Now，inasmuchastheirelectionhasregardtotruevirtue，itisnottobethoughtthatitwaspromisedtotheJewsalonetotheexclusionofothers，butwemustevidentlybelievethatthetrueGentileprophetsandeverynation，aswehaveshown，possessedsuchpromisedthesametothefaithfuloftheirownpeople，whoweretherebycomforted。96WhereforethiseternalcovenantoftheknowledgeofGodandloveisuniversal，asisclear，moreover，fromZeph。iii:10，11:nodifferenceinthisrespectcanbeadmittedbetweenJewandGentile，nordidtheformerenjoyanyspecialelectionbeyondthatwhichwehavepointedout。
97Whentheprophets，inspeakingofthiselectionwhichregardsonlytruevirtue，mixedupmuchconcerningsacrificesandceremonies，andtherebuildingofthetempleandcity，theywishedbysuchfigurativeexpressions，afterthemannerandnatureofprophecy，toexpoundmattersspiritual，soasatthesametimetoshowtotheJews，whoseprophetstheywere，thetruerestorationofthestateandofthetempletobeexpectedaboutthetimeofCyrus。
98Atthepresenttime，therefore，thereisabsolutelynothingwhichtheJewscanarrogatetothemselvesbeyondotherpeople。
99Astotheircontinuancesolongafterdispersionandthelossofempire，thereisnothingmarvellousinit，fortheysoseparatedthemselvesfromeveryothernationastodrawdownuponthemselvesuniversalhate，notonlybytheiroutwardrites，ritesconflictingwiththoseofothernations，butalsobythesignofcircumcisionwhichtheymostscrupulouslyobserve。
100ThattheyhavebeenpreservedingreatmeasurebyGentilehatred，experiencedemonstrates。101WhenthekingofSpainformerlycompelledtheJewstoembracetheStatereligionortogointoexile，alargenumberofJewsacceptedCatholicism。102Now，astheserenegadeswereadmittedtoallthenativeprivilegesofSpaniards，anddeemedworthyoffillingallhonourableoffices，itcametopassthattheystraightwaybecamesointermingledwiththeSpaniardsastoleaveofthemselvesnorelicorremembrance。103ButexactlytheoppositehappenedtothosewhomthekingofPortugalcompelledtobecomeChristians，fortheyalways，thoughconverted，livedapart，inasmuchastheywereconsideredunworthyofanycivichonours。