THE USE AND APPLICATION
Objection. But I cannot pray, says one; therefore, how should I persevere? When I go to prayer, instead of praying, my mouth is stopped. What would you have me do?
Answer. Well, soul, though Satan may baffle thee, he cannot so serve thine Advocate; if thou must not speak for thyself, Christ thine Advocate can speak for thee. Lemuel was to open his mouth for the dumb-to-wit, for the sons of destruction, and to plead the cause of the poor and needy (Prov 31:8, 9). If we knew the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Word reveals it, we would believe, we would hope, and we would, notwithstanding all discouragements, wait for the salvation of the Lord. But many things hinder us, so faith, prayer, and perseverance are difficult things for us. But if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and God "shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." was once a good word to me when I could not pray.
5. As we should improve this doctrine for the improvement and encouragement of these graces, so we should improve it to the driving of difficulties down before us, to the getting of ground upon the enemy—"Resist the devil," drive him back; this is it for which thy Lord Jesus is an Advocate with God in heaven; and this is it for the sake of which thou art made a believer on earth (I Peter 5:9; Heb 12:4). Wherefore has God put this sword, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE, into thy hand, but to fight thy way through the world? "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life," and say, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God." And since I have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, I will not despair, though "the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about" (Psa 49:5).
Use Fifth. Doth Jesus Christ stand up to plead for us with God, to plead with him for us against the devil? Let this teach us to stand up to plead for him before men, to plead for him against the enemies of his person and gospel. This is reasonable, for if Christ stands up to plead for us, why should we not stand up to plead for him? He also expects this at our hands, saying, "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" (Psa 94:16). The apostle did it and counted himself engaged to do it; where he saith, he preached "the gospel of God with much contention" (I Thess 2:2). Nor is this the duty of apostles or preachers only, but every child of God should "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
And, as I said, there is a reason why we should do this; he stands for us. And if we, (1.) Considering the disparity of persons to plead, it will seem far more reasonable. He stands up to plead with God, we stand up to plead with men. The dread of God is great, yea, greater than the dread of men. (2.) If we consider the persons pleaded for. He pleads for sinners, for the inconsiderable, vile, and base; we plead for Jesus, for the great, holy, and honorable. It is an honor for the poor to stand up for the great and mighty, but what honor is it for the great to plead for the base? Reason, therefore, requires that we stand up to plead for him, though there can be little reason why he should stand up to plead for us. (3.) He stands to plead for us in the most holy place, though we are vile; why should we not stand up for him in this vile world, since he is holy? (4.) He pleads for us, though our cause is bad; why should not we plead for him, since his cause is good? (5.) He pleads for us against fallen angels; why should we not plead for him against sinful vanities? (6.) He pleads for us to save our souls; why should not we plead for him to sanctify his name? (7.) He pleads for us before the holy angels; why should not we plead for him before princes? (8.) He is not ashamed of us, though now in heaven; why should we be ashamed of him before this adulterous and sinful generation? (9.) He is unwearied in pleading for us; why should we faint and be dismayed while we plead for him?
My brethren, is it not reasonable that we should stand up for him in this world? Yea, is it not the reason that in all things we should study his exaltation here since he in all things contrives our honor and glory in heaven? A child of God should study in every of his relations to serve the Lord Christ in this world, because Christ, by executing every one of his offices, seeks our promotion hereafter. If these are not sufficient arguments to bow us to yield up our members, ourselves, and our whole selves to God, that we may be servants of righteousness unto him, yes, if by these and such, we are not made willing to stand up for him before men, it is a sign that there is but little, if any, of the grace of God in our hearts.
Yea, further, that we should have now at last in reserve Christ as authorized to be our Advocate to plead for us, for this is the last of his offices for us while we are here and is to be put into practice for us when there are more than ordinary occasions. This is to help, as we say, at a deadlift, even then when a Christian is taken for a captive, or when he sinks in the mire where there is no standing, or when he is clothed with filthy garments, or when the devil doth desperately plead against us our evil deeds, or when by our lives we have made our salvation questionable and have forfeited our evidence for heaven. And why, then, should we not also have Christ in reserve? And when profession and confession will not do when loss of goods and prison will not do when loss of country and of friends will not do, then to bring it in, then to bring it in as the reserve, and as that which will do to wit, willingly to lay down our lives for his name; and since he doth his part without grudging for us, let us do ours with rejoicing for him (Isa 24:15; John 21:19)
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