THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHRIST FOR AN ADVOCATE
Tenth Privilege. Another privilege that they have who have Jesus Christ to be their Advocate, is this, the Father has made him, even him that is thine Advocate, the umpire and judge in all matters that have, do, or shall fall out betwixt him and us. Mark this well; for when the judge himself, before whom I am accused, shall make mine Advocate, the judge of the nature of the crime for which I am accused and of matter of law by which I am accused—to wit, whether it is in force against me to condemnation or whether by the law of grace I am set free—especially since my Advocate has espoused my cause, promised me deliverance, and pleaded my right to the state of eternal life—must it not go well with me?
Yes, verily. The judge, then, making thine Advocate the judge, for he "hath committed all judgment unto the Son," has done it also for thy sake who hast chosen him to be thine Advocate (John 5:22) It was a great thing that happened to Israel when Joseph became their advocate, and when Pharaoh had made him a judge. "Thou," says he, "shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt—and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt—only in the throne will I be greater than thou" (Gen 41:40, 44). Joseph in this was a type of Christ, and his government here is the government of Christ for his church. Kings seldom make a man's judge his advocate; they seldom leave the issue of the whole affair to the arbitration of the poor man's lawyer; but when they do, they think it should even go to the heart's desire of the client whose advocate it is, especially when, as I said before, the cause of the client has become the concern of the advocate, and they are both wrapped up in the self-same interest; yea, when the judge himself is also therein concerned; and yet thus it is with that soul who has Jesus Christ as his Advocate.
What sayest thou, poor heart, to this? The judge-to-wit, the God of heaven, has made thy Advocate, arbitrator in thy business; he is to judge; God has referred the matter to him, and he has a concern in thy concern, an interest in thy good speed. Christian man, dost thou hear? Thou hast put thy cause into the hand of Jesus Christ and has chosen him to be thy Advocate to plead for thee before God and against thy adversary; and God has referred the judgment of that matter to thy Advocate, so that he has the power to determine the matter. I know Satan is not pleased with this. He had rather things should have been referred to himself, and then we had been to the child of God; but, I say, God has referred the business to Jesus Christ, has made him umpire and judge in thine affair. Art thou also willing that he should decide the matter? Canst thou say unto him as David, "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause" (Psa 43:1)? Oh, the care of God towards his people and the desire for their welfare! He has provided them an Advocate, and he has referred all causes and things that may by Satan be objected and brought in against us, to the judgment and sentence of Christ our Advocate. But to come to a conclusion for this; and therefore,
No comments:
Post a Comment