Works of John Bunyan – The Greatness of The Soul, And Unspeakableness 0f the Loss Thereof; How Christ Manages The Office Of An Advocate.129

 

THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHRIST FOR AN ADVOCATE

Eighth Privilege. Another privilege that they have who have Jesus Christ to be their Advocate is this, He is always ready, always in court, always with the judge, then and there to oppose, if our accuser comes, and to plead against him what is pleadable for his children. And this is what the text implies when it says, "We have an Advocate with the Father," always with the Father. Some lawyers, though they are otherwise able and shrewd, yet not always in court and ready, do suffer their poor clients to be baffled and nonsuited by their adversary; yea, it so comes to pass because of this neglect that a judgment is got out against them for whom they have undertaken to plead, to their great perplexity and damage; but no such opportunity can Satan have of our Advocate, for he is with the Father, always with the Father; as to be a Priest, so to be an Advocate-"We have an Advocate with the Father." It is said of the priests, they wait at the altar, and that they give attendance there, (I Cor 9:13); also of the magistrate, that as to his office, he should attend "continually on this very thing" (Rom 13:6). And as these, so Christ, as to his office as an Advocate, attends continually upon that office with his Father. "We have an Advocate with the Father," always with the Father. And truly such an Advocate becomes the children of God, because of the vigilance of their enemy, for it is said of him that "he accuseth us day and night," so unweariedly doth he both seek and pursue our destruction (Rev 12:10). But behold how we are provided for him: We have an Advocate with the Father." If he comes a-days, our Advocate is with the Father; if he comes a night, our Advocate is with the Father.

Thus, then, is our Advocate ready to put check to Satan, come he when he will or can, to accuse us to the Father. Wherefore these two texts are greatly to be minded; one of them shows us the restlessness of our enemy, and the other shows us the diligence of our Advocate.

That, also, in the Hebrews, shows us the carefulness of our Advocate, where it says, He is gone "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb 9:24). Now, just the time is present; NOW, the time is always present; NOW, let Satan come when he will! Nor is it to be omitted that this word that thus specifies the time, the present time, doth also conclude it to be that time in which we are imperfect in grace, in which we have many failings, in which we are tempted and accused of the devil to God; this is the time, and in it, and every whit of it, he now appeareth in the presence of God for us. Oh, the diligence of our enemy; oh, the diligence of our friend!-the one against us, the other for us, and that continually: If any man sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." This, then, that Jesus Christ is always an Advocate with the Father for us, and so continually ready to put a check to every accusation that Satan brings into the presence of God against us, is another of the privileges that they have, who have Jesus Christ for their Advocate.