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

2. And further, to make good the first Part of what I have ¹laid down, viz. That there is such a particular Election; what lies more clear in the Word of God, and the Election of Jacob, I shall here first mention, as a full Proof of what I say; For the ²Children being not yet Born, neither having done Good or Evil, that the Purpose of God, according to Election might stand, not of Works, but of him that calleth. Here the Apostle designedly or on purpose confirms, not only the Doctrine of Personal Election, but also that of Preterition, of a passing by, or rejection of the other; and all resulting from the Eternal Purpose and Good Pleasure of God's Will; As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. ³The main scope of Paul in this place is to show, that God hath not cast off all Israel, that is, those who are the true Israel, or such who are the Children of the Promise, or that do belong to Christ according to the Election of Grace; see 5, 6, 7, 8 Verses: therefore they that run the Love of God and Election here spoken of, to the Posterity of Jacob, and Reprobation to the Posterity of Esau, and will not have it to be understood of their particular Persons, do palpably abuse the sacred Text and Drift of the Holy Ghost. Now that all Men may know that Election doth run to, or take hold of particular Persons, and that not for any foreseen Faith or Holiness in them, Paul saith, The Children being not yet born, neither having done Good or Evil. And therefore adds, not of Works, that is, of foreseen Worthiness or Desert in Jacob, but that the Purpose of God, according to Election might stand, (that is, stand firm as an Act of God's Sovereign Love and Grace only) and abide a blessed Truth against all the Opposition and Cavils of cloudy Minds. I might have mentioned Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, and others; also Jeremiah, of whom God says, Before I ⁴formed thee in the Belly, I knew thee; that is, I knew thee to be one of them that I had chosen and given to my Son, or one of mine ⟨p. 173⟩Elect Ones; and I sanctified and ordained thee a Prophet.