This difference is founded in an untruth: for it is untrue, that the Covenant given to Abraham was National, it was rather domesticall at first: and did not comprehend the whole Nation of any of Abraham's seed, till Jacobs time. And Jacob speaketh of his blessing (which was a proper adjunct, and peculiar privilege of the Covenant) that it did exceed the blessing, and so the Covenant) of his progenitors, Gen. 49.26. For whereas in Abraham's house, though Isaac was received to the blessing of continuance in the Covenant, yet Ismael and the seed of Keturah were excluded: and in Isaac's house, though Jacob inherited the blessing, yet Esau was excluded, yet in Jacobs family all his sons were received to the blessing of continuance under the outward dispensation of the Covenant, and not themselves only, but all their posterity, the whole twelve Tribes, which proceeded from them. Now it is not said in Scripture, that the blessing of Jacob is come upon the Gentiles, (for then none of our posterity might cut themselves off from the outward dispensation of the Covenant, and then our Covenant would be National, and admit all of the Nation to the seals thereof) but the Scripture saith, that the blessing of Abraham (and so the Covenant of Abraham) is come upon the Gentiles, Gal. 3.14. that is, upon the believing Gentiles, and their seed, whereby it cometh to pass, that believing Gentiles, and their Infant-seed are admitted to the Covenant, and to the seal of the Covenant, as Abraham and his Infant seed were: But if when they be grown up to years, they shall grow to mock and sleight the Covenant, as Ismael and Esau did, then they and their seed are cast out of the Covenant, and that keepeth the Covenant from being national. And so it was in Abraham's time, & so it is now.
This difference is founded in an untruth: for it is untrue, that the Covenant given to Abraham was Nationall, it was rather domesticall at first: and did not comprehend the whole Nation of any of Abrahams seed, till Iacobs time. And Iacob speaketh of his blessing (which was a proper adjunct, and peculiar priviledge of the Covenant) that it did exceed the blessing, and so the Covenant) of his progenitors, Gen. 49.26. For whereas in Abrahams house, though Isaac was received to the blessing of continuance in the Covenant, yet Ismael and the seed of Keturah were excluded: and in Isaac's house, though Iacob inherited the blessing, yet Esau was excluded, yet in Iacobs family all his sonnes were received to the blessing of continuance under the outward dispensation of the Covenant, and not themselves onely, but all their posterity, the whole twelve Tribes, which proceeded from them. Now it is not said in Scripture, that the blessing of Jacob is come upon the Gentiles, (for then none of our posterity might cut themselves off from the outwa•d dispensation of the Covenant, and then our Covenant would be Nationall, and admit all of the Nation to the seales thereof) but the Scripture saith, that the blessing of Abraham (and so the Covenant of Abraham) is come upon the Gentiles, Gal. 3.14. that is, upon the believing Gentiles, and their seed, whereby it commeth to passe, that believing Gentiles, and their Infant-seed are admitted to the Covenant, and to the seale of the Covenant, as Abraham and his Infant seed were: But if when they bee growne up to yeares, they shall grow to mocke and sleight the Covenant, as Ismael and Esau did, then they and their seed are cast out of the Covenant, and that keepeth the Covenant from being national. And so it was in Abrahams time, & so it is now.
