p. 30 | THE SEALING TIME by Benjamin Clark

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jun 24, 1852

THE SEALING TIME.

By Benjamin Clark

BY BENJ. CLARK.

To say, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples," [Isa. viii, 16,] shows that there is a time when the law of God is not sealed—is not confirmed among the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. And to find when this time is, we must continue to look at Isa. viii, 19, 20—22. "And when they [the spiritual rappers] shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them."

We see by this scripture, first, that the law of God is not sealed,—that it is not confirmed among the great body of disciples, and this at the very time when the living are seeking to the dead to find out matters and things. Second, that this is the very time when the true servants of God are in a special manner called upon to seal or confirm the law of God among the disciples. Third, that if they do not repent, but continue on (as they have done) to speak not according to the law of God,—not according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, (both of which always call the seventh, and not the first day of the week, "the Sabbath day,") "it is because there is no light in them. And they shall pass through it hardly bestead [not profited] and hungry: [not having the blessing:] and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves (in trying to make out that the law of God is changed or done away) and curse their king and their God, and look upward.—And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness."

But there are different kinds of professed disciples of our Lord. One kind are very ready to shape their religion to suit the times—very ready when they hear "all kinds of music" [Dan. iii, 7] to fall down and worship the most popular image of man's invention. These having their hearts so hardened in sin, (which "is the transgression of the law,") or their conscience so "seared with a hot iron" (their forehead so hardened against the truth) [Eze. iii, 7, 8, 9] that the "seal of the living God" will seem to have no impression upon them. They have hardened their forehead against that "law of the Lord which is perfect converting the soul"—that law which "is holy and just and good." How then can the law be sealed or confirmed among such a people who delight not in the law of God after the inward man?

But there are another kind of professed disciples for which we thank God, and take courage, who are honest hearted; whose conscience is so far from being seared that they can "sigh and cry" for all the abominations that are done in the earth. Eze. ix, 4.—These are ready to receive the impression so soon as the light of truth opens to their understanding "the great things of God's law." They are not only willing to have it written in their forehead as the rule of their conduct, but they ask to have it written in the heart, every jot and tittle of it, as well as in the mind. These take great "delight in the law of God after the inward man;" they love the law of God more than their own life; [Dan. iii, 17;] for they know by happy experience that "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." And although Christ is "made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption," yet it is said, "Blessed are they that do his [God's] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs and sorcerers," such as transgress the commandments of God.

Now is the sealing time. Now may those who receive the love of the truth [2 Thess. ii, 10] be "sealed with the holy Spirit of promise." Eph. i, 13. Sealed with the "seal of the living God"—sealed forever with the love of the truth. Confirmed in the "commandments of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." To whom be glory, power and dominion for ever. Amen.