SERMON IX.

OUR ADVOCATE.

1 JOHN ii. part of verse 1.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous.

1. ALMIGHTY GOD is King. His will, His words, and His commandments are Law. Every breaking of His Law is an offence against Him. All Sin is therefore hateful in His sight: because Sin is the transgressing of His Law. It is the breaking of it. Some break His Law willingly: others against their will. Some break it knowingly: others ignorantly. Some break it, and care not others break it, and are afterwards thoughtful. Some break it and laugh, and go on breaking it more and more. Others break it, and mourn, and fear,

and become more and more cautious and anxious to keep it. Some love His Law and are therefore grieved when in any way they break it. Others hate His Law, and are glad to break it as often as they can and as often as they dare. Which of these two kinds of sinners are we? Some of both sorts may be found in almost every congregation. Such as love the Law of GOD are His children whom the Holy Ghost is leading and training up to serve our GOD in another world without sin, without sorrow, without ceasing. Therefore the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of John the disciple, saith: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not: that ye go not on wilfully and carelessly offending against "the Law of the Lord," as others do, who hate Him, and make a mock at sin. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any

man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, JESUS CHRIST the Righteous."

2. In order that we may, with God's blessing, gain knowledge and wisdom and comfort from this Text, let us consider the meaning of the word "Advocate." An advocate is a person who speaks for another to some third party. For instance: If, as a servant you had some favor to seek from your master, you would perhaps find it more safe and pleasant to get your master's Son to speak for you. If he did so, he would in that case be your "Advocate" with the master. He would plead your cause. Again if you had in any way offended against your master's orders, and felt alarmed and sorry for your fault, but dared not go yourself alone to him, it would be well for you, if his own son would go to his father, and ask him to forgive you. Here again : the son would be your "Advocate" with his father. O! how highly favoured, then, are the servants of GOD and His CHRIST. For thus it is written to them: "If any man sin, we have an Advocate

with the Father, JESUS CHRIST the Righteous." See then your privilege : in CHRIST see your Advocate! See a Person, willing and able to speak for you before His heavenly Father! Whenever, therefore, we sin, and are really heavy-hearted and fearful, why do we not immediately pray to JESUS to take up the matter for us, that we may again find the peace of GOD in our soul?

3. That no one who earnestly desireth pardon from the Almighty might be discouraged, the Son of GOD is pointed out to us as one ready to speak for any of His servants. As it is written: "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, JESUS CHRIST." This blessed and all-powerful Advocate the World knows not: neither do they know Him, who call themselves christians but are not really christians. JESUS said, "I pray not for the World, but for them whom Thou hast given Me." Such are not His Servants only, but His Friends, His Brethren, His

Children. His spirit saith to them, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father." It is comforting to think that our Advocate is our near Relation. If the Person whom you had offended should say to the Advocate, "why do you come to speak for this man? It would be well for you if the Advocate could answer, "The man is my own servant, who is dear unto me: O! forgive him, for he is my servant." And would it not be still better, if the Advocate could say, "The man is my own friend, my own brother, my own child? O! forgive him, for I have him in my heart." Yes! brethren, every Believer in CHRIST is closely related to Him. When He speaks for us with GoD, He speaks not only for us as His dear servants, but as His beloved friends, as His beloved brethren, as His beloved children: as bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh. If you could save another by