Mlily, It is usually found that a sealing-time follows a dark day of desertion, and sore combats of temptations ; post nubila phoehus. So that text. Rev. ii. 17. is expounded by some, ' To him thatover- cometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written.'
Btlily^ Dying-times prove sealing- times to many souls, if their whole life hath been like that day described by the prophet, Zecb. xiv. 17. Neither dark nor light, a life betwixt hopes and fears, yet at evening-time it hath been light.
Distinction^. Lastly, We must distinguish these several ways and manners of sealing : Some are extraordinary and immediate, vouch- safed only to some persons, at some special times and seasons. Thus Zaccheus was in an extraordinary and immediate way ascertained of his salvation; Luke xix. 9. 'This day is salvation come to thishousc.' And so the palsy-man ; Mark ii. 5. ' Son, (saith Christ) thy sins be forgiven thee.' But these immediate ways are ceased ; no man may now expect by any new revelation or sign from heaven, by any voice or extraordinary inspiration, tohavehis sal vation sealed, but must ex- pect that mercy in God's ordinary way and method, searching the
406 SACIIAMEXTAL MEDlTAliOXS.
scriptures, examining our own hearts, and waiting on the Lord in prayer.
The learned Gerson gives an instance of one that had been long upon the borders of despair, and at last sweetly assured and settled; and being asked how he attained that assurance, he answered, non- ex nova aliqua revelatione, ^-c. Not by any new revelation, but by subjecting my understanding to, and comparing my heart with the written word.
And Mr. Roberts, in his treatise of the covenants, speaks of an- other that so vehemently panted after the sealings and assurance of the love of God to his soul, that for a long time he earnestly desired some voice from heaven ; and sometimes walking in the sohtary fields, earnestly desired some miraculous voice from the trees or stones there : This was denied him, but in time a better was afford- ed, in a scriptural way.
Now to resolve the query out of these distinctions.
Firsts Though all believers have not the formal sealings of the Spirit, yet they have the objective or material seal ; that is, the Spi- rit is in them as a sanctifying Spirit, putting a real difference be- twixt them and others, when he is not with them by way of evidence and assurance of sanctification.
Secondly^ Though all believers are not sealed at one and the same time, yet there are few, if any believers, but do meet with one season ur other in this life, wherein the Lord doth seal them ; if not at their first close with Christ, as many have been sealed, yet in some choice and eminent season of communion with God: Such golden spots of time, such precious seasons most Christians can speak of; though as Bernard speaks, it be rara hora, hrevis mora, seldom, but sweet : Or if not in the course of their active obedience, it is a thousand to one but they shall meet it in the way of their passive obedience, if God exercise them eminently under the cross, or after a dark cloud of desertion, or in a dying hour.
TMrdly, and lastly, though God now seals not men in an extra- ordinary and immediate way, by revelation, immediate inspiration, or voices from heaven, yet most Christians are sealed in the ordin- ary way of the Spirit, under one ordinance or other, in one duty or other.
4. Query. What is the 'privilege of being sealed by the Spirit ?
Ansiv. Much every way; words cannot express the riches of this mercy : For let us but consider the four following particulars, and you will admire the mercy.
First, Consider whose act and proper work sealing is. God doth not send angels upon this errand ; though, if he did, that would be a great honour to poor dust and ashes, but he sends his Spirit to do it. O the condescension of the great God to men ! This is a greater honour than if millions of angels were employed about it.
And then, as to the certainty and satisfaction, it is beyond all other
SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS. 40T
-ways and metliods in the world ; for in miraculous voices and inspi- rations it is possible there may, siihessefalsum, be found some cheats or impostures of the devil ; but the Spirit's witness in the heart, suit- able to his revelation in the scripture, cannot deceive us.
Secondly^ The conclusion or truth sealed is ravishing and transport- ing. All Christians vehemently pant for it, few have the enjoyment of it for any long continuance ; but whilst they do enjoy it, they enjoy heaven upon earth, a joy beyond all the joys of this world. To have this conclusion surely sealed, Christ is mine, my sin is par- doned, I shall be saved from wrath through him ; O what is this ! what is this !
Thirdly^ Consider the subject or person sealed, a poor sinful wretch, that has, ten thousand times over grieved the good Spirit of God, by whom, notwithstanding, thou art sealed to the day of redemption : Thou hast by every sin deserved to be sealed up to damnation: Thou hast reason to account and esteem thyself much inferior in graces and duties to many thousands of the saints that are panting after this privilege, and cannot obtain it : O the riches of the goodness of God !
Fourthly^ and lastly^ Consider the designs and aims of the Spirit in his sealing thy soul, which are,
1. To secure heaven to thee for ever.
2. As intermediate thereunto, to bring very much of heaven into thy soul, in the way to it ; indeed to give thee two heavens, whilst many others must suffer two hells.
5. Query. Lastly^ we will enquire, What are the effects of the Spi- rifs sealing' upon our soids, by which we may distinguish and clearly discern it from all delusions cf Satan, and all impostures whatsoever.
Answ. The genuine and proper effects and fruits of sealing are, 1. Inflamed love. 2. Renewed care. 3. Deep abasements. 4. In- crease of strength. 5. A desire to be with the Lord. 6. Improved mortification to the world.
Wheresoever these are found consequent to our communion with God, and his manifestations of himself to us therein, they put it be- yond all doubt that it was the seal of his own blessed Spirit;, and no delusion.
1. The sealings of the Spirit cannot but inflame the love of the soul in a very intense degree towards God ; one flame doth no more naturally beget another, than the love of God doth kindle the love of a gracious soul to him : ' We have known and believed the love that God hath to us,' 1 John iv. 16, 19- When Christ had forgiven much to that poor woman that had sinned much, and manifested pardoning mercy to her soul ; O how much was her love to Christ inflamed thereby ! Luke vii. 47.