Thirdly, By the Spirit dwelling in us, we may be sure of eternal Salvation, Ephes. 1.13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our Inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchased Possession, unto the praise of his glory. In which Text there are two words that are to be considered; the Spirit is a seal, it is an earnest; a seal among men,1 is, 1. For Secrecy. 2. For Distinction. 3. For Authority. 4. For Certainty. A writing sealed is authentic, and for ensuring. It is an earnest; so also called, 2 Cor. 1.22. a Metaphor taken from buyers and sellers. An earnest among men, is part of payment, and though it be but small, yet it is sufficient to secure you of that which is of very great value. Though there be no commutative Justice betwixt God and the Creature, yet here it hath its weight. There is this difference betwixt an earnest and a pawn; A pawn might be fetched from his hands to whom it was committed to keep, but an earnest binds a man to stand to his agreement, or at least he must lose his earnest: But God will give the whole Inheritance, and will not lose his earnest. For our greater comfort,2 we may take notice of these particulars in this Text, and the 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. compared together. 1. The person sealing, the Father. 2. In whom, in Christ. 3. With what seal, the Spirit of Promise, where are all the persons in the Trinity making us sure of our Inheritance. 4. When, after the believed. 5. The end, subordinate, the certainty of our salvation, a seal, an earnest: ultimate, the praise of his glory. 6. How long this seal and earnest shall thus assure us, and that is, till we have the complete possession of what it is an earnest.
Thirdly, By the Spirit dwelling in us, wee may be sure of eternal Salvation, Ephes. 1.13, 14. In whom yee also trusted, after that ye heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that yee beleeved, yee were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our Inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchased Possession, unto the praise of his glory. In which Text there are two words that are to be considered; the Spirit is a seal, it is an earnest; a seal among men,1 is, 1. For Secrecy. 2. For Distinction. 3. For Authority. 4. For Certainty. A writing sealed is authentick, and for ensuring. It is an earnest; so also called, 2 Cor. 1.22. a Metaphor taken from buyers and sellers. An earnest among men, is part of payment, and though it be but small, yet it is sufficient to secure you of that which is of very great value. Though there be no commutative Justice betwixt God and the Creature, yet here it hath its weight. There is this difference betwixt an earnest and a pawn; A pawn might bee fetcht from his hands to whom it was committed to keep, but an earnest binds a man to stand to his agreement, or at least hee must lose his earnest: But God will give the whole Inheritance, and will not lose his earnest. For our greater comfort,2 wee may take notice of these particulars in this Text, and the 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. compared together. 1. The person sealing, the Father. 2. In whom, in Christ. 3. With what seal, the Spirit of Promise, where are all the persons in the Trinity making us sure of our Inheritance. 4. When, after ye beleeved. 5. The end, subordinate, the certainty of our salvation, a seal, an earnest: ultimate, the praise of his glory. 6. How long this seal and earnest shall thus assure us, and that is, till wee have the compleat possession of what it is an earnest.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew] Peculiariter dicitur pars aliqua persoluta pretii in venditione intervenientis, ut fides fiat reliquae persolvendae summae. Beza.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Peculiariter dicitur pars aliqua persoluta pretii in venditione intervenientis, ut fides fiat reliquae persolvendae summae. Beza.
