but it is the Jew, who is so inwardly, and it is the circumcision of the heart, according to the spiritual, not the literal sense, which have the approbation, I do not say of men, but of God.

but say you, "if our unfaithfulness displays the veracity of God, what shall we say? is it not injustice in God to inflict punishment?"

"but, say you, if the veracity of God hath appeared more illustrious thro' my unfaithfulness, why then am I condemned as a sinner?

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God.

I say, his goodness at this time: that he might appear to be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

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

was it then good that brought death upon me? no, but it was sin, that sin might show it self by being able to bring death upon me by means of that which is good; that sin, I say, by the commandment might appear to be exceedingly destructive.

I call Christ, and the holy spirit to witness with my conscience, that I speak the truth without guile, when I say,

What do we say then? is there injustice in God?

nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?"

but the justification which is by faith, speaks in this manner; "say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven, in order to bring Christ down from above?

what does it say "more? the word is nigh thee, let it be in thy mouth and in thy heart:" that is the word of faith which we preach.

But how, say you, shall they call on him on whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

but Esaias is more express, and says, "I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest to them that asked not after me.

and to Israel he says, "all day long I have stretched forth my hands to an incredulous and rebellious people."

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.

God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

and David says, "let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a gin, and a recompence for their iniquity.

You will say then, "were they suffer'd to stumble meerly for their ruin?" no: but that thro' their fall, salvation might be offer'd to the Gentiles, in order to provoke their emulation.

you will say then, "the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."

they have thought fit, I say, and they owed them as much. for if the Gentiles have participated of their spirituals, they are bound on their side to minister to them in their temporals.

to God, I say, who is only wise, be glory thro' Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.