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

1. That God set up Jesus Christ as Mediator from Everlasting, as the Head and Spring of our Election; therefore it is said, We were chosen in him before the Foundation of the World. ¹It was the only Act of Love, and Free Grace of the Father, therefore not to be ascribed to the Merits of Jesus Christ: For though Christ hath merited our Salvation, yet he did not procure or merit our Election; for Christ himself was the Fruit of this Eternal Blessing and Privilege, it being then the sole Act of God's Sovereign Grace and Love. It follows,

1. 1Eph. 1. 4.

2. That all the Ways which were ordered in the Wisdom of God, for the accomplishing the Ends of Election, are of the Father's appointment also; for whatsoever Christ hath done in working out of our Redemption, it was according to the Purpose and Determinate Counsel of his own Will and Sovereign Goodness. Jesus Christ was first chosen, or elected, by the Father, as Head and Mediator, and only Foundation to bear up the whole Building, which the Almighty designed to raise: The Father's Love, did precede Christ's glorious Mission; therefore he was only of the Father's Designation; Who verily was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World, but was made manifest in these last Days. ¹Christ was first chosen as the Well-head of Grace and Glory, and then others were chosen in him, by and through whom they should be redeemed and raised to a State of Grace and Holiness here, and to Eternal Happiness in Heaven hereafter: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son, that he might be the First-born among many Brethren. ²To the Image of his Son, that is, to Christ's likeness as Mediator, and taking our Nature; not to Christ barely considered as God, for as Christ is God, he is no where saith to be the First-born among many Brethren. Now this Conformity being absolutely designed in Election, Christ, in the Contrivance and Intention of the Father, was the first Exemplar and Copy of it, or the main Centre, to which all must be brought that were given unto him; the Father setting him up, and electing him as Head of all that should be saved, or as the glorious Bridegroom, and therefore it was requisite he should be consulted about those who were to be the Members of his Body, and his own blessed Spouse for ever: And since Christ was also to suffer and undergo such Pain and Sorrow in the purchasing and redeeming of them, it was necessary he should not only freely assent and consent in the Choice of them, but also be certain of the obtaining and securing them all to and for himself for ever, and