(2.) THIS is that whereby he giveth Believers Assurance of their Relation unto him, of their Interest in him, of his Love and Favour to them. It hath been generally conceived that this Sealing with the Spirit, is that which gives Assurance unto Believers; and so indeed it doth, although the way whereby it doth it, hath not been rightly apprehended. And therefore none have been able to declare the especial Nature of that Act of the Spirit whereby he Seals us, whence such Assurance should ensue. But it is indeed not any Act of the Spirit in us that is the Ground of our Assurance, but the Communication of the Spirit unto us. This the Apostle plainly testifieth, 1 John 3. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. That God abideth in us and we in him, is the subject matter of our Assurance; This we know, saith the Apostle; which expresseth the highest Assurance we are capable of in this World. And how do we know it? Even by the Spirit which he hath given unto us. But it may be, the sense of these words may be, that the Spirit which God gives us doth by some especial Work of his, effect this Assurance in us; and so it is not his being given ⟨p. 89⟩unto us, but some especial Work of his in us, that is the Ground of our Assurance, and consequently our Sealing. I do not deny such an especial Work of the Spirit, as shall be afterwards declared; but I judge that it is the Communication of the Spirit, himself unto us that is here intended. For so the Apostle declares his sense to be, Chap. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in God, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. This is the great Evidence, the great Ground of Assurance which we have, that God hath taken us into a near and dear Relation unto himself, because he hath given us of his Spirit; that great and Heavenly Gift which he will impart unto no others. And indeed on this one Hinge depends the whole Case of that Assurance which Believers are capable of. If the Spirit of God dwell in us, we are his; But if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his, Rom. 8, 9. Hereon alone depends the Determination of our especial Relation unto God. By this therefore doth God Seal Believers; and therein gives them Assurance of his Love. And this is to be the sole Rule of your self-Examination whether you are Sealed of God or no.
(2.) THIS is that whereby he giveth Believers Assurance of their Relation unto him, of their Interest in him, of his Love and Favour to them. It hath been generally conceived that this Sealing with the Spirit, is that which gives Assurance unto Believers; and so indeed it doth, although the way whereby it doth it, hath not been rightly apprehended. And therefore none have been able to declare the especial Nature of that Act of the Spirit whereby he Seals us, whence such Assurance should ensue. But it is indeed not any Act of the Spirit in us that is the Ground of our Assurance, but the Communication of the Spirit unto us. This the Apostle plainly testifieth, 1 John 3. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. That God abideth in us and we in him, is the subject matter of our Assurance; This we know, saith the Apostle; which expresseth the highest Assurance we are capable of in this World. And how do we know it? Even by the Spirit which he hath given unto us. But it may be, the sence of these words may be, that the Spirit which God gives us doth by some especial Work of his, effect this Assurance in us; and so it is not his being given ⟨p. 89⟩unto us, but some especial Work of his in us, that is the Ground of our Assurance, and consequently our Sealing. I do not deny such an especial Work of the Spirit, as shall be afterwards declared; but I judge that it is the Communication of the Spirit, himself unto us that is here intended. For so the Apostle declares his sence to be, Chap. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in God, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. This is the great Evidence, the great Ground of Assurance which we have, that God hath taken us into a near and dear Relation unto himself, because he hath given us of his Spirit; that great and Heavenly Gift which he will impart unto no others. And indeed on this one Hinge depends the whole Case of that Assurance which Believers are capable of. If the Spirit of God dwell in us, we are his; But if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his, Rom. 8, 9. Hereon alone depends the Determination of our especial Relation unto God. By this therefore doth God Seal Believers; and therein gives them Assurance of his Love. And this is to be the sole Rule of your self-Examination whether you are Sealed of God or no.
