Note (return) — Rev. ANDREW LEE, A.M. (continued 4)

So the posterity of Jacob were called "the children of God—the people of God—a holy seed—a royal priesthood," because of their external, nominal distinctions. These appropriate terms continued as long as they remained God's visible people, and had the seal of his covenant set upon them, though they had so corrupted themselves as to be even worse than the heathen. And Jerusalem is called the holy city even after it had filled up the measure of its wickedness by murdering the Lord of glory. [78]