not be thought a wrong to
justice to pardon, absolve, and justify the unrighteous.

Now, if he be so righteous a person, it follows necessarily, that he hath
a righteous cause, for an honest man will not advocate an unjust cause.
But how can the cause of believers be said to be righteous, when justice
itself, and the law, indicts the accusation against them? Can they plead
not guilty, or he for them? There is a twofold righteousness, in relation
to a twofold rule, a righteousness of strict justice, in relation to the
first covenant, and this cannot be pleaded, that our cause is exactly
conformable to the covenant of works. We cannot, nor Christ in our name,
plead any thing from that, which holds forth nothing but personal
obedience, or else personal satisfaction. But yet our cause may be found
to be righteous, in relation to the second covenant, and the rule and
terms of it, in as far as God hath revealed his acceptance of a surety in
our stead and hath dispensed with the rigour of the law, according to that
new law of grace and righteousness contempered together. The cause of a
desperate lost sinner may be sustained before the righteous Judge, and it
is upon this new account that he pleads for us because he hath satisfied
in our stead, and now it is as righteous and equitable with God, to show
mercy and forgiveness to believing sinners, as it is to reveal wrath and
anger against impenitent sinners.

I know there will be some secret whisperings in your hearts upon the
hearing of this. Oh! it is true, it is a most comfortable thing for them
whose advocate he is. There is no fear of the miscarrying of their cause
above, but as for me, I know not if he be an advocate for me, whether I
may come into that sentence, "We have an advocate," &c. I confess it is
true, he is not an advocate for every one, for while he was here, he
prayed not for the world, but them that were given him out of the world,
(John xvii.), much more will he not plead for the world, when he is above.
He is rather witnessing against the unbelieving world. But yet, I believe
his advocation is not restrained only to those who actually believe, as
neither his supplication was, John xvii. But as he prayed for those who
should hereafter believe, so he still pleads for all the elect not only to
procure remission to the penitent, but repentance to the impenitent.
There is one notable effect of the advocation and intercession of Christ,
which indeed is comm