There is nothing in the world so great and sweet a friend that will do us so much good as the Spirit, if we give him entertainment. Indeed, he must rule. He will have the keys delivered to him ; we must submit to his government. And when he is in the heart, he will subdue by little and little all high thoughts, rebellious risings, and despairing fears. This shall be our happiness in heaven, when we shall be wholly spiritual, that ' God shall be all in all.' We shall be perfectly obedient to the Spirit in our understandings, wills, and aflections. The Spirit will then dwell largely in us, and will make the room where he dwelleth sweet and lightsome and free, subduing whatsoever is contrary, and bring fulness of peace and joy and comfort. And in the mean time, in what condition soever we are, we shall have suitable help from the Spirit. We are partly flesh and partly spirit. God is not all in all ; the flesh hath a part in us. We are often in afilic- tions and under clouds. Let us therefore prize our fellowship with the Spirit. For are we in darkness ? He is a Spirit of light. Are we in deadness of spirit ? Ho is a Spirit of life. Are we in a disconsolate estate ? He is a Spirit of consolation. Are we in perplexity, and know not what to do ? He is a Spirit of wisdom. Are we troubled with cor- ruptions ? He is a sanctifying, a subduing, a mortifying Spirit. In what con-
482 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
ilition soovor wc aro, he will never leave us till ho hatli raised ns from the grave, and taken full possession of body and soul in heaven, lie will prove a com- forter when neither friends, nor riches, nor any thing in the world can comfort us. How careful should wo be to give contentment to this sweet Spirit of God!
No Christian is so happy as the watchful Christian that is careful of his duty, and to preserve his communion with the Holy Spirit of God ; for by entertaining him, he is sure to have communion with the Father and the Son. It is the happiest condition in the world, when the soul is the temple of the Holy Spirit ; when the heart is as the * holy of holies,' where there be prayers and praises offered to God. The soul is as it were an holy ark ; the memory like the pot of manna preserving heavenly truths. It is an heavenly condition. A man prospers to heavenward when the Spirit of God is with him. You know Obed-Edom, when the ark was in his house, all thrived with him, 2 Sam. vi. 12 ; so while the Spirit and his motions are entertained by us we shall be happy in life, happy in death, happy to eternity. For it it is he
' By which you are sealed to the day of redemption.'
The apostle sealeth this grave admonition by an argument taken from the Spirit's sealing of them * to the day of redemption.'
We are all by nature in bondage to sin and corruption. "We are all redeemed from sin by the first coming of Christ, and are to be redeemed from corruption by the second.
There is a day appointed for this glorious work. In the mean time, God would have us assured of it aforehand. This assurance is by ' seal- ing.' And this sealing is ' by the Spirit.' None else need do it, no meaner person can do it.
And what respect is due to the Spirit for doing so gracious a work ? That we grieve him not ; and not only so, but that we endeavour so to please him, as he may with delight go on with this blessed work that it hath pleased him to take upon him.
As the duty is spiritual, so the arguments that enforce it are spiritual ; and the argument here is fetched from that which hath a most constraining force ; love expressed in the sweetest fruit of it, and the stability of it, * sealing,' and ' sealing to the day of redemption,' as if the apostle should reason thus : God the Father hath ordained you to salvation by the redemption of Christ his Son ; and that you might have the comfort of it in the way to it against all discouragements you may meet with, the Holy Ghost hath assured you of it, and set his seal upon you as those that are set apart for so great salvation ; that the sense of this love might breed love in you again, and love breed a care out of ingenuity,* not to offend so gracious a Spirit.
The Hoh/ Spirit hj u-hicli you are scaled.
The Holy Ghost delighteth to speak in our own language. We cannot rise to him, therefore he stoopeth to us.
This ' sealing' is either sealing of persons, or of good things intended to the persons. Sealing is not only a witnessing to us, but a work upon us and in us, carrying the image of him that sealeth us ; whereby we are not only assured of the good promised to us, but fitted for the receiving of it. God prepareth no good for any but whom he prepares and fits for that good. There is not only an outward authorising of the great grants we * That is, ' ingenuousness.' — G.