Whosoever will candidly consider each par-
ticular, will recognise the greatness of the gifts
which were given by him.'^ For from him '^ have
sprung the priests and all the Levites who min-
ister at the altar of God. From him also [was
descended] our Lord Jesus Christ according to
the flesh. '4 From him [arose] kings, princes,
and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are his
other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God
had promised, " Thy seed shall be as the stars of
heaven." 'S All these, therefore, were highly
honoured, and made great, not for their own
sake, or for their own works, or for the right-
eousness which they wrought, but through the
operation of His will. And we, too, being called
by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by
ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or under-
standing, or godliness, or works which we have
wrought in holiness of heart ; but by that faith
through which, from the beginning, Almighty
God has justified all men ; to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.