The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-04
aehesliao &egister.
THE LAWYERS.
A kermon Preached at Parkersburg
for Their Especial benefit by Ham,
.. Enc EyanRaIfsf


"If auy man SIN, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ, the right
eous, and He is the Precipitation oil our
sins" l promised to preach tonight 10
the lawyers; but though i am going to
preach to the lawyers, trust my sermon
will be n simple sermon that all may un-
derstand, and in the progress OF my dis
course, l shall make use OF some illustrs-
tious obtained from the court room,
which ieel assured, will be ineligible
to you all.
In the court room, in the transaction
of everyday business, L see twelve men.
Who are they? Twelve citizens OF our
country, supposed to be honest. These
are there to listen to the testimony, and
from it TO inform the court what the
facts are proven to be. They know
nothing OF the law involved in the case
at bar. They are to say whether that,
nsn in the box, the prisoner at the bar
according to the testimony offered tor
their consideration, is guilty OF the charge
against him; and after learning all the
evidence, and being instructed by the
Judge, who directs them, If they, from the
evidence, believe that the man committed
murde-. TO bring in q verdict of guilty,
and II they believe he did not, to bring
in q verdict Of not guilty. They bring
in 8 verdict of guilty, and the Judge
then pronounces sentence OF death upon
him. But God has no jury. Whyf
Because God knows the truth. The
reason we have jury in our courts is to
ascertain the facts in order That the Judge
may act upon these facts rs the law pro-
vides. God knows all those facts. All
our sins are before him; they have gone
befor, him. He shall BRING all our work
unto Judgment, every act in our life, good
and evil lie needs no jury. Oh! be
is supposed to know how to conduct
court, and say whether justice is done;
and is there one to dare question his
power TO say "justlce is doneT Now
look upon that man seated in the box,
the prisoner at the bar. See how
troubled and snxiousl How ne looks a.
the Judge, but sees nothing there. Looks
~ the twelve men who compose the jury,
seated before him. And who Is that
man in front of the judge, who, standing
up and addressing the court, says: "lt
the court please, that man seated there
in the box is guilty of murder; be has
stained his hands with the blood OF his
fellowmsn, and | am ready to prove 1t.
have all my witnesses here In court Tor
that purpose, and am now ready TO pro-
coed with the trial" The prisoner looks
upon that man with piercing, sgonlz'
ing, pleading gaze. 1t is the prosecuting
attorney; he who, taking advantage OF
law, facts and circumstances, e1ertlng
himself TO the utmost, is about TO enter
upon the trial OF this case and endeavor
10 take from him his life. Presently the
door opens, gentleman with green
bag in mis- hand enters the rom hurried
lv. Why does the prisoner look upon
that man? Why does he watch his
every motion7 He looks upon the
prisoner, ard feels tenderly toward him.
He is the advocate for that troubled,
prosecuted man, whose life is about TO be
placed in jeopardy; ke alone can SYM
pathze and feel for that man IN his al
Fiction. But how much more tenderly
does our advocate with the Father IN
Heaven feel towards us.
Now if you are going into court with
s~ SUIT, you always want skllliul
advocate, one VINO is learned IN the law,
who takes al interest in the cause OF his
client, informs you kindly of the magni.
tude of the crime which you are accused
OF having committed, and one who IS
generally successful rs AL advocate. And
YOU and | have an advocate with the
Father, and the right kind of an advo-
cate; one who knows the law, who loves
us 40 much that he gave himself for us,
who will not turn coldly away nor repel
us if we come TO him tor help, in every
time of need, and one 10 whom n soul
never came III vain.
But let US now ask what are some OF
the requisites OF good sdvocatet lie
must, IN the first place, be one whose
character is without blot or blemlsh, and
whose reputation for honesty and lnteg-
rity stands unimpeached; against whom
no charge can be brought. And then
YOU must tell him all about your case,
must not conceal anything relating to 1t
Whatever, tor the advocate must thor
oughly understand the cause OF his client,
should be acquainted with all the facts
and incidents connected Herewith, and
sny concealmeat Of msterisl facts by the
client, will, in sill probability, cause q
most disastrous termination To him.
Now Jesus is our advocate, Jesus Christ
the righteous, against whom nothing can
be brought that will prevent us from
coming unto him. And our advocate
has correct knowledge OF the facts In
our case. Ahl we'll He knows those facts
He knows that it WAS love that induced
God to give his only begotten Son to die
upon the cross, to be Precipitation for
our sins; He knows that God is mercltul
Just and good; He knew that God could
not save one of us unless some redeemel
existed, unless some mediator and adyo
cate were provided; He knew the just
ness Of the law better than any other sd'
vocs,e on earth ever understood it. Yes
He Knows the nature OF your cause, yet
nevertheless, you must confess your SINS
and tell all your case unto the Lore
Jesus Christ; tell him al, and leave
nothing untold, else 1t may be worse
with YOU on that great day OF tins
reckoning, than 1t is here with the client
who Conceals his case from his advocate
And again, man 10 be successful
advocate must be sympathetic. 1t Wa:
love, the parent OF sympathy, that IN
duced The Lord Jesus Christ to volunteer
to be your advocate and mine. Tina
Jesus Christ sympsthizcs and loves yoI
and me and all mankind, appears trou
the old story of how He was srraignec
before Pontius Plate; how lie Wa
crowned with that crown of cruel thorn'
that pierced His noble brow; how the!
spit upon Hin;how they buhetted Him un
MI HIS face wss msrred more than tn,
face Of any man; how He Was scourgec
until the blood ran down HIS back; nov
He was nailed upon the tree on Calvary
and there shed His precious blood to'
YOU. and endured the sgonles OF the eros
Tor your sake
Yes, Jesus sympsthjzes with you, YOU
advocate feels for you, He sees you II
danger OF being cast into hell. he love-
han 1 10 10