcfi alone, and haft no Helpery Jub 30. I g. chap. 9. 13. or if thou haft, they not bcint; the Advocates of God's appointing, muft needs fall with thee, and with thy burden. Wherefore confider of this ferioudy, and rccurn thy Anfwer to God, who can tell if Truth (hall be fecund in thy Anfwers better by far thai) any^ for 'tis he-tbac trys the F{eitLs and the HeaT^,.^^xA ^^^^W^ ^ him I tefQvr thcQ. But^ ''^

Secondly, Wouldft thou know whether Jefu Chnft is thine Advocate? Then I ask zgain^HaJi thou revealed thy Caufe unto him ? 1 fay, Haft thou re:^:aUd thy Caufe unto him ? for he that goes tc Law lor his Right, muft not only go to a Law* yer, and fay. Sir, I am in trouble, and am to have a Tryal at Law with mine Enemy, pray undertake mf Caufe ; but he muft alio reveal to his Lawyer his Caufe : He muft go to him, and tell him what is the matter, ibom things.ftand, wl^re the Shoe pinches, and fo.

Thus did the Church of old, and thus doth every true Chriftiannow ; for tho' nothing can be hid from him, yet he will have things cue of thine own Mouth j he will have thee to reveal thy matters unto him, Matt, zo. 31. O Lord of Hofts^ faid Jeretnjff that judgeft righteoujly, and tryeft the J{eins and the Hearty let me fee thy Vengeance upon them, for unto thee have 1 reveaCd nt) Caufe^ Jer. II. 20. And again, B^/f, 0 LordofHofts^that tr/fl the righteous^ andfeeft the [{eins and the Heart, let mejhe tly Vengeance on them, for unto thee have I opened my Caufe, chap. 20. la. Seeft thou bete liow Saints of old were wont to do; how they did not only in a general way entreat Chrift to plead their Caufe, but in a pariicular v/ay go to hira und reveal or open their Caufe unro him ?

O tis excellent to behold how feme Sinnccs will do this when ihey get Chrift .nnd themfelves in a Ciofct alone ^ when they upon their Knees are pouring out their Sculs before him ; or, like the Woman it/rhcGofpcl,teliing him all the truth. O Lord, faith the Soul, / am ccme to thee uljot: tJ7i errnefi Eitfmefs \ I am rnrrfled hy Sata?:^ the Bailif ,.y'Tf j:^/)' i?^i'*t CiMi'fciencey Pf:d I art\Ji}^t to 6e aicus\i '^jArrUe y^uJ^'meKtfcat cf GOD > r'^y SrtlvAtb« Vies

■■I

of Jcfus Chrifl:* 61

^ake', I am quefilond for my hitereji in Heaven'^ n afraid of the fudge \ my Heart condemns me^ >hn iii. zo. My "Enemy is fubtile, and wants not lice to'-profecHte me to Deaths and then to Hell: ff, Lord, I am fenjible that the Law is againfi me, indeed I have horribly Jinnd, and thus and thur ■je I done : Here I lie open to LatVy and there I open to Law ', here I have given the Adverfary vantagcy and there he will furely have a hank a* iri me ', Lprd^ I am difirejfedj undertake for me:

od there are fucne chingschac chou muft be ac* iainced wiih abouc chine Advocace^ before thou lioencure to go thu^far with him. As,

1. Thou muit know him to be a Friend, and It at) Enemy, to whom thou open ft thy Heart, id until thou comeft co know chac Chrift is a iehd CO thee, or to Souls in chy condition, thou lit never reveal thy Caufe unto him, not thy lole Caufe: And ^tis from this that fo many pfaac ve Soul-Caufes hourly depending before the rone ofGod^Sind are in danger every day of eter-I Damnation, forbear to entertain Jefus Chrift

their Advocate^ and fo wickedly conceal their alters from him, but he that hi Jet h his fins Jhat tfrojper, Prov. i8. 13. This therefore muft 1 be bcliev'd by thee, .before thou vvik reveal ' Caufe unto him. ,

2. A Man^ when his Eftate is cali'd in quern, (I mean his Right and Title thtrecoj will very cautious, Specially if he alfo queftions his rlc to it himfejf, to whom he reveals that Af-r; he muft know him to be one that is not on-fnenclly, but faithful, to whom he reveals fuch ecrct as this. Why, thus it is with Clirjr;: aqij^ _ : Soul ;j( the Soul is not fomcwUat^erfvj^\d^4 the fsiidifulsicfs cf Chrift,to ¥Jvi,\.Vi^\.\l\\<; ^-'^^>

iJo him no good, he will do him no hartn^ atvev reveal his Caufe unco him, but w; to hidt hi Counfel from the Lord. Th is ther another thing by which thou maift know tli Chrift for thy Advocate, if thou haft heart k) very deed r^xx^A/V thy Caufe unto him.

Now they that do honeftly reveal their to t6cir Lawyer, will endeavour to poflefs I hinted before, with the worft; they wil Words make it as bad as they can, for(thin by tliac means I (hall prepare him for the that my Enemy can do. And thus Sou with Jrfus Chtift 5 fee P/i/. 51. & 38. wit ral others that might be n^toi'd, and (e« ii People have not done fo. If aid (faich Davi iipould coftfejitmy Tran^refjions againfi myj thauforgaveft the Iniquity of my Sin. But, Thirdly, Haft thou Jefas Chrift for thy icate ? or, Wouldft thou know if thou haft • I ask zg!SLin,Haft thou committed thy Caufe t When a Man retains his Lawyer to ftand i and plead his Caufe, he doth not only reve commits his Caa(e to him. I\9ouldfeek,un fays Elipha3[ to J^b, and unu him vpould 1 1 my Caufe J Job 5. ^. Now there is differei twixt revealing my Caufe and commircinj Man : To reveal my Caufe, is to open it x

,>ind to commit it to him, is to truft ic in hi Many a Man will reveal his Cauie co hiri whom he will yet be afraid to commit ir; that retains a Lawyer to plead his Caufe d toly reveal, but commit his Caufe un:o hir

^NUppofe Right to his £ltaic he calTd in qv ^ky then he not only rcea.?* his Catifc

Z^wycr, bucputs into his l-ia4[\ds Vi\^ Ew

^/Jeius Chrift. «J

)eeds, L^afes, Morrgages, Bonds, or what el(e he

Ath CO (hew a Tide to his Eftate. And thus doth

ihriftians deal with Chrift; they deliver up ail

him, to wit, all their Evidences, Proinifes,and

ifurances which they have thought they had for

:aven and the Salvation of their SoiiIs,and have

fired him to perufe, to fearch and try 'em f very

Pfat. 139* 23^ And if there be Iniquity in me^

\$ime in the v^ay cverlafting. This is commit-

1% of thy Caufe to Chrift» and this is the hardeft

•{ask of all, for the Man thatdoch thus, trufletb

^Chrift v^ith all ^ and it implieth, that he will live

'ind die, (land and fall, lofe and win according as

Chriftthan'ages the bufinefs. Thus didPW,2T*ifi.

. 1.12. and thus V'eter admonifheS us to do.

Now he that doth this muft be convinced,

1. Of the Ability of Jefiis Chrift to defend him^ for a Man will not commit fo great a Concern as

, his AH is to his Friend, no, not to his Friend, be te never fo faithful, if he perceives not in him Ability to fave him, and topreferve what he hath againft all the Cavils of an Enemy. And hence it Is that the Ability of Jefus Chrift, as to the faving of his People, is fo miich infifted on in the Scrip* ture ; as, Jf have laid Help up»n one that it mighty^ PTal. 8^. 19* IthatJpea\inrighteoufheJ!^ mighty tcfave^ Ifa. 63. i. And again, J mil find rhem a Saviour f and a great one, chap. 19. 20.

2, As they muft be convinced of his Ability to help 'em, fo they muft of his Courage; a man that has Pares fiifficient may yet fail of his Friend for want of Ctfttr^jjff, wherefore the courage 2ir\d great--nejl cfChrift^s Spirit^ as to the Undertaking of the Caufe of his People, is al(b amply fct out in Scri-pftfrey HeJhaBinot faiiy mx he 4ip:ow«^A^ >J^yaV

h hath fet Judgment in the Earth, until he hdtl brought Judgment to ViHory, Ifa. 4^.4. Mat. 1 2.20 i 3. They muft alfo be convinc'd of his Prilling nep. CO do this for 'em; for tho' one be able,and o: Courage fufficient,.yet if he is not willing to un-dena^e one*sCaufe,whac is it the better? wherefore he declarcth his Willingnefs alfo, and ho« read/he is to ftand up to plead the Caufe of the Poor^ and them that are in want; The Lord ml plead thqirPnufey andjpoil the Soul of thofe thai

Jpoiled them, Pro v. 22. 23. . 4. They: muft alfo be convinced of this. That Chrift is tender, and will not be offended at the dulnefs of his Client. Some Men can reveal theii Gaufe to their Lawyers better than fome, and are more ferviceable and handy in that Affair thar others: But, faith the Chriftian, t am dull and ftupid that way, will not Chrift be very fhy of m< becaufe of this ? Honeft H^art, he hath a fup ply for thy Defects in himfelf, and knoweth wha thou wanteft, and where the. Shoe pinches, the thou art not able diftin(%Iy to open matters to him The Child is prick'd with a Pin, and lies crying ii the Mother's Lap,, but cannot fliew its Moihe where the. Pin is, but there is Pity enough in th< Mother to fupply this Defect of the Child,wherc fore (be undrcfles it, opens it, fearches every Clou fron) Head to Foot of the Child, and thus find whoe the Pin is. Thus will thy Lawyer do, h< will fcarch and find out thy Difficultics,and when Satan feeketh an Advantage of thee, accordingly will pr )vide his Remedy,

•3. O, but will he not be weary ?. Hoe Vrophe complnins of fome; that they weary God^ Ifa. 7. 13

^/^ar/zf/»f/ia very crofs and intricate CauU^ \ bar

we.

*rieJ many 4 good Ai(tn xfhiU I hdve been telling Tale to himf and I am afraid that I (hall alfi tryjefm Chrifi.

AnfoQ. Sou], he fuffer'd and did bear with the -anners of Ifrael forty Years in the Wildernefs; \s 13.18. and haft thou cryM him half fo long? le good Souls that have gone before thee have md hioi a tryM Scone, a lure Qne to be de^nd-on as to this, and the Prophet faith pofitiveJy, r. l8. 16. that Hefdinteth t^ot^ neither it wearied, d that there i no fearching of hi Viiderjianding^ lap. 40.28. Let all thefe things prevail with re CO believe, that if thou haft committed thy ufc unto him, he will bring it to fafs, to a good ?, 10 fo good a pafs as will glorifie God, honour irift, fave thee, and (liame the Devil. Fourthly, Wouldft thou know whether Jefus irift is thine Advocate^ whether he has taken in. id to plead thy Cau(e ? Then I ask, Doft thou. ;ether with what has been mcntion'd before, it upon him according to his Cemijel^ till things II come to a legal ijfue ? Thus muft Clients do., lere is a great many turnings and windings a-ut Suits and Tryals at Lavy, the Enemy alfo, h his Superfedcas, Cavils, and Mocions, often ers a fpecdy IfTue, wherefore the Man whofc Concern is, muft wait j as the Prophet faid, I I look,([z\d he) unto the Lord, I will wait for the i of my Salvation. But how long, Prophet, wile u wait ? ^j^, fays he, until he plead my Caufe^ I execute Judgment for me, Mic. 7. 7, 8, 9, io» , ^erhaps when thy Caufe is try*d things for th« fent are upon this IfTue; thy Adverfary indeed, aft, but whether thou Ihalc have an abfolute, charge, as Peter had, or a c^udvu^u^ ^\v^^>s.

David, 1 Sam. 12. la, 11, 14/ and as the Corin* tbians had, that*s the Queftion. True, thou fhalc be compleatly fav'd at laft,but yet whether 'ds nou beft to leave thee a Memento of God's Difpleafore at thy Sin, by awarding, that theSm>rdJhall ne^er* deftirffrom thy Hdtfe^ or that fomc fore Sickneis or ot]^cr Diftrefles (hall haunt thee as long as thoi^' * liveft, or perhapsthatthou fhalt walk mthouttbe^ light of God's Countenanee for fever al Tears and 4^ Day. Now, if anyof thefe three things happen to^ thee, thou muft exercife Patience, and wait j thuf" did David, I waited fatientls' ; and again he exer-j cifcs his Soul in this Virtue, faying, My Soul^wait^ thou only upon him, for my Expe^ation is from him^, Pfal. 62. 5. For novo we are judj^ed of the Lord^thaf-. we may not be condemy^d with the Wwld : And by this Judgment, tho' it fets us free from their dam-1 nation, yetwc arc involved in many troubles, atul j

Eerhaps muft wait many a Day before we cafrj now that (as to the main) the Verdid hath gone^^ on our fide. Thus therefore, in order to thy wai*. ting on him without fainting, it is meet that thott Ihouldft know the Methods of him that managei thy Caufe for thee in Heaven ; and fuffer not Di-ftruft to break in and bear fway in thy Soul, fe he will at length bring thee forth to thelioht, ani thou/halt behold his !{ighteou/hefs. She alfo that it thine EnetTiy fhaS fee it, and Shamep^nli cover her that faid unto thee, P^ere is thy God ?

Obj. But what is it to wait upon him according te his Cowifel ?

Anf. I. To wait, is to be of good courage, to live

in expectation, and to look for Deliverance, the'

jJboD haft finned againft thy God: H^ait on the

Z^^, ^fa/^opJcoitragc^and hejhai (^rewjtbcn tbfj

HsATt

't: H^dit^ tfijf ^ ^he Lordj PftJ. 27. 14,

To wait upon him is, to keep hk way, to L humbly in bi^ appoincrhehcs : tVdU on thi !, and l^icp huvpay, and he Jhst exalt thee t$ I rtt the Land, Pfil. 37.9. . To wait upon hioi, is to obferve and keep cDireAions wliich lie giVeth' thee; toj)b-?, even while he ftands up to plead thy Cai{/e, -without doing this, a man may marr his Q'aufe \t hand of him chat is to plead ic; wherefore » far from an evil maccer, have no correfpon-:e with thy Enemy, walk humbly for the wic-lefs thou haft commicccd,and loath and abhor fclf for it in Duft and Afhcs. To thefe things

the Scripture every where direcJfc us.

To wait is to incline, to hearken to thofc ler Dire(Slions thou maift receive from the tU of thine Advocate, as to any frefh matters may forward and expedite aj^op^ IfTue of thy ir in the Court of Heaven. The want of this the rcafon ihait the Deliverance of 7/?^^/did T fo long; O (fays he) that my people had heat'* i to fne, and Ifrael had walked in my ways ! t V foon have fuhdued their Enemies, and turned

Hand agaivit their Adverjaties, The haters of .ordjhouldfoon have fubmitted themfeives^but time fhould have endured for ever, Pf.8 1.13,

Alfo if it tarry long, wait for it ; do not lude that thy Caufe is loft, becaufe at pre-[hou doft not hear from Court. Cry if thou

O when wilt thou come unto me ? but never ich a wicked Thought pafs thro' thy Heart, g. This Evil is of the Lord, whyjhould^ I wait the Lord any longer ? a Kin, 6. "i"^. . ^ .

But t^(t heed that thou tutu tvot. >Jk^ nalt-

tfg Tfse MvocAtejbip

ing iatoJJetfing ; wait ihou muft, and wait p; tiendy coo, buc yet wait with mach longing u cameftnefs of Spirit, to fee or hear how matte . go above. You may obferve, that when a M '-that dwells far down in the CouDtry, and b fome BuHncfs at the Term, in this or anothtri the King's Courts, tho' he will wait his Liiw).'e| tinft and convenience, yet he will fo wait as lb ; to entjuire at the Pcifthoufe, or at the Cariier^i ; if a Neighbour comes down from Term, at li mouth, for LcLters or any other Intelligence, tbi he may know how his Caufc went, whether bei his Adverfary had theberrer. Thus thoutnu wait upon thy A Jvocaic : Kis Oidinitttca are h Vajlhufe, his Minificrs his Cd'f I'fj,where tidinj from Heaven are to be had, and where ihofethi arefucd in that Court by the Devil may, at on time or other, hear from their J-awyer, iheir Ad vocatc, huw rhirps are like to j;n. Wherefore, fay, w-ut at the Pufts of WifJou/s Houfe, go % Ordinances wirhexpL-i^atiGn to hi-ar from thy .iJ v>caie there ; fi>r f/' vlllfend in due limt ; tlio'i firry, wait for ir, huauft it tpill furtty c»me, tni win net larry. Hat), a. 1,1, 3. And now, Soul, 1 have anfwfrtdth; Kcqutft, and let me hear i^litti thru fayft unto me. 1

Sei.1. Truly, fays the Soul, methinks that bl, what you have faid, f may have this bicflcd Je* fus to be my Advocate, for 1 think verily 1 have rctain'd him to be my Advocate ; 1 have alft reveal'd my Caufe unto him, yea, committtJ both it and my felf unto him ; and, as you fay,' w^iV, Oh, I wait I and my Eyes fail with loolunj upward. Fain would I hear how my SoulQand ech in the Siebt of God. and vilievWt ms Sin

I have committed fince Lighc and Grace ven unto me) be by my Advocate tak^n he Hand of the Devii, and by mv Advo-mov'd as far from me as the Ends of the ; re' afunder ; whether the VctiiA has gone fide, and what a Shout there was-among jels when they faw it went well with tpe 1 IS ! 1 have waited, and that a long time, ve, as you advife, ran from Ordinance to T^and from Mlniflfcr to Ordinance, 9r'(a$ rafe it) frottj the P6ft't6 tbe'Cafrier, knd le Cartiert6 dfe Pofthouf^, to fee if I cdufd ight from'Heaven, how matters u^ent a-y Soul there. I have alfo asked thofe that

the way, ifthej faw him whom my Soul lo^ nd if they had any thing to communicate

but nothing can I get or find but generals, t I have an Advocate there, and that he :h the.Caufe of hisPeop!e,and that he will ily plead their Caufe,but what he has done , of that a^ yet I am ignorant. I doubt, if il Ihall by him be cffecftually fccnr'd, that onditional Vcrdidl wilj .be awarded con-: m.e, and that lihuch Birrcr "will be mix'd ly Sweet, andthiati muft drink Gail and 7cod for my Folly; for if David, AfaJU:{£^ id fuch good Men, were fo ferv'd for theit : Chron. I o. 7, 12. why ilioiild I lock for o-aliftgar the hand of God) But as t6 this, ?lrideavour to hear the Indignation of theLord

I l.avejinnedagair?n him, Ifa. 39, 3,8. and mur itaninfiniic Mercy, if this Judgment to me from himfthatlmay not tc condemn d •e H^old^ I Cor. r 1. 31. I kuow \\ \^ i^^^^- -king in darkncfs, but if iV\at 2?\to ^aA V^

'Jo The A^vocAtejbi^

the Lord's Lot upon me, I pray God I n Faiih enough to Jlay upon him till De: then will the Clouds blow over, and 1 hixa in the light of the Livi;ig. - My Eivmy the Devil, asyou fay> is o veigling teppcr, and cho' iie has accus'd fore the Judgtnenc-feat of God,yet when t: _ to tne at any tit^c, he glavers aod flatti tie never did mean nc harm ; but I tl; that he ni^y get funher Advantage agai Sut I carry it npwac a greater dinancei merly ; and.Otfaatlwasailhereoioteft not only hrotn him, bat alfo from (hat felf that Uboureth with him for my undoiog But altho' I (ay thefe things now, and yet I haTe my folitary hours, and in cbec other flrance Thoughts, for thus I think,. is bad, IhMve finnf4, 4vdhtve bten vile ; fham'd my felf of mine own doings, andi vcn mine Enemy the beft end of the Sc Law, and Reafon, and my Confcience, pi him againit me, and all ii inie he puts Charge againft qic, that 1 bdve finned m» than there be Hairi m my tiead ; I know thing that ever I did in my life, but it hac wrinkle ovB>oi, or fome fuch thing in it £yc5 have leen Vilcnefs in the belV of my what ihen.think you.mgft God needs fee i IJor^an I do any thing yet, for alll kijo' am accufed by my Enemy before the Juc feat of God, better than what already is ie&. I lie down in my {hnme, and my Confi vers my Face : 1 have /lu'd, whaejhall I do tli O thu freferver of Men ? Jer, 3.24, 25, y J(f///. Well Soul, I hive tieatd v\ax-A

ly and if all be true which thou haftikid, it is id, and gives me ground of Hope, that Jefus rift is become thine Advocate ; and if that be no doubt but thy Tryal will come to a good clufiw. And be not afraid, becaufe of the tib^-' of God, for thine Advocate has this for bis • antage, that he pleads before a Judge tbat is :, and againft an Enemy that is unholy and c<%ed. Nor let the thoughts of the badnefs of ^

Caufe terrifie thee overmuch. Caufe (hQU I indeed to be humble, and thou doft well to rtv thy Face with (hame^ and 'tisoomatter w bafe and vile thou art in thine own Byes, Dvided It comes not by renevv'd z£t$ of Rebel-n, butthro^ a fpiritual fight of thy imperfedti* s ^ only let m^ advife thee .here to ftop, let npc ^ (hame, nor thy felf-abafing apprebenfion of f felf, drive thee from the firm and permanent Dund of Hope, wbich is the Promife, and the }(5trin of an Advocate with the Father^ no, let t the apprebenfion of the badnefs of thy Caufe it, for as much as he did never yet take Caufe hand that-was good; perfectly good of it fclf ; d his Excellency is, to make a man ftand that s a bad Cauie^ yea, he can make a bad Caufe jdy in a way of Juftice and Righceoufnefs. And for thy further encouragement in this atter, I will here bring in the fourth chief he^d,

wit, to (hew whdt excelUnt privilege (j »n over and above what has already been oke of) they have that are made partakerj oftJje nefit of this Office^ tfany man Jin, xpe have an Ad^ cat€ vpitb the Father, Jejus Chrift the iQghteouf^

Priv. I. Thy Advocate pleads to a frice ^aiV^ a Frofitiation made^ and tWvs is a. %t^2\ ^^\^sv-

cage: Yea, he pleads to a SarisfacSion ma all wrongs done, or to be done, by his EIe(! by one Offering he hath perfe^ed for ever thei are fdntUfied^ Heb. x. i o, 14. & 9. 26. B ' Offering, that is, by the Offering of himfel efie Offering once offered, once offer*d in ch of tlve World. This, I fay, thy Advocate p When Satan brings in frefh Accufacions foi Tranfgrcflions againft the Law of Go J, be nocChrift toihift his firftPlca, I fa'y, he pui not to hnjkifrs at alf, for the Price once pai in ic fofficient Value (would GOD impute that end ) to cake away the Sin of the ^ Worid. There is a Man chat hath Brethren rich, and they are foor^ (and this is the Cal twixc Chrift and us) and che rich Brother tohisFatfaer, and faith, Thou art related i Brethren mth me, and out of my Store, I pra; let them have/ufficient, and for thy fatkfaR tpill put into thy hand the whole of what I which perhaps is worth an Hundred thoufatid P hy the Tear ; and this other Sum I al/6 ^1 w, fhey be not d'Jinherited. Now will not this 1; poor Brethren to live upon a great while ? Chrift's Worth can never be drawn dry.

Now fet the Gafe again, that fome ///-( tiofi*d Man fhould take notice that ihefe pooi

• live all upon the fpend, ( and Saints do fo^ fhould come to the good mans Houfe, and

• plain to him of the (pending of hiis Sons, an< while their elder Brother ftands by, what d( think ijie elder Brother would reply, if he v good-r.aiurcd as Chrift ? Why he would \ Jtfjtve yet with wy Father iff ftore for my Bret,

n^/^rrejire then feel'^efl thcu tofiop bu hayid,}

t be mufl give them for tbeir Convfniency ; nd atfer their Extr4vagancieSj I h/tve fatis* ' tbemfo TfeSy that however he dffiiSis thent^

net difinherit them. I hope you will read rar this, not like them that fay, let us do evil jodtnay come, but like thofe whom the love •ift conftrains to be better: however, ^his

Childrens Bread, that which they have )f, and without which they cannot live ; jey mufthaveit, tho'Satan Ihou'd^w^ i*iwi ' therewith to choak, the Dogs, i for the further clearing of thij, I will ;tyou with thefe few Confiderations : rhofe that are itioft fandiiied, 'have yet a of Sin and Death in them, /^-m. 7. 14. and fo

will be while they continue in this World.^ This Body of Sin ftrives to break out, ^nd •reak out, to the polluting of the- Converfa-if Saints be not the more watchful) Ch. 6.12. t has broke out in moft fad manner, and that iftrongeft Saints, GaL 5.17. Chrift ofFereth no new Sacrifice for the Sal-1 of thefe his People ; for, being raifedfrem ad^ he dies no more, Rom. 6. 9. So then if ; fin, they muft be faved (if favcd'at all) by I of the Offering already offered ; and if fo, ill Chrift's Pleas, as an Advocate, are groun-pon that one Offering which before, as a b, he prefemed God with, for taking a-Df Sin. So then Chriftians Jive upon this old , their Tranfgreflions are forgiven fdr the )f the worth that yet God finds in the Offe-lat Chrift haih offer'd. And all Chrift's Plea-, as an Advocate, are grounded oa the (lx€fl-' and worth cf that one Sacrviic^ \ \TWfax^

all his Pleadings with hi$ Father,a$ tp the which the Accufer brings in againft tber I ho' thou j^rc a Man of InBrmity, aji4 fo i > to nothing as to itumble and fall, if Grac not prevent (and it always preventeth not) value and worth of the Price that was od for thee is not yet worn our, and Chrift as voca^c ftill pleadeth (as occafion is giv<ri with fuccefs, to thy Salvation. And this Pr they have who indeed have Chnft for th vocare ; and I pur it here in the firft pla caulc all other do depend upon it.

Priv* z. Secondly, Thine /Idvacatty as h

' 4^tb a Price already paid, fo, a.nd tb^rei

fie ads for hinifetf oifor thee. We are all co

in qne bottern, if he finks we firi, if we

finks. Give Kie leave to makje out my me;

I. Chrift pleads the value and vertu^ Price of his Blood and Sacrifice fot us: An< of this-horrible Suppofition a little for Ar fake, That tho' Chntt pleads the worth oi as Prieft, he offercth, yet the Soul for who pleads pcrilhcs eternally. Now where li fault ? h\ Sin, you fay ; true, but it is 1 there was more vertuc in Sin to damn, tb; was in [he Blood pleaded by Chnft to f^\ he pleaded his Merit, he put it into the againft Sin, but Sin hath weighed downt ef tht: Sipner co HeJJ, nctwiihltanding the of iMcric chac be did put in againft it. Nov "the rclulr, but iliat the Advocaie goes dc well as we, we co Hcil, and he ii; fiftecm ? fov, I fay, he is conccrn'd with us, his Cn Honour, his Giory and Renown flicb all 2 chofc ibr whom,he pleads as ai\ kA\Qe^^

wane of wonbia his Sacrifice pleaded: But U this ever be faid of Chrift ; or will ic be od that any for whom Cbrift as Advocarc yec adsy perifh.for wane of worch in fhe Price, or of (I«^io the Advocate to plead ic? No, no, him-is concerned, and chac as co his own Repma* Band Hononr, as lo the value and vercuc bis Blood, nor will he lofe thefc for wane of niing foribem concerned in this OfHcc. f; I argoe again: Chrift, as Advocate, muft ds be concem'd in his Plea, for that every one whofe Salvation he advocates, is his own ; fo n if he lofies, he lofes his own, his Snbftance 1 Inheritance. Thus if he iofc the whole, aod le lofe a part, one, any one of his own, be lo« I pan of bis At, and of his Fulnefs ; wherefore Biay welk think that Chrift, as Advocate is cem^d, even concerned wicb his People, and refbre will throughly plead their Caufc. iuppofe a Man (hoald have a Horfe, tho* lame, la piece of Ground, tbo'foniewhat barren, if any fhould attempt co take thefe away, he flftld not fit fti{l and fo lofe his own ; No, faith fiice they are mine own, they (hallcoft me five «s more than they are worth, but I will main-\ my right. I have feen men fomcrimes ftrong-:ngag'd in Law for that which, when well cont'd by it felf, one would think was not worth Irding ; but when I have ask'd ihem, why fo cern*d for a thing of fo little eftecm ? they e anfwer'd, O, ^tisfome of thut by which I hold a c of Honour^ or my right tn a greater IncomejUnd tfore'l mU not lofe it, Why'thus is Chnft. etv-'d J- wAaf he pleads for is his cwn, Vi\% Att,Vv^ ^j^ yea, 'ris ri?ar by which he ho\4s Viv^^c^i-

• 7^ ^^^-'^ ^dvocdtejbip

alty, for he is KJng of Saints^ Hev, 15.3. JW.ji :^8, 39. P/al, i6. 5,6. 'Tis part of his Eftace that by which he holds foQie of his Tides of iiour, Eph. 5.6. yer. 31.34. /^oin. 11. 16. Hi I o.« Saviour^ ^deemer^ Deliverer and Cstpidit foi^e of his I'ides of Honour ; buc if be I< any of thcfe upon whofe account he wears 1 Titles of Honour, for want of Venue in bis I or for want of Worth in his Blood, be lofcrf own, and not only lb, but pare of his Roy; and does alfo diminilh and lay a blot up«n his rioiis Titles of Honour ; and he is jealous of his nour^ bif Honour he mS not give to dvother.

Wherefore he will not (be not afraid) Ic nor forfake thofe who have given ihemfelves to him, and for whom he is become an Advo with che Father, to plead their Caufe; even caufe thou art cne^ one of his oxon, one by wt he holdeth his glorious Titles of Honour.

Obj. O, but I am but one, and a very fom toe ; and xphat^s one, e/pecialiy fueh an one as It . Can therg he a mifs of the lofs of fuch a cne ?

Anf. One and one makes two, and fo ad in) turn* Chrift cannot lofeottf, but asbemay^ more, and fo in conclufiotilofe all; but of all( has given him he will lo/e nothings JoL $. 38, fitfidcSy to lofe one^ would encourage Satan, dil raf^e his own Wifdom, make him uncapabk giving in, at the Day of Account, the whole to God of thofe that he has given him. Funl this would difhcarten Sinners, and make Vo fraid of venturing their Caufe and their Soul his hand, and would, as I faid before, either pr /r/> FropiTiAtion in fome fenfe \nefiiAuaKor \w/ej/ defediivc in his plcadii\goi'w:%\jx'

■V

hefc things muft be fuppos'd ; He mO thrott^lj-^ieaJ the Caufe of hii reopie, iAic 7. execute gmenc for.^em, bring *cm out co the Ligh:, caufe Vm to behold his Righceoufncfs. V/r. 3. Thirdly^rbff Pleaof Satan isgrounJlefs^ chac is another Privilege: for albeit thou haft «d, yet fince Chfift before has paid thy Debc» I alfo paid for more ; (ince ihou haft nor yet beyond the Price of thy Redemption, it muft, concluded, that Satan wants a good bottom to und his Pica upon, and therefore muft, in con-Son, fail of his defign. True, there is Sin corniced, there is a Law tranfgrciTed^ but there is ) a fatisfadtion for this trarifgreinon,'«nd tb«« kich fuperabounds ; fo tbo^ there be Sin, yec w wants a Foundation for a Plea. Jf^fl^ua was athed with filthy Garments, but Chrift had o-r Garments prepared for him, change of Rai-nt; wherefore Inkjuity, as to the charge of Sa-, vapifhes. And the Angel anfwered and faid, ;f av^ay his filthy Garments from him, [this in-ates that there^ was no ground, no fulficient und for Satati's Charge j and to him be/aiJ^ W^, I have c^ufsd thine Iniijuity to fafs from f^and mil cloaththee with change of ^iment, b. 3.4. Now, if there be no ground, no found [ fuiHcient ground, to build a Charge againft Child upon, I mean, as to eternal Cond^mna-r, for that's the thing contended for 5 then, a* id, Satan ftiuft fall like lightning to the ground be caft over the Bar^ as a corrnpt and illegal tder .^'But this is fo, as in pare is prev'd alrea-and will be further made out by that which ows. They that have indeed Chrift for their fpcate, are themfelvqs, by vcrtuc.of another

Law than that againft whkh they have finned fccured from the Charge thac Satan brings in gainft 'ein» I granted before, that the Child God has (inned, and that chere is a Law chac demiiech for this Sin ; but here is the thing. Child is removM by an Adb of Grace into anduiM dcr another Law ; For we are not under the L44^ t^m. 6. li). 8c 8. I. and fb confcquendy thereifl( now no conden:inaUon for them : wherefore wb^f God rpeakcth of his dealing with hrs> he faich^l^ JhdS ntit bt bytlitiY Cvbt^iant^ E«^k. t6. 6l. thlT^ is, not by that of the Law. they then being oMp under the Lav^, What if a Plea bccommencdat gaiuu rhem,'a Plea fcr Sin, and they have ctj mitted Sin s a Plea grounded upon the Law, the I^w takes cognizanct of their Sin } Yet,I the Plea wants a good bottom, for that the P< thus accufed is put under another Law i hence i £3Lys^ Sin/hat mt have Jiminien over fcu^ fir.JMfl 4re n9t under the Xaw* If the Child was under ihlQ Law, Satan's charge would be good, becaufe ic -would have a fubftantiat ground of fupport, but fincc the Child is dead to the Larv^ Gal, 1.1 6.tni! that a! fo dead to him, for both are true, its com Condemnation, I{pm. 7. 5. how can it be that&H ^ tan (hould have a fufHcicnt ground for his charge l tho' he (hould have Matter ofFad,fufficitntMac-\ rer of FaA fhat is Siv ? for by his change of Re* ■ laiion he is put out of the reach of thac Law. . There is a Woman, a Widow, thatoweth a Sum i of Money, and (he is threatncd to be fued for the t Dv'bt; now what doth (he but marry' ; Co when T^ the AAion is commenc'd againft her as a Widow the Law finds her a married Woman, what now can be done ? Nothing to hqr, five is not who Ac

wmm

(7^ Jefus Chrlft. 79

wa*, fte 18 delivered from thac ftate by her Mar-riage^ if any thing be done, it muft be done to her* HMband. But if Satan wiil fue Chriit for my Dtbc, he oweth him nothing; and as for what the Law cm claim of me while I was under it, Chrift kas dcliverMme by Redemption from ihiat Curfe, fteing made 4 Curjcfor me. Gal. 3. 13. ■ Now the Covenant into which I am brought Jby Gra<:e,by which a!fo I am fecurcd from the hxWy 16 noc a Law of Sin and Death, z% that is ftom under whkh I am brought, I^m. 8.«2. but "^t Law of Grace and Life^ fo that Satan cannot taile at oie by that Law and by Grace, I am by . thlr fteuted alfofrom the Hand and Mouth and Snng of aft t^her ; I mean ftill as to an eternal <00own : Wherefore Gi^d faith^ If we breaks hu il;M» #ie Law rffVgrks, he witvifit our Sin with a t(fJi 4md 99ir Imi fixity with Stripes^bat kis Covevanf^ . 4^ Itew Coven4t,mll he not break,', Pfa. 89. 3o,to5^7 buc will ftill keep, clofe to that, and fo fccure us front eternal Cdhdem nation,

Chriit alfo is made the MeJiatcr of that Cov&^ nant^ and therefore an Advbcate by that, for his ftieftly Office and Advocatefhip are included by hva Mediation ; wherefore when ^aran pleads by the old, Chrift pleads by the new. Covenant, for the fake of which the old one is removed : In that

btfiitbyAnew Covenant, h* hath made the firfl old, now that tp^l^h dec lycth and witxcth old is ready te %anifh'av^.iy, Hrb. 8. 13. So ihen ihegroiind of Plea is with JcUis Chnft, jind not with our Ac-cufer. Now what doth Chrift plead, and what is the ground of his Plea? why,he pleads for exenv ption and freedom from Condeit\T\ax\ov\^ \\vc^ V^ the Lzw of Works his Childreu Visiv^ 4iefc\^^ &^'v^

So The Advocatejhi^

And the grcund of this his Plea, as to Law, is the matter of the Covenant it felf j for thus it runs-,f(r" i mil be merciful to tbcir Vtirijrhteou/kefsyand thefir' Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more, %\ iri^ Now here is a Foundation,a Foundation in Lav^ for our Advocate to build his Plea upon, a Founf dation in a Law not to be moved, or removed;or mad*c to give place, as that is forced to do upon which Satan grounds his Pica- againft us^ v'

Men, when they j)Icad before a Judge, ufe-t0 ■ pic;; d matter of Law. Now fuppoh! there is «* = old Law in the Realm, by which Men defervc to -be condemned to death ; and there is a new Law ' in this Realm that fecureth Men from that GMk s demnation which belongs; to them by the oidjc-and fuppofe alfo that I am compleaciy cmnptc^ = hended by all the Prowfoes of the new Law, and ^ not by any tittle theteof excluded from a fliift » therein ; fuppole again that I have a brangliM 5 Adverfary that purfues me-by the old Law^whioi e yet cannot in right touch me, becaufe I am ime^ ^ re(ted in the new; my Advocate alfo is one that r f'e^ds by the new Laxp, where only there is ground z of Plea ; Shall not now mine Adverfary feel the power of his Pica to the delivering of me, and : the putting of him to fliame ? Yes verily, fpecial- ; iy iince the Plea is good, the Judge juft, nor can [ the Enemy find any ground for a Demurr to be ^ put in againli: my prcfent difcharge in opcnCourt, ■: and that by Proclamation ; efpecially fincc my ; yidvccate has alfo, by his Blood, fuHy fatisfied the ^ old Law, that he might eftablifli the new, Hct» !

10.9, 11, 12. . .

Prxv. 4, Fourthly, Since that which goeth be-fore is true, it follows, ihathciV\a^ euxwttVW*

ta agamft cheChildren mufl needs he overfbrown, ralways before jaft Judges 'tis Right thac cakes ace. Judge the rights O Lord^ (aid David, 9r let i Sentence come forth from thee^ according to the iw of Grace. And he that knows what ftt-ong ound or bottom our Advocate has for his Plea-ngs, and how Satari's Accufations are without and Foundation, will not'be afraid, he fpci[king

Chrift, to fay, / appeal to God Almij^hty^ ftncc rifi is my Advocate by the hev Law, whether I rht to be condemned fo Death and Hell for Uhat tan pleads a^ainft me by the old. Satan urgeth, 2C we have (inned, but Chriii: pleads to his pro-:iatory Sacrifice, and fo Satan pleads the Ju* ce and Holinefs of God againft us ; and there ; Accufer is overthrown again : And to them irift appeals, and his Appeal is good, Hnce the kw teitifies to the fuiGciencyof the Sacisfa(ftion' It Chrift has made thereto by his Oi>edience, m. 3. 22, 2). and alfofincc by another Covenant xl himfelf has given us to Jefus Chrift, and fo liver'd us from the old> Wherefore you read thing-as aneffe^il of Satan's pleading againft u% I that his Mouth is ftopt^^as appears by the 3 J ^fcbariab, and chat he is caft, yea, cajl down 5 you have it in ^v. 12.

Indeed when God admiw nct,whenChrift wil's^ t to be an Advocare,^nd when Satan is hi^^ ft and the right hand of one accused, Pfal. 109. 6, 7.

inforce, by pleading againft him, the things arg'd on him by the Law, then he can prevail; 2vaii foi' ever againft fnch a wrcxhed one 5 but len Qhrift ftands up to pleat), when Cltrift* c-Dufes this or chat man's Caufe,thqu Satt^w m\i.<k. rre^r, then be muft go down* Kr\OL Av\&tv^c^S^

£5 ^;^

rily flows from the Text, tfc have an A^vo prevailing one, one that never loft Caufe,oi always puts the Childrcns Enemy ro the re fore the Jiidgment-icai: of God. Thi§ there another rrivijege that they have who hav< ChrifHbr their Advocate j cheir Enemy muf be overthrown, becaufe both Law and Ju( on their fide.

Priv. 5. Fifthly, Thine Advocate has p tbee, and great Indignation againft thine A< and thcfe arc two excellent things. When 5 ycr hath pity for a Man whofe Cayfe he pic it will engage him much ; but when he 1 dtgnation alfo againft the man^s Acculer, th yet engage bim more. NowChrift has both and that not of Humour, but by Grace a ftice ; Grace to us, and Jufticc to our Ac He came dowo from Heaven that he migj Pricft,and returned thither again to be a Pri Advocate for his ;.and in, both thefc Offices vellech his whole force and power againf Accufer. For this caujc was the Son of God m* that he mi^htdefiroythe worlds of the Devil^ J

Cunning Men will, if they can, retain one to be their Advocate that has a par Quarrel againft their Adverfary; for thu! they, he that is fuch will not only plead 1 but for himfclf, and to right his own V^ and fince 'tis fo, my Concerns and my Adv are interwoven, i'm like ro fare much bet the Anger that is conceived in his Heart ; him. And this, I fay, is the Childrcns cafe Advocate counts their Acaifcr his greatcfti and waits for a time to take Vcngeance,an< nites Opportunity when he has o\>.g)jvt to

of jefiis chiift: 35

is People: Henc^ he fays,TA* D.iy of VLVgeaftce in my Hearty an4 the Thar of mj I^edc.tncd is )me, Ifa. 6^. 3, 4.

I do not fay that this Revenge of Chrift i", as 6-rimes is a Man\ of Spite, Prcjudice.or other regular lettings out of Paflion, but it arilcs from jghteoufnefs and Truth j nor can it bc,but ihac clus muft have a defirc to take Vengeance on tiis .n^my and ours, fince Holincfs is in him to the-nn6ft bounds of Perfedion. And I fay again, lat in all his Pleading as an Advccate.as well as 1 his offering as a Pried,he has a hotand flaming .efire and defign to right himfcif upon hisFoc and jori: Hence he triumphed over him,when he died wui on the Croft, and defign'd the fpoiling his Principality, while he pour'd out his Blocd for us N?fore God, Col.i. 14,1 5. Wc tben have this advantage more, in that Chrift is our Advocate, our inemy is alfo his.and the Lord counts him fo.

Priv.6, Sixthly, As thine Advocate, fo thy fudge holdeth thine Accuferfor hii Enemy alfo. For .t is not in love to Righteoufncfs and Jultice that Satan accufeth us to Gov"i, but ihat he may de-ftroy the WorkmanThip of God ; wherefore he ilfb fighteth againft God when he accufeth the Children ; and this thy Father knows right well, he muft therefore diftinguilh between the Charg:^ and the Mind that brings it,YpeciaHy when what is charg'd upon us is under the gracious Promife of.a Pardon (as I have fhew'd it is.) Shall nor the Judge then hear his Son (for our Advccaie is his Son) in theCaufe of one that he favours,and that he juftly can, againft an Enemy who fecks his difhonour, and the deftrudion of his eternal Ue-^igns of GfJtce ? J

A mention of the Judge^s Son goes fa v-ouncr)mcn,and grcacftrivingrherc is wic • Y'^o have great Enemies and bad Caufcs, the Judge's Son to plead, promifing them thac ,he Judge is as like to hear him,and t< a Verdiiit to his Plea, as to any other L ^ut what now (hall we fay concerning our J 5on, tiho takes pare not only with his Ch but with him, and with Law and Iuftice,ii aing againft our Accufer ? Yea, what (h; lay when Judge, Advocate, and Law are a to make our Perfons (land and efcape, whs and how truly foever the Charge and Acci «s oy which we are aflaulted of the Devil yet all this is true,wherefore here is anothc ^ ilegc of them that have Jefus for their Adv Priv, 7, Seventhly^ Another Privilege tha have who have Jefus Chrift for their Advoc that hQxs undaunted^ and oi^i good courage^ ihe Cautc chat he undertakes, for that's a i tice qualification for a Lawyer,to be bold ar daunted in a Man's Caufe; flich a one is co efpeciaily by him that knows be has a br faced Auragonift J wherefore he faith, that^ Jet his Fact like n Flinty ifa. 50. 5,, 6, 7. wh< ftands up to plead the Caufe of Bis People. jers^ of a!l Men, need this Courage, and to bovc others Men of hard I'^ebeads, bccau the Affronts they fometimes meet with, be Caufe never fo gocd, in the face fometimes c chief of a Kingdom. Now Chrift isourLa\ and ftands up to plead, not only fometimes alwa\s for his People, before .the God of C snd ihat not \n a corner, but while ill the <^fHt:a\ en Itands by, boiK on lUe T\£VkX.Vvau<

I the left. Nor is it to be doubted but chat our xufer brings many a fore Charge againft us in-the Court, buc however we have an Advocate ac is valianr and couragious, one that will not ily nor be difcourag^d, till he has brought Judgr ent into Victory, Htnccjobn inferts his Name,, yit^gy If 4»; ^dan^n, we have an Advocai$ witk f Father, Jefis Chrift.

Men love to undcrftand a Man before ihey mmit their Caufe to him, to wit, whether he fitly qualified for their Bufinefs. Well, here's-Advocate propounded, an Advocate to plead xCaufe againft our Foe. But what is he? what his Name ? Is he qualified for my Bufinefs Jf be Anfwcr is; Tis Je/m Qhrift. How 1 JefiM^ rsftf that old Friend of Publicans and Sinners I fUs Chrift / he ufed never to fail, he ufed toy^^ r Face iikjB a Flint againrf Satan,when he pleads-e Caufe of his People. // it Jefw Chrift, fays-z knowing Soul, then hejhall be mine Advocate,. For my parr, I have often wonder'd, when I ve confider'd what fad Caiifes Jcfw Chrift meiimes takes in hand, and for what fad Souls" (ometimes pleads with God his. Father, he had ?d of a Face as hard as Flint, elfe how could bear up in that Work, in which, for us, fome-les he is imploy'd ; a Work enough to. make igels blufli. Some indeed will lightly put off 5, and fay 'tis his Office ; but I fay, Kis Office. cwithftanding the Work in itfcif is hard, ex-' >ding hard,when he went todic,had he not de^ (edtbcfijame^ he had curn'd his Back upon the ofs, andjcft us in our Blood : And now 'tis his, •n to plead, the Cafe would be the fame, oo^ can make Argmnciii upon-th^V vj\^\cVv \JH

t6 The Adventelbip

feems to yield no ArgntQent At ill. to take Coii> rage to plead for i ^o/hud, for a jajhua cloaih'd with filthy Garments. He, faith he, that h a/ha-med cfme and mj teordj /H fkii idulterBui Oeneri-tiea, of him vtS i he ajh/ii^td, 8:c. AJ^r^S. 38. Hence it follows that Chhft will be aiham'd of. foiq^ bur why not afhanVd of (jthers ? It is rt« becaufe their Caufe is good, bur becaufe they" ate kepr from denying him profefledly ; Wherefore for fuch he will force himfelf, and vi\\\ fet his Et« like a Flint, and will without fhame *W,, flet.i, and imfrave his Intereft With God for the*, even for rhem whofe Caufe is fo horribly tii tmd jjfo^, tbAt they tluP^ themfelvts tb ibirik. *«'*. tm what will not Lavs da ? What will not Love tedr mth ? And what will not LoVefuJfer ? Of all the Offices of Jefus Chrift, I think this tryeth him as much as any. True, his offering hitfifelf in Sacrifice try'd him greatly, but that was biK foT a while ; bis grapling as a Captain wirhttit Carfe, Death.and Hell, try'd him much, but thai alfo was but for a while; but this Office of being an Advocate, iho' it meer< not with fuch fuddefl depths of Trouble, yet what it wants in (hortnefi it may meet with in length of time. 1 know Cbrlf being railed from the dead, dies no maye ; yet ht has nor left oif, tho' in Hcaven.to do fome workJ of Service for his Saints dh Earth, for there h« pleads as an Advocate or Lawyer for his People, Hel/.i.i,i. And let it be, that he has no caufe of (hame, when he ftandcth thus up to plead for fc vile a wretch as I, who have To lilely finned, yg I have caufe to think that well he may, and lO •^^-* my Hands before my Fact fftr ftiime, and

vf Jefiis ChriflF. . ^7

offfrotn Condemnation for mv trahrgrcffions^ bis fate like u flint to plead for Hit with (J#rf, ^gaidft my Abcufir. but thus mtrch for the nth Privilege that they have by Chrift, who : him for their Advocate. riv. 8. Eightly, Another Privilege that they * who gee Jefus Chrift to be their Advqcate is, H& ir always rtady^ alx$ays in Court^ always ' the Judgt^ then and tier r $b Ofpofe^ if our AC'* ^ comcSf and to flead axninji him wbat*$ plead' far his Children. And this the Text implies, re it faith, H-^ have an AdvocAtfe with the F4-, always with the Father. Some Lawycrs,tho' ' are othervwfe able and flirewd, yet not being lys in Court and ready, do foffer their poor rnts to be baffled and nonfuited by their Ad-"ary ; yea^ it fo comes to pafs, becatife of this S;lecft, that a Judgment is got out againft them whom they have undertaken to plead, to their it perplexity and damage ; bur no fuch op-cunity can Saltan have of our Advocatc,for he ^th the Father, always with the Father, as to I Prieft, fo ro be an Advocate ; Wr have an ■ ocacc with the Father, It is faid of the Priefts, ,r wait at the Aitar^ artd that they give attem-ce there, i Cor. 9. 13. •' fo of the Magi ft r at e^ : as to his Office he fhould attend cmtinuaSy 'his tftry thi>j^. And a$ thefe,fb Chrift, as toj Office of an Advocate, attends continually on t Office with his Father, ^m. 13, ft li^e have ^dvocare with the Father, always with the Fa-•. Ar.d traly fuch an At^vOcatc becomes the ildrenof God,becaufc of thevigilancy of their Mny ;" for *ris faid of him, thai he accufetVi ui am/ni^ht, Rev. ri. ic. fo vrnvwetLtXciM ^offt^-oih feck and purfue our defiLtu<SlvQt\.\5k>i^.^^

S8» Tht jidvoC4tefbip

hold how we arc provided for him, vfe have an Advocate with the Father ; If he comes a-days,our Advocate is with the Father ; if he comes a-nighcs ou( Advocate is with the Father. Thus then is our Advocate ready to put check to Satan^ come he when he will or can to accufe us to the Father. Wherefore ihefe two Texts are greatly to be minded, one of chem,for that it (hews us the reft^ lefnefs ofowr Enemy^ the other, for that it (hews af> the diligence of our Advocate.

That alio in the Hebrem (hews us the careful-nefe of our Advocate,, where it faith. He iigMi into Heaven^ now to appear in the pre fence of Goi for as, Hcb. 9.14. Now,juft the tiiie prefent j ii» the time always prefent ^ now, let Satan come when he will. Nor is it to be omitted, that this word, that thus fpecifies the time, the prefent time, doth alfb conclude it to be that time iff which we are imperfed in Grace, in which we have many failings, in which we are tempted apd ^iccufed of tlie Devil to God : This is the timCr and in it, and every whit of it, he ndip appeareib in the prefcncc of God for us. O the diligence of our Enemy I O/ the diligence of our Friend 1 the One againft us, the other for us, and that contJ* htially. If any man fin^ we have an Advocate wiA the Father Jefus Chriji the righteous. This then, thar Jcfus Chrift is always an Advocate with the Father br us, and fo continually ready to put Or check to every Accufation that Sacan brings into the prclbncc of G;;.! againfk us, is another of the Privileges chac .;!uy l..,\e who have J-cfus Cbrifi for rhcir iidw.-^v.-.:,

Priv,<p. Kin: i-. , Anally r Privilege that rhcy Aire who ku \ i; // las Chnli lo be iVvcve KOtNc^ti^t^

this f He isTnch a one that will not by Brikes^ Flattery^cr fair PrctenceSf be turnM afide from rfuing of his Client^s buHnefs. This was the uIc of Lawyers in cid time, that they would eft Judgment for a Bribe: Hence the holy one mplain^dy Ihat a Bribe did ufe r» blind the Eyes the mfcf and feivert the Judgment cf the righ' lU^ I Sam. 12^3. Amos 5.12. Oeut^ 16.19. There \ three things in Judgment that a Lawyer muft ' :e heed of, one is the nature of the Oft;ice,ibc

mm W • 0 »

ler is the meaning and intendment of the Law-;kers, and a third is to plead tor them in dan* % without refped to AfHidlion or Reward; and s is the Excellency of our Advocate, he will :, cannot b^ byaG*d, to turn afide frpm doin^ Igftient. And thjs the Apoftic intendeth when callethour Advocatey^yJr/ Chrifi tlje righteous-; s have an Advocatc.With the Father,?*//// Chrifi righteous. Or as another Prophet calls him, to t. The JuH Lordf one that will do no Iniquity, .t is,no Unrighteoufnefsin Judgtnent,^tf;>/T.3, %» : will not be.provok'd to do it, neither by the ' continual Provocations whercwich, by reafbn hy infirm condition, thou doft often tempt him lo it. And remember that thy Advocate pleads the new Covenant, and thine Adverfary aCr cs by the old ; and again, remember that the V Covenant is better and more richly provided h grounds of pleading for our Pardon and Sal-ion, than the old can be with grounds for a rge to be brought in by the Devil againft us^ pofe our Sin be never fo heinous. *Tis a better /enant, eftablifh'd uppn better Promifes. 'Jow put thefe two together, namely,tl\aic]fe-Cbriit is ri^hitoxxs^ and w\i\nox twetN^Vcw

'90 The Advocntejhip

Judgment; a'ifo thacheplcads for us by theiitxr Law, with which Satan hath nothing to do, nor (had he) can he by it bring in a Plea againft vi%^ yer. 31.19. to 54.. £j|;^<^. 36. 25,(030. Blekt. S, CO 13, becaofe that Law in the very body of ic eonfifts in free Promifes of giving Grace unto ut,-and of an cverlafting fofgivenefs of our Sin, O-Chifdrcn, your Advocate will ftick to the LaW> to the new Law, to the new and everlafting C^ Tenant^ and will not adtnit that any thing tlvotitd be pleaded by our Foe that is inconfiftcnc wkli th« Promife of the Gift tf Grace, and of the rt?-miillon of all Sin. This therefore is another Prl^ vilege that they are made Partakers of who h^vt Jefus Chrlft to be th^ir Advocate;4ie is juft,bcii righteott*, he is Refits Cbrift thf ri^kieui j he will not be turned afide to judge awry, either of the Crime or tb« Law, for favottc or affcdion^ (tor-IS there an) Sin but what is pardonable commit ted by thofe chat have chofen Je&s Chrift u> te dieir Advocate,

Priv to. Temhly, Anothef Privilege that they fiave who have Jelus Chtift co be out Advocate,.

is this ; The Father has made himyCven htm that is thim kdvocsLXc,theXJmfHre and Judge in ^Jl mff^ fers that liave, do, #r ftiall faH$ut Uwixt him ani m, Mark this well j for when the Judge himfclf, before whom I am accus'djfhall make mine A^i* vocate the Judge of the nature of the Cfioie fi^ which I am accused, and of matter of Law hf which I am accused, to wiV, whether 'tis in/#rct againft me ko Condemnation^ or whether by tht I^w of Grace I am fet free, fefjwcially fincc n»y Advocate has efpousM my Gau^, promised me Oe/Jveraace, and pleaded tny ^ifeVvt w>\V^^«ft

)rEi;ernaI Life^ tnuft it not go well with me ? (ts verily. The Judge then making thine Advo-aie che Judge, iovht hath ccmmitnd affju^hment mto the Sin, Job. )» Aa. hath done it alfo for thy ake, who haft chofen him to be thine Advocate. Twas a great thing that hapned to Jfrae/^ when hfefh was become their Advocate, and when ^haraoh had made him a Jtidge ; Thau, fays he, balr te over my Hjuft, and according to thy H^crd hntiaSmjf Peoflc he ruled, S&e, I have fit tbv6 o* ' tr nM tl}eUn4nfE%y\>t, and withwt tf^cejhjtt « man lift uf hit hand or foct in all tbt fand of Lg)pt: cnlytn tbf Throne I mil he j^reater than hm, Gen. 41. 39. 40, 44. Jofipb in this was 4 ipc of Chrift} and his Govtmment here, of the iovemment of Chrift for his Church. Kings fel-om make a man^ Judge his Advocate, they fel-om leave the iGue of the whole Affiair to the Ar* itration of the poor man*s Lawyer 5 but when hey do, methinks it fhould even 90 to the Hearts efire of the Client, Whofe the Advocate is, efpe-ially when, as I faid before, the Caufc of the Client is become the Concern of the Advocate, nd that they are both wrapt np in the felf famfc ntcreft ; yea, when the Judge himfeJf alfo is lerein concerned : And yet thus it is with that oul who has JefusChrift for his Advocate. What iy*ft thou,^cor //f<rrr,tothis ? ThcJudge,fo w/f, le.God of Heaven, has made thy Advocate Ar^ itrator in thy bufinefs ; he is to judge, God has. jferr'd the matter to him, and he has a Concern i thy Concern^ an Inter eft in thy good /peed, Chri-ian Man, doft thou hear ? Thou haft put thy laofe into the hand of Jefus Chrift,at\d h^&cVtf^-nhim to be chincAdvocate^ to p\cid fet x\\fc^\i^-

fore God, and againft thy Adverfary ; and C ha? referr'd the Judgment of that matter to Advocate^ fo that he has power to determine matter. I know Satan is not pleased with thi.s had rather things fhould have been referred himfelf, and then woe had been to the Chile God I but, I fay, God has referr'd the bufinef JefufChrifi^ ^as made him Umpire and Jud^ thine affair. Art thou al(b willing that he (ho decide the matter? Canlt thou fay unto hin David, Judge me, and ple/nt my Caufe^ O Lo Pfal. 43.1.

O cbe Care of God towards his People, and defire of their Welfare I He ba^ provided then Advocate, and he has referred all caufes and thi ihac may by Satan be objedled and brought i gainft us, to the Judgment an<i Sentence of Ch our Advocate, duc, to come toaconclufion this, and therefore,

Prm II. Eleventhly, The Advantage tha has that has the Lord Jefus for his Advocat very great. Thy Advocate has the Caufe, has Law, has the Judge, has the Purfe, and (o co quently has all that is requifite for an Advo to have, fince together with thefe he has He he has H^Jdom, be has Coi/rj^f ,and loves to n: the beft improvement of bis Advantages, for benefit of his Client: And that which adds t( is, he can prove the Debt paid about which S( makes fuch ado, a Price given for the ranfot my Soul, and for the Pardon of my Sins. L ycrs do ufeto make a great matter of it, when 1 can prove, That that very Debt is paid for wl their Client is fued at Law. Now this Chrif fushiaiCdfis Virneii to jiyea, hcbimfc\t\\^%

t

and that out of his own Purfe, for us, with 1

,n hands, before and upon the Mercy-feat, i

ding as the Law requiretb, Lev. 16.13, 14, i

9. 11, to 24. ^Vhat then can accrue to 0

nemy ,or what Advantage can he get by his th

ing and trcublirg the Children of them<

igh ? Cenainly nothing but, as has been U

'ready, to be ceft down ; for the Kirfdcm of c

cd, which isa Kingdcm of Grace,andihePov

?ilf his Chrift,will prevail Samfjoft^s Power lay

^is Hair,but Cbrifts Power, his power to delii

.' ys from the Accufaricn and Charge of Satan,li<

.: «^tbc worth of his Undertakings. And hence

Ai ^Ud again,/^i7«^ //k<7 overcame him by the Bloec

GT ^^Lrjnir, Rev. 12; 10; 11, 12. and he was c

?^ ^»and ^tww. And thus much for the Privilef

^: ^ithofeare made Panakers of who have Je

^krift to be their Advocate. *' ; I come now to the Sixth and laft thftig, whi -• tt,ro(hew you what necejpty there is that Ch ^ Jhould be our Advocate.

That Chrift (hculd be a Prieft to offer Sacrifi

^Kif^g to rule, and a Prcfhet to teach,all feci

flifn acknowledge, is of neceillry ; but that

(kould be an Advocate, a Pleader for his Peo[

few fee the reafon of it: But he is an Advoca

ard as an Advocate has a Work and Imploy

ftintS from his Pricftly, Kingly,orProphetical <

' fkCcSjchn fays, he is our Advocate, and fignifii

alio the narure of his Work as fuch, in that m

place where he affertcth his Office; and as I ha

already (hcw'd )0u the Nature, I will now fh(

you the Neceffity of this Office.

Firft, it is neccflary, for the move full and a pU vintiiciUion of the Jufiict of God,ayL\i\^ cAV

C4vih of the Infernal Spirits, Cbriji died on Earth to declare the Juftice of God to Men, in his jufki-fying of the Ungodly. God ftanderh upon cbo VindicadoD of his Juftice, as well-as upon ch€ 48 thereof i hence the Hoiy Ghoft, by the Prophets and ApoftlcSyfo largely difpucech for the vindiau don thereof, {{am, 3. 24. If a. Jer. MaL while ii ft£ferrQth ch^ reality of the Pardon of Sin^thejufti* fiqacion of xh^ Uoworthy, and cbeir glorification with Gody Sl$ni. 3. cb4p. 4.. chap. 8. QaJ. ^ & 44 I fay« while it difput^th the ju&nefs of this bigji A^ of God, againii the Cavils of implacable Sin* ners. Now phe Prophets and Apoitles, in ihofe Difputes by which they feek to vindicate the Ju^* Siiqc of God in the Salvation of Sinners, are not only Mipiftersof God to us, but Advocates.for birp ; fince, a,s Elihu has it, theyfpeak on GctTj ke* half Job. 36. 2. or as the Margin has xijwilljhrm tfjcic that there ttrc ytt v^rds for God, words to be (pQk^ and pleaded againft his Enemies, for the juftification of his Adtions. Now, as 'tis necefTa-. ry that there (hould be Advocates for God on Earth, to plead for his Juftice and Holinefs, while he favech Sinners againft the Cavils of an ungod^ ly People, fo 'tis necefTary that there Ihould be an Admcate alfo in Heaven, that may there vindi<-cate the fame Juftice and Holinefs of God from all thofe Charges that the fallen Angels are apt to diarge it with, while it confenteth that we, tho' ungoiii'y* Ihould be faved.

lliat the fallen Angels are bold enough to

charge God to bis face with u>'jufinefs of Language

•is evident in the i ft ai^d id of Job 5 and that they

'ibou}d nocbeas bo!d to charge h'lm wvi.Vi VLiv\>3Lft.-

ff^/s ofAdtions, nothing can be (hew'd to Ave cotv-

. Further j Tbac God feeki to clear hinafclf is unjuft charge of Sftan, isas opanifeft S for leTroublcsof his SerY^nc 3r»/> werq chiefly ac purppie: And why be ihould bav^ one aU Heaven tp plead for the jadnefs of his doing ^ Forg^venefs and Salvation of Sinner$,feems s neceflary, even becaufe there's an jiJvac4f$ tiis P^her ieeking to vindi^W bis Juftici^ I he pleads with biofti f^r H^ ag^inft U}e De-id hisObjiri^ions.

O D is x9onderfully flem^i with his Defign ii| g S.inacf% it flints Urn at fit Hffsrt. And he 4i(b 15 infinitely juft,*tis needful an Advc* (liouid be appointi^d tp ihew how in a.yvay pf :e» as Willi as Mercy, 4 Sinft^r may be fav'd»: be good Angejs did not at fir ft fee fo far intd <lyiteries of tfic Gofpel of the Grace of God, :hac they needed further Light therein, for [indication of tbeir Lord,.as Servants^ wherer they yet did pry and look narrowly into ic ler, and a!fp bow'd their Heads and Hvarts •arn yet more by the Church, of the ntamfold iom ofGod^ i.PeK J. 12. Efh. 3. 9, lo. And if landing Angels were not )er, to the uttnoft, ;(St in ibe Knowledge of this Myftery, ("and iurdy they'muft know more thereof than t chac fell could do ) no wonder.if thcfc De« whole Enmity could not but animate their )rance, made and do make their cavils fgainft -ice, infinuating, that it is not impartial and a'.brcaufe it, as'ris juft, juftii?cth thcungouly. hat Satan will quarrel with G O D, l have v'd you, ar»d that he will alfo difpute againft ^orkn with the holy Angels, \svv\otc: \V\^\\'\\v* red by the A pcAW3^udc^ wr. 9, Kwvi ^nV^ ^^^

quarrel with and accafe the Juftice of God as lir righteous, tor confenting to the Salvation of Sii ners, fince his bcft Qualifications are moft pr< found and prodigious Attempts to dethrone d Lord God of his Power and Glory.

Nay, all this is evident^fince we have an Adv catemth theFatlyery'Jefui Cbrift the righteow. Afl again, I fay, *€is evident that one part of his woi as zn Advocate^ is Co vindicate the Juftice of G< while be pleadeth for our Salvation, becaufi'i fUadeth a Propitiation^ for a Propitiation refpcd God as well as m, the appeafisg his Wratfa,and tl reconciling his Juftice to us, as well as l!lie redct ming us from Death and Hell; yea, it therefoi doth the one, becaufe it doth the other. Now: Chrift, as an Advocae, pleads a Propiciation wit God, for wljofe ConviBion doth he plead it ? Not fc God^s, for he has ordainM it, allows it, and glc rioufly acquiefces therein, becaufe he know%th whole Vertue thereof. TCis therefore for the cor viAion of the fallen Angels, and for the confoun ding of all thofe Cavils that can be invented an< bbjedted againft our Salvation, by thofe moi fubtile and envious ones. But,

i^//r. There is matter of Lavv to be objeded and that both againft God and us. At leaft then feems to be fe, becaufe of the SamSlion that Gw has put upon the Law, and alfo becaufe we hav< finned againft it.

God has faid. In the day thou eateft thereof tbo\

Jhdit furely dici and, the Soul tbatfinneth, itjh^i

die. God alfo ftandeth ftill upon the vindicate

(if hit Juftice^ he alfo fav^tb Sinners. Now ii

comes ovr Accufer, and chargeth us of Sin, of be

^gguilcyofSiOp becaufe wefeaveu2Lt\?^t«ft.v>c

Law. God alfo will noc be puc cue of his way or ieps of Grace to fave us, alu> he will fay he^s juft uid righteous ftill; ay, but thefe are but Sayfo's, MW ({lslII this be proy'd ? Why, now here's room bran Advoc/tte chat can plead to matter of Law, hat can preferve the Sandion of the Law in the alvation of the Sinner; Hejkallmagnifi^ the4.aw nd ma^e it honourable^ lfa« 42.11. The Margin lich, and mal^e him honourable ; that is, he (hall ire the Sinner, and preferve the Holinefs of the Af9, and the Honour of his God. But who is this luu can do this ? It u the Servant of God, faith the itifh€ty!t»er. i, 13. the Lord, a Man of War. But •w can this be done by him ? The Anfwer is, ^fluM be done, for God k well f leafed for hi High' mfkefi fake-yiot \is by that he magnifies the aw, and makes his Father honourable ; that is, e a$ a publick Perfon comes into the World un-er the Law, fulfils it, and having fo done, he ives that Righteoufn^fs away, for he, as to his iwn Perfon, never had need thereof: I fay, he ;ives that Righteoufnefs to thofe that have need, 0 thofe that have none of their own, that Righ* :eonfnefs wight be imputed to them.

This Righteoufnefs then he prefenteth to God or us, and God, for this Righteoufnefs fake, is veil pleased'that we (hould be fav'd, and for it an fave us, and fecure his Honour, and preferve be Law in its Sani&ion. And this Chriji pleadeth gainft S/ftan as an Advocate voith the Father for IS ; by which he vindicates his Father's Juftice, loldeth the Child of God, notwithftanding bis lins, in a fUte of Juitificaticn, and ucterlY over-hrowerh and confoundeth the De\\\. .

For Chrift, in pleading thus, apocaAs Xft \!!r^V»>

1?

it fcif, if he has not done ic Jitftice, faying, Mic mif^hty Lan, what Cummatid 0/ thine have I net fit fill'J ? (f^tat Detnund of thine have 1 not fuBj «1 fwer^d > iVhere u that jot at tittle of the Lav tb it akle to objeil a^ainfi mj Doihgtfor vtdnt tf£ titfufHtn.' Here rhc Law is mute, ic fpc^edi iN onfrword by way of [he leaft Comptainc, bni lil ther tcltitics of this Righieoufnefs, ihitit tjgti •end heh, Rom. 3. 11, 23. & ;. i 5, to 19. Iwi then, litice Chrift did this as a publickPerfn^^ follows thac others muft be jnftified ihereb^'IN that was the end and reafon of Chrift's tak^fl htm to do [he Kighceoufnefs of ihe Law ; ofl can the Law objciil againft the Equity of tfaiiSf rpenfarion of Hcaveii; for, Why might not thjl God who cave the Law its Being and in SandH on, difpole as he pleafcs of the Righcconrna which ic commendech } Befides, if Men be dim righteous, they are fo ; and if by a Righteos&a which the Law comniendeth, how can £inl()|| found with chem by. the Law ? Nay, It is wif neffid te by the Law an i the Prephets, who COpfill that it ihonld be unto all, and upon all them tM believe,>r th'irJufiijii:atlon,Kom.-i. 20,11.

And thai the mighty God fuflererh the PiiPiX of the Devils to do with the Law what he tap, agamft this moft wholfome and godly Dodbiif jl is to iliew Ehtf truth, goodncfs, and pennaiifiH) thereof; for tins is as who ftiould fay, Devil, * tlry WB'll. When the Law is in the hand of an eifil Pleader, cho' the Caufe that he picaderh be^**^ a crafty Oppofcr may overthrow the right; b* here is the Salvation of the Children in Debate wbeiher it cati ftand with Law aod ^uftice j ri* CJtyw/cr o/rnis is ihe Devil, bw ^rgaa«tt«.li;pi^

e Law, he cbac defends the Dextrine b the Advocate, who in his Plea muft jufti* [uftice of God, defend the Holinefs of the nd fave the Sinner from all the Arguments, itops and Demurrs that Satan is able to puc nit it. And this he mult do fairly, righ-, fimply, pleading thcVoice of the fdf-Jiifrc »r the Jultification of what he ftandet1ikA)r^ Satan pleads againft it; for tho*^ it is by 7 Lavp that our Salvation comes, yet by the p is the new Law approved of, and the way ation thereby kj it cohfented to. ; (hews therefore that Chrift is not afliam^d 1 the way of our Jt{fiification and Salva--o, not before Men and Devils: It (hews It he is refolv'd to difpute and plead for the ho^ the Devil himfelt (hall oppofe it. And ur Adverfary pretends a Plea in Law a-ir, *tis meet ^bat there (hould be an open g before the Judge of aO about it 9 but uch as we neither can nor dare appear to or our felves, our good God has thought (hould do it by an Advocate ; H^e have an te with the Father, Jejm Chrijl the righteouf, 5 therefore is the fccond thing that (hews fd that we have of an Advocate, to wit, our ary pretends that he has a Plea in Law a-us, and that by Law we (hould be other-fpos'd of, than td be made PoffcfTors of the nly Kingdom. But,

, Ther^ are many things relating to the "e, tb our Life, and to the Tbreatnings, that T matter of Queftion and Doubt, and give 7anugc of Objedhons unto Vv\ta \Vi^x.^cx^^-piSrer/i to be putting \t\ Ca\'v\s au\ti%. ^s^x-s

F 1, ^^

Salvation ; all which it hath pleas'd God to refd?

by Jefus Chrift our AAvocate,

I. There are many things relating to the Pflrf

mifcs, as to the largencfs and ftrairnefs of Wordjt

ss CO the freenefs and conditionaltty of ^aiyWhidr

we are not able fo well to underftand; and theni|'

foi%, when Sfitan dcaleth with us about Vm, «•?■

qttekly fail to the ground before liim ; we otad-

conclude that the Words ef tb€ Promiie ape m^

narrow and (Irait to compt^hend us j we aflb -

think verily that the Conditions of fome Proffiiiil '■

do utterly (hut us out from Hope of Juftificacioii)

and Life ; but our AdvocntCy who is for us with

the Father, he is better acquainted with, imd teii*'

ned^in thn Law, than to be bailed out with abold

word or two, Ipt, 50.4. or with a fubtit)»iece of

Hellifh Sophiftication. He knows the true purpMt^

intent, meaning, and fenfe of ev^py Promife, and

piece of Promife that is in the whole Bible, and

can tell how to plead it for advantage, agairift oor

Accufer, and doth fo : And I gather it not only

from his Conteft with Satan for yc/fe««,Zech;?.

and from his Conflidt with him in the WiJderntfw,

Mat, 4. and in Heaven, ^ev. 14. but alfo from''

the Practice of Satan's Emiflaries here ; for whai]j

his Angels do, that doth he. Now there is here J

nothing more apparent than that the Indrtimcntf '

of'Saraii do plead againrft the Ci-Hrch^fvom ihti

prerrndcd inrricacy, arribiguicy, and difficulty of

the Promife ; whence I gather, fodoth Satan hc^

fore the Tribunal of Got^, but there we have one

to match him, n?^ have an Advocate ivith the F^ ':

tljer, that knows Law and Judgment better than j

Saran, and Statute and Q^mmnndf/^t^^t better than

^/Jhis Angels ; and by the Vct<\*\& oi c\x^ iSArw-, cat«

k

K^f,all tfie Words,'and Litnics,and Excenfions of ^^ords, wich all Condidons of the Promifes, are Kpounded and. applied. And hence ic is chat ic iwfnetimes fo fallech out, that the very Promife we IMTC thought could not reach us, to comfort us by my means, has at another time fwallowM us up *ith Joy unfpeakable : Chrift the true Prophet his the right underftanding of the Word, as an |iifcper4/£, has pleaded it before God again ft Satan^ 'ni having overcome him at the Common Lawy he kxh fenc to let us know it by his good Spirif^ to our effort, and the Confufion of our Enonies, Again, • 2. There are many things relating ro our Lives dut minifter to our AccuferOcc<i/;(?wj of many Oi* prions rgainft our Salvation; for, be^des our tbily. Infirmities, there arc in our Lives ^r^j? Ww, Aany horrible Bnckflidings ; alfo we oft-times fiick and drink in many abominable Errors and deceitful Opinions^ of z\\ which Satan accufcth us before the pudgment^feat of God, and pleadech bartf, tba* wc may be damn'd for ever for them, Beiides, fojne of thcfe things are done after Light fiwreivy, againft prefept Convicftions and DifTwa* fiofls to the contrary, againft folemn engagement a Amendment, when the Bonds of Love were jpcli us, ,?fr. zo, lo; Thefe are crying Sins, they lave, a towi Voice in themfelves againft us, and >ive to Sacaivgreat advantage and boldnefs, to fae "or our Deftrttitfon before the Bar of God ; nor Joth he wiint Skill to aggravate and to cofnment jrofoundly upon all Occafions and Circumftan-:es chat did attend us in thefe our Mifcarriages, o wit, that we did it without a caufe; alfo when weliave had mktiy things to hc\\> us «L^iv^^ ^'^Ocv 'ins, bare ive Aad Grace to have \]L£ed vJcvft^, ^^8

to have kept us dean and upright. There it? alfo/t Si» unco Death^ i Job, 5. and he can tcll-how to labour, by Argument and flight of Speeclrf^ to make our Tranfgreirions not only to border u on, but to appear in the hue, (hape, and figure that, and thereto make his Objetilion againit oac^ Salvation. He often argueth thus with us, and falbneth the weight of his Reafons upon our Coor\\ fcienccs, to the almoft utter deftruAion of uSyaod^ the bringing cf us down to the Gates of Uefpair; and utter Dv^ilrudiiion ; the fame Sins, with loeir aggravaiing Clrcumfiances^ as I faid, he pleadcch againfl us at the Bar of God : But there he meec-cth wiih Jcfus Chrift our Lord and AdvocMiw whoenrereth his Plea againft him, unravels all\ his Reaibns and Arguments againft i/j, and ihewi. the guile and falfhood of them ; he alfo pleadech as CO the nature of Sin, as alfo to thofe hi|{h Aggravations, and proveth, that neither the &i in it felf, nor yet as joyn'd with all its aJvantif geous Circuinftancej^ can be the Sin unto Deatbf CoL 2. 19. becaufe we hold the SJedd, and have not m2iit Jhipwreck of Faiths I Tim. i. 19. butftill, asD/TwVand Solomon^ we confefs and are forrjr for our Sins. Thus, tho' we feem, thro' our Fall^ to come (hort of the Promife with Peter^ Heb.\.V and leave our Tranfgreffions as Stumbling-blocks to the World with Solomon^ and minifter occafiofi oKa Qucftion of our Salvation among the godly, : yet our Advocate fetches us off before God, and ' we diall be found fafe (and in Heaven at laft) ; by them in the next World, who was afraid they had loft us in this. I

But all thcfc Points muft be managed by Chrift /bf us, againlt Satan^ as aLAtvjrer, 2Lt\ Adwcate^

who to that end nofp appears in the prefence of Bod for us, and wifely handleth the very Crjjjj

the Word, and of the Failings of Bis People,

;echer with all ihofe nice and critical Juggles which our Adycrfary labourcih to bring us

m, to iht.Conftifion of his Face,

3. There is alio the Threatnings that are an-

ys*d to the Gofpel, and they fall now under^ur

Co^fideration. They are of two forts, fuch as

\viif%St thofe who altogether rcjevfl the Gofpel, or

flofe who profefs it, yet fall from chat Profeflion.

The firfk fort of Tirfftf/«/«f cannot be pleaded Jtgainft the Profeflbrs of the Goljpel,as againft rhofe chat never profefs^d it ; wherefore he undertakes to manage thofeThreatsagainft us who belong to tbofe that have profefs*d, and have fallen/rem it,^ /yr 109. 6. Jojfhua fell in it, Zech, 3. i, i. Judas kiifrom it, and the Accufer ftands at their right band, before the Judgment of God, to refiftthem by pleading the Threat? agaiaft 'cm, to wit, that Sod's Soul (houJd have no pleafure in them, f // tnjf man draws back^ W7 Soulfioall have no pleafure 'nbim,2 Here's a Plea for Satan,both againft one ^ md t'other, they are both apoftatiz'd, both dravp/g '^ackf and he is fubcile enough to manage it. Ay, 'ut Satan, here is alio Matter fufficient for a Pica or our Advocate againft thee, forafmuch as the ext words diftinguifh betwixt dravping back, and raxfing back, uufo Perdition ; every one that draws ack doth not draw back ^^^^ Perdition^ Heb. 1 o. 8, 39. Some of them draw back/row, and fomc n the ProfeiTion of the Gofpel. Juda& drew back ^oiw, and Peter in the Profeilion of his Faith; i/herefore y«^<« perilhes, hxxi Peter turns again, ^czufcJ^uJat drew back unco Pct4\uoxi,Wx. Vt*

ter yet believ'd ro the faving of the Soul. Nor doth Jefus Chrift, when he lees 'cis to no purpofe, at any time ftep in to endeavour to fave the SouI» Wherefore, as for Ju^m, for his backfliding froxxi the Faith, Chrift turns him to Saran, and leavetb him in his hand, faying, H'ifen he Jhall be jud^d-^ let him be condemn d^ and let his Prayer become JiUp Pfal*io9.7. but he did not fcrve Peter fo, TAr Lord will not leave him inhk hand,nor condemn him when he is judged, Pf 37. 33- He will pray for him before, ana plead for him after he has been in cbe Temptation, and fo fccure him, by vercue of his . Advocatefmpy from the lafh of theThreacning thac is made againft final Apoftacy. But,

4* The NeceflTirjr of the j1dvooatdl*s Office is Jefus Chrift appears plainly in this. To plead ih bout tl}9 judgments^ DiftreJfeSydlffliBions^andTrv^ hies that wc meet withal in this Life for our Sint* For tho* by vcrtue of this Office Chrift fully cakes us off from the Condemnation that Unbelievers ur.acrgo for their Sins, yet he doth not thereby exempt us fronri' temporal Puni(hments,for we fee and feel that they daily overtake us; but for the froportioning the Punilhment for Tranfgreflion, as thac comes under the cenfure of the Law, 'tis ft ^ ilould have an Advocate that underftands both Law and Judgment, ro plead for equa^ diftribfl-tion of Chaftifcmenr, according,! fay,.to the Law of Grace: And this the Lord Jefus doth.

Suppofe a Man, for Tranfgreffion, be indicted at the Affizcs; his Adverfary is full of Malice, and would have him punifh'd forely, beyond what by the Law is provided for fuch Offence ; and he pleads, that the Judge will afflict and puniA 4s he in hxs malicious m*\t\d AtfirwXi •• ^'t

■■■

(?/Jefus Clirift. lo;

the man has an Advocate ckere, and he enters his Ptea againft the Cruelty of his Client's Accufer,. faying, hfy Lord, It cannot be as our Enemy vpould htve ft f. the Panifhftient for thefc Tranfgreifions ae prefcrib'd by that Law ttiac we here ground our PJea upon ^ nor may it be declined co facisfie Iris Enry, wc ftand here upon Matters of Law, ifld appeal to the Law. And this is the Work of Wr Advocate in. Heaven* "Puniihments for the Sin ofibe Children come not headlong, not without neafure, as our Accufer would have'em, nor yet as they fall upon tbofe who have none to plead their Ctufe: Hach hefmoti the Children according to the ftroke wherewith he hath fmicten others? No, h mcafure when it Jhoohth forth, (ov feeks to exceed due bounds) thm wilt debate with it iheftay* etb hit rough ff^nd in the day of his Eaft f1^nd,{C2* ^7* 7» S> 9« Ti^w ^^^^ debate with it, enquiring and reaibning by the Law, whether the (hootings forth of the Afflidrion (now going out for the Of-* fence committed) be not tooftron^, too heavy, too hot, and of too lonr a time admitted to diftrefs and break the Spirit of this Chriftian ; and if it be, he applies himfelf to the Rule to meafurc ic by^ he fetches forth his Plum-line, and fees it in the midjt of his People, Amos 7. 7, 8. Ifa. l8. 17. ind lays Righrcoufnefs to^i^t.", and will not fuflfer X to go further,but according to the rerms,bound5^ imits and n:>ealures which the Law of Grace a3-nits, fo ihall the Puniflimenc be. S/ttan oft faith )f us, when we have finned, as j^bifhal faid of Ujintfi after he had curs*d David, Shall not this nin die for this ? Z Sam, i<^ zi. Sat Jefus out \dvocate anfwers as David, VVoxt ki\)8 I to ^^ fMr^fif, O Satan? Thou this day art an Eac v^ t<i

mi; ihoufttkifi for a Punifhmint for greffKui ofmj People, nbave what ii alUi tij the L.t ID of Grace, under which tbey a jonJ jrhtit their Relation that rhejjia father and m, felf mil admit. Whercf iioea« he pleadetli againft Safaw, wher in agaiiiit us a Charge for Sins com iht' rPguiarir.g of Puiuihments both as degree, and continuation of Puni^n this is the rcafon why, when wc are are not cnrniemii'iJ, but chnflcu'd, i C that wc (hould not be condemn'd with Heuce O.jujV fays, l/je tow/ had not ever to the mil of bii Enemy, PJal. 27. gain, ri>e Lord hath chajlend me/ore, riot given mi Di.tr unto Death, Pfal. 1 18. Flea was. That the Lord would give to his Will, ami to the Tyranny ot" D fays Diir Advocate, that muft not b would be an affront to the Covenant ui Grace has put'cm ; that would Ise t< 'cm by a Covenant of Works under ' are not. There is a !{pd for Children , : for thofi of them ibaetranj'^rejt; thisjj hand of a Father, and muft be us'd at the Law of that Relation, not for the 1 but corrc<3ion of the Chi'dren ; not to Rage of Satan, but to vindicate the 1 my F.ither ; not to drive 'cm funher/i bring 'em nearer (s their God. But, S- Thenece.Iity of ihe ^dvicaicfii Chrift is alfo manifeft in this, for th need of one la p'.ejdtbr cfficicj cf eld 1 tal Inheriiatici, nhen cur hittrcj J 'ju;fiiiiijable iy reafm of new TlS

hat God*s People may, by their new and repea-i Sirts, as to Reafon at leaft, endanger their fereft in the eternal Inheritance, is manifeft by ch Groanings of theirs as thefc, I4^h dojl tUu ft me off\ Pfal.43. 2. £^ 51. II. Qafl me mt vay from thy p efmce^ Pfal. 60. i. And^ O God^ hybiji thou cdft us off for ever ? Pfal. 74. i. Yec ind in the Book of Leviticus, that tho' atTj of be Children of Ifrael ftioujd hzvefold.morigag'd "Rm^ide awny withihciv Inherirance,they did not iereby utterly make void their Tide 10 an In-ereft therein, but it Iliould again return to *cm, ind they again enjoy the poffeifion of it \\\ the fear of Jubilee. In the Tear of Jubilee, faiihCod, mfhall yetum every man to his PoJf.ffJjn ; thi . Und /hall not be fold for ever, nor be quite cut off, 4r the Land is mine, for ye are fir angers and /o-mmers with me. In all the Land of your Poffaffi^n foufhall grant a Redemption for the Land,Lcv,l^, The Man in Ifrael that, by waxing poor, did !ell his Land in Canaan, was furely a type of the !!hriftian who, by Sin and Decays in Grace, has 'orfeitcd his Place and Inheritance in Heaven ; )ut as the Ceremonial >Law provided that the )Oorman in Canaan ftiould not by his Poverty lofe lis Portion in C4»tf4« for ever, but that it fhould eturn to him in the Year of Jubilee j fo the Law /Gr4Cff has provided that the Children (Viall not or their Sin lofe their Inheritance in Heaven for :ver, but it Hiall return to iheni in t'other l4^orld^ 1 Cor, 11,32. All therefore that hapnerh in this !^afe, is, they may live wichout the comfort of it icre, as he that had fold his Houfe in Canaan night live without the enjoyment of it till t.^<i \v\-l^iiee; Tbcy may aifo feem to covv"v^ &iO\^. ^^^^ "^

The Jdvocatejhip . when rhey.die, as he in Canaan did, that dcceas'd before the Year of Jubilee: Bat as certainly as he that died in Canaan before the JabUee did yer rp; ccive arain his Inheritance, by the hand of his rt* lative Sun'iver, when the Jubilee catnc, fo cer-lainly ftia'l he thai dieih, and thai feemecb in hi) tl) in^ to come Ihort of the Celeftial Inheritance now, be yet admitted, at his rifing again^ to the repofleSion .of his Old Inheritance arihcDayof Judgment, But now here's rpomfora Cawllet to objei^, and to plead againfl the Children, faying Thtj have forfeited their fart of Paradife by tbt'iT Si}i,vh.it Hlj^ljt thta fhali they have te the f^rngdm cf Heaven ? Ni^k let the Lord fiand up t» flead,fisi ■ he is AJ.ocatc for the Children. Yea, let them j p'ead the fuffidencyof their tirft Title to the I Kingdom, and that it is not their doings can fell j the Land for ever. The reafon why the Children of Ifrael couid not fell the Land for ever, was bccaufe the Lord, their Head, rcferv'-d to hioifelf a Right therein ; The Land {hall not be foldfvt ever, for the Land ii mine. Snppofe two or three Children have a lawful Title to fuch an Eftate, but they arc all prefufe and prodigal, and there's a Brother alfo that has by Law a chief Right to the fame Eftate; this Brother may hinder the E-ftate from being fold forcvcr.becaufe 'tis hisfti-heriranci,inA he may.when the limitied time that his Brethren had fold their 5/>rfi-e therein is our, ^f he will, rcftore it to 'em agen. And in the nipan time, if any ihnt are unjujl ilionid go abeut utterly and for ever to deprive his Brethren, he 'inay Iland up and plead for 'cm, That in LaTo tie 'LaffJcai?fm be fold far ever, for that it is his as

f. O my Brethren 1 Chrifr will not part with , jght of the Inheritance unto which you are born ; your Prpfufenefs and Prodigality fliall nake him let go his hold thfdt he hath Xoxyou [eaven; nor can you according to Law feH Land for ever,- ftnce 'tis his, and he hath the :ipal and chief Title thereto. This alfo gives

ground to ftand up to plead for you a^inft lofe that would hold the Kingdom from you ver; for let Satan fay what he can againft ; yet Chrift can fsL)\. The Land is mine, and equently that his Brethren could cot fell it. »j, fays Satan, if the Inheritance be divide J» > but (fays Chrift) the Land is undivided, no

has his part fct out and turn'd over to him-; befides, my Brethren yet are under-age,and \ made their Guardian ; they have not power 11 the Land for ever, the Land is mine, alfo Father has made me Feoffee in truft for my hren,that they may have what is allotted 'em n they are all conte to a perfiSt Man, io the Cure of the Stature of the Fulnefs ofChrifi,Eph. 1, 13. and not before, and I will refervc it for n till then, and thus to do is the Will of my^ ler, the Law of the Judge, and alfo my un-igcable Refolution.^ And what can Satan fay nft this Plea ? Can he prove that Chrift has" Inrcrcft in the Saint'^s Inheritance ? Can he 'c that we ai^e at age, or that our feveral Parts le Heavenly Houfe is ahead) deliver'd into own Power? And if hegoesabon^ to do this, Dt the Law of the Land againfi him ? Dotkit \ fay thatour Advocate is Lor^o//?//, ASls io,\6[ \

the Kingdom is Chijl^Sy tbat k \^ Va;*' u^ \i(t

venforus, £ph. 5*. 5. Col. i. v '^e?t,\\\«^ ^^^

Inbe^tit AT

no

The Advocntefhif

Inheritance which is incorruptible^ undefi that fadeth not av9ay^ is re/erved in Heavt who are kfpt hy the Power of God thro'* Fa Salvation^ j Pec. i. 3, 4, 3. Thus therefoi Heavenly Inheritance made good by uu cacc, againft the chwartings and branglin Devil ; nor can -our new Sins make it but i* abidcth fafc to us at la ft not with! our vVcakijcl's; tho\ if we fin, we m: but liiile comfort of it, or but little of its ProSts while we live in this prefcnt Wo Spendthrift, tho' he lofes not his Title, lofe the prefent Benefit, but the Princi; come again at la ft, for we have an /iJvoc the Fatherfjefus Chrift the righteous,

6. The Neceffity of rhc Advocatefliip Chrift for us furtner appears in this, to" that our Evidences^ which declare that wi ^i^ht to the Eternal Inheritance, a>e often own handy ye a,and alfo/ometlmes kept long the which we come not at the fight or cc again, but by our Advocate, efpecially w Evidences are taken from us, becaufe of j forfeiture of this Inheritance to God, b; that moft foul Offence. £> idences, when thus taken away as in Davidh cafe (P/7 \ they were, why then they are in our God laid up, I fay, from the fight of them v they belong, till they even forget the C thereof, l Pet. i. 5, 6, 7/8, 9.

Now when Writings and Evidences ai the hand of the Owners, and laid up.in th where in Juftice they ought to be kept, not ordiiiarily got thence again, but by of a Lawyer, an Advocate. Thus it is ^

^ Jefus Chrift. m

of God, wc do often forfeit our Inte-ernal Life, but the Mercy is, the Fo.fett. the hand of God, (notof the Law, nor wherefore he taketh away alfo our Evi-f not all, yet) fomc of 'em, as he faith, I tway my Peace ftorn this People^ even io^ nefs dndmexcy^ Jer. i6. 5. This he took id^ I Chron. 17. 13. P/«/. 5r. il. 3tnd :s for the reftauration of it, faying, i^^-me the Joy of thy Sulvation^and uphold me ^ee Spirit. And, Loyd^ turn us again^eaufi ojhine^ and wepoall be faved, Pfal. 80.

now alfo hath an opportunity to plead >, and CO help forward the Afflidion, as nts did of old, when God vp4s hut a little :ch. I. I 5. but Jefus Chrift our Advocate 7 appear againjl him,^n(i to fend us froin )ur old Evidences again, or to (ignifieto hey are yet good and authencick, and : gainfaid. Gabriel^ faith he, make this rftandthe Vifion^ Dan, 8. 16. And again

0 another, /^///z, fpeak^ to this yoan^ man^ rufalem Jhailbe inhabited as Towus wb* - Jerufatem had been in Captivity, had ' Evidences of God's Favour and Love

1 ofherSm, and her Enemy itepc in to her Mn and Sorrow,but there was a man e Myrrlc'trres that were in the bottom, >revail wirh her God to fay, / am return k. em ^ith merciet ; and then commands ic claim'd. That his Cir/a through profpejnty

befpread abroad, Zcch. I. ij, /ery. • vertue of our Advocate, we are cirher :cGei\ e our old Evidences fQ\: tU^^vca

again, or elfe are made co underjftand chat the/j yet are good^ and ftand valid in the Court of Hn-'i ven ; nor can they be made inefie(3:uaty but fliall 1 abide the Teft at laft, becaufe our Advocate ifj: al(b concerned in the Inheritance of the Saints in ii Light. Chriftians know what it is to lofe tfacir i: Evidences for Heaven, and to receive *cm again» '■■: or t8 hear that they hold their Title by *em, but i perhaps they know not how they come at thir Privilege ; therefore the Apoftle tells 'em, ihcy i have an Advocate : And that by him, as AdvocM, i they enjoy all thefe Advantages, is manifeft, b^ ^ caufe his Advocate*^ Office is appointed for oof \ help when we fin, that is, commit Sins that arc ^ great and heinous. If any man (in, nw have ni ); Advocate* \

By him the Juftice of God is vindicated, the f Liw anfwer'd, the Threatnings taken off, tbc ; meafureof Afllidkion that for Sin weundergo,dc- ■ termin'd our Titles to Eternal Life preferv'd, and our comfor; of'em rcftor'd, nocwithHanding the Wit, ;ind Rage, and Envy of Hell. So then Chrift gave himfelf for us as a Priefi, died foros as a Sacrifice, but pleadeth Juftice and Righteouf*' nefs in a way of Juftice and Righteoiifnefs (for fuch is his Sacrifice) for our Salvation, from the Death that is due to our foul or high TranfgreiTi-ons; as an Advocate.

Thus have I given you an Account of the Nature, End, and Ncceffiry of the Advocatefhip of Jefus Chrift, and (hould now come to Application, odi^ 1 muft firft remove an Objcc9:ion or two.

V>bj. But what needs all thefe Offices of Jeftn

Chriji ? or, whit need you trouble us mth thefe»nice

/>/fi/nnions? *rfs cnouzh f(ir us to bclie-us inCbti^

the general, mthout eonfidering him under thi that Ojffice,

Anf. The Wifdom of God is not to be charged cb needlefs doing,when it giveth to JefusCbrift. :h variety of Offices^and callech himtofo many ploy merits for us; they are all thought necefla-by Heaven, and therefore fliould not be coune-fuperfluous by Earth. And to put s^QjitJtiA cti r Obje^iofiy What's a Sacrifice without a Priefi^ a Priefi without a Sacrifice ? And th^ fame 1

of his Advocate's QflBice, What's an AJvecaee* thout the exercife of hisOffice ? And what need an Advocated Office being exercis'd, if Chrift Sacrifice artd Prieft was thought fufficicnt by >d ? Each of thefe Offices are fufficient for the rfcding the Work for which they arc defign'd^ t they are not all defign'd for the felf-fame par-ular thing, Chrift as.Sacrifice offers not him-f, 'tis Chrift as Prieft does that: Chrift as Prieft ?th not for our Sins, 'tis Chrift as Sacrifice doe*

Again, Chrift as a Sacrifice and aPrieft linsittr mfclf to thofe two Imploy$,butas an Advocate

latmches into a third: And lince thefe are not nfonnded in Hcaven,nor by the Scripture, they mid not in our apprehenfion be counted ufelefs^ 'Tis not therefore enough for us that We exer-^ e our Thoughts upon Chrift in a general way, c we muft learn to know him in all his Offices^ d to know the Nature of his Offices alfo ; our mdition requires this, a$ we are guilty of Sin, we have to do with God and with our Enemf : Devil. As we are guilty of Sin, fo we nee4iil crifice; and as we are alfo Sinners, we need J to prefent our Sacrifice to God fot u"s. '^ «? ^e need alfo of him as Prieft, to ^t^^^cwx. cjjsxt

Perfons and Services to God. And fince God is | juft, and upon the Judgmenc-feac; and fince alfo we are ape co fin grievoufly ; and again, fince we have an Accufer who will by Law plead ac thiS' Bar of God our Sins againft as,io the end we may be condemned, we have need of, and alfo have an" Advocate with the Father^Jefus Cbrifl the righteom, ,

iOas! how many of God's precious People, for I wane of a diftindt knowledge of Chrift in all bis .^ Offices, are at this day fadly baffled with the So- ! phiftications of the Devil 1 To inftance no most ^ than this one thing ; When they have comiTiicccd fome heinous Sin after Light received, how are, they tofs'd and vex'd with many Perplexities! \ They cannot come to any Anchor in this theic ^ tfoubled Sea ; they go from Promife to Promifei i from this to that Office of Jefus Chrift,but forget j that he is (or elfe underftand not what it is) co be ; - an Advocate for them. Hence they fo oft fink uu- ! der the Fears that their Sin is unpardonable, aod * that therefore their condition is defperate,whereas if they would but confider rhatChrift is their Ad-vocate,and that he is therefore made an Advocate, to favc them from thofe high Tranfgreflions that are committed by them, and that he waits upon this Office continually before the Judgment-feat of God, they would conceive Relicf,and be made hold up their Head, and fo more ftrongly wrcft themfelves from under that Guilt and Burthen (thofe Ropes and Cords wherewith by their Folly they have fo ftrongly bound themfelves) than commonly they have done, or do.

Obj. 2. But notmthftandin^ vphat you bavefaii

thi Sin » a deadly Sticky in my way ; it mli not osit

^M/ MinJ, mjCaufe being bad, but CbY»(J wU

Anf, *Tts crue,Sin is and will be a deadly ftick id (lop to Faith, attempt to exercife it on Chrift confMer'd under which of hii Offices or Relays you will; and above all, the Sin of Unbe-f is the Sin that doth fo, or meH eafily befets m^ *.h. II. 1,1. and no marvel, for it never a(5ts a-le, but is backM not only with Guilt and Igno-ice, but alfo with carnal Scnfe and Reafon. He It is ignorant of this, knows but litcie of him* f, or of what believing is : He that undertakes believe, fets upon the hardeft Task that ever IS proposM to Man j not becaufe the things im-s*d upon us are unreafonable or unaccountable, t becaufe the Heart of Man, the more true any .ng is, the morp it (licks and fumbles thereat: id iays Chrift, Bccauje I $ellyou the truth, ye he* vemenot, John 8.45. HcRce ^f/iVv/;?^ is cali'd bouring, Heb. 4', i i. and \is the foreft Labour t times) any Man can take in hand, becaufe a£- -ulted with thegreateft Oppofitions J but believe fou muft, be the Labour never fo hard, and that )t only in Chrift in a general way,but in him as ' his feveral Offices, and to this of his Advocate-ipin particular,elfe fomeSins and Temptations ill not, in their guiit or trouble, ea(ily depart )m thy Confcience, no, not by Promife, nor by y attempts to apply the fame by Faith. And this e Text in(inuates, by its fetting forth Chrift as Ivoratc, as the only or beft and moft fpecdy ay of Relief to the Soul in certain Cafts. There is then' an Order.that thou,muft obfervc exercifing thy Soul in a way of believing. I. Thou muft believe untojuftification in ge-ral, and for this thou muft dueflt tVv^i ?fc^\i\ v^ Lord CbriA, as he is a Sacr'v&ce for ^\u^ ^xv&

but yet I have an Anrwer for this Objedi There is, in Ibme cafes. Law for them cbac ba no Money, ay, Law and Lawyers too, and thi call'd a fuing in Forma pauferii, ind fuch La yers arc appoLnicd by Auchoriiy for that purpt Indeed I Know not that it is thus in every > tioK, but 'tis fomeiimcs to with us in En^Un. and [his is the way altogether in the Kingdc of Heaven before the fiar of God. All is do there fur us in Forma fduferit, on fiee-cefi ; I our Advocate or Lawyer is thereto defign'd V appointed of his Father.

Hence Chrift is faid to plead the Caufe, not the rich and wealtbj, but of the ptor and net notofthofe that have many A-jen^j, but oft Fatberlefi and lVide« ; not of them that are J and ftrong, but of tbofe under fvre AffiiHi* Prov. 21, 12, 13. cbaf, 23. 10, 11.& 31. 9. . Jhslljiaadittthe rij^ht hand ef the Pror, toft him frtim them that condemn hit SowJ.Plal 109. ■ or as 'tis in the Margin, from the Judges «f i Soul. This then is the manner of Jefus Chrift wi Mtn; he doih freely what he doth, not for Pri nor RfKArd. I have raifed him up, (aysCod, and 1 tpill direH ail hit Spoke of C wafj •ybefsall build my City,andhe rw,a type jhall let go my Captives, not far a Chrift. Briie nor Hs^ard, Ifa. 4S- '3-

This, I lay, is the manner of Jcivu Chrift wi Men ; he pleads, he fues in Formt pauprrij gr lis, and ut m?er compaiHon ; and hence' tis ib you have his Clients give him thanks, for tha[ all the Poor can give : / will greatij praifa 1 J,arJ mitu my mo.ilh, i will prm/e bim vmengs

'he Poor^ tofave him frem them that condemn hi \oul. P(al. 109. 30.

They knew but little that talk of giving to thrifty except they mean, they would give him Biefling. and Praife. He bids us come freely, takjt Teely, and tells us that he vj'iWgive and do freely, ^ev. Z2..I7. & 21. 6. Let him have thdt which is 'ns ovm, to wit, thy felf, for thou art the Pric^ of iis Blood. D4vid ipeaks very ftrangely of giving ED God for jnercy beftowM on him ^ I call it Ctrangely, becaufe indeed 'tis fo to reafon ; ff^at (fays he)/haU I render to the Lord far all his bene' fts ? I will take this Cup and call for ptore^ Pfal. 116. 12,13. 'God has no need of thy Gift, nor Chrift of thy Bribe to plead thy Caufe ; take thankfully what is offer"d, and call for more^ that*$ the beft giving to God. God is rich enough, talk not then of giving, but of receiving, for thou art poor ; be net too high^ nor think thy it\f too l9od to live by the Alms of Heaven 5 and lince the Lord Jefus is willing to ferve thee freely, and to tnaintam thy right to Heaven againft thy Foe, tothflfavingof thy. Soul, without Price or Reward, Let the Peace of God rule in thee, to the which thou art alfo called^ as is the reft of the body^ and be thou tkaniful. Col. 3. i 5.

This then is the Privilege of a Chriftian, we huve an Advocate with the Father^ J^ff^s Chrift the righteous ; one that pleadeth the Caufc of bis People 'againft thofe that rife up againft'em, of his Love, Pity, and meer Good-will. Lord, open the Eyes of dark Readers, of difconTolate Saints,that they may fee who is for 'em, and on what terms.

Obj. 4. Buf tf Ch'ift doth once bcyn to ^VtA.^ % /^^, andJhall become mine Kdvocax^^he W\U a\

WMyi be t TOulted with me, unlefi l/bMiU ef i for/Ah him, for lam ever in Srtils mtiii Si Law, ASitn after AHiMt itlaidufen nu, ana Jomerimtt ten timet im 4 daj fummemtd to a my Dtinri before God.

ttif. Chriftis notan Advccacetopleada

. orfvo ; He delivereth Ifracl tut tf »3 bit ilet, i Sam. 21. 28. and chuics to be an Ad\ for fuch; therefore the Godly of old did \ inake,from the greamefs of their Trtublei an abundance of their Trouilen, an Argument t Lord Chrift to fend and /end them Help :

■ mercji upon me, faid David, ctnjider ml trouble ■ Ifuffir eftbem thathateme, Pfal. 9. 13. Ai gain, many are tbty that rife uf aj^ainft mi, tberebelbat fay ef my Soul, there ii no help fu in Ged, Pfal. 3.1,2. Yea, the Troubles of Man were fo many and great, chat his £n( began to iriumph over him, faying, TExrr help for him in God, ver. 7. Butcould he noi liver him, or did the Lord forfafce him ? Nc Thou httji Jmitten, faith he, alt mint Enemies the Chetk;bone ; thou baft broken the Teeth • Vn^odh. And as he delivereth them from Troubles, fo alfo he pleadeth ■ttftheir Cai O Lord, fairh ihe Church, thou bafi pleadt Caufei of my Son/, thou haft redeemed my Lam. 3. sB. Mark, troubled Chriltian, thou thou haft b.-eii arrefted ofc-iimcs in a day, at often fummon'd to appear at God's Bar. the anfwerro whaclhail be laid to thy charge ; here for thy encouragement tliou rcad'ft, rba Church hath an Aduee-ttc that pleadeth the C

ofhcrSovU that is, a^\hct CaMtc^.wdcUvei

we are fubjeA to Temptation and Wcaknefs^and thro^ them made guilty of many bad -things ; wherefore he hath prepared himfeJf to our Service, and to abide with the Father an Advocate for us^ As Soiomon faith of a Man of great wrath, Frcv. 1 9. 19. fo it may be faid of a Man of great Veaknefsy (and the ,beft of Saints are fuchli^ muftbe delivered again and again : yea, mar^a fime^ faith David^ did he deliver them, Pfal. 106. 44, 45. to wit, more than once and twice, and he will do io for thee, if thou entertain him to be thine Advocate. Thou talk'ft of learing him, but then whitfter wilt thou go } all elfe are vain Lfaings, things that cannot profit, i Sam. 12. 2o, II, 22, 23. and he will not forfake his People, iho' their Land hcfilled'withjjn againfi the Holy One of Ifrael, Jer. 51. 5. 1 know the modeft Saint is apt to be abafh'd, to think what a troublefome one he is, and what a Mal^e-vQork^ he has been in God's Houfe all his days; and let him be filled with holy blulhing, but let him not forfake his Advocate.

Having thus fpoken to thefe ObjeAions, let us now come to make fome ufe of the whole : And,

Vfe I. Firft, I would exhort the Children to confider the Dignity that God hath put upon JefusChrift their Saviour; for by how much God hath caird his Son to Offices and Places of Truft, by fo much be bath heap'd Dignities upon him. 'IHs faid of Mordecai^ 1 hat he was next to the Krhg Ahafuerus ; And what then ? Why then the Greatncfsof MorJffc/t; and his high Advance mud be written in the Bo( k of the Chronicles of the Kings of A^rV/^ and Perfia^ Eft\\. \o. \, X, V>^ be end bis Fame nughi not be b\xmdTvc:tfe^^'^'

but rcmember'd and talkM of in Generations a come, Why, my Brethren, God exalted Je /us of Kas^arethy hath made him the only greai one, having given him a Name akove evcrj'Name\ A Name^ did I fay, a Name and Glory, beyond all Names, and abovrali Names, as doth wicneft both his being fee above all, and the many Offi* cis which he executeth for God on behaJf of his People. 'Tis counted no little addition to Honour, when Men are not only made near to tic King, but alfo entrufted with moft, if not almoft with all the moft weighty Affairs of the King-! dom» Why this is the Dignity of Chrift,hei5,'tisj true, the natural Son of Gcd, and fo faigfa, and one that abounds with Honour^ but tbisiSROt all, God has conferred upon him as Man, aUHc^j nour,made him Lord Mediator betwixt him anij the World : This in general. And particularly, he hath cali'd him to be his High-pricft for ever,; Hck 7. 21, 22, 23, 24. and hathiworn he ihall; not be chang'd for another ; he hath accepted of his Offering once for ever, counting that there is wholly enough, in what he did onct, to perfed for ever them that arc fandlified, to wit, fct aparr to Glory, HrZ'. ic. 11, 12, 13.

He is Capcair-gercral of all the Forces thai God hath in Heaven and Earth, the King and Commander of his People, Cbap. 9. 25, i6*

He is Lord of all, and made Head over all things to the Church, Eph, i. 22. and is our Advc' cafe w'uh the Father. 0 the Exaltation of Ji-yii Chnft ! Let Cbriftians therefore in thefirft place cor.rder this. Nor can it be but profitable to 'cm, // wi(hal [hey conlidcr that aU vV\\s Tt\5.ft.aa(i Honour is put at A conferred upou Yi\vn*\xv \e^v!

tion to the advantage and advancenient of Chri-ftians. If Chriftians do but confider the nearnefs that is betwixt Chrift and them, and withal con-fider how he is exalted, it niuft needs be matter of Comfort to 'em. He is my Flefti and my Bone that is exalted, 'tis my Friend and Brother that is thus fet up and prefer'd. 'Twas fomethiM to the Jews that Mordecai was exalted to Hon(mr ; they had thereby ground to rejoice and be glad, for thatoneof themfelves was made a Lord by the King, and Governour of the Land. 'Tis s^ue, when a Man thinks ef Chrift,asfever*d from him, he fees but little to his comfort in Chrift's Exaltation, but when he looks upon Chrift, and can fay, my Saviour, my Prieft, or the chief Bifliop of my Soul, then he will fee much in his being thus promoted to Honour. Confider then of the Glories to which God has exalted our Saviour, in that he hath made him fo high. 'Tis comely alfo when thou fpcak'ft of him, chat thou mention bis Name with fome additional Title,thereby to call thy Mind to the remembrance, and fo to the greater reverence, of the Perfon of thy Jefus, as, our L<?r^ Jefus, our Lord^ni, Saviour Jefus Chrift, the jifojile and H/f/j-Pr/e^ of our Profe/fion Chrift Jefus, 2 Pet. 2. 20. Heb. 3. i, (3c. Men write themfelves by their Titles, as John Earl of fuch a place,. Anthony Earl of fuch a place, and Thomof Lord, ^c. 'Tis common alfo to call Men in great Places by their Titles rather than by their Names, as, Lord High-Cbanccllor of Englarid,Lor J Privy-Sealy Lord High-Adrniraly &:c. And thus ftiould Chriftians make mention of "^eCxx^ 0\\\^ our Lord, adding to his Nan:\c Voxr.^ cA Vi\s'^\'^' of Honour/fpecially fuice aU?Uci:SkOS;"t\^^^^

G X "^

Titles of Honour confer'd on him are of fpecial Favour to us. I did ufe to be much taken with one Sedt of Chriftians, for that it was ufuallyi their way,when chey made mention of theNamel of Jefus, to call him The blejjed Kjng of Glaryl] Chriftians (hould do thus, ^twould do 'em good;! foi^why doth the Holy Ghoft, think you, give him j alKhefe Titles, but that Vfc (hould call him by « them, and fo make mention of him one to ano- : cher ; for the very calling of bim by this or that Title or Name, belonging to this or that Oice : of his, giveth us Occalion not only ta think of : him as exercifing that Office, but to enquil'e bf \ the Word, by Meditation, and one of another, j wha^ there is in that Office, and what by his excr- ( cifing of that, the Lord Jefus profiteth his Church, ] How will Men ftand for that Hotiour that by i Superiors is given to 'em, expedting and ufingall r things, to wit, Aiflions and Carriages, fo as that [ thereby their Grandeur may be mamrain d: And \ faith Chrift, ye call me Majler and Lord^ and ye fay xvell, forfo I am, Joh. 13. 15. Chrift Jefus ©ur Lord weuld have us exercife our felves in the knowledge of his glorious Offices anrf relative ] I'itles, becaufecf the advantage that we get b^ the knowledge of'em, and the Reverence of zni Love to him that they beget in our Hearts. The Difcipie, faith the Text, whom Jefus loved/aid w to Pcrcr, h is the Lord ; and when Simon Peter h.'ard chat it was the Lord, he girt his Fiflier's Coar unto bim (for he was naked; and did caft himlclf into the Sea ; and the other Difciples came in a iit;e Ship, to wir, to there, to wait on their Lord, C/Mp^ 11 The very naming of U\m under Che Tirlc of Lord, bow*d ihcvt Hcaitx.^ louVi^wVv

:o come with joint rcadinefs to wait upon him. -cc this alfo learn us to dilfinguiih Chrift's Offi-:es and Titles, not to confound em, f t he exer-;i(ech thofe Offices, and beareth thofe I'itlcs for ;reat rcafon, and to our commodity.

Every Circumftance relating b<jth to Chrift's -lumiliacion and Exaltation ought to be duly vcigh'd by us, becaufe of that Myftery of Gbd nd of man^s Redemption that is.wrapt therein ; or as there is not a Pin, not a Loop, nor a Tack n the Tabernacle, but had in it V/e of Infiruttion

0 the Children of Ifrael^ fo there is not any part, vbecher more near or more remote to Chrift*s lufFering and Exaltation, but is, could 'we gee Dto it, full of fpiritual Advantage to us.

To inftance the Water that came out of Chrijl^s »ide, a thing little taken notice of, either by ^reachers or Hearers, and yet John makes it one »f the Witnefles of the Truth of our F^edemftiort^ .nd a Confirmation of the certainty of that J^cord hat God to the World hath given of the Suf-iciency that is in his Son to fave, Job, '19. 34.

1 Job. 5. 5, to 9, /(7Wi,4. 9, to rz.

When I have confidcr'd that the very timfinjr Df Scripture Exprcifions, and the Seafon of admi-niftring Ordinances, has been argumentative to the promoting of the Faith, and way of Juftifica-tion by Chrift 2 it has n^ade me think that both my felf and moft of the People of God look over the Scriptures too (lightly, and takef(?o Jittle notice of that s>x, of thofe many Hcnourj that God for our fW hasconferr'd upon Chrift. Shall he bccall'd a K/ng, a Pricfi'y a Prof bet ^ a Sactificey an Altar ^ a Qaftaift, a Head, a Husbandy a. Father, ^ Vowv-w/jf, a Door, si I{oc\^ a Lyon^ a SAviour, &x. '•J^v^

G ^ ^^

Ihall wc net confider things ? And (hall God CO all chefc add moreover, chat he is an Advocate, and (hall we take no nocice thereof, or. jumble things To together, that welofe fome of his Tides and Offices, or fo be corfcern^d with one, as noc -to think we have need of the benefit of the reft? Let^s be afham'd thus to do or think, and let n$] givdf to him that is thus exalted the Glorj due QQ-! 10 his Name.

Vfei. Secondly, As we fhould confider ihc Tit'es and Offices of Chrift in general, fa ffi Ihould ccnfidcr this of his being an Advocate is. particular; for this is one of the Reafons which; induced the ^poftlcto prefent hihi hereunder^ that very notion to us, namely, that wclhould have Faith about it, and confider of it to onr comfort. If any Manjin^ vfe have an Advocate mtk the Father^ JeCus Chrift the righteous. An Advocate i an Advocate^ as I faid, is one that hath Power to «^ ^ plead for another in this, or thnt, or any Court of Judicature. Be much therefore in the meditation of Chrift, as executing of this his Office for thee,for many Advantages will come to thee thereby, AS

I. This will give thee to fee that thou art not far* faken when , thou haft finned ; and this has not io j*^ it a little Reliefpnly, but yieldeth Confolatioi in time of need/* .

There is nothing that we are more frone unto^ii. than to think we arc forfaken when we have fin-'^ ned, when for this very thing, to wit, to keep us from thinking fo, is the Lord Jefus become our Advocate, ; Jf any man fin, we have an Advocate. Chriftian, thou that haft finned, and that with the gaVit of rhy Sin an driven to xhe bunk of ifcJJ, I bring thee news from GoA, xkoxx ftiAx f«t

die, but live, for chou haft an Advocate with tbi tatber, -Let this therefore be confider*d by ihee, becaufe it yiehjeth this Fruit.

!• The fludy of this Truth mil give thee ground P^tskj: courage to contend with the Devil concern* rnf the largenefs ofGrace^ by Faith, fince thy Ad-i^wate is concending for thee againft him at the &ar of God. *Tis a great encouragement folf t Man to hold up his Head in the Country^ when lie knows he ha^s a fpecial Friend at Courc. Why Hir Advocate is a Friend at Court, a Friend there ready to give the onfet to Satan, come he when be will: ^e have an Advocate with the Father ; tn Advocate J or one to plead againft Saiao for us.

9, Thij Confideration will yield H^Hcf when h Satan s Abufe offome other of the Offices of Chrift Vj; Paith h difcourag^d and made afraid. Chrift, is a Prophet, pronounce* many a dr/eadful Sen*-:ence againft Sin; and. Chrift, as a King, is of power td execute 'em :• And Satan, as an Enemy, hias Subtii'ty cm»ugh to abufe both ihefe, to the aimoft utter 0»'crthrow of the Faith of the Children of God. But what will he do with him as \ie is an Advocate^ ? Will he urge that he will plead againft us ? lie ca«i'r^he has no fuch OfHce. H^H he flead a;^ainji thse with his great Power f KOf hut he would put ftrength into thee, Job 23, 3, 4, 5, 6. Wherefore Satan doth all he may to keep thee ignorant of this OSce, for he knows, that as Advocate, when he is fo apprehended, ihe Saints are greatly relieved by him, even by a believing thought of that Office.

4. Thn Conflderation^, or the Confideration of Chrift as exercifing of thii Office^ will hd^ ili^tt t^ 9M/J^//f£t^ f^/;j[or wherewith Ch'i^ hy Satan ii tmV-

reprcfcnted to fhety to the weakening and affright* r in^ of thee. There is nothing more-common a-|-mong Saints than thus to be wrongM by Sacan y^ for as he will labour to fetch Fire out of the Of-" ficcs of Chrift to burn us, fo to prefent him to or'-with fo dreadful and fo ireful a Countenance,-; that a Man in Temptation and under Guilt ihaltr hiOly be able to lift up his Face to God.

But now, to think really that he is my Aio*-\~ cats, this heals all. Put a Vizor upon the Face of j a Father, and it may perhaps for a while friglit c the Child j but let the Father fpeak, let him fpeak r in his own Fatherly Dialed^ to the Child, ana the i^ Vizor is gone, if not from the Father's Face, y« e from the Child's Mind, yea, the Child, notwith-1-ftanding that Vizor, will adventure to creep into ? its Father's Bofom. Why, thus 'tis with the 5ainti t when Satan deludes and abufes them, by disfi- j. guring the Countenance of Chrift to their view; ;, let them but hear their Lord fpeak in bis own % natural Dialcdt, (and then he doth fo indeed ^ when we hear him fpeak as an Advocate) and \ their Minds are calm'd, their Thoughts fettled, ■ their Guilt vanifti'd, and their Faith reviv'd. j

Indeed the Advocatefhip of Jefw ChriFt is not much mentioned in the Word, and becaufe it is , no oftner made mention of. therefore perhaps it | is that feme Chriftians do fo lightly pafs it over, when on the contrary the Rarity of the thing jfhould make it the more admirable j and perhaps ic is therefore fo little made mention of in the Bible, becaufe it (hould not be abus'd by the com" monfjrt^ but is as it were privately dropt in a corner, to be found by them that are for finding Rc-JJeffor their 5ouJ, by a diVigeuf fcaLtc\\ cA .\V&

iy for Chrift in this Office of Advocate .fign*d for the Child of God, the World ling to do therewith. Mechinks that Dne is proper (o Saints, and that which i peculiarly defignM for 'em, they (hou'.d ily taken withal; the peculiar Trea/u^e the peculiar Privilege of Saints, oh. this affe(5ling to us 1 why, Chriff as MAd-fuch. l(9member me^ O Lor J, faid the wifh fhe Favour that thou hear eft to th} ) vifit numth thy Salvation,that I may fee f thy (fhoftn, that I may rejoice in the glad" ' Nation, that I may glory with thine Inhe* 'fal. 106.4, 5. The Plalmift, you fee here, out for a iharc in, and the knowledge of iar Treafure of Saints ; and this of Chrift ate is fuch, wherefore ftudy it and prize :h the more : This Advocate is ours, dy it with reference to its Peculiarity: Ic Children,and no-^body elfe, for the Chil-:le and great; this is Childrens Breads Mcfs for bevjamin, this is to be eaten in f Place. Children ufe to make much ef ch by way of fpeciality is by their Rela-low'd on 'em. And^zhotYi faid to Ahab, forbid it me, that Ifhouldgive the Inherit my Fathers to thee, i Kin. 11,3. no truly or. Why fo ? becaufe it was my Fathec's c in common to ^11, but to me in fpccial. ady this Office in the Nature of it, for lies the Excellency of any thing, even in me of it: Wrpng Thoughts of this or that t, and takes its natural Glory from it; cd therefore of mi(appTcVvcwdvcv%^ ^hVa!*. fccking to appreher\d CW\&. ^.'^ ^'i A,i

G ^ *^^^*'

vccfttf. Men judge of Chrift's OfSces while they are at too^reat a diftance from 'em, but let them come near^ fays God, fhen let themjpeak, Ifa. 41. i. ) or as Elihu faicl to his Friends (when he had feen ; them judge amifs) Let m chufe to m Judgment, le$ \ vs l^noxv among our felves what is gtfd. Job 34. 4. , So f^' I, ftudy to know, rightly to know the Ad- j vocafe-OfSce of Jefiis Chrift: It is one of the ea- : fieft things in the World to mifs of the Nature, 1 while we'fpeak of the Name and Offices of Jefm Chrift ; wherefore look, to i>,.ihat thou ftudy the Nature of the Office of his Advocateihip, of bis ( Advocatelhip/(?r, for fo you ought to confkler it There is an Advocate for, not againft Ae Children of God, Jefm Chrift the righteous.

3. Study this Office with reference to its efficacy and prcyajcncy : Job fays, After my Wentds tbef JP^ke not again. Job 29. 22. And when Chrift ftands up to plead, alf muft keep Silence befbrc hiih. True, Satan had the firft Word, but Chrift the laft in the Bufinefs of Jojhua^ and fuch a laft, as brought the poor Man off well, tho^ elcathed vtith filthy garments. Zee. 3. Satan muft h^JpeeA-iefi after a Plea of our Advocate, how rampant foever he is afore ; or as Elihu has ir, He was ami* :{ed, he anfvpereJ no more, he left off^akyng. Shall he that fpeaks in Righteoufncfs give place^ aird he who has nothing but Envy and Deceit be admitted to ftand his grour.d ? Behold, the Angels cover their Faccswhen they (peak of his Glory, how then (hall not Satan bend before him ! In the days of his Humiliation he made him cringe and creep, how nnicb more then now he is exal-Tcd to GJor}', to glory to be an Advocat^^ an Ad* «vv/Vf for his People i // any Man jin, ^c ba'wr •»

Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chriji the righteem.

4. Study the Faithfu/nej! of Chrifl in his execu* sen of this Office^ for he will Aoc fail nor forfake hem that have entenain'd him for their Advocate. ie will thorovely plead tijeir Caufe, Jer. 50. 34. -aitbfui and True, is one of his Titles, and you !uUl btfaithfulfy ferv'd by him ; you may boW/y ommic your Canfe unix> him, nor (hall the t>ad-eis of it aiake.htm &il, or difcourage him in his l^ork, for it is hoc the badnels of a Caiife thac an hinder him from prevailing, becaole he hath /herewith to- anfwer for ail thy Sins, and a new ^w CO plead by, thro* ^hich he will make thee

Conqueror: He is alio for (ticking to a Man to le end, if he once engages for him, foh. 13.1,2. ie mil threaten and love, be will chaftife and >ve, he will kill and love, and thou (hah &nd ic >. And he Wilt make this appear at the laft, and iatan knows k isib nbw; for he finds the Power )f his Repulfes while he pleads^y thee at the Bdr tgsifift him. And all this is in very Faithfulnefs.

5. Stody alfo the need,that thou haft of a Shar$ m the execution 0/ the Adiwxatefhif of Jejiis Chrift. -Chriftians find that they have need of wa(hing in :he Blood of Chrift,.aod that they have need of being cicath'd with th^Righteoufneis of .Chri:(t; :hey alfo find that they have need that Chrift fhonld make Intercedion for them, and that by tiim (of necefTity) they muft approach God, and prefent their Prayers and Serviced to him ; but :heydo not fo well fee that they need that Chrift .hould alfo be their Advocate. And t\^ Reafon :hereof is this; they forget that their adverfary makes it bis Bufinefs to accufe iVvtm Vi^^w^ "C^^ Throac ofGod^ they confidet not \.Vv^\on%^ct<^

and many Crimes wherewith he chargeth in the Prefence of the Angels of God: I fay is che Caufe chat the Advocatefhip of Cbrifl little confider'd in the Churches ; yea, man; hare been relievM by that Office of his, hav

' underftood what he has thereby done for Vq Bpt perhaps this is to be kept from man they come tq behold his Face,, and till all t ihall be rcveal'd, that Chrift might have ( given him in the next World, fordoing of th them which they fo little thought of in this, do not thou be content with this Ignorance caufe the Knowledge of his sJvocatinfi it foi will yield thee frefent Relief. Study thei thine own Weaknefe, the HoKnefs of the J the Badnefs of thy Caufe, the Subtiky, M and Rage of thine Enemy, and be afliir^d whenever thou finneft, by and by thou- art ^ccus'd before God, at his Judgmenc-ieat. things will, as 'twere by way of neceflity, into thy Heart the need thou haft of an Advi and will make thee look,asto the Blood and \ teoufnefs of Chrift to juftifie thee, fo toCh an Advocate to plead thy Caufe, as did hoi in hisDiftrefles, Job l6.^l.

Vfe 3. Thirdly, Is Chrift Jefus nor only a 0f,and aKing over^h\xi an Advocate/or his P< Let this make us ftand and wonder, and be 2ed at his Humiliation and Condejcention, Wi of his Humiliation on Eanh when he put h: into our Flejh, took upon him our Sins, and them as kis ovpn unto Condemnation and C And to^e an Advocate is an Office reproa to the malicious, if any Man be fuch a oh<

^i>/f /haf arehfe andutmonh^. 'Yta.,\.Vi^>

ind more honourable the Perfon is chat pleads for "bch, che more he humbles himfelf. 1 he Word loch ofcen in efTed count him now in Heaven as a Servant for us, and Adls of Service are Adls of Condefcentibn ; and I am fure fome A(fls of Service have more of that in them than others, and I Jiink, when all things are confiderM, that Chrift neither dorh, nor can do any thing for us therfof ^ more condefcending nature than to become our Advocate. True^ he glories iiv it, but chat doth IOC fliew that the Work is excellent in itfelf. Ic s al(b one of his Tides of Honour, but that is to bew how highly God efteems of and dignifies all lis K&s ; and tho^ this (hall tend at laft to the greatning of his Honour and Glory in his Kingdom, yet the Work it felf is amazingly mean.

I fpeak after the manner of Men: It is counted fo in this World : How bafe and ignoble doth a Man make himfelf, efpecially to his Enemy,when he undertakes to plead a bad Caufe, if it happens to be the Catife of the bafe and unwonhy 1 And 1 am fure we are every one fo in ^our felvcs, for whom he is become an Advocate with the Father. True, we are made worthy in i/w, but that*s no thanks to us ; as to ourfelves and our Caufe,bpth are bad enough. Let. us now leave offdifputlng, and Itand amazed at his Condefcention: He bum" bleth himfelf to behold things that are done in Hea'^ t^rn, Pfal. 113: 4, 5, 6. and Men of old did ufe to wonder to think God (hould fo much ftoop, as to open his Eyes to look upon Man, or fo much as to once mind him, y^Z 14. 1,2,3. S^*^* 17. iV^/.S. 4. & 144. 3,4. And if thefe be AAs that befpeak a Condefcention, What will you couvwotO^t'^v /landing up as an Advocaieyto pUad \JafcCtoSa^

'.

IJ 4 " "^^^ Jdvocdtefbif

bis People ? Mttft not that be much more councea? O che Condefcencion of Cbrift ir ven! while Caviiiers quarrel at fuch kind ol guage, let the Saints ftay themfcives and w at ir, and be fo much che more affected w

' Grace. The Peribns are bafe, and the Crimt wherewith they are charf»'cl,whereforc one ' tfaiidc *tis a great Condcicention of Chhft ti itpon him co be an Ativocate for fuch People cially if you confider the openefe of this W Chnft, for this thmg is not done in a Cornc is done in open Court,

-Firft, M^ith a Ijoly and fuft Ged ; for He Judge of all^and his Byes are furer than to Iniquity^ yea, his very Prfefence is a conf Fire ; >« before and with this God, and tl fuch a i^eopk, JefusChtift will be an /f^i For one mean Man to be an Advocate for th< with one that is not confiderable, is not fo i btit for Chrift to be an Advocate for the and for the bafe too under the bafeft Coni tion, this is to be wondred at. When Bat the Queen became an Advocate for Adc unro King Solomon^ you fee how he floui her, for that his Caufc was bad; And vfihy\U doft thou ask^pihi&izxfo^ Adonijah? Asl{fer h KJHgdom a'fo^ i Kjn^ 2. i6, to 15.1 told yc fore^ that to be an Advocate did run one hazards of Reprcacbyand it may eafity be th Bhac the Queen did bluih when from the Kii Son (he received fuch a repuife ; nor da wi any more of her beiug an Advocate, I beliei bad enough of this, fiutoh! this Chrifl: of who himfeif is greater than So(omoif<^be is- b<

.aa ^^zfocate, an Advocate mth the FAthev,

€ ecemaliy juft, and holy, and righteous God ; id that for a People, with refpccft to hiai, far orfe than could be Adonijah in the Eyes of his Fotber Solomon, Majefty and Juftice are dread* ;1 in chexnfelves, and much more ib when ap-.-XMich'd by any, efpecially when the Caufe, as » matter of Fa^, is bad that the man is guilnr . f who is concerned in the Advocatefhip of his-ricnd, and yet Jefus Chrift is ftill an Advocate >r us, an /idvecatc with the Father.

Secondly, Confider alfo before whom Jefus T^TiCt doth plead as an Advocate, and that is be^ ioTc or in the prefcnce and obfervation of all the Heavenly Hoft y for while Chrift pleadetb with God for his People, all the Hoft of Heaven ftands ViCn the right h^nd and on the left^ M^t, lo ^1. And tho* as yet there may feem to be but little in this Connderation,yet Chrift would haceusknow Md account it an infinite kindncfs t>f his tous, that he will confef^, and not be aihain'd of us be« fore the Angels of his Father, Mark 8.9:8. Angels a^e holy and glorious Creatures, and in fomc re-^Gt may have a greater knowledgsof the nature and bafenefs of Sin than'we, whi?c here, arc capable of, and fo may be made to ftand a>nd wonder while the Advocate pleads with God for a People from Head to Foot cIoathM therewith : But Chrift will not be a(ham*d to ftand up for us jefore them, th»* they know how bad we are, ind what vile things we have done: Let tliis herefore make us wonder.

Thirdly, Add to thcfe how unconcerned ofr-imes thofc arc with themfelves and their own lefolate condition, for whom Ghtift as at\ Advo-Mc Jahvurcth in Heaven wiiVv GoA. K^^^^^T^e^^

Soul is as far off of knowing what the L doing againft ic ac God^s Bar» as Odvid wa: S4ul was thrcaming ro have his Blood, w was hid in the Field, i Sam. 20. z6y co 31 O true Jonathan, ho>y didft thou plead for Only here chou hadft the advantage of o . yocace, thou hadft a good Caufe to pie V^en Saul thy Father (kid, David floaU fur thy Reply was, H^ereforefbaff he te/Iain evil bath he done ? But Chrift cannot fa when he pleadeth for us at God^s Bar, noi prefent Senilefnefs and Unconcemednefs his pleading, but an aggravation to our S haps David was praying while jonathi

flaying the Advocate for him before the K ather ; but perhaps the Saint is flecpinj finning more, while Chrift is pleading for Heaven : Oh ! thisfliould greatly affcdl (hould make us wonder; this ihould be fiderM by us, to heighten our Souls to a tion of the Grace and Kindnefs of Chrift.

Fourthly, Join to thefe the Greatnefs ar vity, the Highnefs and glorious Majcfty Man that is become our Advocate; fays th< 'tis Je/us Chrift, we have an Advocate with ther, Jefus Chrift.

Now, that he (hould become an Advoca he (hould embrace fuch an Imploy as thi< Advocateftiip, let this be a wonderment, be accounted. But let us come te the 4th

Vfe 4. Fourthly, Is it fo ? is Jefus Ch

Saviour alfo become pur Advoctte ? Then

labour to ma\e that improvement of this Doi

tendetb to ftrengtheri our Graces^ and us in i

04(gemenf af ^cm. Indeed iVvv^ ftvo>3\d\>^ x

that we fhould make of all the Offices of Chrift, but let us at this time concern our felves about this I let, I fay, the poor Chriftian thus expoftu-latewich himfelf.

I. Is Chrift Jefus the Lord mint Advocate^\i)\ the Father ? Then awake, my Faith, and (hake thy felf like a Gyant r'Stir up thy felf, and be j^fft^ faint ; Chrift is the Advocate of his People, and as for Sin, which is one great ftumble to thy a(5l-ings, O my Faith, Chritt has not only died for rbat as a Sacrifice, nor only carried his Sacrifice Unto the Father into the holieft of all, but is there CO manage that Offering as an Advocate, pleading the efficacy and worth thereof before God, againft the Devil, for us.

Thus, I fay, we (hould ftrengthen our Faith, for Faith has to do not only with the Word, but jifo with the Offices of Chrift. Befides, confide-ring how many the A(Tau!rs are that are made upon our Faith, we find all little enough to fup-poft it againft all the Wiles of the Devil.

Chriftians too little concern themselves, as I have faid, with the Offices of Jefus Chrift, and therefore their knowledge of him is fo little, and their Faith in him fo weak. We are bid to have cur Cwveyfdtion in Heaven^ and then a Man fo bath, when he is there in his Spirit by Faith, ob-ferving how the Lord Jefus doth elScercife his Offices there for him : Let us often by Faith go to the Bar of God, there to hear our Advocate plead our Caufcy we fhould often have cur Faiih to God's Judgment feat, becaufe we are concerned there ; there we are accus'd of the Devil, there we have our Crimes laid open,and tVvwe N>3^\vVi^ wr jidvccaie to plead : And this is ^xx^^t^^^ "v^

the Text, for it faitby If^e have an Advo4 the Father ; therefore thither our Faith l for help and relief in the day of our ftraii we (hould have our Faith to GOD's ]u( feat, and (hew it there by the Glafs of ou what Satan is doing againft, and the Loi ^r our Souls : Wc ihould alfo (hew it hi LWd Jefus carries away every Caufe frc Devil, and from before the Judgtnent-feat, comfort of the Children, the joy of Angel thefliame of the Enemy. This would (trei and fupport cur Faith indeed, and would uf more able than for the moft part v.'c a> apply the Grace of Gcd to ourfelveSjand hert to give more ftrong RcpuKcs to Satan. * Tis with a Man, when he knows that his /idv has overthrown his Enemy at the. Kjn^s-b. Bar, or Court ofCofmwm PUas, left to fear hir next time he fees him,and more boldly to ar him when he rcneweth h.s Threats again. Faith then be ftrengthned from its being cxei about the Advocatcfhip of Jefus ChrifV,

1. As we Ihould make ule of Chrift's /iJu Jbip forftrengthning our Faith, fo we ihouU make ufe ther<?of to encourage us to Prayer, our Faith is, fo is our Prayer, to wit, cold, \ and doubtful. When Faith cannot apprehen acccfs to the Father by Chrift.orthat we ha Aiivoc<itf!^\vhen charged before GOD for oui by the Devil,thcn we lag aiid faint in our Pr but when we begin to rake courage to be (and we do fo wlien moft clearly we appn Chriftjthen wc get up in Prayer: And acco as a Man apprehends Chri(t in his Underta and 0£ces, fo he will wrcftle w\iV\ at\A^>3L^^

jod. ASy fuppofe a Man believes Chrift died for lis Sins, why then he*ll plea<i that in Prayer with jod. Suppofe alio that a Man underftands cbac [thrift roft again for hi§ Juftificationj why then le'll alfo plead that in Prayer i but if he knows \o more, no farther will be go. But when he (hall mow that there is alfo for him an Advocate tvicj^ be Father, and ih^i that Advocate is Jefus ChriffT-nd when thp Glory of this Oflke of Chrift fhall. [line in the Face of this Man's Sou4, then he prays k^ich chat Courage he had not before, yea, then is lis Faith fo fupported and ftrengtben'd, that bis Vayer is much more fervent and importuning.

So that, I fayv the Knowkdge of the Adwcate^, b/^of Chrift is very ufeful to ftrengthen our Gfa-cs, and as of Graces in general, fo of Faith and' Vayer in particular. Wherefore our Wifdom is :>co improve this Dodrine, that Prayer may be Lrengthned thereby.

3. As wc (hould make ufe of this Do<9:rine to trengthen Fairh and iPrayer, fo we JhouU makfi fe of it to keep us humhle ; for the more Offices Zhv'A eXccuteth for us with the Father,the grea-:er lign that we arc bad j and the more we fee our )adnefs, the more humble (hould wc be. Chrift javc^forus the Price of BhoJ^ but that is not all. [thrift as a Captain has conquer'd Death and the 3rave for us, but that is not all. Chrift as aPrieft ntercedes for us in Heaven, but that is not all ;, {in is ftili in us, with i^s, and mixes it ielf with vhatev^r we do, whether what we do be rcligi-{imis Of civil; for not only our Prayers and Ser-nons, our Hearing, Preaching, (3c. but our Hou-cs, Shops,Trades, and Beds ate a\\^\\\xv;^^^\^ >/7y nor doth the Devil (our >iig,\i\.a.udiY>v^ ^^

^■ifl40 "^^^ Advocatejbip

K verfary) forbear to cell our bad Deeds t

w ther, urginp, that we might fir ever be di

I f*r tbii. And what ihoutd we now do, i

I not an Advocate, yea, if we had not one

I in FurittM Pauperii, >ea, If we had noi I- " cihW prevail, and [hat vould faichfuH^ I "iJut Office for U5 ? Why, we muft die :

I we are refcucd by him, Ictus, as to our

I our Hand upon our Mouth, awi he (iier

I Sm tt*'ta m, O Lord, noi unta ui, but unn

I f-iv: Glorj. And 1 fay again, (i.;ce the I

I runs thro fo many Offices for us, befo!

I bring us to Cory, how low, how hitle

I and bafe in our owntyes iTiould we b

I 'Tis a Ihame for a Chriftian tn thL.ik

I himfelf, finceChnft in fain lodofomuc

I , and he Spain not'ac al! able to make hir

I but fome, whofe Riches coiifift in no

I Scabs and Lice, will yet have lofty L(

I Bat are they nut much to bUme whi

n up of lofty Eyes in the Houfe, and yet

M how to turn their Hand to do any thii

I that another, their betters, muft come ;

I their Work? I fay, Is it not fitter that fi

I look, fpcak, and ad: as fuch, chat dec!:

I of theirl/'nfcrflViiif//, and iheirfhamc

I ZJnpmfitiibi'e.ii-fs ? yea, is it not meet ih:

B one they [hould confets what/nrrj- em:/

I I'm fure it ihould be thus with Ch'ilUt

B isanpry when'ti^oiherwife. Nor doth

B tht'fe helplefsones to lift up themft-lves

fl Advocatel>.ip therefore teach 'em to be

H 4. As we Hiould improve tins D

B Jirengthen Faith, to cnco«Taf,e Pta.",er uskamble, fo we fitould makj uje of '■

f Perfever ance ; ihat is, CO hold ott^ to hold out he end y for, for all rhofe Caufes the Apoftle z\h Chriji before lis as an Advocate. There is ling more difcourages the truly Godly than fenfe of their own Infirmities, (as has been ed ail-along) confequently nothing can more murage ^em to go on, than to think that ChtiS^ n Advocdfe for 'em. The Services alfo that ift has for us to do in this World are full of culty, and To apt to difcourage : But when a iftian (ball come to underftand that (if we do Lt we can) *tis not a Failing either in Matter banner that (hail render it wholly unfervtcea-or give the Devil that Advantage as to plead eby to prevail for our Condemnation and I^e^ >», but that Chrift, by being our Advocate^ :s us from falling (hort, as alfo from the Rage ^ell: This will encourage us to hold rn, iho* do but hohhle in all our ^oings^sindfumble in all doings; for we have Chriit for an Advocate afe we (in in the management of any Duty: ny Man/in f we hav^ an Advocate with the Fa* f J^J^i Chrift the RjghteciiS, -ec us therefore go on in all God^s Ways as^ well ve can for oifr Hearts, and when our Foot Hips as tell God of ir, and Im Mercy in Chriji (hat ' us up, Pfal. 84. J 8.

^arknefs, and to be ihut up in Prifon, is alio a It Diicouragcmenc to us, out cur Advocate is giving us Light, and for fetching us out of our (on. True, he that Jcfefh chofe to be his Ad-ate to Pharaoh remcmbrcd not Sofcphy hut for* hif/i. Gen. 40. 14,^3. but he that has Jefu^ rift TO he his Advccatc IhaUbt Tett\^ircCt>^\* ^N^^-

God: He remember''d us in our lo^ cftatc^ $o^

V

hit Mercy indwethfor ever, Mic. 7. 8, 9, 1 136. 23. Yej, he wilJ lay ro the Prifonei your J'etves, and to them that arc in i&e houfc, GofivtL

Satan fonietimes gcis the Saints into the when he has taken 'em Captive by their . T(^om. 7.13. but ihcy fhali not be always r and this fhould encourage us to go on in j ways, for we mult thro* many Tribulations t into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Obj. But I crmn» pity, fays one, tLertfiirt JhiuiJ I fft/ftvi-e ? tfixn igt to Prayer, itifitii fraying, mj Mouth ij fieft i ffiat tveuldjmik me do f

Well, Sou), tho'Satanmay baffleihcc,hec not fo fer\'e thy Advocate ; if thou miift not fp for thy fclf, Cfarift thine ildvaeate can fpeak ' thee. J.emnel wti la epen his mouth fw the Dm to wit, far the fent of OeftruHton, and to flt/fi Cauft of the pocr and needy, Prov, 31.8,9. If knew the Grace of our Lord JefusChriftfois Word reveals it, we wouJd believe, we WO hope, and would, notwitbftanding atl Difcout) mentf.waic for iht Salvation ef the Lord. Buitl are many things that binder, wherefore Faith,! f^jvcrancc, and Prayer are made difficult thing Us : But if any man Jin, we have an jldvoeate 1 the Fatler, JefusCirifl the rigbttoui. And, Jhall fi;^ht for you, andycttfl:atl holdyeur peace, once a good Word to jne, when 1 could n« p

5. As we (iiould apply this DoArinfor the provementand encouragement of thefe Graci we thould improve it to the driving away C caltics before us, to the ^emv\^ ^und \i^ Enemy : Refift the Devil. dmttataVAOfc»i

It the Lord Jefus is an Advocate with God in IVen for, and for the fake of which thou arc dc a BeKever on Earth, i Pet. 5. 9. Heb. 12. 4, icrefore has God put this Sword [^we have an vocatt^ into thy hand,but to fight thy way thro* . World ? Fi'^bt the good Fi^ht of Faith y lay hold. Eternal Life, and fay, / will^go in thefirengtif^ Lord God: And fince I hzvQ an jldvacate mih Father, Jefus Chrifi, I will not defpair, tho* the ^uity cfmy hcelsfkould compafJme abouit;?[.^^,^^ Lfe 3. Fifthly, Doth Jefus Chrift (land up to ad for us wirh Gcd, againft the Devil ? Let it ch us to (land up to plead for him before Men^ plead for him againft the Enemies of hisPerfon IGofpel; this is but reafonable, for if Chrift nds up to plead for us, why fhould not we get and plead for him ? He alfo expe<5lsthis at our ids, faying, ff^ho will rife uffor me againfi the I doers? iVha will fl and up for me againfi the wkjtrs of Iniquity J The Apoftle did it,and coun-l himfelf oblig'd to do it, laying. He preaeh^d the (pel cf God with much contention^ 2 Thef.l^z, Nrfr :his theDuty of Apoftles or Preachers only, but ;ry Child of God fhould eamcftly contend far ' Faith orce deli^er^d to the Saints, Jude 3. And, as I faid, there is reafon why we (hould this : He ftandeth for us: And if we,

1. Confider the Difparity of Perfon^i to plead, will feem far more reafonable. He ftands up tO rad with God, we ftand up to plead with Men. ^.e dread of God is great, yea, greater than the :ad of Men.

2. If we confider the Perfons pleaded iox \ Vfe. ad? ForSinnerSy for the incouftdcx^VA^^N^^ '^'^^ ? ; wc plead for Jefus, for iVie %t^2cX.>VvoVi'»^'^^

honourable. Tis an Honour for the Poor co ftand up for the great and mighty, but what Honour i it for the great to-plead for the bale ? Reafc therefore requireth that we ftand up to plead him, tho' there can be but'little render^a why (hould ftand up to plead for us.

.3. He ftandeth up to plead for ns in the m holy Place, tho* we are vile j and,Why (hould not ftand up for him in this vile World, fince is holy ?

4. He pleads for us, tho*our Giufe is bad^ fliould not we plead for him, fince his Caofe i good?

5. He pleads for us againft fallen Angels, wl (hould we not plead for him againft finfui V ties ?

6. He pleads for us to fave our Souls, (hould not wc plead for him,to fanc^ifie hisNi

7. He p'eads for us before the holy Angels,wb (hotild not we plead for him before Princes?

8. He is not a(ham*d of us, tho^ now in ven, why (hould we be aftiam'd of him before adulterous and finful Generation ?

9. He is unwearied in his pleading for us, w (hould we faint and be difmay'd while we pi for him ?

My Brethren, is it not reafonable we iTioul ftand up for hun in this World ? Yea, is it n Rcafon that in all things we ihould ftudy hi Exaltation here, fince he in all things contriv our Honour and Glory in Heaven ? A Child God Ihould ftudy in every of his Relations tof' fervc the Lord Ciirift in this World, becaufc' Chnft, by the exc cution of cnct^ otvt of his Offi-f^ cesj fcckb out' Promotioi^ UeteaJiw.

If thcfelbe not fufScient Argumencs to bow ns jyield up our Members, our felvcs, our whole Ives CO God, that we may be Servants of {^igh-oufeefs unco him ; yea, if by thele and fuch* ce we are not made willing to ftand up for him' rforc Men, 'tis align that there's but little, if ly, of the Grace of God in our Hearts. Yea, further, ihsit we JhouU have kow, at laft^ referve, Chrift as authorized to be-our Advo*^ te to plead for us, for this is the'laft of his Of-z$ for us while we are here^ and is to be put in a<3ice for us when there are more th^n mdina-Occafions; this is to help, as we fay, at a deaA t ; even then when a ChriRian is taken for » a{>tive,or when he (inks in the Mire where i9 i fhinding, or when heiis doaih^d wuh filthy trments, or when the Devil doth desperately ?ad againft.us our evil Deeds, or when by our veswe have made our Salvation q^ueftionable; d have forfeited our Evidences ^or Fks^en: id why then (faould not we.have alfo in relferve : Chrift r And yniicttProfeffion zpd Cx^nfeJJhn wiH t do, when h/s ofGeodszuA a Prijm wiW not do; !n to bring it in, then to bring it in as the Re-» vc, and as that which will do, to wir, willing-to lay down our Lives for his Name, ifa. 14.15» h. 21. 19. and (ince he doth his part withour edging for us, let us do ours With rejoycing • him.

Z.*fe 6. Sixthly, Doth Jefus Chrift ftand up to rad for us, and that of his meer Grace and Love? en thisjhould ieacb Chrift tans io be wafchful and ry hot» they fin afrainft God, This Inference rms to run retrograde, but* w1^o(o d\x\N ^ow^v

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14^ The Advosatejbif

ders it, Will £nd ic fairly fecch'd from the fes. Chriftianicy teacher logenaicy and a] be fenCble of Kindnefles^ and docb inftrv a^lothnefs co be over-hacd upon him fr^ we have all zfrcc'^coft. Shall we fin tb may abound ? Go i for bid. ShaM we ity evil i ^^*'^n\;iy come ? God for bid, ShaHwefin bccau^ not under the Law, but under Grace ? Goi ^m. 6, i,X, iy .

It is the mo(t difingeniious thing in tb noc CO care boW chargeable we are co chi that beftows all upon Visgratk^ When Jheth bad an Opporcunity to h^ yec mon able CO O^tvid^ he would octc, becaufehe his Life and h\s.k\\,% Sam. i^.7^, toz Chrift's Care is as much fot.hxsHouJhoU has neither Feeiiov Incdme for ic ; nor do fire ougkc of us, but co accept of bis fr for us chankfuliy ; wherefore ictus put 0n ibis ]Work aslinle as may be, and by we (hall Chew ocu: felves Chriftians , of Make and Stamp. We count him but of a very grofs Spiric'chac will thcrefoi vi(hing of what is hi^- Friend\ becauft par'd of meer Kindnefs for him ; Efat was loth CO do this, and ihall Chriftian ingenuous ? i .

I dare fay, if Chriftians were fobcr, ^ and of a more fcli-denying cemper, chey puc che Lord Jefus co chac co which for 1

" tiff Mttd rofe agdifff a Cor, 9. 14. We (hall do it which is naught too mud), even then when : witcfi and cake care wbac we canto prevent

Our Flefli, when we do o«r uttnolt diligence refift it, Will defile both usand.ourbeftPer-rmances; we need not Jay the Reins on its eck, and fay, what care .we ? the more Sin ^he -^ ore Grace, and the more we Ihall fee the Kind-fs of Chrift, aTnd what vertue there is in his Ivocace'sOfficetoiaye us. Befides, as nothing fwayeth with us as Leve, (o there is nothing well pleafing to God as it: Let a Man love, o'he has Opportunity to do nothing, *tis acce}>-d by the God of Heaven : But where there is Lavtylet a Man dowhat be mliy ^tis not at all re-irded, 1 Cor. 19. i, 1, 9- Now to be carelefs and »gliget)t,and that ftbm a fuppofed underftanding ? the Grace of Cbrifi in the excrcife of his Ad-^telhipfor us in Heaven, is a dear iign as can % that in thy Heart thereis no.Love ro Chrift, td that eon&queittly thou art a'juft Nothing, ftead of being a Cbrifiian.

Talk then .what thou wilt, and prefcfs never

largely, Chrift is no Advocate of thine, ncfr (halt ou, thou fo continuing, be ever the better for ly-of thofe Pleas that Chrift at God's Bar puts

againft the Devil, for his People. Cbtiftians, Chrift Jefus is not unwilling to lay jt himfelt for you in Heaven, nor to be an Ad-3cate for you in the prefence of his Father ;• but rt fare is unwilling that you ihould render him ;j7 for good-; I fay, that you (hould do fo by your miiToefs and carelefnefs, for want of luch a dnkiflg .of 'Things as may affc^f^ ^o^t VV^^vv^

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14 8 The Jdvocdtejbip

tlierewichk *Twould be more comely would pleafe him bener, would better agi your Profdfion, and alfo bener would pre ' gracious, to be ibuiid iu the Performance t Conclulions. How/hatibey tbut arc deat^ live any longer flierein ? If ye be rifen with feel^thofe things that are abcve^ where Cbrift toe right hand of God : for ye are dead, andyi hid with Chriji in Qod. Mortify therefore your, hers, which are upon the Earthy Fornication^ cleanne/if inordinate AffeHion^ evil Concupifi and CovetfiufnefSf which is Idolatry, for which ti Cfke the I4^rath of God eometh upon the Childn Oifobedience.

1. fay, 'twould be more comely for Chrifl to (ay, We will not fin, becaufe God will pare We will not commit Iniquity, *caufe Chrift Advocate for us : / write unto you^ tbMtyoufin tho* if any manfins^ we have an Advocate witi Father. Why, the Brute will conclude^ I will do fo, becaufe my Mafter wiU beat me ; I do thus, for then my Mailer will love me: Chriftians (hould be above Men, brutiOi Men

And for a Conciufion, as to this, lee me fent you with three Confidcrations.

I ..Know, that it is the nature of Grace tod holy Arguments to move to froodnefs of Life^ I the Love and Goodnefi of God^ but not thence t remifs, i Cor. v H»

2. Know therefore, that they have no G; that find not thefe Effci^s of the Oifcovehc the Love and Goodnefs of God,

3. Know alio, that among all the fwarm: ProfciTors chat from Age to Age make men

the Name of Chrifty chey only muft dwclL^ h him in Heaven that do fart from Iniquity^ Im. 1. 19. and fucb only are fancSiificd as he 1 redeemed co bimrelfy by Faich in bim,- A^i 18.

levcnthly. Is it fo ? Is Jefus Chrift an Ad- . ite with the Father for us ? Then this (hould '^ outage ftrong Chriftians to tell the weak ones^ ere, when they are in their Temptations and^ ixs through Sin, they may have one to plead ir CAfe. Thus the Apoftle doth by the Text; thus we Hiould do one to another. Mark, he . ech the weak of an Advocate. My little ChU" It, I write unto you^ &c.

Chriftians, when they would comfort their »(^cd Brethren talk too much ac rovers^ or i» ersis : They (hould be more at the Mark, 4 rd ffoken in feafon^ ho» good is it ? I lay, riftians (hould obferve and enquire, that they y obferve the caule or ground of their Bro* r$ Trouble : and having firft taken Notice of c, in the next place coniSder. under which of Offices of Jemis Chrift this Sin or Trouble b^s t this Man.; and io labour to apply Chrift in Word, of the Gofpel to him. sometimes we bid tO: confider him as an ApoftJe and High' efif and fomedmes as a Fore-runner a^d ap vacate. And he has, as was (aid afore,, thefe' ers Offices with othersthac we by the Con»--oration of him might be relieved under our-.nifold Temptations.. This, af Ilaid, as I rceive John reaches us here, as he doth a little . fore of his being a Sacrifice for us | for he :ientecb them .that' ^er CotivttGoci Qsc^^xt^

with Chrift as an A^'ccMte with the Fa who Should fay, my Brethren, are yoo are you acculed, have ytm (inned, h, prevailed againft yon ? ffe h.ite an . witlr th,- Father, Jejut Cbrijl the tighteem. ^ Thus we iliould do, and deliver oar fioni Death, there is nothing that Sata defires than to get good Men in his Sien tliem as Wheat, that if pofliblc he may them nothing but Bran, iio Grate, but th( husk and Iheli of Religion : And when a ftian comes to know this, Ihould Chrifl as entt be hid, what could bear him up ? But le now remember and believe fhac tre hat Advocate mitlj the Fktber , Jtjits Cbfifi r{^ltec!.r, and he fbrrliwifh oonceiveth C Ibrt For an Advxaie is to plead for mc cording as has been thew'd afore, that I be ddirercd from the Wrath and Acciif of my Adverfary, and ftiil be kept fafe ii Grace.

Further, by telling of my Brother ths 'iaxh in Adveeate, I put things into his 1 that he has not known, or do bring them Remembrance which he has forgot r To that rho' h:: hath finrcd he (hall be fave< a- way of Juflice. For an Advocate \9 to-1 Jnfticc and Law, and Chrift is to plead thcl a ^int that has finned : Yea, fo to ptrAd i that he may be Taved : This being fo, he is t to perceive thai \iy Law, he muft have his forgiven him: That by jufticc he muftbe ficd.. For Chrift as an Advoente pleadetl Juftjce, Juftica to himfclf, and ibts Siiht

limfelf, a Member of his Body, of his Flefli and >f his Bones.

Nor has Satan fo good a Righc to plead Ju-lice againft us,tho^ we have finn'd^chac we might * X damned, a&Chrift has to pkad ic, cho' we have inned, that we might be faved. For Sin caj^noc : :ry fo loud to Jufticc, as can the Blood of Chrift: \nd he pleads his Blood as Advocate, by which le has anfwered the Law, wherefore the-Law laving nothing to objedt, muft needs acquit the Vian for whom the Lord Tefus pleads. I con-:iude this with that of the PGiImift, Surely bis ialvafitm is nigh them that feur him^ that Glory may dvteSi/t our Land. Mercy and Truth areniet together^ f^gbteeufnefs and Peace have l^Jfed edeb 9ther. Truth /haS Jfring out of the Earthy amt [(ighteottfnefi fhaS look dovm firm Heaven : Tea, tlye Lord JhaQ give that vfhicb is good, and our Land/haS yield her Bncreafi. I^ighttoufinfs/hall ^0 before him, and/hall lead us the'fVay of hit Steps. . ' -*

■Vfe 8. Eighthly, But what iiaJI this to yixxv chat are not concerned in this Privilege ?^ The Children indeed have the Advantage of an Ad^ wocate, but what is this tothem* that have nime pr fhadtheir Cavfe'? Jer. 30. 11, 15. They arc, af we Tay, left to the widcf World, or to be ground to Powder between the Juftice df-G<^d's^d'th^ Sins which they have commiteid.-' TMt'iSrt^ Man that none but the Devil feeks after/ that is

Eurfued by the Law, and Sin, and Death," amiP as none to plead hisCanie- 'Tisfadtoicohfi* rfcr the plight that fwch an one i8»in.^ His'Ar!cu(^ is.appointed, yea, ocdcr'd to btiQ^\xi ^.O^vr^

aEatnft bim £ Ut Satan fi»ni tt bii right Htnd ] Pf. 109. 6, 7. in che Place where Accufers lUnd, jbtd when he/hi»S tt juJ/^'J, let him be conJemifd, lit thert be titnt te fltadfvr hi DeliverOHee. If he cries or olFereih ra C17 out for Mercy or For-' givencls [^/et bit Prajer beeame Sin."^ This is tbe '^PcM-tion of a wicked Man : Terrer/ takf bold »n bitBM tVateri, a Tempejl fieatetb him *wtf in the Night, the E*fl H^ind ettrrittb him *9*f, and hi defdrteih, and m a Stprm hurlttb bim tut ^ hi Plact: For G»d JhaS caft upon him, and ntt jhme ; be jvouid fain jUe eut tf hi Hand. Me» fiiaS eUp their Handt at him, 4nd JhaB bijl biM etti of'hi Place, Job 17. 20, n, 12, 13. And what Hiall this Man do ? Can be withfiand the Charge, the Accufaiion, the Sentence, and Cm* dcmnauofl f No, be has none to plead hif Caufc. I retnennber chat fomewliere I have read, as I chink, concerning one, who when he wat, carrying upon Mens Shoulders to che Grave, cried out as he lay upon the Bier, / am aeeufii before the juft Judgment of God i and a while after, / am condemned before the juji Judgment 4 God. Nor was this Man but ftrit^ as to the Re* ligion that was then on foot in the World, but all the Religion of the World amounts to do more than nothing, (I mean as to Eternal Salvation) if Men be deny'd an Advocate to plead their Canfe with God. Noc can any Advocate, .fave JtfiH Chriit the righteoiu, avail ::ny thing at all^ becaule there is none appointed but him to that Work, and therefore not to be admitted Eo enter a. Pica, for their Clietu. at the Bar of 6o<t.

Obj. Bu^ fiwe may fay^ there n Ge£s Grace^ the Promifi, Chrifi^i Bloody and hi /econd Part -rf Priefthoffd now in Heaven :. Can none of theft fiveraUy^ nor aU of them jointly five a Mam from Hel, unlefi Cbriit alfo becomes our Advocate ? ' . ^

Anjwer : All thefe, his Advocate*! Office pot excluded, are few enoufih, and liccle enough co fave the Saints from Hell; iot the Highttom fhoM fiareely hefiveJf i Pet. 4. 18« There nuift thcQ be the Promife, God's Grace, Chriil's Bloodii and him to advocate too, or we cannot be faved. What's the Promife without God's Gracer, and what's that Grace without a Promife to beftow it on us? 1 f^, what Bencfit'.have we thereby ? Bcfides, if the Promife and God's Grace, witbK out Ghrift's Blood, would have laved u>, wbere^ fore then did Chrift die ? Yea, and again Ifay^ if ail diefe, without his being an Advocate for u% vfould have deliverM us from all thofe Difad-vantages that our Sins and Infirmities would bring us to, and into ; fiifeiy in vain, and to no purpofe was Jefus made an Advocate. But, Soul^ there is need of all, and therefore be not thou offended that the Lord Jefus is of the Father made fo much to his, but rather. admire and wonder that the father and the Son fhould be lb cxincem'd with fo forry a lump of Dufl; and AHies as thou art. And 1 fay again; be confounded to think that Sin fhould be a thing fo horrible, of Power to pollute, to captivate and detain us from God, that without all this ado (I would fpeak with Reverence of God and his Wifdom) we cannot be delivered from the ENttVa^w% K^^*.

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154 The AdvocAtefbip

ftrudlion chac ic bach brought upon the of Men.

■ But I (ay^ what is this to them that ai mined to a Privilege in the Advecaie Chrift ? Whether he is an Advoeste ,q \ Cafe to them is the fame. True, Ch S^^viour is not divided: He that hath b ally fliall have him in none at all of his < in a faving manner. Therefore he for ^ is not an Advocate, he is nothing, as u JLife.

Indeed Chrift by fome of his Offices cemed for the Elec^ before by fome of is. But fuch ihall ihave the fileffing of "before they coorje.to Glory. Nor hat •ground Jto fay, Chrift is here or there 1 •fore be,hath grbundto iay, healib is \ .votate; tho* that Office of his, as.hai xcady (hewed, ftands in tkelaft place, ai in as a Referve. But can any imagine tl: will pray for them ms Prieft, for whbn: ^noc plead as Advocate ? Or that he will xhem to God, for whom'he will not plea tlje Devil ? No, no, they are his own tl veth to the end, JoL 13, to the end of th £o the end of their Sins, to the end of th

you that there arc feveral whahave not the Lord Jefus for their Advocate^ to wit, thofe that are ftill in their Sins purfuing of cheir> Lufts,. thofe chat are alfaaoi'd of him before Men, and thofe that are never otherwife but lukewarm in theic Profeilion : And let us now, for a Conclufion, make further enquiry into this matcen . Is it likely that thofe Hiould have the Lord Joi' fus {qv their Advocate to plead their Caufe,i-w4id defpife and rejc(3his Perfon, his Wori and WayftI Or thofe either who are fo far off from fence 9/ and Aiame/^r Sin, that it is the only thing tBeT hug and embrace i True, he pleadeth the Ctole of his People, ix>th with thc:F.ather anilajg^nft ihe Oevily apd all the 2World befides ;. but -optn Frophanennefs, Shame of good, anH .without beajd i|Mr warm thin Religion^ are no Chara<Slers o£lui 3Pfabp!e* ^ . - ■ i .r

It is irrational to think that Chrift is an Adi^ vocate for,.or that hepleadeth the Caufe of fucifj vvho in nh^ felf-fame' l|Our/ and before His Ene^ ipie's, are throwing.Dtitin his Face, by^xheirpccit phane Mouths and uniaoAified Lives and Conn vcrfations* . ,

If he pleads as an Adwcate for any, he. muft plead againd Satan for *em, alfTO confequently muft have fome fpccial bai^om to'fround his Plea upon ; I fay, a bottom better chaii that upon which the carnal man ftands; which bottom is either feme fpecial relation that this man ftands in to God, or fome fpecial Law he hath Privilege by, that he may have fome ground,for an Appeal, if need be, to the Juftice and Righteouuiefs of God: But none ot (hefc things belong to them

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