B00698:155
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the…
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the work of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the privileges and degrees of it, with the signs to discern, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Gray's Inn. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the worke of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the priviledges and degrees of it, with the signes to discerne, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Grayes Inne. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.
London: printed by Thomas Harper for Lawrence Chapman, 1638
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Spirit is that witnesses with blood, and witnesses with water, and by ⟨p. 167⟩water, whatsoever of Christ is applied unto us, by the Spirit, but besides witnessing with these witnesses, the Spirit hath a distinct witness by way of enlarging the soul: which joy in the apprehension of Gods fatherly love: and Christs setting the soul at liberty. The Spirit doth not always witness unto us our condition by force of argument from sanctification, but sometimes immediately by way of presence; as the sight of a friend comforts without help of discourse: the very joy from sight prevents the use of discourse.
The Spirit is that witnesses with bloud, and witnesses with water, and by ⟨p. 167⟩water, whatsoever of Christ is applyed unto us, by the Spirit, but besides witnessing with these witnesses, the Spirit hath a distinct witnesse by way of inlarging the soule: which joy in the apprehension of Gods fatherly love: and Christs setting the soule at libertie. The Spirit doth not alwayes witnesse unto us our condition by force of argument from sanctification, but sometimes immediately by way of presence; as the sight of a friend comforts without helpe of discourse: the very joy from sight prevents the use of discourse.
This testimony of the Spirit containeth in it the force of all, word, promise, ⟨p. 168⟩oath, seal, &c. this is greater then the promise, as a seal is more then our hand; & as an oath is more then a mans bare word. The same that is said of Gods oath in comparison with his bare promise, may be said of this sealing in comparison of other testimonies. That as G O D was willing more abundantly to clear to the heirs of promise their salvation, he added an oath, Hebr. 6.18. So for the same end he added this his Spirit as a seal to the promise, and to the other testimonies, Our own graces indeed if we were watchful enough, would satisfy us: The fountain is open as to Hagar, but she seeth it not, &c. howsoever the Spirit,