It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].

For anyone who merely listens to the message without obeying it is like a man who looks in a mirror at the face that nature gave him,

And, in like manner also, Rahab the harlot, Was it not, by works, she was declared righteous, when she gave welcome unto the messengers, and, by another way, urged them forth?

Take as an example of pain nobly undergone and of strength in trouble, the prophets who gave to men the words of the Lord.

Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.