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The Seal and the Image

The _nature_ of sealing consists in the imparting of the image or character of the seal to the thing sealed. This is to seal a thing,—to stamp the character of the seal on it. In this sense, the effectual communication of the image of God unto us should be our sealing. The Spirit in believers, really communicating the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness, unto the soul, sealeth us. To have this stamp of the Holy Ghost, so as to be an evidence unto the soul that it is accepted with God, is to be sealed by the Spirit; taking the metaphor from the nature of sealing. And in this sense is our Saviour said to be sealed of God, John 4:27, even from that impression of the power, wisdom, and majesty of God that he had upon him in the discharge of his office.