The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

3. Neither doth the beginning or first impression of the sealing depend upon their Faith, any otherwise, but as Believers are the subject of it, which is not to have any kind of dependence upon it, either as to its nature or use. Neither doth that place of the Apostle Fph. 1. 13. (After the Believed ye were sealed,) prove any such thing, unless this general axiom be first established, that all things which in order of nature, are before, and after, have the Connection of Cause, and effect, or at least of Condition, and Event between them; It proves indeed that their Believing is in order of nature, antecedent to their sealing, respecting the use of it here mentioned; but this proves not at all, that Faith is the condition of sealing: the bestowing of Faith, and the grant of this seal to establish it, being both acts depending merely, solely, & distinctly, on the free Grace of God in Christ; Though Faith in order of nature, go before Hope, yet is no Hope bestowed on men on the condition of Believing. The truth is, both Faith & Sealing, & all other spiritual Mercies, as to the Goodwill of God bestowing them, are at once granted us in Jesus Christ: but as to our reception of them, & the actual instating of our souls in the enjoyment of them, or rather as to the exerting of themselves in us, they have that order which either the nature of the things themselves requires, or the sovereign Will of God, hath allotted to them; neither doth sealing bespeak any Grace in us, but a peculiar improvement of the Grace bestowed on us. So that

3. Neither doth the begining or first impression of the sealing depend upon their Faith, any otherwise, but as Believers are the subject of it, which is not to have any kind of dependance upon it, either as to its nature or use. Neither doth that place of the Apostle Fph. 1. 13. (After ye Believed ye were sealed,) prove any such thing, unlesse this generall axiome be first established, that all things which in order of nature, are before, and after, have the Connexion of Cause, and effect, or at least of Condition, and Event between them; It proves indeed that their Believing is in order of nature, antecedent to their sealing, respecting the use of it here mentioned; but this proves not at all, that Faith is the condition of sealing: the bestowing of Faith, and the grant of this seale to establish it, being both acts depending meerely, solely, & distinctly, on the free Grace of God in Christ; Though Faith in order of nature, goe before Hope, yet is no Hope bestowed on men on the condition of Believing. The truth is, both Faith & Sealing, & all other spirituall Mercyes, as to the Goodwill of God bestowing them, are at once granted us in Jesus Christ: but as to our reception of them, & the actuall instating of our soules in the enjoyment of them, or rather as to the exerting of themselves in us, they have that order which either the nature of the things themselves requires, or the soveraigne Will of God, hath alotted to them; neither doth sealing bespeake any Grace in us, but a peculiar improvement of the Grace bestowed on us. So that