are ye light in the Lord. 2. The Spirit irradiates and clears this up to the Souls of them whom he Seals that they are Sanctified and made holy that their Hearts are changed and Grace wrought in them which was not there before and that now they are new Creatures being in Christ 2 Cor. 5. 17. For if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are done away and all things are become new This the Spirit shows to the Soul in his Sealing Work and by this enables Believers to say doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham know us not or be ignorant of us Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer 〈◊〉 Name is from Everlasting Isa 63. 16. This God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide even unto death Psal 46. 14. The Lord is my portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him Lam. 3. 24. My beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 1. 16. Now Believers know this from the Holy Spirit who clears these things to their Souls when he Seals them 3. The blessed Spirit after all this is done in order to Sealing he enables the Soul he Soals to lay hold on and to apply the precious Promises to its self so that whenever a Promise is read or spoken of the Soul may apply it and say this is mine and the other Promise is mine they are a Legacy left me may the Soul say by my dear Husband and Head Christ This Divines call the Formal Sealing of the Spirit There is none but the Holy Spirit that can thus Seal Believers viz. by clearing up to them their title to and interest in Christ and the Promises as there 's For he only knows the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. 11. And besides 't is his office to clear and witness this to Believers who is a Spirit of Truth and therefore he cannot neither will deceive us John 14. 17. My Beloved the Spirit 's Testimony in this is more than a voice from Heaven or than if an Angel should come and say Christ has sent me to tell you That he loves you and shed his blood for you This could not satisfie as the internal Sealing of the Spirit to the Minds or Souls of Believers the other may be a Delusion but this of the Spirit is certain and may be depended upon The witness of a Man's Spirit may come to a probability but the witness of the Spirit is clear demonstration 1 John 4. 12 19. No man saith he hath seen God at any time If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us how because he hath given us of his spirit The Spirit receives of Christ's and gives it to Believers John 16. 18 19. As it is the Devil's work to cast in Fears into the Soul to perplex and disquiet the heart he being the red Dragon that disturbs the Waters of the Saints Peace So it is the Spirit 's work to clear things up to settle the Sanctified Soul and fill it with peace joy and comfort John 16. 7. As it is his work to convince of Sin to Sanctifie so to establish and settle the Heart and give that peace and comfort to it which none can give nor take away Rom. 14. 17. The Spirit in this work of Sealing attests and witnesseth both first to the Doctrine or Object of Faith and secondly to the infused habit of the Grace of Faith in the Soul of the former he saith this is my word I indicted it do you therefore believe and imbrace it of the latter he saith this is my work within you this Grace this Faith this Love Patience Self-denial is my work in you I have produced all these things in your Souls So that Beloved this Sealing Work of the Spirit is evermore agreeable to the written word of God Isa 8. 20. What he speaks in his holy Word and in our Hearts are all harmonious Testimonies The Spirit in Sealing Believers makes not use of an audible voice as to say vocally Thomas or John thy Sins are pardoned c. nor of immediate and extraordinarily Revelations therefore expect them not for he makes use of the spiritual Graces that are wrought in the Soul and of the precious Promises writ in the Word By these means the holy Spirit comforts the Heart and usually brings the Soul to rest and joy Secondly Shew you why none are Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise till after they do believe in Christ In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed c. Before I Answer directly or give the Reasons let me promise this one thing viz. That there be many who are in the state of Nature and have not one dram of Grace in their Souls nothing but Sin and Corruption and yet these have and may have many false hopes and vain confidences which will deceive their Souls you read of the hope of the Hypocrite and the House which he leans upon that will fall and leave him in utter despair For what is the vain hope and confidence of the Hypocrite when God shall take away his Soul Job 8. 13 14 15 13 16 27. When these poor wretches dye their vain hopes of Heaven dye with them many take Presumption for Assurance and a vain confidence for well-grounded hopes of Heaven because they have external Priviledges and talk of Christ they think all is well and that there needs no more ado Thus many will go down to Hell with a Lye in their right hand That it is thus is clear from Matth. 7. 22. Many will say to him in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name done many wonderful works cast out Devils c. And in John 8. 54 55. Of whom ye say saith Christ to the Jews that pleaded Abraham was their Father and that they were never in Bondage c. that he is your God and yet ye have not known him Here this People you see had grounded Confidences and false Comforts built thereupon They said God was their's and yet they were ignorant of Him and did not know Him Oh! tremble at the word of the Lord and have a care of vain Confidences and putting the Lye upon your own Souls as these did Paul tells us of some that went a great way and attained to much and yet were not Believers nor Sealed by the Holy Spirit Heb. 6. 4 5. A startling Word They were once Inlightened tasted of the heavenly Gift were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and tasted of the good word of God and the Powers of the World to come If these fall a way 't is impossible to recover them again c. Thus I say Persons may deceive their Souls building their hopes and comforts upon sandy foundations being foolishly confident they shall be Saved But for any except real Saints and Believers in Christ to
have those witnessing Sealing Testimonies of the Spirit which we have discours'd of and described to you I say for any but real Christians to have these is utterly impossible which brings me now to give the Reasons why none but real Believers are or can be Sealed by the Spirit of God And the Reasons to make it evident and plain shall be taken 1. From the Author 2. From the Nature 3. From the Object Matter 4. From the Mediums And Lastly from the great design and end of the Holy Spirit in his glorious Sealing Work 1. Reason taken from the Author of this Sealing Work viz. the Spirit of God who is the Spirit of Holiness and Spirit of Truth So Christ calls him John 14. 17. I will pray the Father for you and he shall send you another Comforter c. even the Spirit of Truth who shall lead and guide you into all Truth John 16. 13 14. Now he being a Spirit of Holiness and Truth he cannot witness to a Lye or give a Testimony quite contrary to the whole tenour of the Sacred Word of God Whose word is a word of Truth and not of Falshood John 17. 17. The Spirit Indicted the Scriptures and they are all like him that is Truth Now were the Spirit to Seal Unbelievers he would give a Testimony quite cross to the Word of Truth which he will never do The Elect themselves while in a natural state have no actual Interest in Christ nor the Promises therefore while in that state they can have none Sealed to them They that have no actual Interest in Christ and in the Promises of the Gospel cannot be Sealed by the Spirit of Promise We must my Beloved be Saints before we can be known to be so a Man must be in Christ before he can know he is in Christ and a Believer before he can know he is a Believer and that he has Faith in Christ 2. Reason is taken from the nature of this work of Sealing If you consider the nature of it it cannot be that Unbelievers should be Sealed Assurance is produced in the Souls of Believers by the reflexive acts of their Faith the Spirit in Sealing Believers helps them to reflect upon what he hath formerly done and wrought in their Souls 1 John 2. 3. Hereby saith John we know that is we Believers that have closed in with Christ and have him to plead for us c. that we know him Now to know that we know is a reflex Act as one says and there can be no reflex Acts where there is no direct Acts of Faith it is impossible that there should be a reflex Act before a direct Act of Faith No Man can have the evidence of his Faith before the habit of it be infused and the vital act first performed therefore deceive not your Souls with vain hopes of Heaven 3. Reason of this is taken from the object Matter to which the Spirit Seals and that you will find to be his own Sanctifying Operations upon the Heart or in the Hearts of those that he Seals and consequently to their great priviledges and advantages in Christ Jesus the Spirit witnesses to Believers that they are Christ's and that he hath loved them with an everlasting Love and shed his precious Blood for them Rev. 1. 5 6. This the Spirit Seal'd to Paul Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And the life saith he that I live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God who hath loved me and given himself for me How did Paul know this but by the still voice of the Spirit who discovered in particular Christ's love to him The Spirit in Sealing Believers doth attest That Christ abideth in them and that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. 1 John 3. 24. Hereby we know that he viz. Christ abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given to us Now no such thing as this can be Sealed to us until we believe because neither our Adoption nor Sanctification is before Faith John 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26. When Persons believe truly in Jesus Christ then are they actually Sons of God and really Sanctified and not before for our Hearts are said to be purified by or through Faith Acts 15. 9. Therefore Persons being unsanctified cannot be Sealed before Faith in the Blood of Christ 4. Reason it is thus If you consider the Mediums or Instruments made use of in this work of Sealing The Spirit of God in Sealing his People makes use of the great and precious Promises therefore he is called a Spirit of Promise in our Text He is not so called only because he is the Spirit promised Ezek. 36. 27. but secondly because he opens and applies the Promises to Believers which he doth when they believe and are united to Christ and not before The Spirit clears the Promises to their Understandings and by Faith enables them to apply them to their own Souls but still remember 't is after Faith for 'till a Person is united to Christ he has no true saving right to the Promises they are Childrens Bread and Dogs that are without must not meddle with them Matth. 15. 26 27. Rev. 22. 15. But Fifthly The Fifth Reason is taken from the great End and Design of the Spirit in this Sealing Work which is to secure to the believing Soul its Peace pardon of Sin and eternal Salvation with Christ in Glory The end of our Faith we read is the Salvation of our Souls and this is the end of the Spirit 's Sealing to secure it to the Soul 1 Pet. 1. 9 10. The Spirit of God is said Eph. 4. 30. To Seal Believers to the day of Redemption that is to their compleat Salvation in Christ We are all by nature in bondage to Sin and Corruption and we are Redeemed from Sin by the first coming of Christ Matth. 1. 21. Tit. 2. 14. And shall be fully and perfectly Redeemed from all Sin at his second Now in the mean time 'till this be God would have his People to be assured of it before-hand therefore he hath given his Spirit to Seal them up to the Day of Redemption Now my Beloved it is as equally impossible for Unbelievers as such to be Sealed as Saved And the Word saith Matth 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned And John 8. 24. Says Christ to the Jews If you believe not ye shall die in your sins Thus you see the Doctrine is clear That the great priviledge of Sealing by the Spirit follows the Act of Believing and goes not before it I should have shown you now Thirdly Whether all Believers are Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise but our time is gone therefore I shall sum up all with a short Word of Application and leave what has been said to the Blessing of God 1. Vse If none are Sealed nor can be Saved until they believe in Christ
then examine what your state is how it stands between God and your precious Souls if you find it good bless God who has called you by his Grace and Sealed you by his holy Spirit if you find it bad with you upon tryal that God and your Souls are strangers then cry to him earnestly through Christ to open your Eyes and shew you your state and condition that you may not live and dye strangers to him say as the blind Men Lord we would receive our sight we would have our Understandings opened and illuminated Oh! thou that commandedst the Light to shine out of darkness shine into our Souls and give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of thy self in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. Give us to see our state and need of Christ and save us Lord or we shall perish Say Lord take away sin and receive me graciously into thy favour and our Lips shall praise thee Hos 14. 2 3. Give us Christ or we dye Thus be importunate with God and give him no rest for 't is for your Lives 2. Vse Be exhorted to these three things First Not to quench the Spirit Oh! comply sweetly with all its motions and hearken to all his calls 1 Thes 5. 20. Quench not the Spirit Secondly Grieve not the Holy Spirit in any wise there is a great respect due to the Spirit for doing such a gracious and glorious work as Sealing is see then that you grieve him not but in all things endeavour to please him so that he may delight to go on in this blessed work that he hath pleased to take upon him beware of Pride Passion Envy and all Sin that grieves the Spirit Oh! grieve not the holy and good Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. Thirdly Bless God that he has given his good Spirit to any of you to cause you to walk in his Statutes to keep his Judgments and do them Ezek. 36. 27. As also to clear up his Love in Christ to your Souls So much for this time Believers Sealed BY THE Spirit of Promise Second Sermon from Ephes 1. the latter part of the 13 verse In whom also after that ye believed ye were Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise BEloved we began the last Day with these Words and after we had opened and given the Analysis of them we stated this Doctrinal Conclusion viz. Doct. That the great priviledge of Sealing by the Spirit is after the duty and act of Believing For the opening of this weighty Point we have shown First What this Sealing work of the Spirit is and how it is performed by him in the Soul And Secondly We have given the Reasons why none can be truly Sealed by the Spirit until they believe in Christ Jesus Now Thirdly we shall proceed to show you whether all Believers are Sealed by the Spirit of Promise or no. This is a weighty case and requires a better Judgment than mine to discuss it but as the Lord shall help I shall say something at this time in Answer to it viz. Whether all Believers are Sealed by the Spirit of God or no. For the opening of it that you may rightly understand and if the Lord please be established and comforted I must make some Distinctions that ought to be made in so great a Matter and Concern as this is The Distinctions I shall make are these three viz. First The different kinds of the Spirit 's Sealing Secondly The times and seasons thereof And Thirdly The several ways and manners of this Sealing First We must distinguish the different kinds of the Spirit 's Sealing the Sealing Work of the Spirit is not of one kind nor to one and the same use and end There is Beloved a two-fold Seal of the Holy Spirit First An objective Seal which Seal distinguishes the Persons that have it from other Persons And Secondly There is a formal Seal by or in which Sealing the Spirit clears up and ratifies the Soul's Interest in Christ and Right to Heaven and Salvation by and through him First The objective Sealing of Persons the Spirit doth in Sanctifying and making them holy that he Seals who before were filthy and unholy the Spirit changes the Heart renews the Nature and forms Christ's Image in the Souls of them he Seals When the Spirit Seals Persons objectively he really and truly sanctifies them by the Infusion of his Grace and thus he seals us in way of distinction from other Persons And this is one end of his glorious sealing Work before we proceed further pray mind these five things First In the Decree of God's Election there was a difference between Believers and others even from Eternity before all Time There is a privy Seal of Predestination that is only known to God himself 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Lord knoweth them that are his By Election and Choice in Christ before the foundation of the World Eph. 1. 4. This knowledge of God of us is carried secret as water that runs under the ground until by vocation he calls us from the rest of Mankind God has chose a certain number in Christ which shall certainly be saved For the foundation of God standeth sure viz. of Election having this Seal c. Secondly In the purpose and intention of the death of Christ there was also a difference between the Elect and other Men for though all have a common benefit by Christ's death yet he shed not his blood for all but for some even for all those that the Father had given him and for whom he covenanted with his Father to satisfie Justice in their stead God the Father and Christ the Son struck hands together about the Redemption of Sinners the Father gave out of the World to Christ a certain number that he would have saved and the Son ingaged with the Father for their Redemption and to bring them to Glory Isa 59. 1. to 6. John 6. 38 39. Now dare any say That God gave all the World to Christ and that Christ did covenant with his Father to save all If all are given to Christ and he is become Surety to his Father for all then all shall be saved For God has promised to Christ That he shall see his Seed and see of the travail of his Soul and be satisfied Isa 73. 8 9 11 12. And in the 10 v. it is said That the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands It is the pleasure of God those Christ dyed for should be saved and they shall therefore Christ dyed not for all alike besides Christ prayed not for all therefore he dyed not for all for surely Christ will not stick to spend his breath for them for whom he spent his blood John 17. 6 9 15. I pray not for the World but for them which thou hast given me out of the World thine they were but thou gavest them me c. Thus by the way you
by any new Revelation or extraordinary Voice from Heaven but by subjecting his Understanding to and comparing his heartwith the word Thus having made these Distinctions for your clear understanding the Case give me leave to Answer all out of doubt from what has been said And that briefly in these three things First Consider that though all Believers have not the Formal yet they have the Objective Seal of the Spirit they are all Sanctified and made Holy by the holy Spirit of Promise true Grace is infused and imprinted in their Souls though the formal Seal of the Spirit may not yet be set to it There may be Fire put in on the Hearth Though you cannot well see it there may be Grace in the Heart and spiritual life though it cannot be well discerned because of the many Corruptions that be yet in the Heart You read Matth. 12. 20. of the smoaking Flax and bruised Reed Grace may be true though weak and a Man may be in Christ though it be not clear to him all Believers are Sanctified though not Sealed presently But Secondly Consider That tho' all Believers are not Sealed at one and the same time yet there are few that are true Christians but before they dye meet with one Season or another wherein the Lord doth Seal them If they be not Sealed at their first closing in with Christ by Faith as some are tho' but few yet they are Sealed by the Spirit more or less before they dye and go out of the World Thirdly and Lastly Consider That though God doth not now seal by his Spirit in an extraordinary and immediate way by Revelation c. yet most Christians in the ordinary way of the Spirit are sealed God meets with them in one Duty or another in one sacred Ordinance or another either in Prayer Reading Hearing or in receiving of the Lord's Supper This God has promised and Believers may expect for God is faithful who has promised I shall conclude with these two Scriptures Isa 32. 17. And the work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Righteousnes Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa 64. 5. Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness and remembers thee in thy ways So much for this time Believers Sealed BY THE Spirit of Promise Third Sermon from Ephes 1. the latter part of the 13 verse In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise BRethren the Truth we are upon from the Words is this Doctrine The great priviledge and mercy of being Sealed by the Spirit of Promise is after the Duty and Act of Believing After ye Believed ye were Sealed by the Spirit c. For the opening this great Point we have First already shown what the Spirit 's Sealing is Secondly Why none are nor can be Sealed till they Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ And Thirdly We have answered this great Question viz. Whether all Believers are Sealed by the Spirit of Promise or not Now in the Fourth place God assisting we shall shew you the great Priviledges of those Souls that are Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise And my Beloved their Priviledges and Advantages are many and great even so great and many that words cannot express them fully nor set out the riches and worth of this mercy Some of the Saints Priviledges by being Sealed we shall acquaint you with in these particulars First The use of a Seal in Men's Affairs sets out the priviledges of Believers Sealed by the Spirit For as the use of a Seal is manifold so the advantages of Believers are many who are Sealed by the Holy Spirit to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. Quest What are the Vses 〈…〉 Seal Answ The Uses of a Seal are many as First A Seal serves for Confirmation amongst Men there is the Writing and the Seal put to the Writing now when the Seal is added there is a perfect Ratification or Confirmation of what is in the Writing There are abundance of great and precious Promises in the Word of God which the Spirit of Promise seals to the Soul and when he seals them then are they sure to us The Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 1. 20. That all the Promises of God are in Christ yea and Amen Yea that is truth Amen that is assurance And in v. 21. He hath also Sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts Those Promises that are made and given us in Christ the Lord assures and confirms to us by his Holy Spirit who opens and applies the Promises to Believers The Spirit assureth the Saints their right in the Promises and that God will pay the whole sum of them in his time to them For an Earnest saith the Annotators on the place is as a pledge whereby we confirm a Bargain or as a piece of Money whereby we assure the payment of the whole The first gift therefore of the Spirit and of Life is a pledge of our whole Inheritance insomuch that this anointing sealing and pledging all serve to one and the same end God is both able and willing to perform all that he hath promised and this the Spirit testifies to the Souls of them that he Seals 2. Vse A Seal is for distinction from others that carries not that mark the Spirit of God distinguishes them he Seals from other Men in the World There is as before I have told you a distinction between Persons in God's Election and Eternal Purpose but this concerns us not secret things belonging to God Deut. 29. 29. any further than to know it in the general that there is such a thing we are not to meddle any further with it 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Lord knoweth them that are his and them that are not his for he has set his seal and mark upon them in Christ from Eternity but now the Spirit of God in time distinguisheth and ranks Men saith D. Sibbs as they were before all Worlds and as they shall be at the Day of Judgment when Christ shall come and give to all Men according to their works 2 Cor. 5. 10. The beginning of that distinction that shall be afterwards is in this life the Spirit 's objective Seal viz. of Sanctification makes a distinction between Men. A Seal you know makes the Impression of an Image and the Prince's Image uses to be in his Seal The glorious Image of God is in his Seal which ruines and destroys the old Man and prints the New in the Souls of Believers by the Spirit 's Sealing Ephes 4. 22 23 24. There is that by the Spirit stamp'd and printed in the Soul that was not there before True Believers by the Spirit 's Sealing are First Distinguished from moral civilized Men which are at best but tamed Devils and old Adam put in a new Dress The House may be swept i. e. Man may be civilized and have many good Morals and yet the Heart not Sanctified See Matth. 12.
of Christ Say unto Christ as the Spouse Cant. 6. 8. Set me as a Seal upon thy heart and as a Seal upon thy arm Pant after it as David Psal 35. 3. Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation Make this your greatest care and business in the world next to glorifying of God to set things to rights betwixt God and your Souls and to get an assurance That he is your Salvation Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. The Usurer saith It is good to be sure the Purchaser saith It is good to be sure that his Title to Lands and Houses be sure and firm The Tradesman saith it is good to be sure and ought not Believers above all to say That it is good to be sure of Christ's Love and of the goodness of our Title to heaven and glory For the love of Christ heaven and glory are infinitely above all other things therefore to be well assured of them we should mind 'em with the greatest care and diligence Motives First Consider That every wis Man will labour to get a good thing and make it as sure as he can and will you be such Fools as not to mind and labour to be sealed by the Spirit and to be assured of Christ's Love to you and of your Title to Glory it is good to be sure here that when you dye and have this Earthly Tabernacle dissolved you may know you have a Building with God an House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. 2dly Consider that there be many who will question your Interest in Christ and title to Eternal Lise As first the Devil who is the Accuser of the Brethren a Fighter against the Saints and a great Enemy to all their Peace and Comfort O Believers he 'll follow you with many Temptations and Objections about your Eternal State and raise many doubts in your Hearts if he cannot split you upon the Rock of Presumption as he does Thousands he 'll endeavour to ruin you on the Rock of Despair Peter tells us that the Devil goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. Blessed be God it is not whom he will but whom he may devour Says Paul 2 Cor 1. 11. Take heed lest Satan get an advantage against you for we are not ignorant of his Devices The Devil has many Stratagems and wiles to ruin poor Souls and to disquiet the Hearts of Believers therefore labour to be well assured that you may answer all the false accusations of the Devil but Secondly There is the World which is fill'd with Scoffers and Troublers of God's Israel the wicked Ishmaels of the World they 'll call you Hypocrites and question your Title to Heaven and Glory therefore seek after the sealing of the Spirit and to be well assured of your States and Conditions respecting Christ and Glory that under all the false Censures of the World you may approve your selves to God and have inward Peace and Comfort from this that your Hearts are right with God and that you are and desire to be that before God in reality that you seem to be in appearance before Men My Righteousness saith Job I will hold fast and my Heart viz. my Conscience shall not condemn me as long as ever I live Though you condemn me for an Hypocrite yet my Righteousness or Integrity I will hold fast and I will keep a good Conscience that shall not condemn me as long as I Live Thirdly There is your own Hearts that will join in too much with these Accusers there fore you had need labour to get a good Assurance for if your Hearts condemn you God is greater than your Hearts and knoweth all things but if your hearts condemn you not then have you Confidence towards God 1 John 3. 20 21. But Thirdly Consider when you are sealed by the Spirit or have got a good Assurance c. you will go about good duties with great comfort and delight you will resist Sin and the Devil Pray Read and Hear with great sweetness and delight you 'll bear Crosses endure Tryals with great Patience Abraham was to do a hard piece of Work viz. to kill his only Son bot having received the Promises he went about it chearfully Heb. 11. 17 18. Says David Psal 89. 15 16. Blessed are they that hear the joyful Sound why are they blessed They shall walk says he in the Light of thy Countenance O Lord in thy Name shall they rejoice all the Day But Fourthly Consider that he whom God loves is a happy Man though he knows it not i. e. be not fully assured of it but he that knows he is beloved of God knows himself to be a happy Man to be beloved of God in Christ is great happiness but to know that God doth love us in Christ is greater happiness Fifthly Consider that to he sealed or assured by the Spirit is very sweet and comfortable to the Soul This is the Manna says one in the golden Pot the Wine of Paradice which chears and revives the heart how sweet is a Smile from God through Christ The Sun you know is more chearing when it shines out than when it is hid in a Cloud assurance is sweet in Life in Sufferings and in Death it self it puts a Man in Heaven as it were before his time But Quest May some say What must we do to obtain the Sealing of the Spirit or Assurance Answer First Direction Labour to get some certain and infallible Signs and Characters out of God's holy Word of saving grace that you indeed are such as God has changed by his Spirit and wrought grace in your Hearts the Spirit 's Sealing or Assurance saith one is made up of a practical Syllogism where the Word of God is the Major a good Conscience the Minor and the Spirit of God the Conclusion as for Instance the word saith that he who loves God is beloved of God Conscience saith but I love God saith the Spirit therefore art thou beloved of God As also He that believeth saith the word shall be Saved John 3. 16. Conscience but I do believe therefore saith the Spirit thou shalt be Saved Now see if you can find these in your Hearts Secondly Retire your selves into some private place alone from the Eye of the World where none see you but God and there narrowly search and try your hearts See how it stands between God and you Have you Grace or no Faith or no 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine whether you be in the Faith and Faith be in you Oh! be not Strangers to your selves but commune daily with your own Hearts This is a good way to get Assurance Many are Strangers to themselves and look more aborad upon others than at home into their own Hearts Psal 4. 4 5. Thirdly Be earnest with God at the Throne of Grace Heb. 4. ult Beg of him to Seal you by his
which were the occasion of his Doxology and Solemn Thanksgiving verse the third Blessed says he be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us that is us Believers with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ Jesus Whence note That Christ is the Foundation of all those Spiritual Blessings that are given and bestowed on the Saints Secondly That God the Father is to be blessed that is praised and glorified for these spiritual Blessings who is the Donor of them through Jesus Christ Blessed be the God and Father c. What these rich Blessings are which are bestowed on Believers in and through Christ the Apostle shews from the 4. to the 13 v. and numbers them up which are 1. Election before the Foundation of the World or from Eternity in Christ v. 4. according as he viz. God hath chosen us in him viz. Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Where observe four things 1. That the efficient cause of Election is the love of God 2 Tim 1. 9. Secondly That the Election of Persons is sounded in Jesus Christ chosen us in him Christ is the Elect of God and all the Elect are chosen of God in Christ Thirdly Election of certain Persons in Christ is not after they are born or do believe but before even from Eternity he hath chosen us in him when before the foundation of the world that is from Eternity Election is from Everlasting though Vocation is in time Fourthly That God hath not chosen Persons to happiness only but to holiness that we should be holy c. Happiness is the End Holiness through Christ the means to that End Though God has chose some to happiness and they shall all certainly be Saved he having set his Seal upon them yet they that name Christ's Name must depart from Iniquity So saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 19. Secondly Another Blessing is Predestination unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good will and pleasure of God to the Glory and Praise of his rich Grace v. 4. and 5. Thirdly Acceptance with God both of our Persons and Services in and through Christ who is the beloved is another Blessing v. 6. to the praise and glory of his grace wherein he viz. God hath made us accepted in the Beloved Fourthly Redemption from sin and wrath through the Blood of Christ which is precious Blood that only makes peace with God for us v. 7. In whom through or by whom we have Redemption through his Blood Colos 1. 20. Fifthly Forgiveness of Sins which is a Soul-inriching Blessing This comes through the bitter agony and blood-shed of Christ to us Heb. 9. 22. We have not only Redemption but Pardon and Forgiveness of Sins through Christ according to the riches of his grace bounty or goodness v. 7. Sixthly A manifestation and discovery of the mystery of God's Will through Christ in the Gospel concerning the Salvation of Sinners c. according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself v. 9. Whence observe That not only the Election but also the vocation of the adopted Sons of God proceedeth from meer free Grace in Christ and nothing else Seventhly Union with Christ the Head of all the Faithful this is a great blessing and priviledge mentioned v. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times that is in the time prefixed by the Lord who is the disposer of times and of order in all things for the accomplishment of the Promises that concerned Christ the Messiah and that concerns all the Elect in him he might gather in one all things in Christ reduce into one capital sum or bring under one head so the word signifies both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Some understand here the Faithful whereof some are now in Heaven and others are yet upon the Earth which are called and gathered into one body and under one head The Faithful may be said to be gathered together in Christ which holds forth their mystical Union with him because they are joined together with him by Faith and so are become as it were one Man But Eighthly In the 11. and 12. v. you have the vocation or calling both of Jew and Gentile to the participation of that Redemption in Christ according to God's good pleasure and purpose of the Jew first and afterwards of the Gentile In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted or hoped in Christ Where observe four things 1. That the calling of Jew and Gentile by Grace in Christ here and their obtaining Heaven and Glory hereafter is all according to the good pleasure and wise purpose of God 2dly All things are attributed to the Free Grace of God through Christ without exception who worketh all things yet we are not stocks for he giveth us Grace both to will and to do those things that are good Phil. 2. 13. 3dly God's working all things not simply according to his will but according or after the counsel of his own will teach us thus much That God as an intelligent and most wise Agent doth all things upon most just and prudent grounds known to himself and he hath always a reason for his will tho' to us his will must stand for the supream Reason Stat pro ratione volunt as Matth. 11. 26. 4thly Observe the great end of all this viz. the praise and glory of his Grace i. e. of his glorious Grace that as his bountiful goodness and love in Christ deserveth all praise so also it should be set forth and published Ninthly In the 13 14. Paul speaks particularly of the vocation of the Ephesians to whom he wrote And that 1. by the operation of the word of truth which they heard 2. By the obsignation of the spirit in whom also they trusted after that they heard the word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were Sealed with the Spirit of Promise Here is another Blessing which is not one of the least though it be one of the last named In this one Verse part of which is our Text we have two noble acts of Faith spoken of and display'd 1. A direct act called trusting In whom also ye trusted c. 2. A reflex Act which in order of Nature and Time follows it which act is implied in the word Sealing In whom also after that ye believed ye were Sealed c. In which words are these four parts as 1. The Subjects of this Sealing or Assurance and they are Believers such as have closed in with Christ by Faith An Unbeliever as such was never sealed unless to damnation 'T is Believers only that are sealed
see that in regard of Christ's death viz. the Intentionality of it there was a difference between the Elect and others For though all Men have a common yet 't is only the Elect who believe that have a special real benefit by it But Thirdly Yet know That all this while tho' there be a difference between the Elect and others in the Election of God and death of Christ yet there was no personal actual difference between them and others until they are sanctified and renewed and so are distinguished from other Men The Elect themselves considered in Adam are Children of wrath even as others till they are called and believe Eph. 2. 2 3. The Devil rules in them and they are kept in blindness by him as well as others 2 Cor. 4. 4 5. They are affar off from God Eph. â—â— 13. and are wallowing in their Blood to the loathing of 〈◊〉 Persons till God say to them 〈…〉 ye Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. They are born in sin and polluted by it even as others till God sprinkle their Hearts with Christ's Blood Ezek. 36. 24 25. They are as vile as the vilest 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you viz. Thieves Covetous Lyars Swearers c. but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified by the Spirit of our God Fourthly Know that the Spirit of God in this objective Seal viz. Sanctification makes a real difference in the states and tempers of those that he thus Seals For says Paul If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old Passions and Corruptions are subdued in the Soul and all things are become new And the Spirit also manifests that difference which God in his chusing made between them he sanctifies and others 1 Thes 1. 4 5. Brethren ye know your Election of God But how did they know it The Gospel says he did not come in Word only but in power and in much assurance of joy in the Holy Ghost When the report of God is believed and the arm of the Lord revealed to any then they see that Eternal Love that God bore to them in Christ before the World was Vocation in time is a sign of Election from Eternity For those that God has Elected in Christ shall certainly be called by the Spirit out of Darkness into Light Fifthly Know further that all this while tho' a Person be sanctified which is the objective Seal of the Spirit yet he may not be formally Sealed i. e. he may not have his change of state and interest in Christ fully sealed up to him a Man's Sanctification may be very doubtful to himself and he may labour under many and great fears about it whether he is changed or no be in Christ or no so that this is one distinction we must make the kinds of the Spirit 's sealing a Man may have the objective Seal but not the formal Seal presently a Letter may be writ sometime before it is Sealed the Spirit may work Grace in the Soul some time before he sets his Seal to it But Secondly We must distinguish the times and seasons of the Spirit 's Sealing for there be various times of his sealing Believers as the kinds of the Spirit 's sealing are different so the seasons wherein he doth this work are many and various As First Some Persons though I think but few are sealed immediately upon their Believing in and closing with Christ by Faith they are no sooner Converted but Sealed but this is very rare and not common here and there one are sealed immediately by the Spirit upon Conversion I heard credibly of One that was convinced of Sin saw himself lost and undone and thereupon having a sight of Christ fled to him for Pardon Peace Life and all Grace and was enabled to close in with Christ by Faith and had also thereupon the Love of God and certainty of his being Saved Sealed up by the Spirit to him and all in an Hours time many Ministers and good Christians were amazed at it and afraid it was a Delusion but by close walking with God and a pious Conversation he declared it was God's work in him The prodigal Son returning home to his Father was thus immediately Sealed for he was entertained with a fatted Calf and sweet Musick and his Father ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Luke 15. 23 24 25. But all Believers find not this presently as soon as they are Converted nor for some time after 't is but few that are thus Seal'd by the Spirit Secondly Season The Spirit Seals in times of great and eminent communion with God through Christ Times of Communion are sealing times when the Soul sees and injoys God tastes of his matchless Love and the sweet kisses of his Mouth which are better than Wine Cant. 1. 2. Then there is much Joy and great out-lets of Peace and Comfort to that Soul When God meets and shines upon Believers in a Duty and in an Ordinance then he makes their state very obvious and clear to them then he banishes away all fears and doubts in their Souls and makes them rejoice with greater and better Joy than the World can afford saith David who was a Man much in Communion with God Psal 4. 7. Thou hast put more joy and gladness into my heart than when their Corn and Wine and Oil increase But how was this no otherways than by God's lifting up the Light of his Countenance upon his Soul which will gladen the heart indeed Thirdly Many have been sealed upon some great and eminent Tryals and Dangers that they have been exposed to for Christ's sake and his Gospel Many Persons in times of eminent sufferings for Jesus Christ wherein they have carried it with great meekness patience and self-denial are sealed they have much comfort and assurance given to them Paul tells us 2 Cor. 1. 4 5. That as their sufferings did abound for Christ so their consolations did abound in him For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by or in Christ And whether we be afflicted it is for our Consolation c. How were the Martyrs Sealed many times in the depth of their Suffering for Christ his Cause one cried out when he was going to dye Oh! Austin he is come he is come meaning Christ who then met him and by his Spirit Sealed up his Love to him Another when in the Flames injoy'd so much of God That he said He was as if he were in a bed of down He sweetly convers'd with God in the Flames Fourthly The Spirit usually Seals Persons after a dark day and time of desertion when they have been clouded and gone mourning for lack of the Sun Job 30. 18. When they have had hard and sore conflicts with Satan and their own base Lusts Thus some read and understand that Text Revel 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white Stone
were Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise BEloved the Theam we are upon is this viz. Doct. The great priviledge and mercy of being Sealed by the Holy Spirit is after the Duty and Act of Believing In whom after ye believed ye were Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise For the management of this weighty Point we have First Shown you what the Spirit 's Sealing Work is Secondly Why none are or can be Sealed 'till they Believe Thirdly Whether all Believers are Sealed by the Spirit or no. Fourthly We are now upon showing you the great priviledges of Persons Sealed by the Spirit of God And for the doing of this we have in our last Discourse shown you some of the Believers Priviledges being Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise and that First In the many uses of a Seal in six things Now we shall thro' God's Assistance proceed further to set forth the Priviledges of Sealed Believers by the Spirit of Truth and Holiness and therefore Secondly The Saints Priviledge being Sealed appears from the Author of it viz. the Holy Spirit of Promise This is the Spirit 's Act and proper work alone God doth not send Angels upon this Errand or to do this Work but he gives and sends his gracious Spirit to do it If God did send an Angel to do this work it would be an honour to poor Man but for God to send his Holy Spirit to Seal us is more and greater honour than if Millions of Angels were to come and to be imployed in this work What is sorry Man that God should give him his Spirit And besides the certainty and satisfaction of the Spirit is beyond all other ways and methods in the World In miraculous Voices and Inspirations there may be found some cheat of the Devil who is a deceiver and seeks to deceive poor Souls But the Spirit 's witness is certain and true it being suitable to his revealed Mind in the written Word as I have told you before and being thus it cannot deceive us The Spirit that Seals us is Truth and cannot witness to a Lye nor deceive them that he Seals Thirdly Their Priviledges who are Sealed appears from the Truth that is Sealed to them which is Ravishing and Transporting The Spirit Seals to Believers the Pardon of their Sins through the Blood of Christ which is a great Blessing and their propriety in Him as their Head their Husband their Friend their All in All. This is that which Believers long to know and is their great mercy for to know by the Spirit what sweeter and more transporting to the Souls of Believers than this to know their Sins which were many are pardoned that Christ is their's his Righteousness their's his Merits their's his Grace their's to supply their great wants and that they shall be saved from Wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. To know this indeed is sweet it is to injoy Heaven upon Earth and to have such Joy as is beyond all the Joy in the World Oh! then what a mercy and priviledge is this to know that Christ is ours so as to say with the Spouse Cant. 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his And to say with them upon good grounds Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my Soul therefore I will hope in him And with David Psal 73. 25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee or upon Earth which I desire besides thâ—â— My flesh and my heart faileth but thou art the strength of my heart and my portion for ever How sweet was this to David under his troubles to know that God was his Portion for ever Paul tells us Gal. 2. 20. The life that he lived in the flesh was by the faith of the Son of God who loved him and gave himself for him And 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know says he in whom I have believed c. Which knowledge was by the Spirit 's Sealing and this is that which is Sealed up more or less to every Believer which affords great comfort and joy even joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 P. l. 1. 7 8. Fourthly From the Subiects or Peâ—â—â—ns that are Sealed and they 〈◊〉 as iâ— themselves are sinful 〈…〉 grieved the Spirit 〈◊〉 God a thousand times over Now is nâ—â— this a great mercy that they who grieved the Spirit so much should be Sealed thereby Eph. 4. 30. Oh! wonderful priviledge that such who had deserved to be Sealed to damnation because of their sins should be Sealed to Salvation Fifthly The Priviledges of Sealed ones appears to be many from the great or grand design of the Holy Spirit in Sealing The Spirit 's designs and aims in Sealing of Believers are these three viz. First To secure them from Hell and Wrath they that have the Spirit 's Seal shall not be condemned the Wrath of God that falls upon others shall not touch them For there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Secondly To secure Heaven to them for ever They that are Sealed here by the Spirit shall certainly be crowned with Glory hereafter says Paul 2 Cor. 5. 4 5 6. Now he that hath wrought us or made us fit for the self same thing viz. Heaven is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of his Spirit But Thirdly The third design of the Spirit in Sealing Believers is as intermediate thereunto to bring much of Heaven into their Souls in order to comfort and strengthen them in their way to Glory Believers Sealed by the Spirit enjoy much of Heaven in their way to it which makes them long to be with Christ in the full possession of Glory Phil. 1. 22. Believers being Sealed enjoy much comfort joy and peace in their Souls Rom. 5. 1 2. They rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God That God who is the God of Peace doth and will give to his much joy in believing he 'll fill them with joy and peace above all others they shall have the foretast of Glory and Blessedness here and in a little while they shall be received to Glory where all tears shall be wiped away and they shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 18. This shall suffice to have set forth the Priviledges of those that are Sealed by the Spirit of Promise Fifthly Application First Vse By way of Information from this great Doctrine of Sealing by the Spirit I infer these Two things viz. First Infer That Persons may know here they are in a state of Grace And Secondly That Persons upon knowing there present state in Grace may be assured for the time to come But First I infer That Persons may know here they are in a state of Grace and Salvation that their Sins are pardoned that God is pacified towards them through his Son and that also through Christ they are saved from Hell and Eternal Wrath which for sin they deserved This I say Believers
may know and have cleared up to them and that upon a five-fold account as First Because the Sealing of us by the Spirit is not in regard of God but in regard of our selves As for God he knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. But we do not know neither can we that we are God's but by the Sealing of his good Spirit and this Sealing is on purpose that we may know God is our Father and we are his Children Paul tells us Gal. 4. 6. That therefore God hath sent his Spirit into our hearts that we may cry Abba Father But Secondly Because the Scope of the Word which was Indited by the Spirit is for our comfort and that we might have hope Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Now Beloved what comfort can a Man have in an uncertain condition wherein he knows not but he may be a Reprobate But again Thirdly Why did Christ Jesus come into the World and take our Natures upon him Why did he become a Curse for us and carry our Natures when he had suffered into Heaven there to appear before God for us 'till he has brought all home Gal. 3. 13 Heb. 9. 24. I say why hath and doth Christ all this for us but to have us out of all doubt of his Love and Good-will after once we have received him by Faith For having loved his own he loves them to the end John 13. â— Fourthly We may come to arrive at some knowledge of our state in Grace because we are commanded to make our calling and election sure Now God doth not injoin Impossibilities upon us but commands that which may be done and bids us seek after that which may be attained to 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure But Fifthly What use are the Sacraments for especially the Lord's Supper but to confirm our Faith and seal up Christ's Benefits to us Saith Christ to the Noble Man that besought him to come down and heal his Son John 4. 47 48. Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe Christ sets the Elements of Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper before us that by these visible signs our Faith and Grace might be strengthened As Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10. 17. so it is confirmed by seeing Christ Crucified which by Faith may be seen in the Lord's Supper This Sacrament is not only a bare sign to represent Christ to us but it is a Seal to confirm our Interest in him He that would have his Grace strengthened must be found in this Ordinance in which Christ is set forth and as it were lively Crucified Gal. 13. 1 2. It was a saying of Bernard When my spiritual strength begins to fail I know a Remedy saith he I will go to the Table of the Lord and there I will eat and drink to recover my decayed strength God meets his at the Table and there seals up his love to them and strengthens their Graces Cant. 1. 13. While the King sits at his Table my spikenard sends forth its smell Christ's presence in his Ordinances stirred up the Spouse's Graces and put them into exercise Now after all this shall we doubt of God's love to us especially when besides the Sealing of the Promises to us we our selves are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise Object But some may say We should not doubt did we but know this That we do Believe truly Answ As it is the Office of the Holy Spirit to work Faith and other Graces in the Soul so to reveal this Faith and Grace to the Soul The Grace of God is Light in its self because it comes from him who is the Father of Lights from whom comes every good and perfect Gift James 1. 17. And it is the property of Light not only to discover other things but it self also And observe also That the Spirit gives Light to this Light by shining on his own Graces wrought in the Soul 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God And says Paul Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness c. we are the Children of God God's Children know that he is their Father and they his Children but the remainders of sin and corruption are still breeding doubts in the Soul but it is the office of the Spirit of Faith to quell them as they arise We are too prone in a time of temptation to doubt and have great fears But Sirs we need not help the Tempter as some do by holding it a Duty to doubt of Salvation when Christ saith be not faithless but believing Oh! have a care of this and rouse up your selves and say as David when doubts arise and your Souls are disquieted Psalm 48. ult Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God But Secondly From the Sealing of the Spirit I infer That Persons upon knowing their present state in Grace may be assured for the time to come For the Sealing of Believers by the Spirit is not only for the present but to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit saith Paul whereby ye are Sealed to the Day of Redemption That is 'till they come to the full possession of that Glory which now they believe and hope for And besides this Sealing of the Spirit is for the securing of Believers for the time to come John 14. 16 17. Faith and Love and other Graces of the Spirit never sail finally but ever remain in their Habits though sometimes lost in the exercise True Faith sets us in a state of Salvation and we being put into Christ by Faith or ingraffed into him the Vine are risen with him and sits with him in heavenly places as you may see Eph. 2. 5 6. True Faith makes the things to come present for it is the substance ground or confidence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. 2. Faith also Believes that neither life nor death principalities or powers things present or to come can never separate the Soul from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. So that Beloved the Assurance of Believers is not only for the present but for the time to come For they are Sealed up to the Day of Redemption even to that day in which Christ shall fetch them to Glory Who is there my Brethren that can reverse the Seal of God and make it void Grace is an earnest Penny for Glory and where God gives the one he 'll give the other Psal 84. 11. For thou wilt give Grace
proceed and put a period to this subject at this time 2. Vse Is by way of Examinatition and Tryal Oh examine your own Hearts narrowly see how it stands between God and your Souls and whether you are Sealed by the Spirit of Promise or no This is a matter to be strictly searched into and ought to be made your greatest business in the world Quest How shall we know that we are in Christ by Faith and so sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise Answ By the Divine Operations of the Spirit within you by the word 2 Cor. 5. 17. 1 Thes 1. 4 5 6. And by the proper genuine effects and Fruits of the Spirit 's Sealing-work where the Spirit Seals there be such proper genuine effects and fruits thereof that we may distinguish and discern it from all the delusions of the Devil and from all Impostures whatsoever Oh! See if you can find these in your Souls or no by which you may know how it stands with you Quest What are those proper genuine effects and fruits of the Spirits Sealing Work First Effect is inflamed Love to God and Christ where the Spirit seals that soul cannot but love Christ dearly for one Flame doth not more naturally beget another than the Love of God in Christ doth kindle the Love of the Soul to him again 1 Joh. 4. 16. 19. We have known and believed the Love God hath unto us c. v. 19. We love him because he hath first loved us God's Love in Christ in the Fountain ours the stream flowing from it Love is the Life and Soul of Religion the Salt of the Sacrifice Who can but love God that is Sealed by the Spirit and have assurance of his Love to them through Christ When Christ had forgiven much to poor Mary who had sinned much Oh how greatly was her Love inflamed to Christ Luk. 7. 47. She loved much for much was forgiven her VVhen Paul was assured by the Spirit that Christ loved him Gal. 2. 20. Who hath loved me and given himself for me O how was his Love to Christ inflamed Phil. 3. 7 8 9. As Christ was fastened to the Cross so was he to Paul's heart by Love Do you love Christ or no Can you say as Peter Thou that knowest all things knowest that I love thee Joh. 21. 15. 16 17. Second Effect is Care and Diligence to follow Christ and do his VVill a Soul Sealed by the Spirit lies at the Foot of Christ and is careful of his Honour and Glory his Care is to serve Christ and in all things to please him the Sealed Believer runs after Christ and is careful to keep in his Love Jude 21. And to have respect to every part of his Sacred VVill. That Soul which was dull and careless before is now active and lively in God's Service Faith will make a Man walk but the Spirit 's Sealing or assurance will make him run this will be as wings to a Bird as weights to a Clock that will set all a running Is it thus with you or no Do you run the way of God's Commands with Delight Psal 119. 34 90. Third Effect is Humility of Soul before God deep abasements and great humblings use to follow the Spirit 's Sealing those that are Sealed are humble Souls they say to Christ as the Disciples Joh. 14. 22. Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the World Why me Lord Why me saith the Soul VVhen God sealed the Covenant of old to Abraham that he would be his God and his exceeding great reward he fell on his Face at the time and was very humble Gen. 17. 1. 2. A Soul never lies lower at the Foot of God nor abhors it self more than when God manifests his Love and Seals it up to it O what am I that God should be thus good to look upon me and to call me out of Darkness by his Grace Fourth Effect is Spiritual Strength for the Ways of the Lord are strength to the upright Prov. 10. 29. Increased Strength in the Soul follows the Sealing of of the Spirit When Believers are sealed then new Power and Strength enters into their Souls they are strengthened with might in their inward Man Col. 1. 11. The Saints find sensible Improvements of their Abilities for Duty Cant. 6. 12. Is it thus with you Fifthly This sealing will make us Praise God those that are sealed by the Spirit have their Mouths filled with the high Praises of God they cannot but Pen a Soug of Praise and bless the Name of that God who hath done so much for them Such say to their Souls as David the sweet Singer of Israel Psal 103. 1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits who forgiveth thy Iniquities healeth thy Diseases and Crowns thee with Loving Kindnesses Paul Penn'd a doxology for this Blessing of Sealing c. Ephes 1. 3. His solemn Thanksgiving was for this as well as for other Blessings But agaiu Sixth Effect is great Longings and inflamed Desires after the full enjoyment of Christ in glory They who are Sealed by the Spirit long to be in Heaven at home with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 5. They that have tasted the love of God in Christ here long to be drinking full draughts of it in Heaven Psal 42. 1 2. My Soul thirsteth for thee when shall I appear before my God David did not only long to see God in his House and in his Ordinances but also in his glory where his Soul should be fully satisfied Psal 17. 15. There is nothing that makes Death so undesirable as doubts and fears that hang about the Saints and upon their Spirits about their eternal State and Condition Persons under great doubts don't long so much for Death as those who are Sealed and Assured Where Persons evidences for Heaven are clear and their doubts resolved they fear not Death but go full Sail to Heaven and depart in great Peace Psal 37. 37. Luke 2. 29 30. These are the Souls that with Paul desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better or best of all Phil. 1. 21 22. If once Beloved the great Question of our Interest in Christ be thoroughly decided and be clear between God and us then we shall find Life the matter of Patience and Death the object of desire But thus much by way of tryal the Lord set you as a Seal upon his Heart and upon his Arm and clear up his Love and good will in Christ to your Souls that so you may know it believe it and admire it Third Vse by way of Exhortation And First You that are not Sealed yet by the Holy Spirit of Promise be exhorted and stirred up this Day to seek out after it That you may be assured of your Peace with God and the pardon of your Sins through the Blood