The advocateship of Jesus Christ clearly explained, and largely improved, for the benefit of…

O Saith the Soul, Lord, I am come to thee upon an earnest Business, I am arrested by Satan; the Bailiff was mine own Conscience, and I am like to be accused before the Judgment-Seat of God; my Salvation lies at Stake; I am questioned for my Interest in Heaven; I am afraid of, ⟨p. 81⟩the Judge; my Heart condemns me, 1 Joh. 3.20. Mine Enemy is subtle, and wanteth not Malice to prosecute me to Death, and then to Hell. Also, Lord, I am sensible the Law is against me, for indeed I have horribly sinned; and thus and thus have I done. Here I lie open to Law, and there I lie open to Law; Here I have given the Adversary Advantage, and there he will surely have a hank against me: Lord I am distressed, undertake for me. And there are some things that thou must be acquainted with about thine Advocate, before thou wilt venture to go thus far with him. As,

O Saith the Soul, Lord, I am come to thee upon an earnest Business, I am arrested by Satan; the Bailiff was mine own Conscience, and I am like to be accused before the Judgment-Seat of God; my Salvation lies at Stake; I am questioned for my Interest in Heaven; I am afraid of, ⟨p. 81⟩the Judge; my Heart condemns me, 1 Joh. 3.20. Mine Enemy is subtil, and wanteth not Malice to prosecute me to Death, and then to Hell. Also, Lord, I am sensible the Law is against me, for indeed I have horribly sinned; and thus and thus have I done. Here I lie open to Law, and there I lie open to Law; Here I have given the Adversary Advantage, and there he will surely have a hank against me: Lord I am distressed, undertake for me. And there are some things that thou must be acquainted with about thine Advocate, before thou wilt venture to go thus far with him. As,

1. Thou must know him to be a Friend and not an Enemy unto whom thou openest thy Heart; and, until thou comest to know, That Christ is a Friend to thee, or to Souls in thy Condition, thou wilt never reveal thy Cause unto him: Not thy whole Cause unto him. And it is from this, That so many that have Soul-Causes hourly depending, before the Throne of God; and that are in Danger, every day, of eternal Damnation, forbear to entertain Jesus Christ for their Advocate, and so wickedly conceal their Matters from him. But he that hideth his Sins shall not prosper,