82. Then, speaking of the Father, He added: “For whom it has been prepared,” to show that the Father also is not wont to give heed merely to requests, but to merits; for God is not a respecter of persons. Acts x. 34. Wherefore also the Apostle says: “Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate.” Rom. viii. 29. He did not predestinate them before He knew them, but He did predestinate the reward of those whose merits He foreknew.