The Works of Dr. John Tillotson, Late Archbishop of Canterbury. Vol. 04

The whole nation of the Jews were Israelites by natural descent, being the seed of Jacob or Israel; but, in a special and more excellent sense, none are esteemed the true posterity of Israel, but those who resembled this father of their nation in true piety and goodness; for (as the apostle reasons) "they are not all Israel who are of Israel;" they only are Israelites indeed who resemble good old Jacob in the sincerity of his piety, and the simplicity of his temper and disposition: for our Saviour seems here to allude to that character which is given of Jacob, (Gen. xxv. 27.) that "he was a plain man," or, as the Hebrew word signifies, "a perfect and sincere man," in opposition to his brother Esau, who is said to be cunning: so that, to be an Israelite indeed, is to be a downright honest man, without fraud and guile, without any arts of hypocrisy and deceit.