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himself lost in its immensity, he exclaims, 'O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?' Then he renders thanks to God for the victory through Jesus Christ. The whole is finished by a moral inference, at once just, forcible, and impressive. And a more beautiful chapter never was, nor ever can be put into human language. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.'*

* For some good remarks on this general subject, see Belsham on the Epistles of Paul, in loc. Also, Illustrations of the Divine Government, by T. S. Smith, p. 324 et seq.; a work, that for beauty of style and brilliancy of thought, has never been equalled by any writer on the subject of the final purity and happiness of man.

II. ADVOCATE.

'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.' 1 John ii. 1.

THIS title is found only in the above passage in our common version. In the Greek text, it occurs in the following places:-John xiv. 12. 26. xv. 26., but is there rendered Comforter. Paracletos is the word, and it signifies not only a Comforter, but also an Advocate, a Defender of a cause, a Counsellor, Patron, or Mediator.

Though the meaning of this word is obvious, yet many errors prevail which should be removed. God is usually represented as a cruel, inexorable being, unwilling to show favor to the sinner. Jesus interceded; offered himself as a sacrifice on the altar of humanity. The Father and the Holy Ghost approved, and consented, and he descended to the earth; took upon himself human nature; labored, suffered, and died for a world that otherwise would have been lost forever! He rises from the dead, ascends to the Father; continues to plead for the sinner, and after about six thousand years it is said, the Creator has made it possible for all men to be saved! A grand result indeed from such immense sacrifices, and from so long a plea! Such a view is unsupported by the Scriptures.

God has never been unfriendly toward man. His love is infinitely beyond that of an earthly parent. Man is regarded by Him with pity, even when dead in trespasses and sins.' All heaven is in his favor. The greatest enemy the sinner has in the wide universe, is-himself! With his own hands, he kindles a fire in his own breast: and though he may fly from every human tribunal, he cannot escape from his God, nor from-himself!

Several ideas seem to be associated with the term Advocate::

I. It supposes a cause to be tried.

II. Parties concerned.

III. Witnesses to testify.

IV. A Judge to decide.

The above seem to be the most prominent ideas, though not covering entirely the whole ground. A few general remarks are all that can be expected.

The cause to be tried is the rebellion of the world. The parties are God and man. The witnesses-but there are none for two reasons. 1st. The Judge knows all things. 2d. Every mouth is to be stopped, and the whole world is to become guilty before God. The Judge is the Creator and Father of all mankind.

Paul, in his masterly and comprehensive manner, presents in one single sentence both parties, the Advocate; and the object of the ministry: 'God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.'* Jesus stands between God and man, moving by an exhibition of divine love, and his own sufferings, a world to

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love Him by whom he was sent. He makes the most affecting appeals, not to the Judge, but to the criminal. 6 He shall see of the travail of his soul and

be satisfied.'

It has been supposed by many, that the Judge was angry with the sinner, and that the Advocate came to reconcile Him. Admitting this view of the character of God, we must see that He is wholly disqualified to judge the world. To illustrate suppose we enter a court of justice, and discover the judge on the bench full of fury and wrath, anxious to condemn the criminal. Would not every one say that he was unfit for his station? It would appear still more awful if the judge should stand in the relation of father to the culprit! And it is in this relation that God stands to every transgressor. It follows, therefore, that the Father of spirits will inflict no punishment that is not intended for the best good of the sinner.

The services rendered to the world by the Advocate far exceed those of any being who has ever been on our earth. He labored and died for all men. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'* 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'t It is the highest point of human love to sacrifice life for a friend. But Jesus died for his enemies. Had God waited for the world to love Him before He gave his Son to die, He might have waited forever. Man was 'dead in trespasses and sins.' As well might we expect the graves to open,

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and the dead to come forth without the aid of Omnipotence, as for the world to arise from moral death without the life-giving power of God.

What reward did the Advocate receive for his immense labors and sacrifices? From man he received only ingratitude and reproach. There is one point too often overlooked, which forever establishes the purity of the Saviour's character. Among all the exertions of his power, and all his miracles, he never made the least attempt to enrich himself! Hear him, when addressed on a certain occasion, by one who would follow him. The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.'* Where is the Advocate who would spend a whole life in a cause, and die to promote it, and all this for his enemies? Was ever such love exhibited before?

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But the Advocate will see his labors crowned with He will receive the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. The sinner will at last submit to Jesus, for 'every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father.' But we find that we are rapidly entering on the broad and endless theme of universal reconciliation. Language fails, conception is exhausted. 'Blessing and honor, and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever.'

*Luke ix. 58.

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