De Sacrificiis Abelis Et Caini

and of those who do not act rightly in this particular, some through forgetfulness of the benefits which they have received, have failed in that great and beautiful virtue of thankfulness, and others form an excessive conceit, have looked upon themselves as the authors of the good [*](Exodus iii. 1. ) [*](Genesis xlvi. 34. ) [*]( Exodus viii. 2G. ) [*]( Genesis iv. 2. ) [*]( Deuteronomy xxiii. 21. )

things which have befallen them, and have not attributed them to him, who is really the cause of them. A third class are they who commit an offence slighter indeed than the fault of these latter, but more serious than that of the first mentioned, for though they confess that the supreme Ruler is the cause of the good that has befallen them, they still say that they deserved to receive it, for that they are prudent, and courageous, and temperate, and just, so that they may well on these accounts be esteemed by God to be worthy of his favours.