3. I observe from the story : this difference of blessings between them was founded in an eternal decree and purpose of God, that was declared while the children were as yet struggling in the womb; Gen. XXV. 23, ' The Lord said, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels ; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger.' Here was a decree of God manifested before the children were born ; the younger should have the pre-eminence, and go away with the chiefest blessing; and hence the apostle concludes election to be of mere grace, without any reason in the creature : Kom. ix. 11-13, ' For the children being not 'yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said. The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.' The apostle accommodates it to the purpose of election and reprobation. Here is a notable instance of God's distinguishing grace, two brothers, two twins, and if any should have the preference the elder might seem to be the man ; but God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts, when they were both alike in themselves, ' they had done neither good nor evil,' the Lord would show that his pleasure is the highest cause of difference between man and man. Why is the gospel hid from the wise and prudent ? Why is it manifested to babes ? Christ would give no other reason but this, 'Even so, 0 Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight,' Mat. xi 26. ' It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.' All the good we have comes from the grace of God.
4. I observe again : as the difference of the blessings was founded on an eternal decree, so the decree is accomplished to Jacob, notwith- standing Isaac's reluctation and unwillingness, and that by Isaac's
388 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LIV.
mistake and Jacob's sin. Mark, the decree was accomplished notwith- standing the rehictancy and unwillingness of Isaac ; Isaac's heart was much set upon Esau, being the eldest son, and he was the person that prepared him savoury meat : Gen. xxv. 18, ' And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison ; ' and therefore he would fain have put Esau into this privilege, and have settled the blessing upon him, that he might have the great privileges of primogeniture. But God's counsel stands, notwithstanding all lets and hindrances. Isaac had sent him off a message to try his obedience, and then intended to give him the blessing. Gen. xxvii. 3, 4 ; but God settles it upon the head of Jacob, and thus you see the counsel of the Lord stands ; notwithstanding all lets and hindrances, God keeps on his course and pace. The Lord is compared to fire, in the prophet, that passeth through briars and thorns. Briars and thorns, do not quench the fire, but feed the flame and yield fuel to the fire which find its way through them. So briars and thorns, things that seem to be contrarj^ they do not hinder God's purposes, but rather make way for them. Joseph is sold that he might be worshipped ; cast into the pit, or else he had never been set upon the throne. There is no let to the almighty ; Isaac either forgetting the promise, or thiough carnal affection seeking to misplace the bless- ing, this makes way for Jacob's receiving it. And then it was accomplished, notwithstanding Isaac's mistake and Jacob's lie ; he took Jacob for Esau when he felt his hands, and smelt his priestly per- fumed garments which he received together with the birthright, which he bought of Esau. By the mistake of Isaac the blessing was settled upon the head of Jacob ; but that which is casualty and mistake with us, is providence with God. Isaac stumbles upon the right object, and so unawares fulfils God's decrees. Thus the Lord overrules all things ; things that we call chance do execute and bring his purpose to pass. So many have come to an ordinance and found a blessing; there is a special purpose of God in it. And Jacob gets it by a lie ; so that you see that not only those things which we call mistakes, but also sins fall under the government of God's providence : Jacob sinned in seeking the blessing this way, and yet by that means it is accomplished and brought to pass. It is true, it was to Jacob's cost, for God afterwards paid him in his own coin ; he that supplanted was supplanted ; he that, being the younger son, came to his father, and said, I am thy first-born, he had Leah, the elder daughter, brought to him instead of Rachel, the younger. But though God's purpose may be brought to pass this way, yet the instruments that accomplish God's will are not without sin, because they act according to their own inclination ; as the artificer makes the mill, but the water runs of its own accord. Though the Lord makes use of the evil of our actions, yet because we follow our own inclination, which is corrupt, therefore we are guilty.