to remain long upon the conscience. The moment there is the slightest consciousness of a wound received, take it to the blood of Christ. The moment a mist dims the eye of faith, so that thou canst not see clearly the smile of thy Father's countenance, take it that instant to the blood of atonement. Let there be no distance between God and thy soul. Sin separates. But, sin immediately confessed, mourned over, and forsaken, brings God and the soul together in sweet, close, and holy fellowship. O the oneness of God and the believer in the sin-pardoning Christ! Who can know it ?—He only who has experienced it. To cherish, then, the abiding sense of this holy, loving oneness, the believer must build his house in the fountain. He must wash daily in the brazen laver that is without-then, entering in within the veil, he may "draw near" the mercy-seat, and ask what he will of Him that dwelleth between the cherubim. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high-priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Heb. x. 19-22.

Thank God for the smallest victory gained. Praise him for any evidence that sin has not entire dominion. Every fresh triumph achieved over some strong and easily-besetting infirmity is a glorious battle won. No victory that ever flushed the cheek of an Alexander or a Cæsar, may once be compared with his, who, in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, overcomes a single corruption. If "he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that

taketh a city," then, he who masters one corruption of his nature, has more real glory than the greatest earthly conqueror that ever lived. O how God is glorified · how Jesus is honoured-how the Spirit is magnified, in the slaying of one spiritual enemy at the foot of the cross! Cheer up, precious soul! You have every encouragement to persevere in the great business of sanctification. True, it is a hard fight,—true, it is a severe and painful contest, but the victory is yours! the "Captain of your salvation" has fought and conquered for you, and now sits upon his throne of glory, cheering you on, and supplying you with all needed strength for the warfare in which you are engaged. Then "fight the good fight of faith"-"quit you like men"-" be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus"-for you shall at length "overcome through the blood of the Lamb," and be "more than conquerors [triumphant] through him that hath loved us." Here, beneath the cross, would I breathe for you the desire and the prayer once offered by the apostle of the Gentiles in behalf of the church of the Thessalonians, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen and amen.

CHAPTER VI.

THE SEALING OF THE SPIRIT.

THE BELIEVER, AN EPISTLE.

"Ye are our epistle.”—2 Cor. iii. 2.

"In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”—Eph. i. 13.

WHAT an inestimable gift is God the Holy Spirit, and how vast is his work! Each successive step we take in its development, does but more deeply convince the mind of this. New rays of light are reflected, new aspects of importance present themselves, and new features of interest and beauty are brought to view, as we pursue our research into this essential and important department of Divine truth. The more thoroughly and prayerfully we are led to investigate the operations of the Spirit upon the soul, especially if we watch narrowly his work in our hearts, the more powerfully will the conviction press itself upon the mind, that all real advance in Divine knowledge, in righteousness, joy, and peace, is inseparably connected with his indwelling and sanctifying power. In the former chapter, we endeavoured to unfold this. We have seen him as the Author and Finisher of holiness in the soul-beginning the great work, carrying it forward, strengthening it when feeble, reviving it when drooping, and thus meetening the believer for the "inheritance of the saints in light." Closely connected with this part

of his work is his sealing operation. As various opinions have obtained respecting the nature of the Spirit's sealing, as it is a subject of a highly spiritual and practical tendency, and, to an inquirer after a more perfect knowledge of the truth, of much importance, we enter upon the discussion of the subject the more readily, and, we trust, with earnest prayer for his Divine assistance in unfolding it.

What do we understand by the sealing of the Spirit? What does the word of God teach upon the subject? There are various passages in which the same figure is employed, but which do not convey the idea we ascribe to his present operation. For example, there is a sealing spoken of in 2 Tim. ii. 19: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." We think it clear that the seal here alluded to has respect to the Father's sealing his people in election, with the seal of his foreknowledge, which, of course, is an operation anterior to the existence of faith in the soul, and is within himself, and not upon them. It is, so to speak, his secret designation of his people, known especially and only to himself.

There is also a sealing spoken of in Sol. Song viii. 6: "Set me as a scal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm for love is strong as death." Equally clear is it that this cannot refer to the work of the Spirit, but to Christ's strong and unchangeable love to his people. They are set as a seal upon his heart, the dwelling-place of love, and upon his arm, the instrument of power; unchangeable love and omnipotent power being pledged for their eternal security. As a seal set upon his heart, and worn upon his arm, they are precious to, and valued by, him.

Nor are we to interpret the sealing under consideration to mean the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit; for it is a remarkable fact, already alluded to,—and it speaks solemnly to those who are forming a higher estimate of gifts than of graces, that the Corinthian church, the most distinguished for its possession of the gifts of the Spirit, was at the same time most remarkable for its lack of the sanctifying graces of the Spirit. It was the most gifted, but at the same time least holy community gathered and planted by the apostles.

The question still recurs, what are we to understand by the sealing of the Spirit? It is that act of the Holy Spirit, by which the work of grace is deepened in the heart of the believer, so that he has an increasing and abiding conviction of his acceptance in Jesus, and his adoption into the family of God. It is a clearer and more undoubted manifestation of Christ to the soul, a larger degree of the sanctifying, witnessing, and anointing influences of the Holy Ghost,-evidencing itself in a growing holiness of character. Let us not be misunderstood. We speak not of some peculiar and sudden impulse on the mind, -of some immediate suggestion or revelation to the soul, some vision of the night, or voice in the air.* No: we speak of a growth in the knowledge of Christ,-in sanctification of the heart, in holiness of life, — in an increasing and abiding moral certainty of the believer's "calling and election." "In

* We would suggest to those afflicted with this or a like infirmity, that "Edwards on the Religious Affections," has been signally honoured by the Spirit in exploding sentiments so contrary to the word of God, and so disastrous in their influence upon the mind. It should be read, however, with much prayer for the teaching of the Spirit, and "looking unto Jesus."