New-York tribune., 1874-09-07
THE CHRISTIAN SEAL.

THE CHRISTIAN SEAL.
~, p 1na, 1,mi.ao, d. d. at TIE yrhape Bapti't Church
The Rev. DR.. Thomas Armitage preached at
the Fifth-aye Baptist Church on the "Questoh VI
Christian Privilege" His text was Epheslans' ~" %
And grieve the holy spirit OF God whereby 'e "
sealed unto the day Of redemption"
At the outset DR.. Armtage remarked that ne nau iu
tended to speak of another subject, when mas iak
occupied the public mind recently but believing 'na'
uob has already been said about II at this stage no
dessted. The word "seal," used by ST. Paul IN tne
text said Dr. Armitage, refers to an ancient custom
Seals held an important place In all ancient uanea'
tions. They Of various kinds some were ii"s'
and by them the owners signature was amheo W
ments as 1t Is to-day by writing. Inc oeh'e'9 y, ST
net ring or seal monarch to subject
the power Of the royal name, and gave the recipient
regal authority. This Is well illustrated, , II, IN
more modern times by the case OF OF n;h tne haf af
Of Essex, to whom Queen Elizabeth I'M, be Us
might be involved in political difficulties. The posses
of the ring saved the Ears fe DAVID M heart
is like wax it is melted IN the midst & OF ly mean
solomon says Set me seal upon thy poso' ood marked
with seal OF His love- as valued gem Is WI Chris IN
bosom Of monarch II is sweet though; & ,Ur M When
the seal IS used the wax becomes an an snn1 ln1s C3
so the seal of the Holy spirit enoes sT ra
man. imprnng its image upon IT, sealing ueuotes ad @
hcaton, we'll as transformation Inc seai Was mas h,nd
TO raty covenants and agreeme1ts MAKING with
his people and has ratified it with the OATH and scaled
it with 9s TSe WS4a GSs It
times called binding %nc@ carries the
idea Of pledge When God has put His spirit in your
heart that is the earnest which He gives you. nav
ing that you are absolutely certain OF inherting eteiha
lie No power can take 1t from you, for God has IN
sured II TO YOU He has sealed YOU, ana you are MS
ever He will not lose you The seal also denotes re-
cognitiOp Seals were used marks OF identlhcation
Men affixed their seals 10 their property 10 snow tn
it was their property, write our names In books
hell tn
they are ours When the seal was was affixed .t tho TO
property had an owner In the same way, God gives gives
His Holy Spirit Christians to identity them ana as
His servant is a sealed Christian. Wnen Christ was
tempted by the devil, when the world relscteu tn, anu
ME HIM, for have sealed HIM. This is my beloved
sJn, in whom am well pleased dhan,sr dnao rs Of a
saw another angel ascending from tine the etis fast,
ioud Voice 70 the four angels to whom it given to
hurt the earth and the sea, saying hur not tae eai W.
wants Of our God in their foreheads." God would not
allow the earth to blasted with lightning or shaken
with earthquakes, or the trees to be Injured
Tnen Tnea the they were safe~no,hng. could injure,
not be- injured or destroyed BY his SEAL imprinted on
their foreheads, God recognized them as ms own %
their doors were sprDked blood and the Passover
angel respected the great sign There is no mistaiug
those that Gods He puts the seal OF redemption
unon them that the world may know them, and He may
Know them ST. Paul was sealed by God after his mi
racuous conversion, that nothing could lnlure hi
Even the yper which out OF the nre ana ldseneu
upon his arm in isle OF his shpwreck was shaKen
off into the flames, and the wound healed at once
In Scotland last year, while steamlng up one OF the
great locks close by the shore, / saw great ped 0f
water lilies near the bank which were dscOlofei with
dust from road running Just above them All thelr
beauty was spoiled. AS the steamer passed, great
wave rolled the lilies, entirely suDlnerslnR them,
and exclaimed Oh, they are all broken III Pieces
bnf as be wave rolled back the lilies burst again upon
INV view riding gracefully upon the waters, radiant
with beauty and white as the driven snow. The only
effect OF the wave had been to wash away the dust and
hiring them out in all their virgin purity so with the
Christian soul sealed by God. IL cannot be destroyed
Int the dust of sin that 1t will all be washed
away and IL will be made tit TO stand anu live III Gods
presence. -
The seal also denotes protection. When Daniel was
cast into the hons den, and the stone rolled over
the mouth the Kings seal put IT, for the King
had decreed that should interfere with Daniel,
who was 70 he left entirely to the mercy OF the Wild
beasts so Plate had seal set the tomb OF Christ,
and no man dared touch il at the price OF his fe How
great privilege is then 10 be known as the sealed OF
God! Be careful OF yourselves and do not grleve God
in the things forbidden by HIN. Keep t1e seal perfect
in all its marks and all its cJnguratOns. Keep your
souls as you would like God have His property kept.
He has put sealed spirit in thy breast Keep sacred
Especiay do not be content with counterfeit seal
The devil IL a splendid kind Of devil. bat don't be te,
ceved by him. Accept only the true seal OF God ana
keep 1t safely, for 1t seals you unto redemption.