Thirdly, Wherefore the sealing of God unto this end and purpose must have two properties and two ends also annexed unto it: — 1. There is in it a communication of authority and ability ; for the inquiry is, how he could give them that meat which endureth unto everlast- ing life, as afterwards they ask expressly, " How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" verse 52. To this it is answered, that God the Father had sealed him; that is, he it was who was enabled of God the Father to give and dispense the spiritual food of the souls of men. This, therefore, is evidently included in this sealing. 2. It must have evidence in it also, — that is, somewhat whereby it may be evinced that he was thus authorized and enabled by God the Father; for whatever authority or ability any one may have unto any end, none is obliged to make application unto him for it, or depend upon him therein, unless it be evidenced that he hath that authority and ability. This the Jews immediately inquired after. "What sign," say they, "showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?" verse 30; — "How shall it be demonstrated unto us that thou art authorized and enabled to give us the spiritual food of
CHAP. VI.] THE SPIRIT A SEAL. 403
our souls?" This also belonged unto liis sealing; for therein there was such an express representation of divine power communicated unto him as evidently manifested that he was appointed of God unto this work. These two properties, therefore, must be found in this sealing of the Lord Christ with respect unto the end here men- tioned,— namely, that he might be the promas condus, or principal dispenser of the spiritual food of the souls of men.
Fourthly, It being God's seal, it must also have two ends designed in it : — 1. God's owning of him to be his. "Him hath God the Father sealed," unto this end, that all may know and take notice of his own- ing and approbation of him. He would have him not looked on as one among the rest of them that dispensed spiritual things, but as him whom he had singled out and peculiarly marked for himself. And therefore this he publicly and gloriously testified at the entrance, and again a little before the finishing, of his ministry : for upon his baptism there came "a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," Matt. iii. 17; which was nothing but a public declaration that this was he whom God had sealed, and so owned in a peculiar manner. And this testimony was afterward ■renewed again, at his transfiguration on the mount: chap. xvii. 5, " Behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him;" — "This is he whom I have sealed." And this testimony is pleaded by the apostle Peter as that whereinto their faith in him, as the sealed one of God, was resolved, 2 Pet. i. 17, 18. 2. To manifest that God would take care of him, and preserve him in his work unto the end, Isa. xlii. 1-4.
Fifthly, Wherefore, this sealing of the Son is the communication of the Holy Spirit in all fulness unto him, authorizing him unto, and acting his divine power in, all the acts and duties of his office, so as to evidence the presence of God with him, and his approbation of him, as the only person that was to distribute the spiritual food of their souls unto men : for the Holy Spirit, by his powerful operations in him and by him, did evince and manifest that he was called and appointed of God to this work, owned by him and accepted with him ; which was God's sealing of him. Hence the sin of them who despised this seal of God was unpardonable; for God neither will nor can give greater testimony unto his approbation of any person than by the great seal of his Spirit, and this was given unto Christ in all the fulness of it. He was " declared to be the Son of God, according to the Spirit of holiness," Rom. i. 4; and "justified in the Spirit," or by his power evidencing that God was with him, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Thus did God seal the Head of the church with the Holy Spirit ; and thence, undoubtedly, may we best learn how the members are sealed with the same Spirit, seeing we have all our measures out of his fulness,
404 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
and our conformity unto him is the design of all gracious communi- cations unto us.
Sixthly, Wherefore, God's sealing of believers with the Holy Spirit is his gracious communication of the Holy Ghost unto them, so to act his divine power in them as to enable them unto all the duties of their holy calling; evidencing them to be accepted with him both unto themselves and others, and asserting their preserva- tion unto eternal salvation. The effects of this sealing are gracious operations of the Holy Spirit in and upon believers ; but the sealing itself is the communication of the Spirit unto them. They are sealed with the Spirit. And farther to evidence the nature of it, with the truth of our declaration of this privilege, we may observe, —