1First, It notes the hiding of a thing, or the keeping of it secret and close; that which is sealed, is also concealed (Isa. 8.16.) Bind up the Testimony, seal the Law among my disciples. There is a time wherein God commands the Law to be sealed, and the Testimony to be bound up, and that is a very sad time; for though there are ⟨p. 477⟩various apprehensions about the meaning of this command given the Prophet, yet the most probable intendment of it is, that God would not have him lose any more time in dealing with those faithless and profane scoffers of his message, but reserve those sacred mysteries, as secrets, to be communicated only to the faithful, who would with due reverence and faith religiously receive them. Seal the Law among, or for my disciples, that is, such as desire to learn, or have been taught and learned of me, and by learning are become spiritually skilful and learned, as the word is rendered (Isa. 50.4.) Woe to sinners when the Testimony is bound and the Law sealed; which is the import (I conceive) of that place in the same Prophet (Isa. 29.11.) And when in the Revelation (Chap. 4.1.) a Book sealed with seven seals was showed to John, he wept (vers. 4.) because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the Book, &c. implying, that the Book was full of divine secrets, hidden from the eyes or understandings of men, and so must have continued, if the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, had not prevailed to open the Book, and to lose the seven seals thereof. Sealed things are hidden things. Is not this (said the Lord, Deut. 32.34.) laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? That is, is it not kept close and hidden there? are not their cursed treasures of sin laid up among my righteous treasures of wrath? The Church (Cant. 4.12.) is called, a Fountain sealed, because the waters by which she is refreshed and made fruitful are a hidden thing to the world, or because the Church must keep her self apart and distinct from the profane and unbelieving world. That's one thing, we seal what we would hide or keep close.
1First, It notes the hiding of a thing, or the keeping of it secret and close; that which is sealed, is also concealed (Isa. 8.16.) Bind up the Testimony, seal the Law among my disciples. There is a time wherein God commands the Law to be sealed, and the Testimony to be bound up, and that is a very sad time; for though there are ⟨p. 477⟩various apprehensions about the meaning of this command given the Prophet, yet the most probable intendment of it is, that God would not have him lose any more time in dealing with those faithless and profane scoffers of his message, but reserve those sacred mysteries, as secrets, to be communicated only to the faithful, who would with due reverence and faith religiously receive them. Seal the Law among, or for my disciples, that is, such as desire to learn, or have been taught and learned of me, and by learning are become spiritually skilful and learned, as the word is rendred (Isa. 50.4.) Woe to sinners when the Testimony is bound and the Law sealed; which is the import (I conceive) of that place in the same Prophet (Isa. 29.11.) And when in the Revelation (Chap. 4.1.) a Book sealed with seven seals was shewed to John, he wept (vers. 4.) because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the Book, &c. implying, that the Book was full of divine secrets, hidden from the eyes or understandings of men, and so must have continued, if the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, had not prevailed to open the Book, and to lose the seven seals thereof. Sealed things are hidden things. Is not this (said the Lord, Deut. 32.34.) laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? That is, is it not kept close and hidden there? are not their cursed treasures of sin laid up among my righteous treasures of wrath? The Church (Cant. 4.12.) is called, a Fountain sealed, because the waters by which she is refreshed and made fruitful are a hidden thing to the world, or because the Church must keep her self apart and distinct from the prophane and unbelieving world. That's one thing, we seal what we would hide or keep close.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] Pro•rie claudere, occultare.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Pro•rie claudere, occultare.
