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BOOKS of thU Author Mr. John Bunynn, U
printed jor John Marfhall, at the liibh
• Gracechurch-llrect.
V T^^^^'^^ Emblems ;. or, Temporal Things fpiri
I *-^ liz'd. Fitted for the Ufe of Roys and Girls
dorn'd with Curs fuirable to every luljecfK The
Edition, with Jarge Additions. To which is adi
A Caution to ftir up to Watchfulnds againft J
price bound i j.
. The Heavenly Footman j or, A Defcriptioi
the Man that g^cs to Heaven ; together with
Va\ he runs in phe Marks he goes by : Aifo f
Diredions how to run fo as to obtain. 1 he
Edition ; price bound i /.
The Jervfaleim Sinner fav'd ; or,. Good K
for the viicft of Men, being a Help for dcfpai
Sools ; fhewing chat Jefus Chrift would have M
in the firft plajee otfer'd to the biggeft Sinners.
>:h Edition^ adorned with Cuts. To which is
dcd, An Anfwer to thofe grand Objccftions thai
ii the way of them that would believe, for
Comfort of thofe that fear they have finned agj
the Holy Ghoft ; price bound i /.
The Pilgrim's Progrcfs from this WorM to
^vbich is to come ; dcliver'd under the Similii
cf a Dream: Wherein is difcover'd the manne
his fetring out, his dangerous Journey and fafe J
ral ar the dcfir'd Country. By John Bunyan,
now done into Verfe by T. H. illuftrated with <
Price bound i j.
One Thing is needful; or. Meditations upon
Four laft Things, Deaths Judgment^ Heaven,
\ieB, Price i s.
The GrcacneCs of the Sou\, aT\d\3u^^t^^
of the Lofs thereof. Price bound \ j.
The /Icrcptab/c Sacrifice ^ ot,\.V^'£-'s^c^'
( « broken Hc^rc. Price bound \ $,
^t^
THE
W OR K
AS AN
ADVOCATE,
Clearly Explain d^
AND
Largely Improv'd,
For the BENEFIT of all
ELIEVERS.
F R O M
hn ii. I. And if anyManfin, xpe have an
Uhoeate with the Father^ Jtfm Cbriji the
igbteonts
wtmtmimmti^^
'0bn BuTiyant Author of tbt PUgrims Pregrefs.
l*MtaMkMHBkM
LONDON^
Qted for J o H N Mar s hall, ^t
the Bible in Gracechurcb-fireet* 1725*
Pnce bound i #•
/
The ^flle to the READER.
Courteous Reader^
OF aJl the ExceJJent Offices which God the
Father has conferr'd on Jefus Chrifi our
Lord, this of his being an Advocate with
kun for us is not the Icaft, tlio* (ro the Shame of
I Saints it may be Ipoken) the blelfcJ Bvnjfi. • thereof
have not wi:h that Diligence and fervent Dddre been
enquired afccr as they .ought.
Chrift 2iS Sacrifice ^Prieji and Kinpr^wlih. the Glories
in^gind thatj^fl'iy from him /? jy}i«/?j has, God be thaiik-
' ft/,inthis our Day,bcen much difcoverM L y our Sccrs,
J lad as much rcjoyccd in by thofc who have belie v'd
tbtirWords; but as he is an Advocate with the Kithfry
in Advocate for «j, I fear the Hxcdlcncy of that doth
t^'-lltoo much lie hid ; tho' I am verily of Opinion,
^ii the People of God in tllsAqe have as much neid
of the Knowledge thereof (if not more need ) than
lud their Brethren that are gone before them.
Thefe Words {If mt more need) perhaps may feem
lofome to be fomevvhat out of joint,but let i\\tGodly'
©./^confider the Decays that arc among uSj as to the
I ^iVi^'r cf Godllnc/syund what abundance of foul Mjf-
' carriages the Generality of PyofciTci's now fund guil-
ty of, (as alfo how diligent their grcac Enemy ir. to
laccufe them at the Bit of God for 'em) and I think
. tW will conclude, that in fo Hiying, I indeed have
fiid fome Truth. Wherefore when I thought on this,
tad had fomewhat confiderM aifo the tranfcendent
Excellency of the Advjcateplp of this o«r Lord ; and
«^ain,that but little of the Glory thereof has by Wri-
ting Urcn in our Day communicated to the Church, I =
vcntur'd to write what I have fccn thereof, and do by
what doth follow prcfent it unto her for Good.
I count not ray felf fufficient for this, or any other
Wh,a.s it is mfr/us; but vet I fay, I have told you
^liswhdt of it, according to the pvor^on\o^^A"^'W^^
f.'/i/ / hclk'vc fame wi if thank GoA fox viV^vX W-\h
Ktf fdid about it, but it will Uc cUVc&v liio^^ ^^^i^^'
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, 1 1
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 Will fi and
5. Ciriji pleads 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 Carrier f 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.
He plekds 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. 1 1. 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 10 1
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 Sinsyi 06
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 \ 1 1 x
1: AnC God is not to be charged with Fotiy 1 1 5
: 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
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.,**^
1 1 ]
"^^"^ 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 C hriftians 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^«.
of Jefus Chrift. ^
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 Apo-
ftle (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 be-
fore; 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«^^^
4 The Advocatefljip
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 is l^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 De-
vils 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 fo falliAto the Cond^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
afJcCiis Chrift. 5
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 po Ale 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 Hea-
ven 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 Advo-
cate, 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 have uf 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, 1 1, 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 1 43
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\«.
8 The Jdvocatejbip
5. The Apoftlc alfo fuppofeth by the Text,t
there is an aptuefi inCbriftians^vphen they have^
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, Garments 5 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. 2 1 . 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
of Jefiis Chrift; 9
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
defini tenets 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'd mjf 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. 3 1. 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^^^
1 2 The Jd'vocateJBip
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-
c/ fefus Chriff; ij
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 Ad-
vocate.
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;
14 The Advocafefbip
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 Ad-
vocate'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 ac-
cording 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. Where-
fore he faith, Ifanj tnanjia, we have an AJvscate,
one to ftand up for him, and to plead for his De-
liverance beifore thcBsif of God, Joel ^.z. Jfa,
66. 1 6. 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 Fa-
mine, 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 their Tranfgreffions : 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 of Jefus Chrift. I ^
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
i^ The AdvocatejhUf
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 ft ands 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 vf as 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 u fright 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. 1 5. 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
1 8 Tht Jdvoeatejbip
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
. (>/ Jcfus Chrift. 19
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 con-
ns, 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 3 1 . 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 where-
of 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, 1 2.
Tb€ freil Szinis are moft Cenfiblc of their Sins,
^jT Jefus Chrift. 21
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
22 The Advocatejbip
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 corrupt j 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
of Jefiis Chrlfl:. 2 j
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, acknow-
ledging 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 csnfitundad far 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
^/ Jefus Chrift. 2 5
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. 1 7. and with /^ww. 15.3. and ver, 1 1
iih Mat. 17. 48. & 1 5. 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,and pay 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 !*:
i
(?f Jefus Clirift. 27
cfaved ; thus Satan is put to Confufion, and Je-
ns 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/.7 1.3,4,
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:
1 is pur to C';:
ufr.':. i:
cried up by
:iv :.!)?'■
Saints or, Ear'
*d you how C
;•.(■ 1.; .;-
and his Fi:i:f
;-j- y a ■
jarticuiir L:. ':
■-•::■-£-.- .-
the Comf'j- u
■;i- '->-• r;. :
nd wrap: LI :t
!-. _.U ifl^
finned ; vt ;tr;
- « d -QH...
he FaThtr ?x tu^-. -«w .. .'
■ can teU hov
a::: la,! ,.
hee ; yea. &t.:
ich i» a XI' (II.'.
' ftii 1 , W
lich wiU be ci:
•j«w:..u:.,^ .»d
Deliver»fi.t:,«ft=iiKi-wiI tr:,-to "')
lion.
Fa-
and COCK tt »•
|»w«jri<wg
feSS
S?A.^r
BOHIH^^^i^L A v^iMt
bi*UH
h^^ /cd from
rdSS
S5>a<-cd our-
pekorM
^^his Faiher,
t^j^SS
to|i.« : Yea, he
|Ro intimate his
^^^^^H
1^ or 10 ftiew that
^^^^^H
r Knth from our
2 P The Jdvocatejbip
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 well pleafed, 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
of Jefiis Chrlft. 2 j
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't he 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. ^
ofjcfus Chrift. 5 i
n in that ; therefore 'tis faiid; The Gates of
fit not ^rev 41 1 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
t foreknew. 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 ^
o/ Jefus Cfiriff . i
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. 1 3. cA.7. 12
cfc. 13. to. chaf, 9. 17, 1 8, 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//. V V^^iio^ ^^-"^^ ^^
C 5 ^
["y. his own C'^'^^'''"^ '"«' I
"ny. and xvere &^ 5^^ ^^^nf,
"" Intereft in! * " "'"«« before i
of Jefiis Chrlft. 2 j
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»^^^:
5 6 77iV J'dvocateJBip
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 we are.becom
Ms Piflnffif and fo the Church is caird. J
tcs^r ChriOs likes, 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. 1 6. 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 fir fi bring
[ichaJ, SauFj Daugbter,wken thou comeft to fee my
tee, 2 Sam. ^ 1 3, 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 ta-
rn ; 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
1 1. 17. Now faid P^w/ to the Churchy
Body of Cbrift, and Members in parti cuU
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. Father J^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. 1 7. 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
^ Jefus Chrift. 41
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
know pieaded 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 E tvcm^ ^ KxA ^>]^
•*«
42 The Jdvocatejhip
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
(?/ Jefus Chrift. 45
: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
44 7^' Advocdtejbip
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 other t 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
of Jeftis Chrift. 45:
D. 1 8. 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 out f 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 Per p!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^
48 The j4dvoc/itcfbip
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.
of Jefus Chrift. 49
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\^
5" o The Advocatejhip
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 atends ourmoft 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
ofjtfus Chrift. 5 ^
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 com-
mitted 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 deba-
ted, 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 Sal-
vation 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^,
5 2 The Advocatefljip
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 \ ^^^
5 4 T^^^ Jdvoeatejbip
;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 want-
ing 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, t hut ye fin not, he thirh
adds with enlargement, // any Man fin, vie hMife
an Advocate with the Father^ Yet th6 little Chil-
dren 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 there-
fore 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 be-
gotten 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 af feat 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
<7f Jefiis Chrin'. if 5
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
56 The Jdvoc ate/hip
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 particular s, 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 de-
pending 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^^-
58 TFje JdvocateJBip
dcrtA\efor thee ? This I C2i\\ entertaining hifn tq
be thy Advocate. And Ichufe to follow the Simi-
litude, 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 no-
thing 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^ their Tff4r/,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(;J LorJJeJus^ 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 Helper y 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 try s the F{eitLs and the HeaT^,.^^xA ^^^^W^
^ him I tefQvr thcQ. But^ ''^
6 o The Jdvocate^jip
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 under-
take 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, 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 que-
rn, ( 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\\<; ^-'^^>
62 The JdvocaPefhip
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/. 5 1 . & 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. 1 39* 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
^4 ^^^ Advocate/hip
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? where-
fore 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. 1 3
^/^ar/zf/»f/ia very crofs and intricate CauU^ \ bar
we.
«/ Jefus Chrift. 6^
*rieJ many 4 good Ai(tn xfhiU I hdve been telling
Tale to him f 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. 1 6. that Hefdinteth t^ot^ neither it wearied,
d that there i no fe arching 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.
66 The Advocatejbip
David, 1 Sam. 12. la, 1 1, 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 perhapsthat thou fhalt walk mthout tbe^
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 Shame p^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
of Jefus Chrift. 6j
'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 fuh due d 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 iato JJetfing ; 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 be i
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
of Jefus 'Chrift. 69
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, 1 2. why ilioiild I lock for o-
aliftgar the hand of God) But as t6 this,
?lrideavour to hear the Indignation of theLord
I l.avejinned agair?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, I hMve 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
e?/ Jefus Chrift. 7<
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 'tis oomatter
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 partaker j 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-
7 2 The Advocdtefhip
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, 1 4. & 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, }
(?f Jefus Chrift. 73
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^
J 4 The AdvocatejbLp
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^^
(7/ jcfus Chrift. 7 5
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 con-
t'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 Income jUnd
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 is grounJlefs^
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 corn-
iced, 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
7 8 The JdvocateJJjip
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 there ifl(
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 fir fl 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*
of Jdfus Chrift. 5 r
ta agamft cheChildren mufl needs he overfbrown,
r always 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. 1 2.
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 ^;^
8 2 The JdvocAteJBip
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 ad-
vantage 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<
^/Jefiis Chrift. 8y
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 ; Where-
fore 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. 1 3. •' 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. 1 3, 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^
of Jefus Chrift. J9
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. 1 9. There
\ three things in Judgment that a Lawyer muft '
:e heed of, one is the nature of the Oft;ice,ibc
mm W • »
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 Advocate y^yJr/ Chrifi tlje righteous-;
s have an Ad vocatc.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 1 3, 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
<f |efus ChfiJf^. 9X
)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^-
9 2 The Jdvocatejhip
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/r j^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
ij^Jefus Chrift^ 9
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. 1 6. 1 3, 1 4, i
9. 1 1, to 24. ^Vhat then can accrue to
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,or Prophetical <
' 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
94 ^^ Jdvocatefbip
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-
(/ J^fus Chrift. 95
. Further j Tbac God feeki to clear hinafclf
is unjuft charge of Sf tan, 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 t be ir 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 pc AW 3^ udc^ wr . 9, Kwvi ^nV^ ^^^
^6 The Jdvocatefbip
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
of Jefus Chrift. 97
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. 1 1 . 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, 1 3. 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,
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?
98 The Jdvocatejbip
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, ihit it tjgti
•end heh, Rom. 3. 11, 23. & ;. i 5, to 1 9. 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^
^Jefus Chrift, 99
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, ^^
ICO The Jdvocatejhip
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 conditional tty 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
^/J his Angels ; and by the Vct<\*\& oi c\x^ iSArw-
, cat«
k
of Jefus Chrifr. loi
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 Bnckfli dings ; 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 them felves againft us, and
>ive to Sacaiv great 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
io2 The Jdvocdtejhip
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. 1 9. 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^
ij/* Jefiis Chrift, loj
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*
I04 "The Jdvocatefbsp
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 ex-
ceed 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
1 06 The Advocitefhip
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 1 8.
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
^ Jefus Chrift.. 107
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. £^ 5 1. 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
foufh all 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 fold fvt
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
of Jefus Chrift. icp*
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, 1 3. 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 Father fjefus 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 f torn 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
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
be fpread abroad, Zcch. I. ij, /ery.
• vertue of our Advocate, we are cirher
:cGei\ e our old Evidences fQ\: tU^^vca
112 The Advocdtefbif
again, or elfe are made co under jftand 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, nocwith Handing
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 Na-
ture, 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^
of Jefus Chrift. iij
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
114 ^^^ jidvocatejbip
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 ^Jef us 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
of Jefus Clirift, 1 1 $
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 Rela-
ys 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&
I|8 The Jchoeatejbi^
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, 1 1.& 31. 9. .
Jhslljiaadittthe rij^ht hand ef the Pror, toft
him frtim them that condemn hit SowJ.Plal 1 09. ■
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
of Jefus Chrift. 1 1 9
'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 Re-
ward, 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.^
% /^^, and Jhall become mine Kdvocax^^he W\U a\
130 The Advocstefbip
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 itlaid ufen 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
ofjcfus Chrift. 1 2 1
we are fubjeA to Temptation and Wcaknefs^and
thro^ them made guilty of many bad -things ;
wherefore he hath prepared himfeJf to our Ser-
vice, and to abide with the Father an Advocate
for us^ As Soiomon faith of a Man of great wrath,
Frcv. 1 9. 1 9. 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. 1 2. 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^^'^'
12 2 The Jdvocatefh/p
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 Ho-
nour, 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 hath iworn 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. 1 1, 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. 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!
of Jefiis Chrift. 125
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 Exal-
tation, 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 Glo-
ries 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 "^
124 The Jdvocatejbip
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
of Jt{{}s Chrift* 1 2>5
:o come with joint rcadinefs to wait upon him.
-cc this alfo learn us to dilfinguiih Ch rift'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
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
f W has conferr'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 ^ ^^
12^) The Jdvocatefhip
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 Relief pnly, 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
of Jeltis Chrift. 127
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 Chil-
dren 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 be-
lieving thought of that Office.
4. Thn Confl deration^, 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-
128 Ihe Jdvoedtejhip
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 cor-
ner, to be found by them that are for finding Rc-
JJeffor their 5ouJ, by a diVigeuf fcaLtc\\ cA .\V&
<?/ Jefus Chrift: 129
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. 1 06. 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 ^ *^^^*'
I ? o The Jdvocatefhip
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 Chil-
dren of God, Jefm Chrift the righteous.
3. Study this Office with reference to its effica-
cy 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 ad-
mitted 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 •»
of Jefus Chrift. 151
Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chriji the righteem.
4. Study the Faith fu/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<^
I J 2 . The Advocdtejbif
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 are hfe andutmonh^. 'Yta.,\.Vi^>
of Jefus Chrift. i j j
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 Ser-
vice 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 King-
dom, 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. 1 13: 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^
'.
I J 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 ,
of Je{us Chrift. ij5
€ 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 kind ncfs 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 knowledgs of the nature
and bafenefs of Sin than' we, whi?c here, arc ca-
pable of, and fo may be made to ftand a>nd won-
der 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^^
I J <J The Advocatejbip
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
of Jefus Chrift. 1 3 7-
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, plead-
ing 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 Of-
fices 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^
1^8 The Aivocstefbif
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^^
(?/^ Jefus Chrifl:. iJ9
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 '■
^/ Jcfiis Chrift. 141
f P er fever an ce ; 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^sind fumble 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
142 The Advocite^ip
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 fief t i ffiat tveuldjmik
me do f
Well, Sou), tho'Satanmay baffle ihcc, he c
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
^Jefus Chrift, 14 j
It the Lord Jefus is an Advocate with God in
IV en for, and for the fake of which thou arc
dc a BeKever on Earth, i Pet. 5. 9. Heb. 1 2. 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'»^'^^
144 ^'^^ Jdvocdtejbip
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 ftand eth 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 Cii rift in this World, becaufc'
Chnft, by the exc cution of cnct^ otvt of his Offi-f^
cesj fcckb out' Promotioi^ UeteaJiw.
«?/ Jefus Chrift. 145
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 yniictt Profeffion 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. 14.1 5»
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
'"JfJ^
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^, to z
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
(?f Jefus Cbrift* 147
" 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.our beft Per-
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. 1 9. 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^
j' ' Ai J
1 4 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
ejf Jefus Chrift* 149^
the Name of Chrifty chey only muft dwclL^
h him in Heaven that do fart from Iniquity^
Im. 1. 1 9. 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^
1 5o The Jdvocatejhip
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
^ Jefus Chrift, i^i.
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
fhad their 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 his Canie- 'Tisfadtoicohfi*
rfcr the plight that fwch an one i8»in.^ His'Ar!cu(^
is. appointed, yea, ocdcr'd to btiQ^\xi ^.O^vr^
1 5^2 TBe AdvceatejBip
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 Sal-
vation) 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.
d/ Jefus Chrift. 15 j
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 Advo-
cate ? ' . ^
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. 1 8« 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^^*.
w^
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 1 3, to the end of th
£o the end of their Sins, to the end of th
r?/ Jefus Chrift. ifjt
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 2 World 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 fucif j
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
F^'i
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