How then can we assert, "that Abraham our father obtained this from circumcision?"

for if Abraham was justified by works, he had matter of pretension, whereas he had no such claim from God.

for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised.

Besides, the promise that he should possess the world, was not made to Abraham, or to his posterity in consideration of the law, but with regard to the righteousness by faith.

therefore the inheritance is of faith, that it might be meerly of favour, to the end the promise might be assured to all his posterity, not to that part only who have the law, but to that also who have the faith of Abraham, the father of us all, as it is written,

neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called."

You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means. for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.