Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

2. The End of sealing is twofold. 1. To confirm or ratify any grant or conveyance made in writing; In such cases men §. 12 set their seals to make good and confirm their grants, and when this is done they are irrevocable. Or to confirm the testimony that is given by any one of the truth of any thing. Such was the manner among the Jews: when any one had given true witness unto any thing or matter, and it was received by the Judges; they instantly set their seals to it, to confirm it in Judgement. Hence is it said, that he who receives the Testimony of Christ, sets to his seal that God is true Joh 3. 33, The promise is the great grant and conveyance of life and Salvation in Christ to the souls of Believers. That we may have full assurance of the truth and irrevocableness of the promise, God gives us the Spirit to satisfy our hearts of it; and thence is he said to seal us; by Assuring our hearts of those promises, and their stability. But though many Expositors go this way, I do not see how this can consist with the very meaning of the word: It is not said that the promise is sealed, but that we are sealed, and when we seal a deed or grant to any one, we do not say the man is sealed, but the deed or grant.

2. The End of sealing is twofold. 1. To confirme or ratify any grant or conveiance made in writing; In such cases men §. 12 set their seales to make good and confirme their grants, and when this is done they are irrevocable. Or to confirme the testimony that is given by any one of the truth of any thing. Such was the manner among the Jewes: when any one had given true witnesse unto any thing or matter, and it was received by the Judges; they instantly set their seales to it, to confirme it in Judgement. Hence is it said, that he who receives the Testimony of Christ, sets to his seale that God is true Joh 3. 33, The promise is the great grant and conveiance of life and Salvation in Christ to the soules of Believers. That we may have full assurance of the truth and irrevocablenesse of the promise, God gives us the Spirit to satisfy our hearts of it; and thence is he said to seale us; by Assuring our hearts of those promises, and their stability. But though many Expositors goe this way, I doe not see how this can consist with the very meaning of the word: It is not said that the promise is sealed, but that we are sealed, and when we seale a deed or grant to any one, we doe not say the man is sealed, but the deed or grant.