I saythe truthinChrist, I lienot, myconsciencealso bearing me witnessinthe HolyGhost, ThatIhavegreatheavinessandcontinualsorrowin myheart. ForIcould wishthat myselfwereaccursedfromChristformybrethren, mykinsmenaccordingto the flesh: WhoareIsraelites; to whom pertaineth theadoption, andtheglory, andthecovenants, andthegiving of the law, andtheservice of God, andthepromises; Whose are thefathers, andofwhomas concerningthe fleshChrist came, who isoverall, Godblessedforever. Amen. Notas thoughthewordof Godhath taken none effect. Forthey are notallIsrael, whichare ofIsrael: Neither, becausethey arethe seedof Abraham, are they allchildren: but, InIsaacshall thyseedbe called. That is, They which are thechildrenof theflesh, these are notthe childrenof God: butthechildrenof thepromiseare countedforthe seed. Forthis is thewordof promise, Atthistimewill I come, andSarahshall havea son. Andnotonly this ; butwhen Rebeccaalsohadconceivedbyone, even by ourfatherIsaac; ( For the children being not yetborn, neitherhaving doneanygoodorevil, thatthepurposeof Godaccordingto electionmight stand, notofworks, butofhim that calleth;) It was saidunto her, Theeldershall servetheyounger. Asit is written, Jacobhave I loved, butEsauhave I hated. Whatshall we saythen? Is thereunrighteousnesswithGod? God forbid. Forhe saithto Moses, I will have mercyon whomI will have mercy, andI will have compassionon whomI will have compassion. Sothen it is notof him that willeth, norof him that runneth, butof Godthat showeth mercy. FortheScripturesaithunto Pharaoh, Even forthis same purposehave I raised thee up, thatI might showmypowerinthee, andthatmynamemight be declaredthroughoutalltheearth. Thereforehath he mercyon whomhe will have mercy, andwhomhe willhe hardeneth. Thou wilt saythenunto me, Whydoth he yetfind fault? Forwhohath resistedhiswill? Nay but, Oman, whoartthouthat repliest againstGod? Shallthething formedsayto him that formed it, Whyhast thou mademethus? Hathnotthepotterpowerover theclay, ofthesamelumpto makeonevesseluntohonor, andanotheruntodishonor? WhatifGod, willingto show his wrath, andto make his power known, enduredwithmuchlongsufferingthe vesselsof wrathfittedtodestruction: Andthathe might make knowntherichesof hisgloryonthe vesselsof mercy, whichhe had afore prepareduntoglory, Evenus, whomhe hath called, notofthe Jewsonly, butalsoofthe Gentiles? Ashe saithalsoinHosea, I will callthem mypeople, whichwere notmypeople; andher beloved, which was not beloved. Andit shall come to pass, that intheplacewhereit was saidunto them, Ye are notmypeople; thereshall they be calledthe childrenof the livingGod. IsaiahalsocriethconcerningIsrael, Thoughthenumberof thechildrenof Israelbeasthesandof thesea, a remnantshall be saved: Forhe will finishthe work, andcut it shortinrighteousness: becausea shortworkwill the Lordmakeupontheearth. AndasIsaiahsaid before, Exceptthe Lordof Sabaothhad leftusa seed, we had beenasSodom, andbeen made likeuntoGomorrah. Whatshall we saythen? Thatthe Gentiles, whichfollowednotafter righteousness, have attainedto righteousness, eventhe righteousnesswhichis offaith. ButIsrael, which followedafter the lawof righteousness, hath notattainedtothe lawof righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it notbyfaith, butas it werebythe worksof the law. Forthey stumbledat that stumblingstone; Asit is written, Behold, I layinZiona stumblingstoneandrockof offense: andwhosoeverbelievethonhimshall notbe ashamed.