Paul sheweth how

12 And the law is not of faith; but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.g

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ;h for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree :

pro

14 That the blessing of Abrahami might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the mise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth,j or addeth thereto.

16 Now, to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

believers are justified.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now, a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.k

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid; for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

j Disannulleth, abolisheth or setteth aside.

Now a mediator is not employed between parties, who are of ane sentiment, or in friendship; but God is one of the parties, and in friendship only with the righteous; therefore God was not in friendship with the other party, which was the Israelites, who were a rebellious race.

Concerning

received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

16 Am I, therefore, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Abraham's seed.

legory ;g for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written, rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless, what saith the scripture ? Cast out the

fThey zealously, &c. Your false teachers pretend to love you ardently, but they do not honourably; for they wish to exclude either you from the Christian covenant, or me from your

affection, that you may love them the more exclusively.

Which things are an allegory, that is, the bond-maid and the free woman figuratively represent the two coveAgar, the bond-maid, represents the nants, or dispensations of religion; covenant of the law, given to the Jews on mount Sinai; and since Agar was a slave, and of course her children born-slaves, or brought forth in bondage or slavery; so the Jews under the covenant of the law, were enslaved by the law, and bound to observe all its numerous, painful and expensive rites. This, Paul says, is Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bondage with her children; but Sa

Of the liberty of bond-woman and her son ;h for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free.

CHAP. V. 1 He moveth them to stand in their liberty, 3 and not to observe circumcision, 13 but rather love. 19 The works of the flesh, 22 and fruits of the Spirit. STAND fast, therefore, in the liberty a wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.b

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, That if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no ef

the Gospel, &c.

fect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteous ness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith, which worketh by love.

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion c cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.d

10 I have conf dence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded; but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

rah, whose children were by promise, not slaves, but free-born, represents the Gospel dispensation, the Jerusa

lem from above, whose children we all are, who believe, & are free from the bondage of the ceremonial law.

b Cast out the bond-woman and her son, that is, let the covenant of the law with its enslaving rites, be abolished, and the more mild, free and gracious dispensation of the Gospel every where prevail.

a Liberty, freedom from the law of Moses.

broke of bondage, the ceremonial

law.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12 I would they were even cut off,e which trouble you.

been called unto liberty; only 13 For, brethren, ye have use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfill

c This persuasion you entertain, concerning the law and its efficacy to salvation, &c.

d A little leaven, that is, the errors of one teacher are sufficient to cor rupt the whole church.

eCut off, excommunicated.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, & the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the ław.

K

19 Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresree,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's

to mildness.

have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.

f In one word, by obeying one precept..

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

CHAP. VI.

1 He willeth them to deal mildly with a brother that has slipped, 2 and to bear one another's burdens; 6 to be liberal to their teachers, 9 and not to be weary of welldoing.

BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his