The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and that they were always to be exalted as the church of God. They were the children of Abraham, they declared, and so firm did the foundation of their prosperity seem to them that they defied earth and heaven to dispossess them of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness they were preparing for the condemnation of heaven and for separation from God.

Jødefolket nærede den anskuelse, at de var særligt begunstiget af Gud, og at de altid skulle nyde den ære at være Guds menighed. De erklærede, at de var Abrahams børn, og grundlaget for deres fremgang og velstand syntes for dem at være så befæstet, at de vovede at påstå, at hverken himmel eller jord turde fratage dem deres rettigheder; men deres troløse liv og vandel gjorde dem kun rede til at møde Himmelens fordømmelse og evig adskillelse fra Gud.