The History of the life of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judas and his brethren.

So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations: and from David to the Babylonian transmigration, are fourteen generations: and from the Babylonian transmigration unto Christ, are fourteen generations.

and don't pretend to say within your selves, We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham:

and I declare unto you, that many shall come from the east and from the west, and shall sit at table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the heavenly kingdom.

" I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" God is not a benefactor to the dead, but to the living.

and as for the dead, that they will actually rise, have you not read in the book of Moses those words, which God pronounc'd out of the bush to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?"

which he promised to our forefathers, to Abraham, and to his posterity for ever."

the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour,

let your actions therefore show your repentance, and don't pretend to say within yourselves, "we have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Thara, son of Nachor, son of Saruch,

and must not this daughter of Abraham, whom satan has held bound these eighteen years, be disengag'd from this bond, on a sabbath-day?

there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried.

and being in the infernal regions of torments, he lift up his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bower.

and he cry'd out, saying, father Abraham, take pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

but Abraham said, son, remember you had your enjoyments, when you were alive, and Lazarus his misfortunes: but now he has his consolation, and you your torments.

but Abraham replied, they have Moses and the prophets, let them mind them.

no, father Abraham, said he, they will not: but if any of the dead went to them, they will certainly repent.

Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.

then said Jesus, speaking of him, this day is salvation come to this family, since he is now become a true son of Abraham.

now that the dead are raised, may be inferr'd from Moses's relation concerning the bush, where he stiles the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

they answered him, we are Abraham's offspring, and were never slaves to any man: why then do you say, "ye shall be made free?"

I know you are Abraham's offspring; but ye seek to kill me, because my doctrine doth not penetrate into you.

they answered him, Abraham is our father. if you were Abraham's children, said Jesus, you would act like Abraham.

but now ye seek to kill me, the man who has told you the truth, such as I have learnt it of God: Abraham did not act thus.

upon this said the Jews to him, now we plainly perceive you are mad. Abraham is dead, and the prophets too; and yet you say, if a man observes your doctrine, he shall never die.

are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? the prophets likewise are dead: pray, what do you then pretend to be?

your father Abraham long'd to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

then said the Jews to him, you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?

Jesus said to them, verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was I AM.

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and renounced in opposition to Pilate, who was determined to let him go.

ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, when he said to Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed in your posterity."

Stephen answer'd, my brethren, and you my fathers, lend your attention. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

at length he gave him the covenant of circumcision: accordingly Abraham circumcised his son Isaac eight days after he was born, Isaac was father of Jacob, who was father of the twelve patriarchs.

and were transported to Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

now while the time was approaching to accomplish what God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew numerous in Egypt,

"I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." and Moses trembled so, he durst not observe any longer.

It is to you, my brethren, who are the children of Abraham, and to all who fear God among you, that this salutary news is sent.

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.

Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they of the race of Abraham?

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:

so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham.

and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed."

so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.

that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised.

now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.

now if the right to the inheritance be from the law, it is no longer founded upon the promise; altho' God made a donation of it to Abraham by promise.

and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman.

for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:

for he is not the deliverer of angels; but the deliverer of Abraham's posterity.

For when God gave his promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying,

For this Melchisedec was both king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God; 'twas he who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of the whole booty: first, being by the signification of his name king of justice, and in fact king of Salem, which is, king of peace;

Now consider the dignity of this person, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

'tis true they of the race of Levi, who assume the office of the priesthood, have a right by law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they all issued from Abraham:

but he who was not of their pedigree, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him to whom the promises were made.

and even Levi who received tithes, pay'd tithes, if I may so say, in the person of Abraham.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.

'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:

was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar?

it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God."

such was Sarah, who show'd her obeysance to Abraham, by stiling him her Lord: and you will be stiled her children, if you imitate her conduct, and are not to be terrified out of your virtue.