340 An Expofition upon Chap. 9.\ it is ihewed,that Jacobs dominion came cern the perfon,as it is manifeft by the from Gods love, and Efaus bondage words of his Father, when he bleffed from his hatred ; therefore it is Gods him. Secondly, the birth-right had the only purpofe which difcerned between promife of grace and heavenly inheri- them, and confequently between all tance annexed to it. Thirdly, Malachy fhewes, Chapterfirfl,the rule of Jacob other men. T I M. But do thefe words taken out of to be joyned with Gods love, being an effe& of it, and the fervitude of Efau to come from his hatred, as a fruit of it therefore this firff teftimony mutt Genefis, fitly belong to prove Gods eternall elellion, to be the foveraign caufe of eternal! falvation in heaven ? S I L. Yea, they are fo : or elfe Paul needs be underftood of heavenly things,and not of earthly. T I M. What infirullions are we to learn from this firfi teflimony thus expounded ? S i L. Firff,itwarns all Chriflians very diligently to read the Scripture af- ter Pauls example, who gathered the deep myflery of Gods predeftination out of this Oracle, being duely ponde- red,that it was fpoken while the chil- dren were in their mothers womb,&of Inch as came of the fame parents by the conception,at the fame time;& withalI carefully comparing it with the other place of Malachy, found that all mull wholly be committed to the decree and purpofeofGod, and to nothing that either was or fhottld be in the children. T I M. What profit of this inffruilian ? S r L. It reproves all careleffe and inconfiderate readers of the Scripture, who read and mark not, and without conferring places,andprayer.Secondly, it firs up all to fearch the Scriptures, asChrift commandeth, fah. 5.39. and the Eereans pra &ifed, All. r 7.11. T 1 M. What other infirutiion from this firfi Oracle ? S 1 L. That examples ferve well to make clear and plain the general Do- Etrines of Scripture; for here Paul as he proved the Hypothefis by the Thefts, fo now he illufrateth the Thefts by the Hypothefis. The reafon of this inftru &i- on is : Firft, becaufe by examples not only the underfkanding is taught, but the fen fes are alfo affe &ed and moved. Secondly, it is no (mal help unto weak memories,to havethe truth declared by examples, which are much better mar - ked and born away, and flick longer by us then ought elfe, fave fimilitudes. T 1 M.What ufe is to be made of this point? SIL. being led by the Spirit of God, would not have alledged them fo ; for it were blafphemy againft Chrift, to fay that Paul did alledge the Scriptures falfe or unfitly,being an Apoffleof Chriff,who in his DoEtrine was priviledged from erring,as all other Apoftles were. T i M. Tell us then how the Lordfhip of Jacob, and fervitude of Efau may prove that for which it is cited :men may be poor and lye in prifon, and be in difireffe and ferve others; and on the contrary, &c. yet from thence it will not follow that the one be cieli, and the other reprobate. S z L. Though this place did fpeak of temporal dominion and fervitude, yet was it very well cited of Paul, be- caufe he meaneth to prove this,that the things which befall us in this life,whe- ther good or evil[, depend upon the counfel of God meetly, without any refpe& at all to our good or ill merits: and this thefe words prove very well, becaufe the Apoftle tels us that God laid ere the children were born, the el- der fhould fervethe younger;and there- fore no works in them, but Gods pur- pofe made the one ruler over the other, even againftthe law of nature, where- by the elder is to have dignity and do- minion. T But do you not think that this place is to be underflood of temporali bondage and rule,fuch as concerns' this life only ? S I L. I do not, but beleeve rather that it bath a fpiritual meaning, and speaks of things concerning eternal life and damnation. My reafons for this be : Firft,becaufe Jacob in his own per - fon never ruled over Efau, but rather Efauruled over him,as appeareth plain- ly by the flory; yet this oracle did con-
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