'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — July 28

Christ pleads as an advocate for his people. He pleads the very weaknesses for which Satan would have them damned. 'Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?' The reason we are not totally extinct is the Father's mercy: he is gentle, longsuffering and merciful to us. He knows we are sick, weak and subject to slips, stumbles and falls. His heart is towards us and he carefully measures affliction lest we sink. He does not pay in measure of our offence or we could not stand. He spins out his patience to the utmost length. He will count our little as much. He will excuse the souls of his people, and lay the fault upon their flesh. Christ our advocate stands as friend, and pleads for us as he does. Christ pleads the infirmity of his people against Satan for our advantage. Are we not saved from sin by grace? He has given us the Spirit of grace to help us, for we can do nothing good. God has put the righteousness of Christ upon us to cover our nakedness. We have no merit of our own. God allows us to ride in the bosom of Christ to the grave, and from there, in the bosom of angels to heaven. His Son is our head, priest, advocate, saviour, and captain. God's foresight of our weakness kindles his heart of compassion to us, and puts him to devising things for our relief. I have seen men provide for their children that have been most infirm and helpless. So our Advocate gathers his lambs in his arms and carries them in his bosom. I know the tears that stand in a parent's eyes as he searches to the bottom of his purse to find out what he may do for his sick child. Christ pleads for us in our infirmities against the devil, and the Almighty yearns for us and wraps us up in his compassions. When God reveals all things to us, we will see how many times he pleaded for us and redeemed us by his pleading.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Bunyan, Works, I:167-169
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