230 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MaT. VI. 6.
(2.) VTtimate, and that is, the praise of his glory.
Sixthly, The time, how long this seal and earnest shall assure us, and that is, ' till we have the complete possession of what it is an ear- nest.' To prevent mistakes and disputes about the sealings of the Spirit on the one hand, and to support, comfort, and encourage the poor people of God on the other hand, let me briefly hint at the Spirit's special sealing times.
[1.] First, Conversion times are often the Spirit's sealing times, Luke XV. 22, 23. Upon the prodigal's return, the fatted calf is killed, and the best robe is put upon his back, and the ring is put upon his hand, and shoes on his feet. Some by the robe understand the royalty of Adam, others, the righteousness of Christ. And by the ring, some understand the pledges of God's love, rings being given as pledges of love ; and by the ring others understand the seal of God's Holy Spirit, men using the seal with their rings. Among the Romans the ring was an ensign of virtue, honour, and nobility, whereby they that wore them were distinguished from the common people. I think the main thing intended by the robe and the ring is, to shew us, that God sometimes upon the sinner's conversion and returning to him, is gra- ciously pleased to give him some choice manifestations of his gracious pleasure and good-will, and to seal up to him his everlasting love and favour. And henceit comesto pass that some that are but babes in Christ, 1 Pet. ii. 2, 3 ; 1 John ii. 12-14, are so dihgent and active in religious duties, and so conscientious and dexterous in the exercise of their graces. At first conversion, God helps some of his people to read their own names written in legible letters in the book of life. Acts ix. 3-6. No sooner are some converted, but the Spirit stamps his seal upon them.
[l'.] Secondly, Believing tim.es are sealing times, Eph. i. 13. When they were in the veiy exercise of their faith, when they were acting of their faith, — for so much the original imports, — the Spirit came and sealed them up to the day of redemption, Rom. xv. 1 3 ; 1 Pet. i. 8. He that honours Christ by frequent actings of faith on him, him will Christ honour, by setting his seal and mark upon him.
- [3.] Thirdly, Humbling times, moui'ning times, are sealing times. When a holy man was asked, which were the joyfullest days, the com- fortablest days, that ever he enjoyed, he answered, his mourning days. His mourning days were his joyfullest days ; and therefore he cried out, * Oh give me my mourning days, give me my mourning days ; for they were my joyfullest days.' Those were days wherein God sealed up his everlasting love to his soul, Job xxii. 29 ; Isa. xxix. 19. When the prodigal had greatly humbled himself before liis father, then the best robe and ring were put upon him, Luke xv. 1 7-24. There are none that long for the sealings of the Spirit like humble souls ; nor none set so high a price upon the sealings of the Spirit, as humble souls ; nor none make so choice an improvement of the sealings of the Spirit, as humble souls. And therefore when men's hearts are humble and low, the Spirit comes and sets the privy-seal of heaven upon them.
[4.] Fourthly, Sinkilling, sin-mortifying, sin-subduing times, are the Spirit's sealing times; Rev. ii. 1 7, *To him thatovercometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, that no man knows saving he that receiveth it.*
Mat. VI. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 231
God will give to the victorious Christian a secret' love-token, whereby his soul may rest assured of the unspeakable love of God, and of its freedom from condemnation. White stones were of very great use among the Romans, and among the Athenians, and served to acquit the accused in courts of justice. When malefactors were accused, arraigned, and condemned in their courts, they gave them a black stone in token of condemnation ; but when they were acquitted, they gave them white stones, in token of absolution ; and to this practice the Holy Ghost seems to allude. He that is victorious over his lusts shall have a new name, ' that is better than the names of sons and daughters,' Isa. Ivi. 5 ; and he shall have the pardon of his sins writ in fair letters upon the white stone, so that he may run and read his absolution. The victorious Christian shall have assurance of the full discharge of all his sins, he shall have a clear evidence of his justification, and a blessed assurance of his eternal election ; all which are hidden and mysterious things to all but those that have experienced and tasted what these sweet meats of heaven mean, 1 John i. 7.
Among the Romans there were solemn feasts held in honour of those that were victorious in their sacred games. Now those that were to be admitted to those feasts were wont to have their names written on white shells, and white stones, and by these tickets they were admitted. Now some think the Holy Ghost alludes to this practice, and so would hint to us a privy mark whereby victorious Christians may be known, and admitted as bidden guests to the heavenly banquet of the hidden manna, according to Rev. xix. 9. O sirs ! when predominate lusts are brought under, when bosom-sins lie slain in the soul, then the Spirit comes and seals up love, and life, and glory to the soul.
[5.] Fifthly, Suffering times are seoXing times ; Acts vii. 55, 56, 59, 60; Rev. i. 9, 10 ; 2 Cor. iv. 15-17. The primitive Christians found them so, and the suffering saints in the Marian days found them so.* When the furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary, the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a man's pardon in his bosom, and his peace with God, and his title to heaven. When the world frowns most, then God smiles most ; when the world puts their iron chains upon the saints' legs, then God puts his golden chains about the saints' necks ; when the world puts a bitter cup into one hand, then the Lord puts a cup of consolation into the other hand ; when the world cries out, ' Crucify them, crucify them !' then commonly they hear that sweet voice from heaven, ' These are my beloved ones, in whom I am well pleased.'
Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was in the right way to heaven. And saith Ignatius, ' It is better for me to be a martyr than to be a monarch.'
[6.] Sixthly, Self-denying tim,es are the Spirit^ 8 sealing tiTnes, Mat. xix. 27-29.
First, There is sinful self, which takes in a man's lusts.
Secondly, There is natural self, which takes in a man's arts, parts, gifts, with reason.
Thirdly, There is religious self, which takes in all a man's religious duties and services, whether ordinary or extraordinary. 4 Fourthly, There is moral self, which includes a freedom from gross, » Acta V. 40-42 ; Pa. Ixxi. 20, 21 ; and f s. xciv. 19 ; Rev. i. 9, 10.
232 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MaT. VI. 6.