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

This done he exhorts them to shun, or fly Sin, and not to consent to the Motions, Workings, Enticings, or the Allurements thereof, saying, I write unto you that you sin not. Let not Forgiveness have so bad an effect upon you, as to cause you to be remiss in Christian Duties, or as to tempt you to give way to Evil. Shall we sin, because we are forgiven? or shall we not much matter what manner of Lives we live, because we are set free from the Law of Sin and Death? God forbid! ⟨p. 3⟩Let Grace teach us another Lesson; and lay other Obligations upon our Spirit•. My little Children, saith he, these things I write unto you, that you sin not. What things? why, tidings of Pardon and Salvation, and of that nearness to God, to which you are brought by the precious Blood of Christ. Now lest also by this last exhortation, he should yet be misunderstood, he adds, and if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. I say he addeth this to prevent desponding in those weak and sensible Christians, that are so quick of feeling, and of discerning the Corruptions of their Natures. For these cry out continually, That there is nothing that they do, but it is attended with sinful Weaknesses. Wherefore in the Words we are presented with two great truths.

This done he exhorts them to shun, or fly Sin, and not to consent to the Motions, Workings, Inticeings, or the Allurements thereof, saying, I write unto you that you sin not. Let not Forgiveness have so bad an effect upon you, as to cause you to be remiss in Christian Duties, or as to tempt you to give way to Evil. Shall we sin, because we are forgiven? or shall we not much matter what manner of Lives we live, because we are set free from the Law of Sin and Death? God forbid! ⟨p. 3⟩Let Grace teach us another Lesson; and lay other Obligations upon our Spirit•. My little Children, saith he, these things I write unto you, that you sin not. What things? why, tidings of Pardon and Salvation, and of that nearness to God, to which you are brought by the precious Blood of Christ. Now lest also by this last exhortation, he should yet be misunderstood, he adds, and if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. I say he addeth this to prevent desponding in those weak and sensible Christians, that are so quick of feeling, and of decerning the Corruptions of their Natures. For these cry out continually, That there is nothing that they do, but it is attended with sinful Weaknesses. Wherefore in the Words we are presented with two great truths.