A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the…

2. Christ knoweth them as they are the special Purchase of his own Blood. He knows whom he died for, and in the room and stead of; he knows what Sheep he hath bought and paid so dear for: The Foundation of God standeth sure; the Lord knoweth them that are ¹his. There is a certain Number who are built upon a Rock, upon a sure Foundation; these are sealed and confirmed by God's Eternal Decree of Election, and are the Price therefore of Christ's special Purchase, and as such he knows them from all others in the World.

1. 12 Tim. 2. 19.

3. He knows them as such, who have and do experience the Effects of his Death. He sees and knows they are his Sheep, as they have his Mark, his Image formed in them: for like as other Shepherds know their Sheep by the Mark they have upon them, so (to speak after the manner of Men) Jesus Christ may in this respect be said to know his Sheep, his Saints and People; Surely they are my People, Children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. I know ¹these are my People, I cannot but own them, they will keep my Covenant: I have renewed them, and they abide faithful to me, and will not deal falsely with me. In another place he says, Their ²Spot is not the Spot of my Children. These I know are none of my Sheep, their Spot, their Sin, their Iniquity are not such as are in my People; not Sins of Infirmity or common Frailties, but they have a contagious Spot upon them; they have none of my Image, my Mark, &c.

3. He knows them as such, who have and do experience the Effects of his Death. He sees and knows they are his Sheep, as they have his Mark, his Image formed in them: for like as other Shepherds know their Sheep by the Mark they have upon them, so (to speak after the manner of Men) Jesus Christ may in this respect be said to know his Sheep, his Saints and People; Surely they are my People, Children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. I know