A30121:50
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.
2. The Text also supposeth, that the Saints, as well as Sinners, are concerned at that Bar; for the Apostle saith plainly, That there we have an Advocate. And the Saints are concerned at that Bar, because they transgress as well as others, and because the Law is against the Sin of Saints, as well as against the Sins of other Men. If the Saints were not capable of committing of Sin, what need would they have of an Advocate? [1 Chr. 21.3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Sam. 12.13, 14. Yea though they did sin, yet if they were by Christ so set free from the Law, as that it could by no means take cognisance of their Sins, what need would they have of an Advocate? none at all. If there be twenty places, where there are Assizes kept in this Land, yet if I have offended no Law, what need have I of an Advocate? specially if the Judge be Just, and knows me altogether, as the God of Heaven does. But here's a Judge that's just, and here's an Advocate also; an ⟨p. 8⟩Advocate for the Children, an Advocate to plead, (for an Advocate, as such, is not of use, but before a Bar to plead) therefore here is an Offence, and so a Law broken by the Saints as well as others. That's the Second thing.
3. As the Text supposeth that there is a Judge, and Crimes of Saints: So it supposeth that there is an Accuser: one that will carefully gather up the Faults of good Men, and that will plead them at this Bar against them. Hence we read of the Accuser of the Brethren, that accuseth them before God day and night, Rev. 12.10, 11, 12. For Satan doth not only tempt the godly Man to sin; but, having prevailed with him, and made him guilty, he packs away to the Court, to God the Judge of all, and there addresses himself to accuse that Man, and to lay to his charge the heinousness of his offence: pleading against him the Law that he has broken, the light against which he did it, and the like. But now, for the relief and support of such poor People; the Apostle by the Text presents them with an Advocate. That is, with one to plead for them, while Satan pleads against them: With one that pleads for Pardon, while Satan by accusing seeks to pull Judgment, and Vengeance upon our Heads. If any Man sin, we have an Advocate