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

Seventhly, Is it so? Is Jesus Christ an Advocate with the Father for us? Then this should encourage strong Christians to tell the weak ones, where, when they are in their Temptations and Fears through Sin, they may have one to plead their Cause. Thus the Apostle doth, by the Text; and thus we should do one to another. Mark, he telleth the weak of an Advocate. My little Children, I write unto you, &c.

Christians, when they would comfort their dejected Brethren talk too much at rovers, or in generals: They should be more at the Mark. A Word spoke in season, how good is it? I say, Christians should observe and enquire that they may observe, the Cause or ground of their Brothers Trouble; and having first taken Notice of that, in the next place consider under which of the Offices of Jesus Christ this Sin or Trouble has cast this Man; and so labour to apply Christ in the Word of the Gospel to him. Sometimes ⟨p. 200⟩we are bid to consider him as an Apostle, and High Priest, and sometimes as a fore-runner and an Advocate. And he has, as was said afore, these divers Offices with others that we by the Consideration of him might be relieved under our manifold Temptations. This, as I said, I perceive John teaches us here, as he doth a little before of his being a Sacrifice for us; for he presenteth them that after Conversion shall sin, with Christ as an Advocate with the Father. As who should say, my Brethren are you tempted, are you accused, have you sinned, has Satan prevailed against you? We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Thus we should do, and deliver our Brother from Death, there is nothing •hat Satan more desires than to get good Men into his Sive to sift them as Wheat that if possible he may leave them nothing but bran, no Grace, but the very husk and shell of Religion: And when a Christian comes to know this, should Christ as Priest, or Advocate be hid from him, what could bear him up? But let him now remember and believe that we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and e forthwith conceiveth Comfort. For an Advocate is to plead for me according as has been showed afore, that