Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 1:14

"which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of [God`s] own possession, unto the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:14 (ASV)

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The Holy Ghost is first the seal, and next the earnest. We all know what an earnest is. It is different from a pledge. A pledge is given, and then it is taken back again when the stipulation is carried out, but an earnest is part of what is to be received ultimately. The man who receives an earnest of his wage gets a few shillings, say, on Thursday, instead of taking all on Saturday. He never returns that. It is a part of his wage. And so the Holy Ghost is a part of him.

When we have got him, we have got Christ.

"You are the earnest of his love,
The pledge of joys to come;
And your soft wings, Celestial Dove,
Shall safely convey me home."