THE USE AND APPLICATION
Use Seventh. Is it so? Is Jesus Christ an Advocate with the Father for us? Then this should encourage strong Christians to tell the weak ones that, when they are in their temptations and fears through sin, they may have one to plead their cause. Thus the apostle doth by the text, and thus we should do one to another. Mark, he telleth the weak of an Advocate: "My little children, I write unto you that ye sin not; though if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father."
Christians, when they would comfort their dejected brethren, talk too much at rovers37 or in generals; they should be more at the mark: "A word spoken in season, how good is it?" I say, Christians should observe and inquire, that they may observe the cause or ground of their brother's trouble, and having first taken notice of that, in the next place consider under which of the offices of Jesus Christ this sin or trouble has cast this man, and so labor to apply Christ in the word of the gospel to him. Sometimes we are bid to consider him as an Apostle and High Priest, and sometimes as a forerunner and an Advocate. And he has, as was said afore, these diverse offices, with others, that we, by his consideration, might be relieved of our manifold temptations. This, as I said, as I perceive John teaches us here, as he doth a little before of his being a sacrifice for us; for he presenteth them that after conversion shall sin with Christ as an Advocate with the Father. As who should say, My brethren, are you tempted, are you accused, have you sinned, has Satan prevailed against you? "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Thus, we should do so and deliver our brother from death. There is nothing that Satan more desires than to get good men in his sieve to sift them as wheat, so that if possible, he may leave them nothing but bran—no grace, but the very husk and shell of religion. And when a Christian comes to know this, should Christ, as an Advocate be hidden? What could bear him up? But let him now remember and believe that "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." He forthwith conceiveth comfort, for an advocate is to plead for me according to what has been shown afore, that I may be delivered from the wrath and accusation of my adversary and still be kept safe under grace.
Further, by telling of my brother that he hath an Advocate, I put things into his mind that he has not known, or do bring them into remembrance which he has forgotten-to wit, that though he hath sinned, he shall be saved in the way of justice; for an advocate is to plead justice and law, and Christ is to plead these for a saint that has sinned; yea, so to plead them that he may be saved. This being so, he is made to perceive that by law he must have his sins forgiven him and that by justice he must be justified. For Christ, as an Advocate pleaded for justice, justice to himself, and this saint is of himself a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Nor has Satan so good a right to plead justice against us, though we have sinned, that we might be damned, as Christ has to plead it, though we have sinned, that we might be saved; for sin cannot cry so loud to justice as can the blood of Christ; and he pleads his blood as Advocate, by which he has answered the law; wherefore the law, having nothing to object, must need to acquit the man for whom the Lord Jesus pleads. I conclude this with that of the Psalmist: "Surely his salvation is near them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps" (Psa 85:9–13).
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