Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

(1.) HEREBY he gives his Testimony unto them that they are his, owned by him, accepted with him, his Sons or Children; which is his Seal. For if they were not so, he would never have given his Holy Spirit unto them. And herein consists the greatest Testimony that God doth give, and the only Seal that he doth set unto any in this World. That this is Gods Testimony and Seal, the Apostle Peter proveth, Acts 15. 8, 9. For on the debate of that Question, Whether God approved and accepted of the humble Believers, although they observed not the Rites of Moses, he confirmeth that he did, with this Argument; God, saith he, which knoweth their Hearts bare them Witness; How did he do it? How did he set his Seal to them as his? Saith he, By giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us. Hereby God gives Testimony unto them. And lest any should suppose that it was only the Gifts ⟨p. 88⟩and Miraculous Operations of the Holy Ghost which he had respect unto, so as that this Sealing of God should consist therein alone, he adds, that his Gracious Operations also were no less an effect of this Witness which God gave unto them; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their Hearts by Faith. This therefore is that whereby God giveth his Testimony unto Believers, namely when he Seals them with his Spirit, or by the Communication of the Holy Spirit unto them. And this he doth in two Respects. For,

(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,