Quest. What is the stamp that the Spirit seals us withal ?
Ans. 1, The Spirit works in this order for the most part. First of all, the Spirit doth, together with the word (which is the instrument, and the chariot wherein it is carried) convince us of the ill that is in us, and the misery attending on us for the same. It convinceth us of sin, and the fear- ful estate we are in by that, and abaseth us thereupon. Therefore it is
184 YEA AND AMEN ; OR,
callod the ' spirit of bondage,' Rom. viii. 15, bocaiLse it makes a man tremble and (luako, till be sue Lis peace made up in Christ-
Ans. 2. "When he hath done this, then he convinceth us of riffhieousness, by a sweet light discovering the excellencies of the Lord Jesus, and the remedy in him provided for sinners. God opens the eye of the soul, to see the all-suflicicncy of his Son's sanctification,* and inclines the heart to cast itself by faith upon him.
Ans. 3. \Vlien we are thoroughly convinced of the ill that is in us, and of the good that is in Christ, and are moved by the Holy Ghost to go out of ourselves, and embrace reconciliation in the Lord Jesus, then a super- added work is vouchsafed unto us ; for the Sjjirit daily peifecteth his own work. He adds, therefore, after all, his seal, to confirm us ; which seal is not faith ; for the apostle saith, ' After you believed, you were sealed,' Eph. i. 13, where we see the work of faith and sealing distinguished. First, the soul is set in a good estate, and then follows assurance and establishment.
Quest. But what needs confirmation when we believe ? Is not faith con- firmation enough : when a man may know by a private reflect act of the soul that he is in a state of grace ?
Ans. This act of ours in believing is oft terribly shaken, and God is won- drous desirous that we should be secure of his love. He knows he can have no glory, nor we any solid peace else. Therefore when we by faith have sealed to his truth, he sees that we need further sealing that our faith be current and good ; for all is little enough in the time of tempta-. tion ; the single witness of our soul is not strong enough in great assaults. For sometimes the Spirit is so tossed and disquieted with temptations, that ■we cannot reflect aright on ourselves, nor discern what is in our own breasts without much ado. Therefore God first works faith to apply the promise. Whosoever believes in Christ shall be saved,' Acts ii. 21. I believe in Christ, therefore I shall be saved ; and then sealeth this belief with an addi- tion of his Holy Spirit ; for this sealing is a work upon believing, an honouring of faith with a superadded confirmation.
Quest. How shall we know that there is such a spiritual sealing in us ?
Ans. (1.) I answer, when we truly believe, the ' Spirit of adoption,' Rom. viii. 15, reveals unto us that ice are the ' sons of God' by a secret whisper- ing and intimation to the soul (which the believing heart feels better than I am able to express), saying, ' Be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven.' There is a sweet kiss vouchsafed to the soul : the Lord refresheth it with the light of his countenance, and assures it that all enmity is now slain. I am thy salvation. Thou art for ever mine, and I am thine. Because thou believest, behold thou art honoured to be my child.
^?2s. (2.) Again the ' S^pintoi ado-ption,' guickens andjills the sonlicith heavenly ejacidations to God; it stirs up fervent supplications to cry, ' Abba, Father.' The soul when it truly believes, hath a bold and familiar speech to God.
There are two things in the prayer of a Christian that are incompatible with a carnal man : there is, first, an inward confidence ; and secondly, an earnestness in the soul, whereby he goes to God as a child to his loving father, not considering his own worthiness or means, but the constant love that is borne to him.
This spiritual speech of God to the soul, and of the soul to God, is an evident demonstration of our truth in gi-ace, because we can do that which no hypocrite in the world can attain to.
Ans. (3.) Thirdly, This sealing of the Spirit after we believe, is known hy * Qu. ' satisfaction ' ? — Ed.
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the work of sanctification which it effectcth in iis. The Holy Spirit sei-ls our spirits, by stamping the hkeness of Christ upon us ; so as when a man fiids in his soul some lineaments of the heavenly image, he may know thereby that he is ' translated from death to life,' Col. i. 13. When he finds his heart subdued to humility and obedience, to such a holy and gracious frame as Christ's was, he may clearly discern that he hath something more than the ' old man' in him. When a man can say. Naturally I am proud, but now I can abase myself; naturally I am full of malice, now I can love and pray heartily for my enemies ; naturally I am lumpish and dead-hearted, now I can joy in the Holy Ghost ; naturally I am apt to distrust the Lord, and be discontented with my condition, now I can rest securely upon his promise and providence ; sin hath been my delight, now it is my sorrow and heart-breaking ; I find somewhat contrary to corruption in me, I carry the image of the ' second Adam' about me now ; I say, whosoever hath this blessed change, may rest assured of his right to happiness. * Know you not that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ? ' saith the apostle, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. A Christian that upon a thorough search finds something of Christ always in his soul, can never want a sweet evidence that he is ' sealed to the day of redemption.'