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
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
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
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
43 44. The inward work of Holiness or Sanctification in the heart which civil Men have not but ridicule and despise distinguishes Believers from them for they are changed made anew and created in Christ Jesus to good works Eph. 2. 10. Secondly This Sealing of the Spirit distinguishes the Saints from seeming good Men that seem and pretend to be that outwardly before Men which they are not inwardly in reality before God there are too many of these deluded Souls the good Lord deliver us from cheating our own Souls thus The depth of the Spirit 's work in the Soul whereby he makes a new Nature distinguishes Believers from those who are but painted Hypocrites Pray mind here two or three things wherein you will see how Believers that have a new Nature are by the Spirit distinguished from others First Nature in every Creature is carried to one thing more than to another so there is a distinct propension in good and upright Men to God to Christ to his Grace and Goodness their aims and bent are distinct and thereupon they have a greater inlargement of Heart according to their great aims Believers desire more of God and his Grace and aim purely at his Glory they now look above the World and worldly Men who are poor narrow base Spirited Men yea the best of the Men of the World are so Jer. 9. 3. Phil. 1. 20 21. Secondly Things by Nature work from within and in this painted Hypocrites are distinguished from real Christians A Believer in what he doth for God and his Glory is moved from a Principle of Grace within wrought by the Spirit but as for Hypocrites they are moved in what they do as things of Motion like Clocks and Engines of Wit which move from a weight without as one says that poyseth them If Hypocrites do any good there is something from without which sways their Ends and Aims 't is not a Principle of Grace within as Faith in and Love to Christ c. But 't is something else that sways them if they Pray Read Hear give Alms and Fast 't is to be seen of Men and to receive Honour from Men this our Saviour tells us Matth. 6. 1 to 6. Thus good Men who are Sealed by the Spirit are distinguished from others There is a new Divine Nature in them 2 Pet. 1. 4. which carries them out of Self and above the World even to seek God and his Glory Thirdly Nature is constant and what is done naturally is done constantly every Creature works according to its nature Good and holy Men are exercised constantly in Holiness because they do it from an inward Principle of Grace and Life and from a work and stamp of the Spirit within 't is true different things may seem the same as wild Herbs in the Field may have the colour and form of them which are planted in a Garden but there is a difference in their vertue The seeming Graces and Works of Hypocrites may look like true but they leave no vertue in them all is not Gold that glisters all is not Grace that looks like it the works of Hypocrites are dead things You read Heb. 10. 22. of dead works And in Tit. 1. 15 16. of some who profess they know God and yet in works deny him who are defiled and unto good works prove Reprobates But in a Christian's Grace and Faith there is a distinguishing Vertue their spikenards send forth fragrant smells Cant. 1. 12. Their Graces are like the Ointment that perfumed the whole House John 12. 3 4. A Believer by Faith overcomes the World and his Sins 1 John 5. 4 5. He resisteth the Devil stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5. 9. and with this Shield quencheth all his fiery darts Ephes 6. 16. What great things did those Worthies by Faith Heb. 11. 33 34 35. By Faith they subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained Promises stopped the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of the Fire c indured Tortures and cruel Mockings not accepting deliverance yea moreover Bonds and Imprisonment they were stoned sawn asunder were tempted c. of whom the World was not worthy v. 38. By Faith a Christian performs all Duties Prays and Hears and is very fruitful in his whole Conversation there is in all a Believer's Graces a comforting and strengthening Vertue Two Men may do the same things and yet there be a great and grand difference for Hypocrites cannot do as Believers though in some externals they may out-do them What Believers do is from the Spirit 's Sealing in a special way but what others do if it be from the Spirit yet it is but from the Spirit in a common way at best you must know there are common works of the Spirit as well as special Hypocrites may have the common and so do many things externally but it is only Believers that have the special workings and operations of the Spirit and so can only do Spiritual Duties sincerely But Thirdly A Christian's Graces wrought by the Spirit holds out in all kinds of Weather in Winter and Summer in Prosperity and Adversity A Believer follows the Lamb whither soever he goeth Rev. 14. 4. But counterfeit Holiness will not hold out always though it may some time it will soon go out The Young Man in the Gospel went a great way he took many a fair step for Heaven and yet at last parted with Christ for the World he was not sound at Heart for if he had he would have left all for Christ rather than him Matth. 19. 19 20. He went away sorrowful for he had great Possessions he did not like Christ's terms at all Will a Hypocrite always delight himself in God and pray to the Almighty surely no Job 27. 8 10. Demas says Paul is departed from us How came that to pass Having loved this present World The World with its Riches was loved more by him than Christ and his Graces many begin to run well but soon tire they are soon out of breath because they have not true Grace they went off from us because they were never of us for had they been of us that is sincere they would not have gone off from us Oh! think of this word and tremble 1 John 2. 19. 3. Vse A Seal is for Appropriation Merchants use to Seal those Goods they would not have others have any right to Believers are God's in a more peculiar manner than others all are the Lord 's by Creation but as for Believers they are his by Election Redemption and Vocation Psal 4. 5. The Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself There is not only in a Christian the witness of the Spirit That God is his God and dwells in him 1 John 4. 13. but this Spirit works in a Believer an assent to take God again to be his so that there is a mutual Appropriation Cant. 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his Where the Spirit Seals there God appropriates and this
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
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
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