Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/245

Rh His to ours, and so either disparage His sacraments, or else would make them means only, by which our faith might be kindled, to "ascend into heaven," and "bring down  from above," instead of being content diligently to cleanse our own hearts, and "keep His words," that so His gracious promise may be fulfilled—"My  will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him." (John xiv. 23.) This had been an important consideration, quite independent of the question, which were, in this instance, the right interpretation: for, as there could be no doubt which loved his most, the interpreter who found Him every where in the Old Testament prophecy, or he who found Him nowhere; so, also, could there be little, probably, between the character of mind, which looked joyously to the gift of the, through his  ordinance, and that which regarded any reference to that ordinance, lifeless and cold. There could be no doubt, I think, of this generally; although, as was before said, individuals might either "hold the truth in unrighteousness," or, being in error, might still derive food for their piety, from other truth in God's rich storehouse. Since, however, no error in Scripture can be unimportant, it may be well to consider a few points, which tend to shew, that the "sealing by Baptism" was here intended. First, then, it should be observed, that, in each case, St. Paul speaks of this "sealing" as a past action. "He who establisheth us with you in, and anointed us, is ; who, also, is He who sealed us (ὁ καὶ σφραγισάμενος), and gave the earnest of the in our hearts" (2 Cor. i. 22): "in whom ye also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in whom ye, having believed also, were sealed (