25. So then, as we are not to
deny that this is the gift of God, we are thus to understand that
there be some gifts of God possessed by the sons of that Jerusalem
which is above,2700
and free,
and mother of us all, (for these are in some sort the hereditary
possessions in which we are “heirs of
God and joint-heirs with
Christ:”) but some other which may be received even by the sons
of
concubines to whom
carnal Jews and schismatics or
heretics are
compared. For though it be written, “Cast out the
bondmaid and
her son, for the son of the
bondmaid shall not be heir with my son
Isaac:”
2701
and though
God said to
Abraham, “In
Isaac shall thy
seed be called:” which
the
Apostle hath so
interpreted as to say, “That is, not they
which be sons of the
flesh, these be the sons of
God; but the sons
of the
promise are
counted for the
seed;”
2702
that we might understand the
seed
of
Abraham in regard of
Christ to pertain by reason of
Christ to
the sons of
God, who are
Christ’s body and members, that is to
say, the
Church of
God, one, true, very-begotten, catholic, holding
the godly
faith; not the
faith which works through elation or
fear,
but “which worketh by
love;”
2703
nevertheless, even the sons of the
concubines, when
Abraham sent them away from his son
Isaac, he did
not omit to bestow upon them some
gifts, that they might not be
left in every way empty, but not that they should be held as heirs.
For so we read: “And
Abraham gave all his
estate unto
Isaac; and
to the sons of his
concubines gave
Abraham gifts, and sent them
away from his son
Isaac.”
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If then we be sons of
Jerusalem
the free, let us understand that other be the
gifts of them which
are put out of the inheritance, other the
gifts of them which be
heirs. For these be the heirs, to whom is said, “Ye have not
received the spirit of
bondage again to
fear, but ye have received
the spirit of
adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
2705
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