And whereas this is that by which, as it immediately proceeds from the Holy Spirit, they have their peculiar dedication unto God, being made kings and priests unto him, they are highly concerned to secure their interest therein ; for it may be they are so far from being exalted, promoted, and dignified in the world by their profes- sion, as that they are made thereby the scorn of men and the out- casts of the people. Those, indeed, whose kingdom and priesthood, their dignity and honour in Christianity, their approximation unto God and Christ in a peculiar manner, consist in secular titles, honour, power, and grandeur, as it is in the Papacy, may content themselves with their chrism, or the greasy unction of their outward, ceremonious consecration, without much inquiry after or concern in this spiritual anointing; but those who get little or nothing in this world, that
CHAP. VI.] THE SPIRIT A SEAL. 399
is, of the world, by their profession, but labour, pain, travail of soul and body, with scorns, reproaches, and persecutions, had need look after that which gives them a dignity and honour in the sight of God, and which brings in satisfaction and peace unto their own souls; and this is done by that anointing alone, whereby they are made kings and priests unto God, having honour before him, and a free, sacred access unto him.
2. I shall only add, that whereas we ascribe this anointing in a peculiar manner unto the Holy Ghost as the comforter of the church, Ave may easily discern wherein the consolation which we receive by it cloth consist; for who can express that satisfaction, refreshment, and joy, which the mind is possessed with in those spi- ritual, effectual teachings, which give it a clear apprehension of sav- ing truth in its own nature and beauty, and enlarge the heart with love unto it and delight in it? It is true, that the greatest part of believers are ofttimes either at such a loss as unto a clear apprehen- sion of their own spiritual state, or so unskilled in making a right judgment of the causes and means of divine consolations, or so con- fused in their own experiences, or so negligent in their inquiries into these things, or so disordered by temptations, as that they receive not a refreshing sense of those comforts and joys which are really inseparable from this anointing : but still it is in itself that spring from whence their secret refreshments and supportments do arise; and there is none of them but, upon guidance and instruction, are able to conceive how their chiefest joys and comforts, even those whereby they are supported in and against all their troubles, are re- solved into that spiritual understanding which they have into the mysteries of the will, love, and grace of God in Christ, with that in- effable complacency and satisfaction which they find in them, whereby their wills are engaged into an unconquerable constancy in their choice. And there is no small consolation in a due apprehension of that spiritual dignity which ensues hereon ; for when they meet with the greatest troubles and the most contemptuous scorns in this world, a due apprehension of their acceptance with God, as being made kings and priests unto him, yields them a refreshment which the world knows nothing of, and which themselves are not able to ex- press.
CHAPTER VI.
The Spirit a seal, and how.
Secondly, Another effect of the Holy Spirit as the comforter of the church is, that by him believers are sealed: 2 Cor. i. 21, 22,
400 THE HOLY SPIKIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
" He who anointed us is God, who hath also sealed us." And how this is done the same apostle declares, Eph. i. 13, " In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of pro- mise." And chap. iv. 30, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." In the first place, it is ex- pressly said that we are sealed with the Spirit; whereby the Spirit himself is expressed as this seal, and not any of his especial opera- tions, as he is also directly said himself to be the " earnest of our in- heritance." In the latter, the words are, 'Ev w sgppaylgQrirt, " In whom," in and by the receiving of whom, " ye are sealed." Where- fore, no especial act of the Spirit, but only an especial effect of his communication unto us, seems to be intended hereby.
The common exposition of this sealing is taken from the nature and use of sealing among men, the sum whereof is this: Sealing may be considered as a natural or moral action, — that is, either with respect unto the act of it as an act, or with respect unto its use and . end. In the first way, it is the communication of the character or image that is on the seal unto the thing that is sealed, or that the impression of the seal is set unto. In answer hereunto, the sealing of the Spirit should consist in the communication of his own spiritual nature and likeness unto the souls of believers; so this sealing should materially be the same with our sanctification. The end and use of sealing among men is twofold: — 1. To give security unto the per- formance of deeds, grants, promises, testaments, and wills, or the like engaging significations of our minds. And in answer hereunto, we may be said to be sealed, when the promises of God are confirmed and established unto our souls, and we are secured of them by the Holy Ghost. But the truth is, this were to seal the promises of God, and not believers. But it is persons, and not promises, that are said to be sealed. 2. It is for the safe-keeping or preservation of that which a seal is set upon. So things precious and highly valuable are sealed up, that they may be kept safe and inviolable. So, on the other hand, when Job expressed his apprehension that God would keep an everlasting remembrance of his sin, that it should not be lost or out of the way, he saith, " his transgression was sealed up in a bag," chap. xiv. 1 7. And so it is that power which the Holy Ghost puts forth in the preservation of believers which is intended ; and in this respect they are said to be " sealed unto the day of re- demption."