§. 134. Of the benefit of Gods promise restrained to heires of promise.
THe other generall proposition inferred from this phrase, heires of promise, is this,* 1.1 None but believers have a right to the promise made to Abraham. This the Apo∣stle cleareth, by excluding such as are not of the faith of Abraham, and are not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seed after the Spirit, in these words, They are not all Israel, which are of Israel: •…•…i∣ther beca•…•…e they are the seed o•…•… Abraham, a•…•… they all children, &c. On this ground be thus concludeth, The children of the promise, are counted for the seed, Rom. 9 6, 7, 8. And again thus, They which are of the faith, the same are the children of Abraham, and blessed with faithfull Abraham. Gal. 3. 7, 9.
They who believe not, despise the counsell of God, Luk. 7. 32.
This is set forth to the full, Act. 13. 45, 46.
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1. This strips the Jews of all vain confidence in their externall pedegree. Because* 1.2 they had Abraham to their Father, they imagined that the promises made to Abra∣ham belonged •…•…nto them. Iohn the Baptist expresly noteth this their vain confidence, Matth. 3. 9. So doth Christ, Iohn 8. 33, 39.
In that they were not heires of promise, their confidence was built upon a sandy foundation. The like may be said of hypocrites, of loose and carnall Gospellen, of ignorant and profane persons, and of all, who want that grace which she w•…•…s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be heires of promise: Namely a true, justifying, sanctifying faith. They who look for benefit of the promise, must first prove themselves to be heires of promise.
- 2. This doth highly commend the grace and favour of God, to those who are the heires of promise. The more rare a grace is, the more rare it is: that is, the lesse com∣mon it is, and in that respect rare, the more admirable it is, and the more highly to be prized, and in that respect also rare. The consideration hereof should fill the hearts of those, who have evidence that they are heires of promise, with an holy ad∣miration, and move them to say as Iudas did, Lord, how is it, that th•…•… wilt manife•…•… thy self unto us, and not unto the world? Joh. 14 22. And thereupon to have our hearts the more enlarged unto greater thankfulnesse. On such a ground did Christ give thankes to his Father, Matth. 11. 25.