Now I say, _That_ the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Ver. 1. _Differeth nothing from a servant_] In allusion whereunto there is written upon the prince's arms, _Ich dien, _ that is, I serve. Henry the Second, king of England, crowned his... [ Continue Reading ]
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Ver. 2. _But is under tutors_] Those under the law were but alphabetaries (rudimentaries) in comparison of those under the gospel. _a_ The sea about the altar was brazen,1 Kings 7:23, and what eyes could pierce through it? No... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Ver. 3. _When we were children_] Gr. νηπιοι, infants, babies, that must be pleased with rattles; so the old Church with carnal ceremonies.... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Ver. 4. _But when the fulness of the time_] This answers to that time appointed of the Father, Galatians 4:2. Plato said that God doth always γεωμετρειν, he doth all things in number, weight, and... [ Continue Reading ]
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Ver. 5. _To redeem them, &c._] To buy them off, who were in worse case than the Turkish galley slaves chained to an oar. _ That we might receive the adoption_] That is, the possession of our adoption, the full enjo... [ Continue Reading ]
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Ver. 6. _Crying, Abba, Father_] God hath no stillborn children. Paul was no sooner converted, but behold he prayed, Acts 9:11. The spirit of grace is a spirit of supplication, Zechariah 12:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Ver. 7. _And if a son, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Rom 8:17 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. Ver. 8. _Ye did service_] Here all religious service done to any but God is manifestly condemned as impious, whether in pagans or papagans (papists).... [ Continue Reading ]
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ver. 9. _Or rather are known of God_] Whose gracious foreknowing and foreappointing of us to eternal life is the ground and foundation... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Ver. 10. _Ye observe days_] The Christian Church knows no holy days, besides that honourable Lord's day, Isaiah 57:14; Revelation 1:10, and such holy feasts, as upon special occasions the Church shall see fit to celebrate, as Novemb. 5, &c. (Guy Fa... [ Continue Reading ]
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Ver. 11. _Lest I have bestowed labour_] Gr. κεκοπιακα, even to lassitude, as a day labourer. Other work folks find their work as they left it; but a minister hath all marred many times between sabbath and sabbath, or if but awhile ab... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I _am_; for I _am_ as ye _are_ : ye have not injured me at all. Ver. 12. _Be as I am_] No longer a legalist, as once,Philippians 3:5; Philippians 3:8 . _ Ye have not injured me at all_] He was above their buffooneries and indignities. When an inconsiderate fellow had... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. Ver. 13. _Through infirmity of the flesh_] That is, though much broken with many miseries, yet I spared not to take pains among you. Zachariah, though he ceased to speak, yet he ceased not to minister; he took n... [ Continue Reading ]
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, _even_ as Christ Jesus. Ver. 14. _And my temptation_] That is, mine afflictions, whereby the Lord tempts his, feels which way their pulses beat, and how they stand affected toward him. _ Whic... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _Where is then the blessedness_] _q.d._ There was a time when ye held yourselves happy in me, and blessed the time that eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Ver. 16. _Am I therefore become, &c._] Truth breeds hatred, as the fair nymphs did the ugly fauns _a_ and satyrs. The hearing of truth galls, as they write of some creatures, that they have _fel in aure, _ gall in their ears. It was no... [ Continue Reading ]
They zealously affect you, _but_ not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. Ver. 17. _They zealously affect you_] _Depereunt vos; _ as jealous woers they would have you whole to themselves without a co-rival, ερως and ερις are related. _ They would exclude us_] As standing i... [ Continue Reading ]
But _it is_ good to be zealously affected always in _a_ good _thing_, and not only when I am present with you. Ver. 18. _To be zealously affected in a good thing_] In a good cause, for a good end, and in a good manner. There is a counterfeit zeal, as is that of the Popish martyrs, or traitors rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, Ver. 19. _Till Christ be formed_] That you may seek for salvation by him alone. Together with the word there goes forth a regenerating power, James 1:18. It is not a dead letter and empty sound, as some have blasphe... [ Continue Reading ]
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. Ver. 20. _And to change my vaice_] To speak to your necessity; for now being absent I shoot at rovers, and am at some uncertainty (απορουμαι) how to frame my discourse to you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? Ver. 21. _Ye that desire, &c._] That are ambitious of slavery, of beggary, Galatians 4:9. How many have we at this day that rejoice in their bondage and dance to hell in their bolts!... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Ver. 22. _For it is written_] It was enough of old to say, "It is written;" there was no need to quote chapter and verse, as now. Men were so ready (skilled) in the Scriptures, they could tell where to tu... [ Continue Reading ]
But he _who was_ of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman _was_ by promise. Ver. 23. _Was born after the flesh_] In an ordinary way, as all others are; for Hagar was young, and Abraham not old. _ Was by promise_] _i.e._ By a supernatural power, by a divine miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. Ver. 24. _Which things are an allegory_] That is, they signify or import an allegory, αλληγορουμενα; or they, being the things that they were, represented and type... [ Continue Reading ]
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Ver. 25. _For this Agar is mount_] The Arabians call Mount Sinai, Agar. Twice Hagar fled thither, Genesis 16:7; Genesis 16:14; Genesis 21:14, it being in her way home to Egypt. From... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Ver. 26. _But Jerusalem which is above_] That is, the Christian Church, the heavenly Jerusalem, the panegyris and congregation of the firstborn, whose names are enrolled in heaven, Hebrews 12:23. The Hebrew word for Jerusalem is o... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _For it is written_] When these testimonies of the Old Testament are thus cited in the New, it is not only by... [ Continue Reading ]
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. Ver. 28. _Now we, brethren, as Isaac_] This the Jews to this day will not hear of, but call us _Mamzer Goi, _ bastardly Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him _that was born_ after the Spirit, even so _it is_ now. Ver. 29. _Persecuted him_] By cruel mockings and real injuries, challenging the birthright and deriding the covenant, &c. Moses's word, מצזחק Genesis 21:9, holds forth, that Ishmael di... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. Ver. 30. _Shall not be heir_] No justiciary (official of justice) can be saved. A Papist cannot go beyond a reprobate. _Purus putus Papista non po... [ Continue Reading ]
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Ver. 31. _We are not children, &c._] _q.d._ We are in a far better condition than legalists. "I have blessed Ishmael," saith God; "twelve princes shall he beget; but my covenant will I establish with Isaac," Genesis 17:20,21.... [ Continue Reading ]