"Again," says St. Chrysostom, "the being sealed is a mark of great Providence; that we are not 'set apart' only, not taken by lot' only (λnp we ñva) but 'sealed.' For as one who would make manifest those who fell to him, so also God set us apart that we should believe, sealed us, that we might inherit the things to come." "Again through the things past he establishes those to come. For if it is He, Who establisheth us to Christ, (i. e. Who suffereth us not to be broken from the faith toward Christ,) and 'He also who anointed us, and gave the Spirit in our hearts,' how shall He not give us the things to come? for if He gave the beginnings and the foundations, and the root and the fountain, i. e. the true knowledge of Himself, the participation of the Spirit, how shall He not give the result thereof? For if these things are given for the sake of the other, much more shall he Who gave them, give those also; and if he gave these things to us being enemies, much more shall He bestow those upon us having become friends. Wherefore He does not simply say, 'the Spirit,' but calls it 'the earnest,' that having the earnest, you may be of good cheer as to the whole. For unless he had purposed to give the whole, He would not have given the earnest; to be in vain and fruitless!" This testimony of the Fathers is again borne out by the Liturgies of the universal Church. East and West agree in calling Baptism a seal, an impress, a guardian mark to those baptized; the baptized themselves, (in the language of the Revelations,)" the sealed." The Liturgies, variously as they use the term, still harmonize wholly with the Fathers, using it in exactly the same references, and thus the more evince how Christian Antiquity was of one mind, the agreement of the Fathers attesting the antiquity of the liturgies, the consent of the liturgies proving the more that we have, in this consent of the Fathers, not an accidental agreement of the opinions of individuals, but the voice of their respective Churches. The Liturgies use the word "seal," or "sealed," chiefly of the great sacramental act of the Gentiles would repent, we receive them into the Church, that they may hear the word, but do not communicate with them, until, having received the seal, they are consecrated,") says, "both words mean Baptism. For the Greek Fathers call the washing of regeneration," the seal,' 'the seal of the Gospel,' the Master's, or the Lord's seal, or in the Lord, or in Christ, the seal of the faith, the impress of the truth, the seal of the second life, the seal of the Names of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST, the saving impress, the Divine, holy, mystical, spiritual, heavenly, royal, immortalizing, inviolable, indissoluble, unassailable seal, &c. to seal, to seal by Baptism; the baptized they call the sealed, the unbaptized, the unsealed. The Latins call it the mark (signum,) the mark of Faith, the mark of Christ, the seal (sigillum,) the impress (signaculum,) the impress of Faith, the sealing up (obsignatio,) of Faith, or of Baptism. They say, to mark (signare,) to seal up (obsignare,) to seal surely (consignare,) by Baptism." Baptism itself; but they regard that great mystery, as casting a portion of its radiance before and behind, and giving efficacy to other is * In the following extracts the word "seal," has been kept for the Syriac 1506 or 10 Am "mark," for O;, but this has been for the sake of precision only; the meaning is the same; only that; rather the "impress" of the seal, the image impressed upon the soul, and so corresponding to the "character" of Latin Theology. In Bar Bahlul it is explained by and the same word in Arabic, which occurs also in the form 9. In Assem. ceived, when 28, the Baptism itself. Bibl. or. t. i. p. 31. S. Ephraem is related to have re 66 ;:!"seal of Baptism," i. e. The three words are joined, as synonymous, and as belonging to Baptism, in a hymn of S. Ephraem, on the oil, "Dear is the oil of the Holy Spirit, and as His minister and disciple, cleaveth it unto Him, wherewith hemarked priests and Christs for the Holy Spirit with oil impresses His mark upon His sheep; for as the seal-ring impresseth its mark on the wax, so is the hidden seal (1) of the Spirit stamped (O) by oil upon the bodies of those anointed in Baptism, and in Baptism they are marked" (1; Ass. ib. p. 94. Old Gallican. Consecration of Font. (Ass. ii. 40.) "that whosoever is baptized in it, may become a temple of the living God, through the remission of sins, in the name of God the Father Almighty, and Christ Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit, (who will judge the world by fire) through this seal which abideth for ever and ever.' Milan. In the Church of Milan, at least, in the time of St. Ambrose, a portion containing 2 Cor. i. 22. was read as a baptismal lesson. See the end of Note E. Old Gothic. Blessing of the People. (i. 37.) "Let the heavenly seal which Thou hast vouchsafed to bestow upon them, O Lord, continue in them †, that, protected by the Holy Spirit, they may be thought worthy to receive increase of Faith, protection of soul, health of bodies. Grant then the riches of an unspotted life, &c." 66 make him fit to receive, pure and without spot, the light and seal of Thy Christ, and the gift of Thy Holy and Consubstantial Spirit. acts connected with it. The Church, whose doctrines they express, regards our Lord, as "favorably allowing this charitable work of Greek. (i. 337.) "make him a reason-endowed sheep of the flock of Thy Christ, an honorable member of Thy Church, a son and heir of Thy kingdom, that walking according to Thy commandments, and keeping the seal unbroken, and to the end preserving the garment undefiled, he may attain to the blessedness of the saints in Thy kingdom." Coptic. "Make him a sheep of the Holy flock of Thy Christ, an elect member of the Church Catholic, a clean vessel, a child of light, an heir of Thy kingdom, that he may strive, according to the commands of Christ, and keep the seal immovable, and preserve the garment incorruptible, and obtain the felicity of Thy chosen, through Jesus Christ our Lord, through Whom, &c." Revised Syriac. 66 After part quoted above, p. 38. to the end that they may be sheep of the true Shepherd, sealed with the seal of Thy Holy Spirit, and honorable members in the body of Thy Holy Church, that they may be worthy of the blessed hope, and of the appearing of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." Preface to Prayer. (i. 221.) "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, the King of Heaven, undefilable, invisible, the only wise God, in Whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named; through Whom we have received access; in Whom we have been sealed unto the day of Redemption, Who in Unity is conceived, and in Trinity is known, and believed, and adored, and glorified." 66 Prayer. (i. 223.) Now then, O Lord, lover of man, keep these Thy servants and Thy maidens, who have known Thy truth, and approach to receive the mark of adoption of sons." 66 Ib. i. 227,8. Apostolic, by Severus, ii. 272. Maronite, by James of Sarug, ii.335. -these Thy servants who are prepared for Holy Baptism, that in Thee they may be marked to life, and born to spirituality, and be written in the kindred of Thy promises, and so all the hurtfulness of the Adversary may depart far from their life, and Thy seal may be to them a cleansing and a preservative." 66 Chaldee-Malabar. Bidding Prayer by Deacon. (i. 178, 9.) -He delivered this Sacrament of Holy Baptism to the holy Apostles when He sent them to call the people, and to the conversion of men; and commanded them to make it the beginning of the faith,-and the sign of them who were converted from error to the acknowledgment of the truth. But the theirs, in bringing new members to Him, and so, believing that He anticipated a portion of His grace, to preserve them during the inter Apostles handed down this form to the priests and rulers of the flock of Christ, to be to them a mark,* and an instruction in all generations. And now behold! many are prepared to receive the gift of Baptism for the confession of the precious Passion of our Saviour, their soul in faith and love conformable to Him, who by regeneration renewed our nature, and remitted our sin, and raised our fall, and they wait for the holy seal, and through the Baptism of remission to become members, and conformed to Him who is the Head of the Church, and first-born from the dead." Thanksgiving for Baptism and Intercessory, ib. i. 183. "Let us pray for these our sons and daughters, who are about to receive the mark of life, renouncing Satan and all his works." Prayer for Infants, Eight Days' Old. Greek, i. 121. Antioch, ib. i. 203. let the light of Thy countenance be marked upon this Thy servant, and let the Cross of Thy Only-Begotten Son be marked upon his heart and thoughts, that he may flee the vanity of the world, &c." “Grant that Thy holy Name may abide upon him, that at the fitting hour he may come to Thy Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and be perfected by the awful Sacraments of Thy Christ, and walk according to thy precepts, and preserve unhurt the seal, and obtain the blessedness of thy chosen, through the goodness, and loving-kindness towards man of Thy Only-Begotten Son, with whom Blessed art Thou, with Thy All-Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now, 66 &c." Thou, Lord God, stretch forth the right hand of Thy mercy over this Thy maid-servant, who is prepared for Holy Baptism, and sanctify and cleanse, and brighten her by Thy sin-remitting hyssop, and bless and keep Thy people and Thy heritage; and as by Thy Baptism Thou hast clothed us with the robe of glory, and the mark of the Holy Life-giving Spirit, &c." Antioch, by Severus. "O Lord God, who entrustedst this spiritual ministry of Holy Baptism to the godly Apostles, perfect now by us, Thy defiled and sinful servants, this soul, which is prepared for Holy Baptism, that it may be adorned by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Who is given to it from Thee, that by Him it may be marked unto life, and written among the children of grace, and raise to Thee befitting praise, and to Thy Father, and to Thy Holy Spirit." Maronite, by James, Bishop of Sarug. "God, who hath called thee by His grace, and brought thee by His mercy "This hath made us a royal flock." Chrys. ad Eph. iv. "Through the all-holy Spirit we have been made a divine flock." Theod. ad Eph. iv. See also Note C. val until they are fully prepared for Baptism, they ventured to affix His "seal" on the Catechumens; or, after Baptism,† they again * to receive the holy mark, He fit thee for the garment of redemption from the waters of Baptism, that thou mayest be clothed with the robe of glory, through the descent of the Holy Spirit, and be made meet for the adoption of sons through Holy Baptism for ever.' Chaldee-Malabar. Prayer on the Consecration of Oil to be mingled with the Water of Baptism. (ii. 196, 7.) "Now then also, O Lord, let that great and divine Sacrament be perfected through Thy grace, and may grace from the gift of Thy Holy Spirit come and dwell and abide upon this oil, and bless it, and seal it, and sanctify it, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and let this oil of anointing be, by the power of Thy grace, such, that it may impart to those who are anointed therewith in the life-giving impress, given in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST, perfect and true holiness, and the high participation in the kingdom of Heaven, in this Baptism, wherewith he is baptized in the likeness of the Passion, and Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." On pouring the Oil into the Font. (ib. 201.) "These waters are signed and sanctified with the holy oil, that they may become a new womb, bearing a spiritual birth through sin-remitting Baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for ever and Syriac Hymn in Liturgy of Severus. (ii. 299.) Jerusalem. (ii. 237, 243, 260.) "Descend, our brother who art sealed." *Old Ambrosian. Signing with Cross after Exorcism; (ii. 45, 50.) "Receive the sign of the cross, keep the Divine commands; to-day thou art re-born by the word of God, and formed by heavenly light. Now, then, look for the heavenly promises, and the coming of God Almighty, that thou mayest hope for the coming of the Word incarnate, born of a Virgin, announced to believers, by invocation of Whom thou art illuminated, and by whose seal thou art marked in the forehead by this mark which shall not be effaced, in the Name of † God the Father Almighty, and in the Name of † Jesus Christ, His Son, who shall come to judge quick and dead, and the world by fire. Amen. "Grant that the inscription of the mark of the holy † cross of Thy Only-Begotten, may protect this little one, ignorant of ill, &c." See further p. 60. Old Roman. Sacramentary of Gelassius (MS. of 7th cent. Ass. i. 4, 5.) Gregorian (ib. p.23,) Tours (9th cent. ib. p. 44.) Beauvais (10th cent. p. 47.) Others, p. 49, † See p. 122. |