A30121:432
The advocateship of Jesus Christ clearly explained, and largely improved, for the benefit of…
The advocateship of Jesus Christ clearly explained, and largely improved, for the benefit of all believers by John Bunyan ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1688
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is irrational to think that Christ is an ⟨p. 207⟩Advocate for, or that he pleadeth the Cause of such, who in the self same Hour and before his Enemies are throwing dirt in his Face, by their profane Mouths and unsanctified Lives and Conversations.
If he pleads as an Advocate for any, he must plead against Satan for them, and so consequently must have some special bottom to ground his Plea upon: I say a bottom better than that upon which the carnal Man stands. Which bottom is, either some special Relation that this Man stands in to God, or some special Law he hath Privilege by: That he may have some ground for an Appeal if need be, to the Justice and Righteousness of God: But none of these things belong to them that are dead in Trespasses and Sins. They stand in no special Relation to God; they are not privileged by the Law of Grace.
Obj. But doth not Christ as Advocate plead for his Elect, tho not called as yet?
Answ. He died •or all his Elect, he prayeth for all his Elect as a Priest: But as an Advocate he pleadeth only for the Children, the called only. Satan objecteth not against God's Election, for he knows it not: But be objecteth against the called, to wit, whether he be truly godly or no,