The Fountain of Life Opened

First, Hence let them be encouraged against all their sinful infirmities, and lamented weaknesses. 'Tis confessed, these are sad things; they grieve the spirit of God, sadden your own hearts, cloud your evidences; but having such an High-Priest in Heaven, can never be your ruin. 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not: And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. [My little children] children, especially little children; when first beginning to take the foot, are apt to stumble at every straw. So are raw, young, and unexperienced Christians; but what if they do? Why though it must be far from them to take encouragement so to do, from Christ and his intercession; yet if by surprisal, they so sin, let them not be utterly discouraged; for we have an Advocate. He stops whatever plea may be brought in against us by the Devil, or the Law; and answers all by his satisfaction. He gets out fresh pardons for new sins. And this Advocate is with [the Father] he doth not say with his Father, though that had been a singular support in it self, nor yet with our Father, which is a sweet encouragement singly considered, but with [the Father] which takes in both to make the encouragement full. Remember ye that are cast down under the sense of sin, that Jesus your friend in the Court above, is able to save to the uttermost. Which is as one calls it, a reaching word; and extends it self so far that thou canst not look beyond it. Let thy soul be set on the highest mount,