Holy Spirit, in spiritual help, comfort, and illumination, to assure him of these promises by an earnest. And therefore, in the first chapter of this Epistle (ver. 13), St. Paul tells the Ephesians, that "after they had believed in Christ, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

When men solemnly assert their property in a thing, they stamp it with their seal. So God asserts his property in the Christian, and denotes his peculiar care of him to all eternity, by sealing him with the mark of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Thus St. Paul tells the Corinthians, that God had sealed them, and given them the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts.

When men set apart from common use, and lay up in careful store, vessels containing any rare or precious things, (as rich perfumes, costly liquors,) they set a seal upon them. The Christian is a vessel of sanctification, election, and honour, containing "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," though this treasure be in earthen vessels. And God accordingly acknowledges him as precious, by sealing him with his Holy Spirit.

Of this seal we have all received the outward and visible print in our baptism. And the question with us is, have we it abiding on our souls

and spirits? Do we there exhibit tokens of the Holy Spirit of God? Is there his mark to be seen, so that none can mistake us as belonging to any one else than God Almighty? Are we living so that it can be said of us, There is a man of God? Not so, assuredly, if we be careless, unwatchful, inattentive to his ordinances, neglectful of his commandments.

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And yet the possession of this mark is every thing to us. The text tells us, that the sealing is for the day of redemption. That is, on the great day of redemption of our bodies from corruption and death, all that shall then be distinguished by this seal shall be acknowledged as God's precious property, and shall be laid for eternity in his heavenly treasure-house, saved from the judgment which shall then come upon the earth, and destroy all such as have not this mark upon them. Of this awful scene we have a lively representation in the seventh chapter of Revelation, where the destroying angels are bidden to suspend their dreadful work, until the servants of God shall have been sealed in their foreheads.

On that day, therefore, if it is to be a day of salvation, we must have this seal visible upon

us.

And how shall it be visible then, if it be not visible now? The mark of the water of baptism has long passed away from our bodies, and no one in his senses would rest all his

hopes upon that. But where is the inward

mark, assured by the answer of a good conscience towards God? This is that which is required to entitle us to the inheritance of eternal life; by this we must be stamped for salvation. And therefore our business is to have a good conscience, void of offence toward God and toward man, with faith unfeigned. And that can be obtained only by a faithful stewardship of the many and merciful means with which God has supplied us for the work of salvation, through the gift of his Holy Spirit. A man must be able to answer that he is diligently using them, not carelessly abusing them. He must be bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, filled with the fruits of righteousness, and not yielding the seed of the unprofitable and hurtful weeds of forgetfulness of God, and devotion to the sinful service of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Only think, therefore, what a high calling we have received. O, shall we make Almighty God, who hath sealed us with his Holy Spirit, guilty of the folly of the Pharisees, who sealed a stone, when they thought to make sure the sepulchre of our Lord? Shall we be as hard, as insensible as that stone? Shall not the glorious sealed with his Spirit,

promises, which He hath awake the sleeper? Shall not the dreadful threats which have come from his mouth, alarm and rouse him? Is it a light thing to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, wilfully to break and

cast off his seal by the unbelief of careless living? Can there be greater madness of folly, than to lose the mark which alone shall avail to save us on the day of redemption? Who shall tell the shame and despair of him, who shall on that day be found with no seal on his forehead, to save him from the hands that shall hurl him into the pit? And what tongue shall describe the blessedness of him, who, having that seal, shall be forthwith admitted into the company which is arrayed in white robes and bears palms in its hands, and stands before the throne of God in adoration and worship for ever?

SERMON XXIII.

THE COURSE OF SIN.

MARK VI. 26.

"And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her."

It would not be easy to find a more remarkable example of the rapid course of deadly sin than that which is recorded here. It began with Herod's admiration of a woman's dancing (which in the East has always been of a character unfit for pure eyes), and ended in his putting to death a prophet of God, in murdering the forerunner of Christ. What wonder if he afterwards sought the life of Christ Himself, and joined Pilate and his soldiers in treating Him with cruel mockery? It will be very instructive to mark the steps of this dreadful course. Intoxicated with his sinful admiration, Herod ventured, on so improper an occasion, in such improper company, in such an improper state of mind, to take the name of the living