from the captivity to Christ, that of private individuals. The first and second periods have illustrious beginnings, but the third does not. It is the period of captivity because of sin and rebellion; yet, it ends with the Messiah who came to set prisoners free. His coming gives this period preeminence over the first two periods of fourteen generations each. The first period is that of promise, beginning with Abraham and ending with David, the receivers of the promise. During this period the people