Beams of divine light breaking forth from several places of holy Scripture, as they…Beames of divine light breaking forth from severall places of holy Scripture, as they…

He is Sealed to do it, that's the third, that is, he hath authority, for authority is here expressed by Sealing. Now Christ is said to be Sealed, first, because there is the impression of God upon him, even as the seal imprints in the wax the likeness of that which is in it, so God hath imprinted in Christ his own likeness, he is the Image of God, for Christ as he is God, is the character of his Father, and his humane nature is likewise as like God as nature can express, we saw (saith the Apostle) his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of God, we saw a kind of divinity in him as much as humane nature could receive, the likeness of God sparkled in him; therefore he is said to be Sealed, but that is not all nor the principal here meant.

He is Sealed to doe it, that's the third, that is, he hath authority, for authority is here expressed by Sealing. Now Christ is said to be Sealed, first, because there is the impression of God upon him, even as the seale imprints in the wax the likenesse of that which is in it, so God hath imprinted in Christ his owne likenesse, he is the Image of God, for Christ as he is God, is the character of his Father, and his humane nature is likewise as like God as nature can expresse, we saw (saith the Apostle) his glory, the glory as of the onely begotten Sonne of God, we saw a kinde of divinity in him as much as humane nature could receive, the likenesse of God sparkeled in him; therefore hee is said to be Sealed, but that is not all nor the principall here meant.

Again secondly, the use of a seal is to appropriate and distinguish from other things, so Christ is Sealed, that is, God hath appropriated him to be his own Son, and to be a Mediator of his own appointing, and hath distinguished him from all others by a blessed anointing and qualification of him above all, he is as Saul amongst the rest, higher then all, he is as Aaron, anointed with the oil of gladness, but above his fellows, and yet for his fellows, from him distils the blessed ointment of grace, it is poured on his head first, and descends from him down to all the skirts of his garment, to all his members. So here is in this Sealing, likeness, distinction, and appropriation.

Againe secondly, the use of a seale is to appropriate and distinguish from other things, so Christ is Sealed, that is, God hath appropriated him to be his owne Sonne, and to be a Mediator of his owne appointing, and hath distinguished him from all others by a blessed annointing and qualification of him above all, he is as Saul amongst the rest, higher then all, he is as Aaron, annointed with the oyle of gladnesse, but above his fellowes, and yet for his fellowes, from him distills the blessed ointment of grace, it is powred on his head first, and descends from him downe to all the skirts of his garment, to all his members. So heere is in this Sealing, likenesse, distinction, and appropriation.

But especially by Sealing here is meant authority, for a thing sealed is not only to distinguish and appropriate to a mans use, but to authorize also, as a Magistrate that hath the Kings broad Seal, he is authorized: so Christ he hath Gods Seal, God hath authorized him to be a Mediator, and as he was fore-ordained before all worlds (as the Apostle Peter saith) to be the head of them that should be saved,¹ and to be their Mediator, so when the fullness of time was come, when he came in the flesh, he was authorized by the greatest testimony that ever was, by the blessed Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost at his Baptism, This is my beloved Son, hear him, saith a voice from Heaven, there was the Father, the ⟨p. 203⟩Son in the voice, the Holy Ghost in the Dove, there was the whole Trinity, so he was authorized from Heaven.

But especially by Sealing heere is meant authority, for a thing sealed is not onely to distinguish and appropriate to a mans use, but to authorize also, as a Magistrate that hath the Kings broad Seale, he is authorized: so Christ he hath Gods Seale, God hath authorized him to be a Mediator, and as hee was fore-ordained before all worlds (as the Apostle Peter saith) to be the head of them that should be saved,¹ and to be their Mediator, so when the fullnesse of time was come, when he came in the flesh, hee was authorized by the greatest testimony that ever was, by the blessed Trinity, God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost at his Baptisme, This is my beloved Sonne, heare him, saith a voice from Heaven, there was the Father, the ⟨p. 203⟩Sonne in the voice, the Holy Ghost in the Dove, there was the whole Trinity, so he was authorized from Heaven.

1. 11 Pet. 1.

He was authorized also by his Resurrection, as the Apostle saith, in Rom. 1.4. He mightily declared himself to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead: the Angels from Heaven brought witness of him, he was witnessed by all kind of persons on earth, yea by the devils themselves: so he is Sealed and authorized every way by all kind of witnesses to be a Mediator.

He was authorized also by his Resurrection, as the Apostle saith, in Rom. 1.4. He mightily declared himselfe to be the Sonne of God by the resurrection from the dead: the Angells from Heaven brought witnesse of him, he was witnessed by all kinde of persons on earth, yea by the divels themselves: so hee is Sealed and authorized every way by all kinde of witnesses to be a Mediator.

This is set out in other phrases in the Scripture. In Psal. 2. This my Son have I set upon my holy hill of Zion, and Rom. 3. toward the latter end, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, God hath set him forth as the Show-bread was set out under the Law. And then again in another place, Whom he hath sent, and in 1. Cor. 1.30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom, &c. He is made of God, that is, he is Sealed, appointed, authorized by God for that purpose.

This is set out in other phrases in the Scripture. In Psal. 2. This my Son have I set upon my holy hill of Sion, and Rom. 3. toward the latter end, Whom God hath set forth to bee a propitiation, God hath set him forth as the Shew-bread was set out under the Law. And then againe in another place, Whom hee hath sent, and in 1. Cor. 1.30. Hee is made of God unto us Wisedome, &c. Hee is made of God, that is, he is Sealed, appointed, authorized by God for that purpose.

So you see, why Christ is said to be Sealed, especially because he is authorized by God the Father, made, sent, set forth, whom the Father hath Sealed, that is, the party offended by our sins, he hath Sealed and authorized Christ to be a Mediator.

So you see, why Christ is said to be Sealed, especially because hee is authorized by God the Father, made, sent, set forth, whom the Father hath Sealed, that is, the party offended by our sinnes, he hath Sealed and authorized Christ to be a Mediator.

If this be so, let us learn this use of it, to bless God the Father as well as Christ, Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Blessed be Christ, for him hath the Father Sealed by the Spirit. The blessed Trinity have all a hand in our salvation.

If this be so, let us learne this use of it, to blesse God the Father as well as Christ, Blessed bee the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, and Blessed bee Christ, for him hath the Father Sealed by the Spirit. The blessed Trinity have all a hand in our salvation.

And then again consider, if we despise Christ, whom we despise, we despise the Father that hath Sealed him, it is a weighty matter, Read the second Psalm and you shall see there what it is to despise Christ, not to kiss the Son, that is, when God hath anointed and set forth a Saviour, and Sealed him and authorized him by all the testimonies that can be to be a Mediator, not to receive him for our King, for our Priest and Prophet, it is a rebellion, not against Christ only, but against the Father who hath Sealed him.

And then againe consider, if wee despise Christ, whom we despise, we despise the Father that hath Sealed him, it is a weighty matter, Reade the second Psalme and you shall see there what it is to despise Christ, not to kisse the Sonne, that is, when God hath annointed and set forth a Saviour, and Sealed him and authorized him by all the testimonies that can be to be a Mediator, not to receive him for our King, for our Priest and Prophet, it is a rebellion, not against Christ onely, but against the Father who hath Sealed him.

And likewise it serveth wonderfully to strengthen our faith when we go to God for forgiveness of sins: offer him his own broad Seal, offer to him Christ a Mediator authorized by himself: Lord I am thus and thus a sinner, but notwithstanding thou hast sent thy blessed Son and set him forth to be a Saviour for me, and him I offer to thee, thou canst not deny or refuse thy own Sealed Mediator and Redeemer, if he had been a Mediator of my own appointing and of my own sealing it were another matter, but I offer thy own Mediator, look on the death of him whom thou hast Sealed to be ⟨p. 205⟩my intercessor. It is a wondrous prevailing argument with God, he cannot deny that which he hath devised himself, him whom he chose before all worlds for this great office.

And likewise it serveth wonderfully to strengthen our faith when we goe to God for forgivenesse of sinnes: offer him his owne broad Seale, offer to him Christ a Mediator authorized by himselfe: Lord I am thus and thus a sinner, but notwithstanding thou hast sent thy blessed Sonne and set him forth to be a Saviour for mee, and him I offer to thee, thou canst not deny or refuse thy owne Sealed Mediator and Redeemer, if hee had beene a Mediator of my owne appointing and of my owne sealing it were another matter, but I offer thy owne Mediator, looke on the death of him whom thou hast Sealed to bee ⟨p. 205⟩my intercessour. It is a wondrous prevailing argument with God, hee cannot denie that which he hath devised himselfe, him whom hee chose before all worlds for this great office.

But how shall I know whether he be Sealed for my good or no? saith the soul that hears this, we hear much of an authorized Saviour, of an authorized Mediator to be All-sufficient, but what is that to me?

But how shall I know whether hee be Sealed for my good or no? saith the soule that heares this, we heare much of an authorized Saviour, of an authorized Mediator to be All-sufficient, but what is that to mee?

Why? for whom is he Sealed? is he Sealed for Angels or for men? and amongst men, is he Sealed for holy men or sinners? I come not to seek or to save whole men, or men that never were lost, no, he came to seek and to save men, but they are lost men, sick men: and it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all means to be embraced, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, saith blessed Paul, therefore he is Sealed to save thee if thou art a sinner, to save thee if thou wilt receive him, and thou art bound to receive him under pain of the punishment of rebellion. Is it not rebellion not to receive a Magistrate whom the Prince hath authorized under his broad Seal? it is another manner of matter not to receive Christ, it is a greater sin, then to sin against the Law, for if a man sin against the Law there is the Gospel to help him, but if a man sin against the Gospel there is not another Gospel to help him, now to refuse Christ offered in the Gospel is a sin against the Gospel, where ⟨p. 206⟩then can there be hope of salvation? salvation it self cannot save him that will not be saved, that refuses the remedy Sealed by God the Father the party offended, who can heal him that casts down the Potion that is brought to heal him, that refuseth the Physician that comes to cure him? I say he is Sealed to save thee if thou wilt be saved, if thou wilt receive him, receive him not only to be thy Saviour, but to be thy King to rule thee, and thy Prophet to teach and instruct thee, as we shall see afterwards.

Why? for whom is he Sealed? is he Sealed for Angels or for men? and amongst men, is he Sealed for holy men or sinners? I come not to seeke or to save whole men, or men that never were lost, no, he came to seeke and to save men, but they are lost men, sick men: and it is a faithfull saying, and worthy of all meanes to be imbraced, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, saith blessed Paul, therefore he is Sealed to save thee if thou art a sinner, to save thee if thou wilt receive him, and thou art bound to receive him under paine of the punishment of rebellion. Is it not rebellion not to receive a Magistrate whom the Prince hath authorized under his broad Seale? it is another manner of matter not to receive Christ, it is a greater sinne, then to sinne against the Law, for if a man sinne against the Law there is the Gospell to helpe him, but if a man sinne against the Gospell there is not another Gospell to helpe him, now to refuse Christ offered in the Gospell is a sinne against the Gospell, where ⟨p. 206⟩

But to clear this a little better, we must know that there are three distinct sealings.

But to cleare this a little better, we must know that there are three distinct sealings.

There is God sealing of Christ, which I have unfolded to you.

And there is our sealing of God, that is, our sealing of Gods truth.

And then again, there is Gods sealing of us by his Spirit: And these follow one the other.

And then againe, there is Gods sealing of us by his Spirit: And these follow one the other.