Galatians:4

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Seeker Overlay ON

* Now (note :)He declares by another twofold similitude , that which he said before concerning the keeper and schoolmaster . For , he says , the Law (that is , the whole government of God 's house according to the Law ) was as it were a tutor or overseer appointed for a time . And when that protection and overseeing which was but for a time is ended , we would at length come to be at our own liberty , and would live as children , and not as servants . Moreover , he shows along the way , that the governance of the Law was as it were the basics , and as certain principles , in comparison with the doctrine of the Gospel .(:note ) I say , [That ] the heir , as long as he is a child , differeth nothing from a servant , though he be lord of all ; * But is under tutors and governors (note :)This is added because he that is always under a tutor or governor may hardly be considered a freeman .(:note ) until the time appointed of the father . * Even so we , when we were children , were in bondage under the (note :)The Law is called elements , because by the Law God instructed his Church as it were by elements , and afterward poured out his Holy Spirit most plentifully in the time of the Gospel .(:note ) elements of the world : * * To redeem them that were under the law , that we might receive the (note :)The adoption of the sons of God is from everlasting , but is revealed and shown in the time appointed for it .(:note ) adoption of sons . * * Wherefore thou art no more a (note :)The word «servant » is not taken here for one that lives in sin , which is appropriate for the unfaithful , but for one that is yet under the ceremonies of the Law , which is proper to the Jews .(:note ) servant , but a son ; and if a son , then an Partaker of his blessings . heir of God through Christ . * * But now , after that ye have known God , or rather are known of God , how turn ye again to the weak and (note :)They are called impotent and beggarly ceremonies , being considered apart by themselves without Christ : and again , by that means they gave good testimony that they were beggars in Christ , for when men fall back from Christ to ceremonies , it is nothing else but to cast away riches and to follow beggary .(:note ) beggarly elements , whereunto ye desire By going backward . again to be in bondage ? * Ye obserue dayes , and moneths , and times and yeeres . * I am in feare of you , lest I haue bestowed on you labour in vaine . * * Ye know how through (note :)Many afflictions .(:note ) infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first . * And my (note :)Those daily troubles with which the Lord tried me among you .(:note ) temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not , nor rejected ; but received me as an angel of God , [even ] as For the sake of my ministry . Christ Jesus . * * Am I therefore become your enemie , because I tell you the trueth ? * They zealously affect you , (note :)For they are jealous over you for their own benefit .(:note ) [but ] not well ; yea , they would exclude you , That they may transfer all your love from me to themselves . that ye might affect them . * But [it is ] good to be (note :)He sets his own true and good love , which he earnestly held for them , against the wicked vicious love of the false apostles .(:note ) zealously affected always in [a ] good [thing ], and not only when I am present with you . * My litle children , of whome I trauaile in birth againe , vntill Christ be formed in you . * I desire to be present with you now , and to (note :)Use other words among you .(:note ) change my voice ; for I stand in doubt of you . * * For it is written , that Abraham had two sonnes , one by a seruant , and one by a free woman . * But he [who was ] of the bondwoman was born after the (note :)As all men are , and by the common course of nature .(:note ) flesh ; but he of the freewoman [was ] by By virtue of the promise , which Abraham laid hold on for himself and his true seed , for otherwise Abraham and Sara were past the begetting and bearing of children . promise . * Which things are an allegory : for (note :)These represent and symbolize .(:note ) these are the They are called two covenants , one of the Old Testament , and another of the New : which were not two indeed , but in respect of the times , and the diversity of the manner of ruling . two covenants ; the one from the mount He makes mention of Sinai , because that covenant was made in that mountain , of which mountain Hagar was a symbol . Sinai , which gendereth to bondage , which is Agar . * For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia , and (note :)Look how the case stands between Hagar and her children ; even so stands it between Jerusalem and hers .(:note ) answereth to Jerusalem which now is , and That is , Sinai . is in bondage with her children . * But Jerusalem which is (note :)Which is excellent , and of great worth .(:note ) above is free , which is the mother of us all . * * Now we , brethren , (note :)After the manner of Isaac , who is the first begotten of the heavenly Jerusalem , as Israel is of the slavish synagogue .(:note ) as Isaac was , are the children of That seed to which the promise belongs . promise . * But as then he that was born after the (note :)By the common course of nature .(:note ) flesh persecuted him [that was born ] after the By the virtue of God 's promise and after a spiritual manner . Spirit , even so [it is ] now . * But what sayth the Scripture ? Put out the seruant and her sonne : for the sonne of the seruant shall not be heire with the sonne of the free woman . *

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