1. That when any persons are so effectually called as to become true believers, they are brought into many new relations, — as, to God him- self, as his children ; unto Jesus Christ, as his members; unto all saints and angels in the families of God above and below, as brethren ; and are called to many new works, duties, and uses, which before they knew nothing of. They are brought into a new world, erected by the new creation ; and which way soever they look or turn themselves, they say, "Old things are passed away ; behold, all things are become new." So it is with every one that is made a new creature in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor. v. 17. In this state and condition, wherein a man hath new jorinciples put within him, new relations contracted about him, new duties presented unto him, and a new deportment in all things re- quired of him, how shall he be able to behave himself aright, and answer the condition and holy station wherein he is placed? This no man can do of himself, for "who is sufficient for these things?" Wherefore, —
2. In this state God owns them, and communicates unto them his Holy Spirit, to fit them for their relations, to enable them unto their duties, to act their new principles, and every way to discharge the work they are called unto, even as their head, the Lord Christ, was unto his. God doth not now give unto them "the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," 2 Tim. i. 7. And hereby doth God seal them; for, —
(1.) Hereby he gives his testimony unto them that they are his, owned by him, accepted with him, his sons or children, — which is his seal; for if they were not so, he would never have given his Holy Spirit unto them. And herein consists the greatest testimony that God doth give, and the only seal that he doth set, unto any in this world. That this is God's testimony and seal, the apostle Peter proveth, Acts xv. 8, 9; for on the debate of that question, whether God approved and accepted of the humble believers, although they observed not the rites of Moses, he confirmeth that he did with this
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argument: " God," saith he, "which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness." How did he do it? how did he set his seal to them as his? Saith he, " By giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us." Hereby God gives testimony unto them. And lest any should suppose that it was only the gifts and miraculous operations of the Holy Ghost which he had respect unto, so as that this sealing of God should consist therein alone, he adds, that his gracious opera- tions also were no less an effect of this witness which God gave unto them : " And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." This, therefore, is that whereby God giveth his testimony unto believers, namely, when he seals them with his Spirit, or by the communication of the Holy Spirit unto them, And this he doth in two respects; for, —
(2.) This is that whereby he giveth believers assurance of their rela- tion unto him, of their interest in him, and of his love and favour to them. It hath been generally conceived that this sealing with the Spirit is that which gives assurance unto believers, — and so indeed it doth, although the way whereby it doth it hath not been rightly apprehended; and, therefore, none have been able to declare the especial nature of that act of the Spirit whereby he seals us, whence such assurance should ensue. But it is indeed not any act of the Spirit in us that is the ground of our assurance, but the communica- tion of the Spirit unto us. This the apostle plainly testifieth . 1 John hi. 24, " Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." That God abideth in us and we in him is the subject-matter of our assurance. "This we know," saith the apostle; which expresseth the highest assurance we are capable of in this world. And how do we know it? Even "by the Spirit which he hath given us." But, it may be, the sense of these words may be, that the Spirit which God gives us doth, by some especial work of his, effect this assurance in us ; and so it is not his being given unto us, but some especial work of his in us, that is the ground of our assurance, and consequently our sealing. I do not deny such an especial work of the Spirit as shall be afterward declared, but I judge that it is the communication of the Spirit himself unto us that is here intended ; for so the apostle declares his sense to be, chap. iv. 13, "Hereby know we that we dwell in God, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." This is the great evidence, the great ground of assurance, which we have that God hath taken us into a near and dear relation unto himself, " because he hath given us of his Spirit," that great and heavenly gift which he will impart unto no others. And, indeed, on this one hinge depends the whole case of that as- surance which believers are capable of: If the Spirit of God dwell in us, we are his ; . but " if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he