In these words surely he
names first the Most High God, the Supreme God of the Universe, and then as
Lord His Word, Whom we call Lord in the second degree after the God of the
Universe. And their import is that all the nations and the sons of men, here
called sons of Adam, were distributed among the invisible guardians of the
nations, that is the angels, by the decision of the Most (d) High God, and His
secret counsel unknown to us. Whereas to One beyond comparison with them, the
Head and King of the Universe, I mean to Christ Himself, as being the
Only-begotten Son, was handed over that part of humanity denominated Jacob and
Israel, that is to say, the whole division which has vision and piety.
For the one engaged in
the contest of the practice of virtue, even now struggling and contending in
the gymnasium of holiness, was called in Hebrew nomenclature Jacob: while he
that has won victory and the prize of God is called Israel, one like that
actual famed forefather of the whole race of the Hebrews, and his true sons and
their descendants, (157) and their forefathers, all prophets and men of God. Do
not suppose, I beg you, that the multitude of the Jews are thus referred to,
but only those of the distant past, who were made perfect in virtue and piety.
These, then, it was,
whom the Word of God, the Head and Leader of all, called to the worship of the
Father alone, Who is the Most High, far above all things that are seen, beyond
the heaven and the whole begotten essence, calling them quietly and gently, and
delivering to them the worship of God Most High alone, the Unbegotten and the
Creator of the Universe.