Let us labom* therefore for this seal, to have oui* souls stamped with the Spirit of God, to have further and fui-ther evidence of our state in grace, that in the time of common calamit}' we may be free from danger, free from error and destruction.
But you will say. What shall I account of it, if there be but a little sign of grace ?
Be not discom-aged, when the stamp in wax is almost out, it is cun'ent in law. Put the case the stamp of the prince be an old coin (as sometimes we see it on a king Hariy groatf), yet it is current money, yea,' though it be a little cracked. So, put the case the stamp of the Spirit be, as it were, almost worn out, it is our shame, and ought to be our grief that it is so, yet there are some evidences, some pulses, some sighs and groans against cor- ruption : we moum in om* spirits, we do not join with corruption, we do not allow om'selves in sin. There is the stamp of the Spirit remaining, though it be overgrown with the dust of the world that we cannot see it.
Sometimes God's children, though they have the graces of the Spirit in them, yet they }aeld so much to their corruptions, that they can read nothing but their corruptions. When we bid them read their evidences, they can see nothing but worldliness, nothing but pride and envy, &c. Though there be a stamp on them, yet God holds the soul from seeing it, so that they can see nothing but corruption. This is for their negligence. God gives * That is, the ' Middle or Dark Age,' so-called.— G. f That is, Henry VIII.— G.
402 COMMENTARY ON
them up to mistake their estates, because they will not stir up the graces of the Spirit, because they grieve the Spirit, and quench the Spirit, by doing that which is contrary to the Spirit.
Lot us therefore, that we may have the more comfort, preserve the stamp of the Spirit fresh, by the exercise of all grace, and connuunion with God, and by obedience, and by faith. Honour God by believing, and he will honour thee by stamping his Spirit on thee more and more. And let this be our work every day to have the stamp of the Spirit clear. Oh ! what a comfort it is to have this in us at all times ! If a man have nothing in him better than nature, if he have nothing in him in regard of grace, if he have not Christ's image upon his soul, though he be a king, or an emperor, yet he shall be stript of all ere long, and be set on the left hand of Christ, and be adjudged to eternal torments.
It is the folly of the times come up of late, there is much labouring for statues, and for curious workmanship of that kind, and some pride them- selves much in it, and account it great riches to have an old statue. Alas ! alas ! what a poor delight is this in comparison of the joy that a Christian hath by the seal of the Spirit ? and what is this to the ambition of a Chris- tian, to see the image and representation of Christ stamped in his soul ? that he may be like the ' second Adam,' that he may be transformed more and more by looking on him, and seeing himself in him, to love him, con- sidering that he hath loved us so much (for we cannot see the love of Christ to us, but we must love him the more, and be transformed into him). Now this transforming ourselves into the image of Christ is the best picture in the world ; therefore labour for that every day more and more.
There is besides the common broad seal of God, his privy seal, as I may call it. It is not sufficient that we have the one, that we have admittance into the church by baptism, but we must have this privy seal which Christ sets and stamps upon the soul of the true Christian. Alas ! for a man to build only on the outward seals, and outward prerogatives, (which in them- selves are excellent, yet) the standing upon them betrays many souls to the devil in times of distress.
It is another manner of seal than the outward seal in the sacrament that will satisfy and comfort the conscience in the apprehensions of wrath at the hour of death or otherways. It must be this privy seal, and then comes the use of those public, open, known seals, the broad seals ; then a man with comfort may think upon his baptism, and upon his receiving the communion, when he hath the beginnings of faith wrought in him by the Spirit of God. When a man finds the beginnings of faith in him, then he may make use of the broad seal to be a help to his faith.
We must not be so profane as to think slightly and irreverently of God's ordinances. They are of great and high consequence ; for when Satan comes to the soul, and shakes the confidence of it, and saith. Thou art not a Chris- tian, and God doth not love thee ; why ! saith the soul, God hath loved me, and pardoned my sins ; he hath given me promises, and particularly sealed them in the sacrament ; here is the excellency of the sacrament, it comes more home than the word, it seals the general promise of God particularly to myself. I am sealed in the sacrament, and withal I find the stamp of the Spirit in my heart ; and therefore having the inward work of the Spirit, and God having fortified the inward work, and strengthened my faith by the outward seal, I can therefore stand against any temptation whatsoever. They are excellent both together, but the special thing that must comfort, must be the hidden seal of the Spirit.