The ills we see, The mysteries of sorrow deep and long, The dark enigmas of permitted wrong.
Have all one key ! This strange, sad world is but our Father's school. All chance and change His love shall grandly overrule.^
^ In Eastern countries clay is sometimes used instead of wax for the purpose of sealing. The wax may melt, while the clay hardens by reason of the heat of the climate. In the Book of Job it is said, " It is turned as clay to the seal ; and they stand as a
^ W. Burrows.
222 GRIEVING THE SPIRIT
garment." Any impression made upon the clay will become more distinct as the sun's rays pour down and become fiercer. Some retire into monasteries and convents to find shelter ; some retire into themselves. Let us be as well-seasoned clay, to derive shape and comeliness even from the world's fierce light, which beats upon the throne of our natures. Be as clay, and the writing upon the seal will come out the more clearly the more glaringly the world's suns and fires may shine and burn.^
3. The seal indicates guardianship. — A seal is used for preserv- ing as well as for attesting. The Eastern seals up his money-bags to secure the gold within, and we seal our letters to guard the enclosure. A seal is set for security. Now, as the only way by which we can be known to be Christians is by really possessing the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost, so, also, the only way by which we can be kept as Christians, and preserved from going back to the world, is by still possessing that same Holy Spirit. What are we if the Spirit of God be gone ? Salt that has lost its savour, wherewith can we be salted ? " Trees twice dead, plucked up by the roots . . . wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." The Holy Spirit is to us not a luxury, but a necessity : we must have Him, or we die.
^ Eastern locks could be opened with ease. Solomon has an allusion to this when he says, " My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my heart was moved for him " (Cant. v. 4, E.V.). A seal was placed over the door of the house where property was deposited. The Pharisees caused a watch to be set, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone. When Daniel was cast into the lions' den, " a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den ; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords ; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel " (Dan. vi. 17). Christians are sealed with God's own signet, that the Divine purposes of love and mercy may be fully established. As the blood was sprinkled upon the doorposts of the children of Israel to save from the destroying angel, so God marks His own with His own signet for security *
^ You have some valuable property — it may be gold or jewels — and you are going abroad for a season. Anxious for your precious things, you gather them carefully up, and you put on them your "seal," your name to the seal. The "seal" marks them yours while you are away, and secures them from being lost or stolen.
1 W. Burrows. * Ibid.
EPHESIANS IV. 30 223
So long as they are under the " seal," they cannot be removed or hurt ; and you look to find them, in their sure keeping, when you come back. And your great Proprietor, who has spent so much on you, is gone away for a time. He has gone to a far country. But He is to return ; and when He returns. His longing desire is to find you unharmed and beautiful, and still His own.^
^ You watch a ship as it is being loaded for a voyage, and amongst other cargo you notice a number of boxes bearing a significant seal. These are not stowed away in the hold like consignments of common goods, but are taken to some place where they will be constantly watched by the responsible officers of the ship. The chests are chests of sealed treasure. Should the ship spring a leak and be endangered, after the safety of the passengers has been provided for, these sealed chests will be the first things to be put into the lifeboats. If pirates should succeed in boarding the vessel, the great fight will be round these sealed chests. Should the ship go down into the depths, these sealed chests will be the first things the divers will seek to bring back to the surface. The seal marks them out for special care and defence, and whatever human vigilance, foresight, and valour can do will be done to deliver them to the consignees. And so with that sealing of the Spirit affixed to sincere believers in Jesus Christ. They are subject to the same risks, vicissitudes, and temptations as other men ; but all that God's power can do to help and deliver them shall be done, and when the final catas- trophe of death shall come into the horizon and bury all things in a common desolation, these shall be the first to be brought back again from the depths of earth. This special sealing marks out body and soul alike for God's special possession and guardian- ship. His sealed servants shall never perish.^