{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050216.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050216.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050216.htm","text":"Chapter 40.\u2014How that is to Be the Reward of All; The Apostle Earnestly Defends Grace.\nWhat then is the import of the \u201cAll, from the least unto the greatest of them,\u201d but all that belong spiritually to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah,\u2014that is, to the children of Isaac, to the seed of Abraham? For such is the promise, wherein it was said to him, \u201cIn Isaac shall thy seed be called; for they which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth,) it was said unto her, \u201cThe elder shall serve the younger.\u201d 888 This is the house of Israel, or rather the house of Judah, on account of Christ, who came of the tribe of Judah. This is the house of the children of promise,\u2014not by reason of their own merits, but of the kindness of God. For God promises what He Himself performs: He does not Himself promise, and another perform; which would no longer be promising, but prophesying. Hence it is \u201cnot of works, but of Him that calleth,\u201d 889 lest the result should be their own, not God\u2019s; lest the reward should be ascribed not to His grace, but to their due; and so grace should be no longer grace which was so earnestly defended and maintained by him who, though the least of the apostles, laboured more abundantly than all the rest,\u2014yet not himself, but the grace of God that was with him. 890 \u201cThey shall all know me,\u201d 891 He says,\u2014\u201cAll,\u201d the house of Israel and house of Judah. \u201cAll,\u201d however, \u201care not Israel which are of Israel,\u201d 892 but they only to whom it is said in \u201cthe psalm concerning the morning aid\u201d 893 (that is, concerning the new refreshing light, meaning that of the new testament), \u201cAll ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and fear Him, all ye the seed of Israel.\u201d 894 All the seed, without exception, even the entire seed of the promise and of the called, but only of those who are the called according to His purpose. 895 \u201cFor whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.\u201d 896 \u201cTherefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law,\u201d\u2014that is, which comes from the Old Testament into the New,\u2014\u201cbut to that also which is of faith,\u201d which was indeed prior to the law, even \u201cthe faith of Abraham,\u201d\u2014meaning those who imitate the faith of Abraham,\u2014\u201cwho is the father of us all; as it is written, I have made p. 100 thee the father of many nations.\u201d 897 Now all these predestinated, called, justified, glorified ones, shall know God by the grace of the new testament, from the least to the greatest of them.\nSee title of Ps. 21 (xxi. Sept.) in the Sept. and Latin.\n99:894 99:895 99:896 100:897","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on the...","type":"page"}