The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-07-31
old nature within him. a. he COM
pares himself with sinners aud de-
clares he is their chief.

clares he Is their chief.
Ii such an one as Paul the apostle
was the chief Of sinners any man
may sin. 80
Let US now notice the adequate ad'
vocacy of Jesus. We have an advo
cate with the Father, Jesus Chris
the Righteous. This advocacy is on
ly for the Christian. Jesus dies fol
sinners but he pleads for saints. HI
tasted death for every man but mus
he daily die on Calvary and ever,
day be crucified for men? No. HI
suffered once for all on the cross and
when we take our place by his side
for since we have Him on our side to
plead with God for us. Oh wonder.
ful thought He's the Saviour of sin.
ners but the paraclete Of sinners say
ed by grace. All that he could do,
all he needed to do for the wicked
world he "did once for all" by his
death on the tree but for IS who have
accepted Him he ever lives to make
ntercession with the Father.
Iesour legal adviser, defender, aid.
er, intercessor, helper, comforter,
succorer, paraclete, advocate, pleads
for us and only for us. "Oh it is
wonderful blessed be His name
pleading for me, for me-
1t is his great sy mpathy for us
that qualities him to properly plead
on our behalf. He is suprcmely
interested in the case He has in
hand. He knows full we'll the in.
ncr springs OF his clients thoug ghts.
For 55 years he has studied the
case he pleads before tine bar OF
God. Not for Information but for
consolation he is often closeted with
his client and now. as one who
knows what is in man and needs
not that any should testify he stands
as the Christians advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ, the right
eous. Tempted in all points, like
as we are, vet without sin, he is
qualified to plead for any man, 'if
any man sin. And his is not per-
functory pleading. It's the earnest
pleading OF an advocate in closest
touch with God. The word "with'
in the phrase "advocate with the
Father. signifies this. 1t is the
same word that is translated
'with" IN Johns gospel lst chap.
ter, lst verse "ln the beginning
was the word and the word was
with God. 1t conveys the idea
OF face turncd toward the tace"
of another aud thus "witl' the
Father he advocates for us.
But what is the Oh jcct of this adj
vocacyE What does his interces.
sion accomplish lie pleads. but
for what purpose? His face is
turned toward the face Of the Faith
er in earnest, eloquent advocacy,
but why Certainly not for our
forgiveness for the slu that made
us aliens and enemies TO our God,
but for the restoration OF the fel.
lowshlp loot by sins committed since
we named his name. The case is
this. y Christian is Gods child;
when he is forgiven, he is forgiven
for ali he has done, is 10 do and is.
lie does not lose his soul if he sins,
bat loses fellowship aud the plead
ing OF the advocate restores this
fellow ship.
Let me illustrate. In your home
there IS little boy five yeurs old.
One day h. tells his mother an un.
truth, and soon, with a little prac-
tice, assisted ty the children with
whom he plays, your little son be.
comes an expert in lying, OF the full
hurmtuluess and sin OF which, he
Is, of course, ignorant. You do
not know where he ever got the evil
propensity, but you do know some
thing must be done, and so you
call him to your knee, and, after
telling him how wrong it IS for him
to deceive his mother. promise him
a whipping the very next time he
tells "story.' 1t is not long be-
fore the very next time comes. You
love him a, you love your life, but
there is your promise. severely, en-.
phatlcally, keep it. 10 ycult is a
very serious matter. Your little
boy a liar
HIS mother intercedcs. do not
be too severe; remember he is our
own little boy; what it he should
die The little fellow goes to bed
and sobs himself 10 sleep forgiven
by his father, but for the first time
in live years, not in fellowship W It'll
him. The morning comes. (Hc is
stIIl your little boy Moved some-
what by the intercesslon OF your
wife, you wait only Tor your little
boy TO come nto your room, climb
upon your knees, wind his baby
arms about your neck. and then
your lips meet in the kiss that
means not only forgiveness, but the
fullest fellow ship.
We are born of God. We are
part Of Him We arc hi, children.
We sometimes lie and DO not tell
the truta and God says We must be
punished and lie must keep his
word. Jesus intcrcedcs. DO not
be too seye e. They are thine own
children What ii they should die
IN their SINS And the interccss ion
OF esus Christ the righteous, makes
it all right with our Father. We
fee! again the thrill Of iathcrs love
hear once more the word Of tor
giYencss and receive again the KISS
q! !athcrIy fellowship.
The sins oil the christian Go not
destroy the foundation upon which
he stands. They do obscure it. but
the advocacy OF Christ Jesus re.
moves the obscurity and makes the
ioun0a alton all the more sure and
secure.
We ought not then brethren to
despair. 1t is wrong to say when