The work of Jesus Christ as an advocate clearly explained and largely improved for…

Fourthly, As Christ, as Advocate, pleads for us against Satan, his Fathers Interest in us, and his own: So he pleadeth against him that Right and property that he hath in Heaven to give it to whom he will. He has a Right to Heaven, as Priest and King; it is his also by Inheritance. And since he will be so good a Benefactor as to bestow this House on some Body; but not for their Deserts, but not for their Goodness: And since again he has to that end spilt his Blood for, and taken a Generation into Covenant-Relation to him that it might be bestowed on them, it shall be bestowed on them: And he will plead this if there be need, if his People sin and if their Accuser seeks, by their Sin, their ⟨p. 52⟩Ruin and Destruction. Father, saith he, I will that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory, Joh. 17.24. Which thou hast given me. Christ's Will, is the Will of Heaven, the Will of God; shall not Christ then prevail?

I will, saith Christ; I will, saith Satan: But whose Will shall stand? 'Tis true, Christ in the Text speaks more like an Arbitrator than an Advocate: More like a Judge than one pleading at a Bar. I will have it so, I judge that so it ought to be and must. But there is also something of Plea in the Words both before his Father, and against our Enemy. And therefore he speaketh like one that can plead and determine also, yea like one that has Power so to do. But shall the Will of Heaven stoop to the Will of Hell? Or the Will of Christ to the Will of Satan? Or the Will of Righteousness to the Will of Sin? Shall Satan, who is God's Enemy, and whose Charge wherewith he chargeth us for Sin, and which is grounded not upon Love to Righteousness, but upon Malice against God's Designs of Mercy against the Blood of Christ, and the Salvation of his People: I say, shall this Enemy and this charge prevail with God against the well-grounded Plea of Christ, and against the Salvation of God's Elect! and so keep us out of Heaven? No, no, Christ will ⟨p. 53⟩