ully qualified for this that he is called Jesus the
Saviour, he is such an Advocate that he saves all he pleads for. The best
advocate may lose the cause, either through the weakness of itself, or the
iniquity of the judge, but he is the Advocate and the Saviour, that never
succumbed in his undertaking for any soul. Be their sins never so
heinous--their accusation never so just and true--their accuser never so
powerful, yet they who put their cause in his hand, who flee in hither for
refuge being wearied of the bondage of sin and Satan, he hath such a
prevalency with the Father, that their cause cannot miscarry. Even when
justice itself seems to be the opposite party, yet he hath such marvellous
success in his office, that justice shall rather meet amicably with mercy
and peace, and salute them kindly, (Psal. lxxxv. 10, 11,) as being
satisfied by him, that he come short in his undertaking.

But there is another personal qualification needful, or all should be in
vain,--"Jesus the righteous." If he were not righteous in himself, he had
need of an advocate for himself, and might not plead for sinners, but he
is righteous and holy, no guile found in his mouth, without sin, an
unblameable and unspotted High Priest, else he could not mediate for
others, and such an Advocate too, else he could not plead for others, Heb.
vii. 26. As this perfected his sacrifice, that he offered not for his own
sins, neither needed he, so this completes his advocateship, and gives it
a mighty influence for his poor clients, that he needs not plead for
himself. If, then, the law cannot attach our Lord and Saviour, can lay no
claim to him, or charge against him, then certainly, all that he did
behoved to be for others, and so he stands in a good capacity to plead for
us before the Father, and to sue out a pardon to us, though guilty, for if
the just was delivered for the unjust, and the righteous suffered for the
unrighteous, much more is it consistent with the justice of the Father, to
deliver and save the unrighteous and unjust sinner for the righteous
Advocate's sake. "If ye seek me, then let these go free," saith he, John
xviii. 8. So he in effect pleads with God his Father, O Father, if thou
deal with me, the righteous One, as with an unrighteous man, then, in all
reason and justice, thou must deal with my poor clients, though
unrighteous, as with righteous men. If justice thought she did me no
wrong to punish me, the righteous, then let it