243 / 504
Of
the
Sealing
of
the
Spirit,
its
influence
into
the
Sts
Perf. C.
VII.
4:32.
whole Coherence
of
the words.Nei
ther
is
the
ufe
ofsealing,
to
prepare
any
ip7
thing, for
fuch
a
time,
but
to
fecure and preferve
it
thereunto. He
that
bath
a
Conveyance Sealedunto him,
is
not
only capacitated
for
the prefent,
to
receive the eflate
conveyed,
but
is
principally affured
of
a
Right
&
Title,
for
a
continued enjoyment
ofit,
nor
to
be
reverfed.
It
is
not the nature
of
this
worke
of
the
HolyGhoft, wherein it
is
coincident
which
other
a
&s
of
his
Graces
but the particular
life
of
it,
as
it
is
a Sealing,and
Gods
intendment by
it, tö
confirme us
to
the day
of
Redemption,
that
comes
under our
Confide
-
ration.
If
it-were a feafon
to incjuire,whereinit
confifts,
I
fuppofe we fhould,
fcarce
dole
with Mr
Goodwin's
defcription
of
it, viz.
That
it
is a quallifying
of
men, andputting them
in an
ativall
capacity to
partake
of
foy
&c.
He
is
the
firs,
I
know
of,that
gave
this
defcription
ofit,and probably the laß that
will
do
fo.
Of
the
Earnei
of
theSpirit
in
its
propper
place-
What he
addes
in
the
laft
place,
namely,
if
the
Apo
files intent
had
been to
4.32,
informe the
Ephefans,
that
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit,
which
they
had
received
from
Gods
waa
the earnefi
of
their
inheritance,upon
fuck
termes,
that
no
unworthi-
neffe,or
wickednefe whatfoever,on
their
parts,
could ever
hinder the aôíuall
col-
lation
of
this
inheritance
upon
them,
he
had
plainly
prevaricatedn ith
that
moll
ferious
Admonition,
wherein
he
addrel
s
himfelfe
to
them
a
fterwards;For this
ye
know,
that
no Whore-
monger,
&c.
bath
any
inheritance in the
Kingdome
of
chilli;
This
I
fay,
is
of
the
fame alloy with
what went
before., For,
I.
Here
is
the
fame begging
of
the
Queftion
as
before
,
and
that
upon a
twofold account.
r..In
fuppofing,
that
Believers may fall
into
fuch
firmes,
and
unworthinefle,as are
inconfrftent
with
the
'late
of
Acceptation with
God,
which
is
the
very
thing
he
bath
to
prove.
a.
In
fuppofing,that,if
Believers
are
fealed up infallibly
to
Redemption, the Exhortations
to
the
avoidance
of
finnes, in
themfelves, and
to
all
that
continue
in
them,
deftru&ive
to
Salvati-
on,
are in
vaine:
which
is
a figment, in
a
cafe
fomewhat alike(as
to
the
reafon
of
it)
rejel
ed by men,
that
knew nothing
of
the nature
of
Gods Promises,
nor
his
commands, nor the Accommodation
of
them
both,
to
the
fulfilling
in
Believers,
all
the
goodpleafure
of
his
Goodneffe.
a.
The
Alfurance,
the
Apoftle gives
of
freedom from
the wrath
of
God,
is
infeparably affociated with
that
Affurance
that
he
gives,
that
we
'hall not be
left
in,
or
given
up
to
fuch
waies,
as
wherein
that
wrath,according to
the te-
nure
of
the Covenant
of
Grace,
is
not
to
be avoided. From this
latter Tefti-
mony,
this Argument alto
doth
flows
Thofe,who are
fealed
of
God
tothe
day
ofR.edemption,
(hall
certainly be preferved
thereunto: their prefervation be-
ing the
end
and aime
of
God
in his fealing
of
them. Mr Goodwin
Anfwer
to
this Propofition
is,
that
they
fhall
be fo preferved,
in cafe
they
fall
not into
abominable
finnes
and
praétifes, and
fo
Apoftatize from
the Faith
;
that
is
in
cafe
they be preferved, they
(hall
be
preferved; but wherein their prefervati-
on
(
hould
confift,
if
not
in
their
effe&uall
deliverance from
fuch waies
and
courfes,
is
not
declared.
That
all Believers are fo fealed,
and
to that
end,as a-
bove,
is
the
plaine
Teftimony
of
the Scripture, and therefore our
Conclufion
is
undeniably evinced.
.
Thus
have
we, through
the
Lords afiiftance
;
freed
the
triple
Te/limony
of
Father,
Sonne,
and
Spirit, given
to
the
Truth
under
Confideration, from all
Obje&ions,
and exceptionsput
in
thereunto
:
fo
that
we
hope
the mouth
of
iniquity
may
be
ftopt,
and
that the
caufe
of
the
Truth
in
hand
is
fecuçg3
for
ever.
It
is
a
fearfull
thing
to
contend with
God.
Let
God
be
tree and
all
men ly-
ars;
Aa
2
CAP.
V11/