Spirit and through Christ to discover your state and condition to you that so you may not be deceived and go down to Hell with a Lye in your right hand Lord say to my Soul I am thy Salvation Psal 35. 3. Plead thus daily with God that so you may not lose your comfort on the one hand nor your precious Souls on the other But Fourthly Watch much over your own Hearts and Lives be very careful of your steps and how you walk that you grieve not the good Spirit Let not your Hearts run out too much upon the World and be not too careless of your steps lest you offend God Psal 39. 1. I said I will look to my ways c. That is I resoved to do so So Pray do you for to him that ordereth his Conversation aright God will shew his Salvation Psal 50. 23. Fifthly Wait humbly and patiently upon the Lord even 'till he shall shed abroad his Love in your hearts and set you as a Seal upon his heart They that wait upon God shall have renewed strength Isa 40. 29 30. Who is there among you that feareth the Lord who walketh in darkness and see no light Oh! trust in the Name of the Lord and stay and wait upon him I say to you as David Psal 27. ult Wait on the Lord and be of good courage for he shall strengthen your hearts Wait I say on the Lord waiting Christians will lose nothing Mich. 7. 9. Sixthly Mourn over all those sins that cause the Lord to withdraw and hide his Face from your Souls Isa 59. 2. Have you not grieved the Spirit and been guilty of too much Pride Passion Formality and Unbelief Oh! weep bitterly for this before the Lord look upon Christ whom you have pierced Zech. 12. 10. Sights of a broken Christ will cause a broken Heart None can look upon Christ truly without brokenness of heart he that looks upon Christ savingly will mourn for him as a Man for his only Son Mourning for an only Son is the greatest of Sorrow our sorrow for sins against God should exceed all other sorrow Though there be no merit yet there is much mercy in a broken heart Psal 51. 17. 34. 18. They that mourn shall be comforted Matth 5. 6. Seventhly In times of trouble and desertion keep up Faith and in times of Communion keep up fear when God has hid his Face and you sit in darkness then stir up Faith trust and stay still upon him Isa 50. 11. And when God shall manifest himself and shine upon you then keep up fear a fear of Jealousie not of Distrust Work out your Salvation with fear Phil. 2. 12. Blessed is the Man that seareth always Tho' my Beloved we blame the Papists for teaching People to doubt and for making that a duty which is a Sin yet we are for a narrow search and a holy Fear and Trembling in trying of our hearts lest we be deceived in the end Eighthly Make much of and cherish the holy Spirit of God Oh do not resist him but comply with his Blessed Motions it is the Spirit that is the Comforter John 14. 16. who seals up assurance to us 2 Cor. 1. 22. When good David would have assurance of God's Love that his broken Bones might be healed he prayed earnestly that God would not take his holy Spirit from him Psal 51. 11. 12. David knew that it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness O make much of the Spirit deal tenderly and kindly by him do not grieve nor quench him as too many do Eph. 4. 30. 1 Thes 3. 19. Ninthly As doubts arise in your Hearts get them satisfied and and as Sins are committed in your Lives get them pardoned Are your Hearts Christians filled with doubts and fears about the state of your Souls O cry to God to resolve and scatter them Have you fallen into any Sin thro' Infirmity and Temptation Cry for pardon through Christ who is your Advocate and Friend in Heaven and is there pleading for you Heb. 7. 26. 1 John 2. 1 2. Tenthly Keep a pure Conscience O see that no Sin or guilt lye there unrepented of remember that God Seals no Pardon before Faith and Repentance keep Conscience therefore pure and void of offence we are bidden Heb. 10. 22. to draw near to God with true Hearts and in the full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. He that allows himself in Sin and keeps not a good Conscience cannot draw nigh to God in the full assurance of Faith But 11. Lastly Lye at the Pool of Ordinances frequent much the Word and Sacraments that are God's Appointments in which he has promised to meet his People do not stay away from Hearing nor from the Table of the Lord at no time as many do for every small frivolous thing The way to meet with God and to have an assurance of his Love to be Sealed by his Spirit is to wait upon him in his Ordinances and to remember him in his ways Isa 64. 5. The Ordinances of God are the banquetting House where God displays the Banner of his Love and seals it up to his People Cant. 2. 4. To be found sincerely in the way and use of God's Ordinances is the way to be set as a Seal upon Christ's heart 2. Branch You that are Sealed and assured by the Spirit of the love of God in Christ to you Oh! be exhorted First to endeavour to keep the assurance you have as we must labour to get it so to keep it It is a Mercy we should beware of losing it is the comfort of your life and 't will be sweet in death What comfort is there preserable to this which flows from the Sealing of the Spirit or the Assurance of God's love in Christ Now that you may have much of this Sweetness and Comfort keep and hold fast that assurance which you have through Grace obtained Question How or by what means may we do this Answer First By renewing your Repentance often for Sin you cannot live without Sin therefore live not without Repentance God often cloaths such with the Garments of Joy and Comfort who tumble themselves in Ashes as it were for their Sins Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Matth. 5 6. And that are humble for they shall he exalted James 4. 9 10. Secondly Fear the hidings of God's Face and the withdrawing the Light of his Countenance from you David feared much therefore prayed much Hide not thy Face from thy Servant c. Psal 27. 9. Fear also to offend God by doing of any Evil beware of every Sin and of every Temptation to Sin either from the Devil the World or your Hearts When tempted to Sin say as Joseph did How can I do this great Evil and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Sin is an enemy it hides God's Face from us and wounds our Souls 't will
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
COMFORT FOR BELIEVERS OR A Discourse of the Duty and Priviledge of being Sealed by the Holy Spirit In Five Sermons upon Eph. 1. 13 PUBLISHED For the Establishment of weak Believers who are fill'd with Doubts and Fears about their Eternal State By Nathanael VViles Pastor of a Church of Christ in Shadwell Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God Who hath sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1. 21 22. London Printed for James Gibbs and to be sold by Caleb Hooker at the Muzeled-Bear upon VVapping-VVall near Peliean-Stairs Thi◠Shadow Shadows out the Face of one Whose Life 's a Bubble and will soon be gone He is a Mortal and must shortly dye But hopes to live with Christ Eternally Who lost his Life and freely shed his Blood He trusts to Sāve and brīng him unto God My Flesh my Soul my All I owe to Thee My blēssed Lord whos̄e Stripes are Balm to me THE Epistle Dedicatory To all who are in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ but particularly to the Church of Christ meeting in Shadwell Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied Dearly Beloved THE wisest of Men hath told us excepting Christ that a word spoken in Season or as it is in the Original upon his Wheels is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. Oh how excellent are Words rightly ordered placed and circumstantiated such words of all are the most excellent the most prevalent and the most pleasant Words that can be spoken they are most precious most desirable and most delectable the Lord grant that what is here spoken in this Treatise may be such kind of Words that all that read them may find them most precious most sweet and very seasonable To time a Word Beloved in Season is to set it upon the Wheels And Oh that this might be a Word well timed To speak a word to the purpose si Deo placuerit if it shall please the Lord is the project and design of this Book there is a great glory upon all words of Truth but there is a double Glory upon seasonable words of Truth Therefore in the following discourses I have made it my Care and Business to set before you a seasonable comfortable and encouraging Truth and if the Lord will set in by his Spirit I am sure you will find it such to be sealed by the Spirit and to have his Witness in our Hearts that God loves us with an Everlasting Love therefore with Loving Kindness he hath drawn us Jer. 31. 3. And that we are the Children of God is most sweet and comfortable there is nothing can or will encourage the Saints of God living and dying and comfort their Souls more than this A Seal beloved is for two Ends viz. Safety and Secresie and Sealing is used in three Cases First to keep things secret that they may not be seen Secondly Distinct that they may not be confused And Thirdly Safe that they may be forth-coming these uses you will find opened in the Book To set forth the unspeakable Priviledges of Believers Sealed by the Spirit from which may be drawn much comfort and sweetness there is not a more encouraging and comforting Truth in all the Book of God well understood and applied than this is of Sealing by the Holy Spirit to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. In these Sermons of Sealing by the Holy Spirit I may say There is Milk for Babes and Meat for strong Men. I hope all that see or read them will reap benefit by them Many of you Beloved were well pleased and much refreshed in the hearing of these Sermons and I trust yea and shall pray that you may be also built up and nourished in the reading of them 'T is true they are brought forth and set before you in a homely Dress not garnished with fine Phrases and Rhetorical Expressions but such as they are I hope you will accept of them The design of them is honest viz. God's Glory and the edifying and building up of your Souls in Christ Jesus What you find of God in them to the use of Edifying give him all the Glory of it and bless his Name for making the hearing or reading of these Sermons beneficial to your Souls I am well aware That some will censure me for what I have here done and offered to the World But if God may have Glory by these weak Endeavours of mine and any poor Soul reap Spiritual Comfort and Advantage then I shall have my end and bear up chearfully under the variety of Censures which may be pass'd upon me To conclude Consider this one thing Christians for your comfort and establishment in Christ Jesus viz. That those who are Sealed by the Spirit of God here shall be crowned with Eternal Glory hereafter Rev. 2. 10. Such shall have a Crown of Life Christ has bought the kingdom of Heaven for them that Believe and hath paid for it at an high rate even his most precious Blood is the price paid for it Eph. 1. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 17 18 19. And he hath prepared for them Mansions who are Denisons Crowns for them who are Heirs And pray who are these but such as are born again and Sealed by the Spirit of Promise Rom. 8. 16 17. Believers have Assurance of Heaven three ways First By Faīth in Christ 1 Pet. 1 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the Salvation of your Souls Secondly By their hearty and real Conformity to Christ Rom. 8. 29. For whom he did fore-know he also did Predestinate to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Thirdly By the Sealing Work of the Spirit For they are Sealed unto the Day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. And says Paul in the Text Eph. 1. 13 14. After that ye Believed ye were Sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which says he is the earnest of our Inheritance c. Believers shall as certainly be glorified as if they were Crowned already John 14. 1 2 3. They be Heirs to Heaven's Crown here and shall be possessed of it when they come there What the Saints hold now in reversion they shall then have in full possession and be with their God in the Impyreal Heaven where there will be nothing present that offends nor nothing absent that delights Now that you may all Beloved arrive at this place of Blessedness and be for ever with the Lord is and shall be the prayers of him who subscribes himself Your Servant in the Gospel for Jesus's sake Nathanael Wyles Decemb. 4. 1696. Believers Sealed BY THE Spirit of Promise First 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 THE Apostle Paul a Servant of Christ in this Chapter enumerates the principal Christian Privileges and Blessings that were given to and conferred on Believers thro' Christ
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
and in that Stone a new Name written c. These are sweet words in which observe First The Persons to whom Christ makes this Promise viz. to overcomers who having combated with Sin and Satan and the World are Conquerors through him To him that over cometh c. But Secondly Observe here a threefold Promise made by Christ to such Souls as are true Victors over Sin Satan c. First I will give him to eat of the hidden Manna Manna is the Corn and Bread of Heaven called Angels Food Psal 78. 24. This was the Bread that God gave Israel in the Wilderness some of which was put in a Pot and laid up before the Testimony Exod. 16. 33 34. By this hidden Manna here we are to understand Jesus Christ who is the Bread of Life so called that came down from Heaven whosoever eats by Faith of it shall never dye that is not Eternally John 6. 48 49 50 59. What can Christ give more than himself and the inward secret Communications of his Love and Grace which are hid and laid up in Christ for all them that do truly believe in him By these he feeds and strengthens the Souls of his People Secondly A white Stone And I will give to him a white Stone c. There was among the Romans a two-fold use of the white Stone saith Reverend Mr. Knowles now with God First He that was a Victor and had overcome in their Olympick Games had a white Stone given him as a badge and token of Honour and Victory Thus Jesus Christ will give to his People that through him overcome by wrestling with Sin the Devil and the World Eph. 6. 12 13. a Crown of Glory They shall stand before the Throne with Crowns on their Heads and Palms in their Hands as tokens and signs of honour and victory Revel 7. 9 10. 2. 10. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Christ gives to his a Title to the Crown of Heaven here so that tho' the Saints have not a Crown in Life yet they are Heirs of a Crown of Life which Christ will give to them There is a Crown of Righteousness for all them that are in Christ savingly and that long for and love his appearing Secondly He that being accused of any crime in their Courts of Judicature was found innocent and so was acquitted of his Crime had a white Stone given him as a sign of absolution All Believers are acquitted and discharged thro' Christ here he having satisfied divine Justice for them Rom. 8. 33. And they shall have a publick Absolution in the day of Judgment before Angels and Men Rev. 20. 11 12. Christ at that Day will fully and openly acquit his own People and say Enter now into the Joy of your Lord. Thirdly In this white Stone Christ promiseth to Overcomers a new Name written which no Man knows but him that receiveth it by which is meant some spiritual dignity and honour that Christ will confer on them that believe in him Isa 62. 2 3. They shall be made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1 4. And have the Communications of his saving Graces and the indwelling Presence of his Spirit the witness and sealing Testimony of which Holy Spirit is this new Name in the white Stone which no Man knoweth but he that receiveth it 1 Cor. 2. 12. The Spiritual Senses says one of the new Man is only capable to know and understand the Divine nature of Christ's new name written in the white Stone of Absolution pardon of Sin and the gracious Promises of Eternal Life This new Name is Christ's own Hand-writing and none can read it but such as are spiritually taught by Christ The natural Man that is the unconverted Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit because they are foolishness to him and he knoweth them not because they are spiritually discerned they can't be seen with a blind Eye Fifth Season is When they die Dying times are Sealing times to many Believers many Christians here walk in the dark and have their whole Lives as it were like that Day spoken of and described by the Prophet Zech. 14. 17. A Day that is neither dark nor light Some injoy more of God than others do and are Sealed in a greater degree And as for those whose Life is a Life between hopes and fears they shall more or less have an Evening time of Light and Joy God that has promised to be with his Living will not forsake them utterly when dying he will not be a stranger much less a Terror to them Many have lived in the dark and when they have died they have seen God's sweet Face and have had his Love sealed up to their Souls When all comforts are gone then God sends his to them when their outward Appetite fails then God feeds them with spiritual hidden Manna though all God's Children have not joy and assurance alike when they dye yet they all have joy and are sealed more or less For as the wicked have some apprehensions of Hell and Wrath in their Consciences which makes them afraid to dye as one cried out I am so sinful that I cannot dye and said another I have lived in care and now dye in doubt for whither I am going I cannot tell So the Godly have some fore-tastes of God's Love and Favour when they dye Though 't is true their Diseases may be such and their Animal Spirits so oppressed that they cannot express what they feel Good Jacob saith one laid asleep upon a stone when he saw a Vision Gen. 28. 7 8 9. So the Saints when they lay themselves down to sleep the sleep of death they have often a Vision from God they see the light of his countenance and have his Love sealed up to them for ever Now they desire with good old Simeon Luke 2. 30 31. To be gone and depart in Peace for their Eyes have seen his Salvation Third Distinction We must distinguish the several ways and manners of the Spirit 's Sealing As First Some are extraordinary and immediate given and vouchsafed to some only and that at special times thus Zacheus was Sealed Luke 19. 9. Come down says Christ to him This Day is Salvation come to thine House And that Man was thus Sealed Matth. 9. 2. to whom Christ said Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee These immediate ways are now ceased so that no Man can expect now by any New Revelation or Sign from Heaven by any extraordinary Inspiration or Voice to have his Salvation Sealed up to him but he must look for it in God's ordinary way viz. by searching of the word John 5. 39. examining of his own heart 2 Cor. 13. 5. And waiting upon God in Prayer and in other Ordinances Isa 40. 29 30. I have read of one who had been long upon the borders of Dispair and at last he was sweetly assured and Sealed being asked how he answered not
and Glory c. to them that walk uprightly with thee If you can be assured that you have Grace for the present you may be sure it shall be made up full in Glory There is no opposition that shall prevail to hinder it for God has set his as a Seal First upon his Hand to shew that he doth and will keep them 'till they come to Glory Isa 41. 10. Fear not for I am with you saith God and I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness Behold all they that are incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing c. Even they that contend with thee shall be as nothing v. 13. Why shall it be thus The Answer is For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right Hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee v. 49. Isa 13. 14 15. Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me Thus many Believers say But saith God Can a Woman forget her sucking Child not to have compassion on the Son of her Womb yea she may be so cruel as to forget but I saith the Lord will not forget thee For behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hands or drawn thee pourtray'd thee on my hands A Metaphor taken from some that used to tye something on their hand to put them in mind of Business they would not forget God having set his People as a mark or seal upon his hand he 'll never forget them for they are not only set but ingraven which will not easily wear out But Secondly God has set them as a Seal upon his Breast to love them and He will love them and that for ever John 13. 1. Our Love indeed may be deadned and decay towards God we may leave our first Love in a great measure Rev. 2. 4. But there is nothing that can or shall deaden God's love towards his Children Where God loves in Christ he loves for ever his Love is an everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. But Thirdly On his Shoulder to support and uphold them at all times and in all places and conditions 'till he hath brought them to glory Says God to 〈◊〉 disconsolated People Isa 40. 27 28 29. Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God Why speak ye after this manner this is but the surmisings of Unbelief hast thou not known hast thou not heard That the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary he giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength But Fourthly God sets them as a Seal on his Heart they lye near his Heart therrefore are they called the Beloved yea the dearly beloved of his Soul Jer. 12. 7. They that are sincere shall enjoy and taste his love and lye in his sweet embraces he 'll smile on them with the Light of his countenance for they are the joy of his heart and are in the most inward parts of it Cant. 8. 6. Thus you see how Believers are assured and secured for the time to come Those that are in Christ the rock of Ages are secured for ever And though they meet with temptations oppositions and tryals yet they are but as Waves that dash upon them but shall not ruin them for they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 4 5. Quest But may some say If it be thus that Believers are assured for the time to come Why then do we pray for the forgiveness of sins Answ First Consid That as God hath ordained the End so also the Means God doth and will pardon Sin for he hath promised to do it Isa 55. 7. Therefore we ought to pray for pardon through Christ as a means ordained of God For these things I will be sought to by the House of Israel We should pray as David who though he was a justified Person and secured in the Covenant for Heaven yet falling fouly into Sin he plyes the Throne of Grace hard This was his duty and is ours in such a case Psal 27. 10. Forgive mine Iniquities for thy Names sake for they are great And Psalm 51. 1 2. Have mercy upon me O God c. and wash me thoroughly in every part and from every sin Prayer is an external means ordained of God to obtain Pardon and other Mercies in therefore we are bid in every thing to make our Requests known to God Phil. 4. 5 6. But Secondly Consider When Believers pray for pardon of Sin it is for a clearer evidence of what they have already in Christ To be pardoned and justified through Christ and so secured for Heaven is one thing and to know it is another Persons may be in Christ and pardoned and so in a sure state for Glory and yet may be in the dark about it and not know whether they be so or no. Now it is the duty of these to seek after a clear knowledge of their state in Christ and the pardon of their sins through his Blood When Believers pray for pardon 't is not because their pardon is not sure in Christ but 't is that they may get a clearer apprehension of it for their comfort Thirdly Consider that Prayer doth not prejudice the stability or certainty of a thing Our Saviour himself prayed for that which he was sure of John 17. 9 10. The Covenant standeth fast for ever and the promises of Pardon and all good in it are most certain and shall he fulfilled for God will not alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth Psal 89. 27 33 34. Yet we must seek and pray and put God in remembrance of his Promise as he bids us for this prejudices not at all the certainty of the Promises nor the stability of the Covenant of Grace in Christ Thus much for Information and for this time Believers Sealed BY THE Spirit of Promise Fifth 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 Point we are upon is this viz. Doct. The great priviledge and mercy of being Sealed by the Spirit is after the duty and act of Believing For the opening this Truth First We have given you the nature of the Spirit 's Sealing-work and how it is performed in the Soul Secondly we have shewn you why none can be Sealed by the Spirit of Promise till they believe in Christ Thirdly VVhether all believers are Sealed by the Spirit or no Fourthly VVhat the great Priviledges of Sealed ones are These things we have opened largely Now Fifthly VVe are upon the Applicatory part of this discourse and we have already said something First By way of Information or Instruction in two things which now I shall not Repeat to you but through God's assistance