contemplativeI thought for fun I would quote some more of Richard Sibbes on the sealing work of the Holy Spirit.
"What is that stamp, then? to come to the matter more particularly, what is that that the Spirit seals us with, especially,-what is that work?
I answer, The Spirit works in this order, for the most part, and in some of these universally:
1. First, the Spirit doth, together with the word, which is the instrument of the Spirit, the chariot in which it is carried, convince us of the evil that is in us, and of the ill estate we are in by reason thereof. It convinceth is that we are sinners, and of the fearful estate that we are in by sin. This is the first work of the Spirit on a man in the state of nature,-it convinceth us of the ill that is in us, and of the ill due unto us, and thereupon it abaseth us. Therefore, it is called 'the Spirit of bondage,' Rom. viii.15, because it makes a man tremble and quake till he see his peace in Christ.
2. When the Spirit hath done that, then it convinceth a man by a better, by a sweeter light, discovering a remedy in Christ, who is sealed of God, to reconcile God and us. And as he enlighteneth the soul, convinceth it of the all-sufficiency that is in Christ, and the authority that he hath, being sent and sealed of God for that purpose, so he works on the affections, he inclines the heart to go to God in Christ, and to cast himself on him by faith.
Now, when the soul is thus convinced of the evil that is in us, and of the good that is in Christ, and with this convincing is inclined and moved by the Holy Spirit, as, indeed, the Holy Spirit doth all, then upon this the Spirit vouchsafeth a superadded work,-as the Spirit doth still add to his own work,-he adds a confirming work, which is here called 'sealing.' That seal is not faith, for the apostle saith, 'After you believed, ye were sealed,' Eph. 1.13. So that this sealing is not the work of faith, but it is a work of the Spirit upon faith, assuring the soul of its estate in grace. . ." pg 455 Richard Sibbes "Commentary On 2 Corinthians 1, ver. 22" Volume 3 THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" Ephesians 1:13
