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

'Tis not therefore enough for us that we exercise our thoughts upon Christ in an undistinct, and general way, but we must learn to know him in all his Offices, and to know the Nature of his Offices also. Our Condition requires this: It requireth it, I say, as we are guilty of Sin, as we have to do with God, and with our Enemy the Devil. As we are guilty of Sin, so we need a Sacrifice; and because we are also Sinners, we need one perfect to present our Sacrifice for us to God: We have need also of him as Priest to present our Persons and Services to God. And since God is just and upon the Judgment-Seat;⟨p. 152⟩ and since also we are subject to sin grievously; and again, since we have an Accuser who will by Law plead at this Bar of God our Sins against us, to the end we might be condemned, we have need of, and also have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

'Tis not therefore enough for us that we exercise our thoughts upon Christ in an undistinct, and general way, but we must learn to know him in all his Offices, and to know the Nature of his Offices also. Our Condition requires this: It requireth it, I say, as we are guilty of Sin, as we have to do with God, and with our Enemy the Devil. As we are guilty of Sin, so we need a Sacrifice; and because we are also Sinners, we need one perfect to present our Sacrifice for us to God: We have need also of him as Priest to present our Persons and Services to God. And since God is just and upon the Judgment-Seat;⟨p. 152⟩ and since also we are subject to sin grievously; and again, since we have an Accuser who will by Law plead at this Bar of God our Sins against us, to the end we might be condemned, we have need of, and also have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the •ighteous.

Alas! How many of God's precious People, for the want of a distinct Knowledge of Christ in all his Offices, are at this day sadly baffled with the Sophistications of the Devil. To instance no more than this one thing: When they have committed some heinous Sin after Light received; How are they, I say, tossed, and tumbled, and distressed with many Perplexities? They cannot come to any Anchor in this their troubled Sea. They go from Promise to Promise, from Providence to Providence, from this to that Office of Jesus Christ, but forget that he is (or else understand not what it is for this Lord Jesus) to be an Advocate for them. Hence they so often sink under the Fears that their Sin is unpardonable, and that therefore their Condition is desperate. Whereas if they could but consider that Christ is their Advocate, and that he is therefore made an Advocate, to save them from those high Transgressions that are committed by them and that he waits upon this Office continually before the Judgment-Seat