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…

And yet this is not all, besides this we are sealed with the witness and comfort of the Spirit as well as with the work of the Spirit, the Spirit of God sweetly witnessing that we are the sons of God: and this sweet witness of the Spirit especially comes after we have honoured God by believing in temptation, when we are able to hold out and say as Job said, Though he kill me yet will I trust in him, so when we can after conflicts of doubting and despair, say, though he kill me yet will I trust in him, I will set to my seal that he is true, well will you so? God to honour such a soul seals him to the day of redemption, that is, he gives to the soul of such a one a sweet evidence and testimony that he is the Son of God.

And yet this is not all, besides this wee are sealed with the witnesse and comfort of the Spirit as well as with the worke of the Spirit, the Spirit of God sweetly witnessing that we are the sons of God: and this sweet witnesse of the Spirit especially comes after wee have honoured God by beleeving in temptation, when we are able to hold out and say as Iob said, Though he kill me yet wil I trust in him, so when we can after conflicts of doubting and dispaire, say, though he kill me yet will I trust in him, I will set to my seale that he is true, well will you so? God to honour such a soule seales him to the day of redemption, that is, he gives to the soule of such a one a sweet evidence and testimony that hee is the Son of God.

And this seal of the Spirit is double, not only done by the witness and work of the Spirit inwardly (which I have showed) but likewise ⟨p. 209⟩the Spirit doth seal them outwardly, enabling them to make an outward confession of Christ and his Truth, and therefore in Reve. 14. Christians are said to be Sealed in the forehead, that is, as they are marked and singled out in ill times to be such as God hath set his special favour upon, so they are Sealed with a spirit of boldness willingly and with forwardness to confess the truth of Christ in ill times.

And this seale of the Spirit is double, not only done by the witnesse and worke of the Spirit inwardly (which I have shewed) but likewise ⟨p. 209⟩the Spirit doth seale them outwardly, inabling them to make an outward confession of Christ and his Truth, and therefore in Reve. 14. Christians are said to be Sealed in the forehead, that is, as they are marked and singled out in ill times to be such as God hath set his speciall favour upon, so they are Sealed with a spirit of boldnesse willingly and with forwardnesse to confesse the truth of Christ in ill times.

Now (to apply it to our purpose) wouldest thou know whether thou be such a one for the present as for whom Christ is Sealed a Mediator? Examine first of all whether thou hast put to thy Seal that God is true by receiving and believing Christ and the promise of Salvation through him, if thou hast done so then thou wilt find another Seal from God, even the work of the Spirit in sanctifying of thee and conforming of thee to the Image and likeness of Christ, and thou wilt find the witness and comfortable testimony of the Spirit in telling thee that thou art the Son of God: and withal thou wilt have a spirit of boldness and readiness and forwardness to confess Christ, thou wilt not care for all that the world saith, but wilt if (need be) stand to the profession of Religion to the death.

Now (to apply it to our purpose) wouldest thou know whether thou be such a one for the present as for whom Christ is Sealed a Mediator? Examine first of all whether thou hast put to thy Seale that God is true by receiving and beleeving Christ and the promise of Salvation through him, if thou hast done so then thou wilt finde another Seale from God, even the worke of the Spirit in sanctifying of thee and conforming of thee to the Image and likenesse of Christ, and thou wilt finde the witnesse and comfortable testimony of the Spirit in telling thee that thou art the Sonne of God: and withall thou wilt have a spirit of boldnesse and readinesse and forwardnesse to confesse Christ, thou wilt not care for al that the world saith, but wilt if (neede be) stand to the profession of Religion to the death.

Thus you see that here is food that endures to everlasting life, which is Christ and the benefits we have by him, you see that that blessed meat is attainable, because he is willing to give it, for he is become Man for that purpose, he is able to give it, for he is God as well as Man, and he hath authority to give it, for God the Father hath Sealed him and fitted him for that office. If we receive him he will Seal us with his blessed Spirit, that is, the same Spirit that furnished Christ with grace, that sanctified him in the womb, will sanctify all those that are his members, will work a likeness and conformity in them to his blessed Image, for the same Spirit that was in the natural Son is in all the adopted Sons of God. And he will likewise give us the comfortable evidence and assurance that we are the Sons of God, furnish us with boldness and resolution to profess Christ in all times.

Thus you see that here is food that endures to everlasting life, which is Christ and the benefits wee have by him, you see that that blessed meate is attaineable, because he is willing to give it, for he is become Man for that purpose, he is able to give it, for he is God as well as Man, and he hath aurhority to give it, for God the Father hath Sealed him and fitted him for that office. If we receive him he will Seale us with his blessed Spirit, that is, the same Spirit that furnished Christ with grace, that sanctified him in the wombe, will sanctifie all those that are his members, will worke a likenesse and conformity in them to his blessed Image, for the same Spirit that was in the naturall Sonne is in all the adopted Sonnes of God. And he will likewise give us the comfortable evidence and assurance that we are the Sons of God, furnish us with boldnesse and resolution to professe Christ in all times.

Let me then I beseech you come again to reenforce this exhortation: Take heed you refuse not Christ, consider with what authority he comes, he is Sealed, it is no presumption therefore to receive him, though you be never such sinners, to receive him (I mean) not only to be a Priest to reconcile you to God, but to be a King to rule you, and a Prophet to instruct you by his Spirit, to receive him on this manner is no presumption; to receive him indeed as a Saviour, but to neglect him as King, ⟨p. 211⟩to refuse to come under his government is great presumption, but to receive whole Christ is obedience and faith and no presumption, nay if you do not receive him you sin damnably, you commit the greatest sin that can be: He came to save all that will come under his blessed government, that will kiss the Son,¹ Whosoever will, let him come and drink of the waters of l•fe, all the good promised by Christ is promised upon our receiving of him, upon the obedience of our Faith, there is nothing required but a will to embrace him and to be under his government, there is no exception made of sins or persons or times. At what time soever a sinner repents, whatsoever sinner, whatsoever time or whatsoever the sins be, if he repents Christ is ready to receive him.

Let me then I beseech you come againe to reenforce this exhortation: Take heed you refuse not Christ, consider with what authority he comes, he is Sealed, it is no presumption therefore to receive him, though you be never such sinners, to receive him (I meane) not onely to be a Priest to reconcile you to God, but to be a King to rule you, and a Prophet to instruct you by his Spirit, to receive him on this manner is no presumption; to receive him indeed as a Saviour, but to neglect him as King, ⟨p. 211⟩to refuse to come under his government is great presumption, but to receive whole Christ is obedience and faith and no presumption, nay if you doe not receive him you sinne damnably, you commit the greatest sinne that can be: He came to save all that will come under his blessed government, that will kisse the Sonne,¹ Whosoever will, let him come and drinke of the waters of lfe, all the good promised by Christ is promised upon our receiving of him, upon the obedience of our Faith, there is nothing required but a will to imbrace him and to be under his government, there is no exception made of sinnes or persons or times. At what time soever a sinner repents, whatsoever sinner, whatsoever time or whatsoever the sinnes bee, if he repents Christ is ready to receive him.

If you pretend your unworthiness and want of excellencies, he takes away that objection, Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden, ¹Come buy without money, and here in the text, the Son of man shall give it, and what so free as gift?

If you pretend your unworthinesse and want of excellencies, hee takes away that objection, Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden, ¹Come buy without money, and here in the text, the Sonne of man shall give it, and what so free as guift?

1. 1Mat. 11 28. Isa. 55.1.

If you pretend you have sinned since your calling, and that you have sinned against conscience, and knowledge, and therefore now you have no further hope of Christ: remember that Paul 2. Cor. 5. speaks to the Corinthians that were in the state of grace, I beseech you to be reconciled to God, and in Jeremiah 3. Return again you Backsliding Israel, and I will heal your Backslidings, and again, will ⟨p. 212⟩a man receive a wife that hath played the harlot and broken the band of marriage? Yet return O house of Israel and I will receive you, Therefore run not away from God, though thou hast sinned after thou art in the state of grace, come again J beseech you still Christ is to be received, the door of grace is always held open, and the golden sceptre continually held out as long as we live in this world.

If you pretend you have sinned since your calling, and that you have sinned against conscience, and knowledge, and therefore now you have no further hope of Christ: remember that Paul 2. Cor. 5. speakes to the Corinthians that were in the state of grace, I beseech you to be reconciled to God, and in Ieremy 3. Returne againe you Backesliding Israel, and I will heale your Backeslidings, and againe, will ⟨p. 212⟩a man receive a wife that hath played the harlot and broken the band of marriage? Yet returne O house of Israel and I will receive you, Therefore runne not away from God, though thou hast sinned after thou art in the state of grace, come againe J beseech you still Christ is to be received, the doore of grace is alwayes held open, and the golden scepter continually held out as long as we live in this world.

But yet it is not good to neglect the time of grace, receive Christ presently, defer not to come under his government, and receive him wholly, or else there is no receiving of him at all.

But yet it is not good to neglect the time of grace, receive Christ presently, deferre not to come under his governement, and receive him wholy, or else there is no receiving of him at all.

And (to press this a little further) I beseech you consider, that if you leave not your sinful courses and come under the blessed government of Christ, if you receive not this Sealed King, this Sealed Priest and Prophet, this Sealed Mediator whom God hath Sealed and sent unto you for salvation, there is not any thing in the world that will one day more torment you then your refusal of him; O that we should ever live to hear of salvation so freely offered and of a Saviour so authorized, yet notwithstanding that we should respect our sins more then our souls, and because we could not have him to be our Saviour except we came under his government, and be ruled by him as a King, we refused him wholly altogether: Indeed if we might have had salvation by him and the ⟨p. 213⟩forgiveness of sins, and withal have remained under the rule and sway of our own lusts and been led by them, we would have been contented to have had him, but rather then we would leave our blasphemous, our unclean, injurious and covetous courses of life, we were content to let Christ go if he would; O that we should reject this Sealed Saviour, O that we should refuse salvation offered on such loving terms, when God was so loving as to Seal and authorize his Son, when the Son was so loving as to give himself when he was Sealed, to refuse this and that for such base respects, will certainly one day when the conscience is wakened, prove the greatest torment that can be.

And (to presse this a little further) I beseech you consider, that if you leave not your sinfull courses and come under the blessed governement of Christ, if you receive not this Sealed King, this Sealed Priest and Prophet, this Sealed Mediator whom God hath Sealed and sent unto you for salvation, there is not any thing in the world that will one day more torment you then your refusall of him; O that we should ever live to heare of salvation so freely offered and of a Saviour so authorized, yet notwithstanding that we should respect our sinnes more then our soules, and because we could not have him to bee our Saviour except wee came under his governement, and bee ruled by him as a King, we refused him wholy altogether: Indeed if we might have had salvation by him and the ⟨p. 213⟩forgivenesse of sinnes, and withall have remained under the rule and sway of our owne lusts and beene led by them, we would have beeene contented to have had him, but rather then we would leave our blasphemous, our uncleane, inujurious and covetous courses of life, wee were content to let Christ goe if hee would; O that we should reject this Sealed Saviour, O that we should refuse salvation offered on such loving termes, when God was so loving as to Seale and authorize his Sonne, when the Sonne was so loving as to give himselfe when he was Sealed, to refuse this and that for such base respects, will certainely one day when the conscience is wakened, proove the greatest torment that can be.

See how the Apostle notably enforceth this in the second of the Hebrews, if so be they did not escape that despised Moses Law, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? he doth not say how shall we escape if we oppose Christ, if we rail on him, if we despise his Image in his children, as many cursed wretches do, but how shall we escape if we do but neglect so great salvation, so witnessed and authorized with all the signs, so offered and tendered with all the terms of love that may be.

See how the Apostle notably enforceth this in the second of the Hebrewes, if so be they did not escape that despised Moses Law, How shall we escape if wee neglect so great salvation? hee doth not say how shall we escape if we oppose Christ, if we raile on him, if wee despise his Image in his children, as many cursed wretches doe, but how shall we escape if we doe but neglect so great salvation, so witnessed and authorized with all the signes, so offered and tendered with all the termes of love that may be.

And therefore if there be any here that have lived in sinful courses, and have a purpose to break them off, that are weary of the government of their lusts and of Satan that rules them by their lusts (for all are under one government ⟨p. 214⟩or other, either under the Sealed government of Christ, or under the base government of Satan that tends to damnation) O leave it, and come under this Governor Sealed by God the Father, authorized from Heaven by the blessed Trinity, by miracles, and by all the arguments that can be, come under his blessed government, and you shall do well, God the Father, the party offended with your sins, he hath Sealed him, and he cannot refuse a Mediator of his own Sealing.

And therfore if there be any heere that have lived in sinfull courses, and have a purpose to breake them off, that are weary of the governement of their lusts and of Satan that rules them by their lusts (for all are under one governement ⟨p. 214⟩or other, either under the Sealed governement of Christ, or under the base governement of Satan that tends to damnation) O leave it, and come under this Governour Sealed by God the Father, authorized from Heaven by the blessed Trinity, by miracles, and by all the arguments that can be, come under his blessed governement, and you shall doe well, God the Father, the partie offended with your sinnes, he hath Sealed him, and he cannot refuse a Mediator of his owne Sealing.

And do not say your sins have been thus and thus, for consider what were these parties that he offers himself to here, that he saith to, Labour for the meat that endures to everlasting life, were they not cursed Hypocrites that followed him for the loaves, and yet he saith to them, Labour for the meat that endures, &c. I am Sealed even for your salvation, if you will come out of your hypocrisy and be ruled by me; therefore let none stand out from coming under the government of Christ, for he offers mercy (you see here) to the worst of men, even to cursed hypocrites.

And doe not say your sinnes have beene thus and thus, for consider what were these parties that he offers himselfe to heere, that he saith to, Labour for the meate that endures to everlasting life, were they not cursed Hypocrites that followed him for the loaves, and yet he saith to them, Labour for the meate that endures, &c. I am Sealed even for your salvation, if you will come out of your hypocrisie and be ruled by me; therefore let none stand out from comming under the governement of Christ, for hee offers mercy (you see heere) to the worst of men, even to cursed hypocrites.

And (to conclude with a word of comfort) if there be any poor distressed soul frighted in conscience with the sight of his sins and Satan's temptations, O let such consider the love of God in Christ: Satan pictures out God as a terrible Judge, and so he is indeed to men that go on in their sins, a consuming fire: but art thou weary of thy courses, art thou willing to ⟨p. 215⟩come under a better covenant, let not Satan abuse thee by setting God before thee as a terrible Judge, and Christ as one that would not save thee; no, come in, kiss the Son, for him hath the Father Sealed, Sealed for thee if thou be weary of thy sins, enforce not upon thy soul any unwillingness to be in God, wherefore doth God stoop so low, and labour by all these arguments here, as that Christ is the Son of man, and that he shall give it you, and that the Father hath Sealed him for that end, wherefore is all this, but to show his willingness to receive thee? wherefore hath the Father Sealed Christ but in love to thee? Come in therefore, and then if you will seal to this truth, if you will believe, and cast your selves on Gods gracious promise even against doubting and distrust, you shall find God sealing you by his Spirit, you shall find his Spirit witnessing to your spirits that you are the sons of God.

And (to conclude with a word of comfort) if there be any poore distressed soule frighted in conscience with the sight of his sinnes and Satans temptations, O let such consider the love of God in Christ: Satan pictures out God as a terrible Judge, and so he is indeed to men that goe on in their sinnes, a consuming fire: but art thou weary of thy courses, art thou willing to ⟨p. 215⟩come under a better covenant, let not Satan abuse thee by setting God before thee as a terrible Judge, and Christ as one that would not save thee; no, come in, kisse the Son, for him hath the Father Sealed, Sealed for thee if thou bee weary of thy sinnes, inforce not upon thy soule any unwillingnesse to be in God, wherefore doth God stoope so low, and labour by all these arguments heere, as that Christ is the Sonne of man, and that hee shall give it you, and that the Father hath Sealed him for that end, wherefore is all this, but to shew his willingnesse to receive thee? wherefore hath the Father Sealed Christ but in love to thee? Come in therefore, and then if you will seale to this truth, if you will beleeve, and cast your selves on Gods gratious promise even against doubting and distrust, you shall finde God sealing you by his Spirit, you shall finde his Spirit witnessing to your spirits that you are the sonnes of God.

Here then you see is sure footing for poor doubting souls to fasten upon, God the Father, the party offended, hath Sealed his Son, hath authorized him to save thee, if thou repent and come in; what are all thy sins and unworthiness to Christ, God-man, Sealed and authorized by the Father who is the party offended? if thou art willing to come in, bring all thy sins and oppose them to Christ God-man Sealed by the Father and they will vanish as a cloud. But (as I said before) if thou wilt not come in and ⟨p. 216⟩accept of this Saviour, if thou wilt not submit thy self to his government, thou sealest thy damnation.

Heere then you see is sure footing for poore doubting soules to fasten upon, God the Father, the party offended, hath Sealed his Sonne, hath authorized him to save thee, if thou repent and come in; what are all thy sins and unworthinesse to Christ, God-man, Sealed and authorized by the Father who is the partie offended? if thou art willing to come in, bring all thy sins and oppose them to Christ God-man Sealed by the Father and they will vanish as a cloud. But (as I said before) if thou wilt not come in and ⟨p. 216⟩accept of this Saviour, if thou wilt not submit thy selfe to his governement, thou sealest thy damnation.

Thus you see I have unfolded this blessed portion of Scripture, Christ Jesus and all the prerogatives and benefits that come by him, is the food that endureth to everlasting life: you see the arguments our blessed Saviour useth to enforce us to Labour after this food, it is food, it is food that endures, & it is food that endures to everlasting life, and he will give it, for him the Father hath Sealed and authorized so to do, he is both the gift and the giver, both the food and the inviter to the food, both the Priest and the Sacrifice. Labour therefore after this food.