I am beheld by them who have not sought me,
And found of them who for me have not inquired.
But of Israel he saith,

I have stretched out my hands all the day
To a contentious and disobedient people.

XX.

BUT I say, Hath Aloha put away his people? Not so. For I also am of Israel, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benyamen. Aloha hath not put away his people whom from before he knew. Or know you not what he saith in the scripture concerning Elia, when he cried unto Aloha against Israel, saying, My Lord, thy prophets have they killed, and thy altars overthrown, and I alone am left, and they seek my soul? And it was said to him by revelation, Behold, I have left to myself seven thousand men, who upon their knees have not kneeled nor worshipped Baal. So also, at this time, a residue is left by the election of grace. But if by grace, it is not of works; otherwise grace is not grace. But if by works, it is not of grace; otherwise work is not work. What then, That which Israel sought he hath not found; but the election hath found: but the rest of them are blinded in their hearts. As it is written,

Aloha hath given them the spirit of trouble,9

And eyes that see not, and ears that hear not, until the present day.1 And David again saith, Let their table become a snare before them, And their reward be for a stumbling-block: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And their back at all times be bowed;

But I say, Have they stumbled so as to fall? Not so: but, by their stumbling was salvation to the Gentiles, unto

9

Spiritum stupidum.-WALTON.

1 Until the day of to-day.

[the stirring up of] their zeal.

And if their stumbling were wealth to the world, and their condemnation wealth to the Gentiles, how much then will their fulness be?

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XXI.

To you, Gentiles, I speak, I, who am apostle of the Gentiles, in my ministry I glory,2 if I may provoke my fleshly kindred, and save some of them. For if their rejection was the reconciliation of the world, what (will) their conversion (be) but life from the dead? For if the first-fruits be holy, (so) also (will be) the mass; and if the root be holy, (so) also the branches. And if the branches were cut off, and thou who art a wild olive art engrafted in their place, and hast a participation of the root and fatness of the olive, boast not against the branches but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root beareth thee. And perhaps thou wilt say, The branches were cut off, and I in their place am engrafted: Well, they on account of unbelief were cut off, and thou by faith standest: be not exalted in thy mind, but fear. If Aloha spared not them who were branches by nature, (take heed) lest he spare not thee. Behold, then, the goodness and the severity of Aloha: towards them who fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; if not, thou also wilt be cut off. And they, if they continue not in their want of faith, they also shall be engrafted; for Aloha is able again to engraft them. For if thou who art of the wild olive which is thy nature, wast cut off, and, which was not thy nature, art engrafted into the good olive, how much more they, if they are engrafted into the olive of their nature?

But I would have you know, my brethren, this mys

2 Or, boast.

tery, that you may not be wise in your own mind,—that blindness of heart for a little space is unto Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be brought in: and then all Israel shall be saved. As it is written,

The Redeemer shall come from Sion,3
And turn iniquity from Jakub ;

And then shall be to them my covenant,
When I have forgiven them their sins.

But, in (regard of) the gospel, they are enemies on your account; and, in the election, they are beloved on account of the fathers. For Aloha turneth not in his gift and in his vocation. For as you also were not obedient unto Aloha at the first, and now have received mercy, through their disobedience; so also these are now disobedient for the mercy that is upon you, that upon them also might be mercy. For Aloha hath included them all in disobedience, that upon all he might show mercy. 0 the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of Aloha, whose judgments man searcheth not, and whose ways are inscrutable! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, that so he should receive from him? For all is of him, and all in him, and all by him. To him be praises and benedictions unto the age of ages.

Amen.

XXII.

I BESEECH then of you, my brethren, by the mercies of Aloha, that you present your bodies a sacrifice, living and holy and acceptable unto Aloha, in a rational 5 service.

3 Nithe men Tshiun Poruko.

4 Or, make to stand, constitute.

5 Meliltho. Compare the use of the corresponding Chaldee word in the Targum of Onkelos on Gen. ii. 7, where the divine afflatus is described as creating in man ruch memalla," a speaking or rational spirit."

And be not likened unto this world, but be changed by the renewing of your minds, that you may discern what is the will of Aloha, good, and acceptable, and perfect.

6

But I tell you all through the grace which is given to me, that you are not to think beyond what it is proper to think; but that you think with sobriety, every man as Aloha hath divided to him faith in measure. For as in one body we have many members, and as all the members have not one work, so also we who are many are one body in the Meshiha; but we are each of us members one of another. But we have various gifts according to the grace that is given to us: is it prophecy? (let him who has received it) prophesy according to the measure of the faith. Hath (another the gift) of ministry? (let him be employed) in his ministry; he who is a teacher, (let him labour) in his teaching; he who is an exhorter, in his exhorting; as he who giveth, (let him give with simplicity;) and he who presideth, (let it be) with diligence; and he who (is engaged in works) of mercy, with cheerfulness. And let not your love be guileful; abhor things evil, cleave to the good. Be tender to your brethren, and love one another, being forward to honour one another. Be diligent, and not slothful, be fervent in spirit, be serving your Lord. Rejoice in your hope, sustain your afflictions, be constant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of the saints. Be kind to strangers. Bless your persecutors; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them who rejoice, and weep with them who weep. And what you think of yourselves, (that) also think of your brethren; nor think with a high mind, but incline to them who are humble; and be not wise in the conceit of your own mind. And repay to no man evil for evil, but be careful to do good before all men. And if possible, as much as is in you,

6 Lit." standeth at the head."

with all men make peace. And avenge not yourselves, my beloved, but give place unto wrath; for it is written, that if thou execute not judgment for thyself, I will execute thy judgment, saith Aloha. And if thy adversary hunger, feed him; and if he thirst, give him drink and if these things thou do unto him, coals of fire thou wilt heap upon his head. Let not evil overcome you, but overcome evil with good.

XXIII.

LET every soul to the powers of dominion be subject. For there is no power that is not from Aloha, and the powers that be, of Aloha are they instituted. Whoever then riseth up against the power, against the institution of Aloha he riseth; and they who arise against them will receive judgment. For judges are not a terror to the workers of good, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do good, and thou shalt have praise from him. For he is the servant of Aloha, but to thee for good: and if thou do evil, fear; for not in vain is he girded with the sword; for he is the servant of Aloha, and the dispenser of wrath to them who do evil. And because of this are we bound to be subject, not for the wrath only, but also because of conscience. On this account also give we tribute to them; for they are the servants of Aloha over these things constituted.

9

Render therefore to every man as is due to him: to whom tribute9 (is due,) tribute; and to whom custom, custom; and to whom reverence, reverence; and to whom honour, honour. And to no man owe any thing, but one another to love. For whoever loveth his neighbour fulfilleth the law for that also which it hath said, Thou shalt not kill; and, Thou shalt not commit adultery; and, Thou

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7 Lit. "head-silver."