A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. Every Child of God hath the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven to plead his cause for him.

If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righ∣teous, he doth not say every man that sins hath an Advocate, but we have an Advocate, that is, I and you, and such as we are; the children of God, Rom. 8.34. he makes intercession for us 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 interpellat pro nobis, he in∣terrupts the accusation, and strikes in for us, Heb. 7.25. because he hath not only dyed for us, and risen for us, but he follows the buisinesse to the utmost, till it be accomplished.

How doth he make intercession for us?

1 He doth not fall down at his Fathers feet▪ but he acts the part of an Ad∣vocate by his presence, at the Throne of Grace, so that his presence cuts off many accusations, it being known he is our friend, and stands for us, they dare not be so bold, Heb. 9, 24.

2 He not only pleads for us by his presence, but he intercedes for us by the merit of his blood, and that pleads more powerfully for us, than either sin, or the Law, or Satan, or our own consciences can plead against us, Heb. 12.24. His blood speakes better things then the blood of Abel; that cryed for condemna∣tion, this for absolution.

3 He pleads for us, in giving us leave to use his name for our helpe, and his Spirit to plead for our selves, he sends his Spirit to draw our petitions for us, and helpe us in his name ro plead for our selves, he is our chiefe Advo∣cate, he sends the Spirit, Joh. 16.23, 24. and he promises, Zach. 12.10. so that though the Spirit be an Advocate, yet he is sent by Christ, Joh. 14.16, 17.

4 He plays the Advocate in our behalf, by expressing his good will towards us, to his Father, he declares his will to be, that we may be cleared from all doubts and be where he is, to behold his glory, this he did upon earth, Joh. 17.24. and this very same doth he expresse for us in Heaven, and the reason of it is from Rom. 8.34. where his mediation is made a distinct worke from his death, and resurrection, and ascention, and sitting at his Fathers right hand; besides all these, he makes requests for us in his own person, pleading to God for us for good things, as Moses did oft for the people, Exod. 32.31, 32. and as it was with Moses, so it is said it should be with Christ, Deut. 18.18. as Mo∣ses being a Mediatour, put in a word of Peace for the people, so doth Christ.

But doth he thus intercede for every sinner? no, he doth not say every man hath an Advocate, but we have, he did not intercede for all when he was upon the Earth, I pray not for the World, Joh. 17.9.20. for if Christ should have prayed for all men, God would have heard him for all men, and then his death had been effectuall for all men, for he saith thou hearest me alwayes, Joh. 11.42. Christ is not an Advocate for all, but only for the Children of God.

Ʋse 1 Of direction to a Christian that doth sin, what course to take for his

peace and pardon, to look up to Heaven for an Advocate that may stand to plead for him, when sin, and when Sathan and the Law, and conscience plead a∣gainst him; many a poor soul hath his conscience pleading horror against him, that he is proud and uncleane, and Hypocritical, &c. why, look up to Heaven now for an Advocate to plead for rhee; first, get into the estate of the chil∣dren of God, My little Children, if we sin, we have an Advocate; it is not any man, but we that are as little children, lay down all pride, and emulation, and labour to frame our selves to holy obedience, If we sin, we have an Advocate, &c. therefore labour to become little children, begotten to God by the Mi∣nisters of his Word, 2 Cor. 8.5. give up your selves to God, and to his Mi∣nisters, to be taught of them according to his Will, and if we be such, we have an Advocate.

Ʋse 2. Of consolation to all whose consciences strike and gall them, and they are disquieted with the bitternesse of their sins, when sin accuseth, and the Law accuseth, and Sathan and conscience accuseth, what should comfort a poor soule in this case? why, consider we have an Advocate with the Father, so that though the Law, and conscience tell us we have been disobedient, yet Christ our Advocate hath fulfilled all obedience, though we sin, and our sins plead against us, yet Christ pleads for us, his blood cries for us, and speaks better things than the blood of Abel, and he sends his Spirit to helpe us to put up our petitions, and he himselfe puts in for us, and performs our prayers for us, Rev. 8.3. by the Angel there is chiefly meant Christ, he sweetens them, takes all the corruption out of them, so that they are a sweet smelling savour to God; let us accuse our selves to the lowest acknowledgment of our own un∣worthinesse, and then let us with comfort look up to our Advocate that pleads for us.

How shall I know that he prays and pleads for me?

1 If you be little children to God, give up your selves to him, and to his Ministers, to be obedient to his Ordinances.

2 If he send his Spirit into your hearts, and that helps you to draw your Petitions, it is a sign that he himselfe is about the work, by our sins we dampe his Spirit, but if God renew his Spirit in us, it is a sign that Christ hath our cause in hand.