from hearing the Gospel. Christ, therefore, offers himself to us by the Gospel, and we receive him by faith. 13. Who were born not of blood.1 Some think that an indirect reference is here made to the preposterous confidence of the Jews, and I willingly adopt that opinion. They had continually in their mouth the nobleness of their lineage, as if, because they were descended from a holy stock, they were naturally holy. And justly might they have gloried in their descent from Abraham, if they had been