n in the first
pardon, and therefore you should still love more, and praise more. But
what is this wonder to the wonder of his grace? It is swallowed up in that
higher wonder, for his thoughts and ways are not like ours, his voice is,
"Return, thou backsliding sinner, to thy first husband, though thou hast
played the harlot." Therefore, I desire that whatsoever be presented in
that kind, to aggravate your sins, let it humble you more indeed, and make
you hate sin, but let it not hinder you to think as highly of his mercy
and grace, and to set that in the heavens above it.

Sermon XXV.

1 John ii. 1.--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father,", &c.

It is the natural office of the conscience to accuse a man in evil doing.
As every man by sin is liable to the judgment of the supreme court of
heaven, so he is likewise subject to the inferior court of his own
conscience, for the most high God hath a deputy within every man's breast,
that not only is a witness, but a judge, to fasten an accusation, and
pronounce a sentence upon him according to the law of God. And while it is
so, that a man is accused in both courts, at the supreme tribunal, and the
lower house of a man's own conscience, when man's accuser is within him,
and God, his righteous Judge, above him, who can come in to plead such a
man's cause? A person self condemned, who shall plead for his absolution?
If he cannot but accuse himself, and stop his mouth, being guilty before
God of the transgression of all his law, then what place for an advocate
to accuse him, or defend his cause? And who is it that can enter in the
lists with God, who, because the supreme and highest Judge, must be both
Judge and party? Where shall a daysman be found to lay his hands on both,
and advocate the desperate-like cause of sinners? Truly, here we had been
at an eternal stand, and here had the business stuck for ever, for
anything that the creation could imagine, had not the infinite grace and
wisdom of God opened themselves to mankind, in opening a door of hope to
broken and outlaw sinners. And behold, here is the provision made for the
security and salvation of lost souls,--there is one able and mighty to
save,--a person found out fit for this advocation, who taketh the broken
cause of sinners in hand, and pleads it out, and makes out justice to be
for them, and not against them,--"If any man sin, we have an advocate," &c.

There is one thing impo