^{2 Ref} God did not cast away His people whom He knew before; have ye not known -- in Elijah -- what the Writing saith? how he doth plead with God concerning Israel, saying,

^{3 Ref} `Lord, Thy prophets they did kill, and Thy altars they dug down, and I was left alone, and they seek my life;'

^{4 Ref} but what saith the divine answer to him? `I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'

^{5 Ref} So then also in the present time a remnant according to the choice of grace there hath been;

^{6 Ref} and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.

^{7 Ref} What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,

^{8 Ref} according as it hath been written, `God gave to them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear,' -- unto this very day,

^{9 Ref} and David saith, `Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompense to them;

^{10 Ref} let their eyes be darkened -- not to behold, and their back do Thou always bow down.'

^{11 Ref} I say, then, Did they stumble that they might fall? let it not be! but by their fall the salvation `is' to the nations, to arouse them to jealousy;

^{12 Ref} and if the fall of them `is' the riches of a world, and the diminution of them the riches of nations, how much more the fulness of them?