Lord’s Day 21, Chapter 3: The Election of the Church (2)

According to the flesh, both Ishmael and Isaac, both Esau and Jacob were children of Abraham. Yet, only the children of the promise are counted as the seed: "In Isaac shall thy seed be called"; and again: "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Not the will of man, neither the worthiness of man, but God's sovereign predestination makes the distinction between children of the promise and children of the flesh, even in the historical line of the covenant. The question might arise, and...