Ajis. (1.) Sealing we know hath divers uses. First of all, it doth im- print a likeness of him that doth seal. AVhen the king's image is stamped upon the wax, everything in the wax answers to that in the seal, face to face, eye to eye, body to body. So we are said to be sealed when we carry in our souls the image of the Lord Jesus ; for the Sjiirit sets the stamp of Christ upon every true convert. There is the likeness of Christ in all things to be found in him. As the child answers the father, foot for foot, finger for finger in proportion, but not in quantity, so it is in the sealing of a believer. There is a likeness in the soul that is sealed by the Spirit to the Lord Jesus. There is understanding of the same heavenly supernatural truths ; there is a judging of things as Christ judgeth, a loving of that which he loves, and a hating of that which he hates ; a rejoicing to do that which he delights in, and a grief to commit anj'thing that displeaseth his majesty. Every aflfection of the soul is carried that way that the affections of our blessed Saviour are carried, in proportion ; everything in the soul is answer- able to him in its degree.
There is no grace in Christ, but there is the like in every Christian in some measure. The obedience of Christ to his Father, even to the death, is to be found in every true Christian. The humility whereby Christ abased himself, it is in every renewed heart. Christ works in the soul that receives him a conformity to himself. The soul that believes that Christ hath loved him, and done such great things for him, is ambitious to express Christ in all his ways. Being once in Christ, we shall delight to be transformed more and more unto him. To bear the image of the ' second Adam ' upon our breasts, to make it appear that Jesus Christ lives in us, and that we * live
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not to ourselves, but to him that died for us,' 2 Cor, v. 15 ; to bo mock and hcavenl^'-minded as he was, talking and discoursing of spiritual things, going about doing good everywhere ; active for God, fruitful in holiness, doing and receiving all the good we are able, drawing others from this world to meditate of a better estate, labouring for the advancement of God's kingdom, and approving ourselves to him. This is one use of sealing, to imprint a likeness.
(2.) A second use of the seal is distinction. Sealing is a stamp upon one thing among many. It distinguisheth Christians from others, as we shall see after.
(3.) Again, it serves for appropriation. Men seal those things that are their own. Merchants, we see, set their stamp on those wares which they have or mean to have a right unto. It pleaseth God thus to condescend unto us, by applying himself to human contracts. He appropriates his own to shew that he hath chosen and singled them out for himself to dehght in.
(4.) Sealing further serves to make things authcntical, to give authority and excellency. The seal of the prince is the authority of the prince. This gives validity to things, answerable to the dignity and esteem of him that seals.
These are the four principal uses of sealing ; and God by his Spirit doth all these to his. He stamps his own image upon us ; he distinguisheth us from others, even from the great refuse of the world. God by his Spirit approj)riates us to himself; he makes us to be his, and shews that we are his. He Ukewise authoriseth us, and puts an excellency upon us, to secure us against all temptations. When we have God's seal on us, we stand firm in the greatest trial. ' Who shall separate us from the love of God ?' Rom. viii. 35. We dare defy all objections of Satan, and accusations of conscience whatsoever. A man that hath God's seal stands impregnable in the most tempestuous season ; for it is given for our assurance, and not for God's. The Lord knows who are his. He seals not because he is ignorant, but for our comfort and establishment.
Quest. Whether is the Spirit itself this seal, or the work of the Spirit, and the graces thereof wrought in us ?
Ans. I answer, the Spirit of God, where it is, is a sufficient seal that God hath set us out for himself ; for whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ, the same is his. He is the author of our sealing ; so that, except you take the Spirit for that which is wrought by the Spirit, you have not the compre- hension of sealing, for that which the Spirit worketh is the seal. The Spirit goes always with his own mark and impression. Other seals, when they are removed from the stamp, the stamp remains still. But the Spirit of God dwells and keeps a perpetual residence in the heart of a Christian, guiding him, moving him, enlightening him, governing him, comforting him, doing all offices of a seal in his heart, till he hath brought him to heaven. The Holy Ghost never leaves us. It is the sweetest inhabitant that ever lodging was given to. He doth all the saving good that is done to the soul, and is pei*petually with his own work in joy and comfort. Though he seem sometimes to be in a corner of the heart, and is not easily discerned, yet he always dwells in his sealed ones.