Sons and Heirs

1Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is in a state of servitude, tho' he is to be lord of all; 2being under tutors and guardians, 'till the time prefix'd by his father. 3even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world, but when the time appointed was accomplished, 4God sent forth his own son born of a woman, and subject to the law, to redeem those, 5who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6and because ye are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba, that is, father; 7so that thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God thro' Christ.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8When you did not know God, you did service to those, who in reality are no Gods; but now that you know God, 9or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years. 11you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

12I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I was as you are. 13It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you, 14yet you did not despise me for the trial which attended my person, nor treated me with scorn; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15what benedictions did you then pour out upon me! for I bear you witness, that, had it been practicable, you would have pulled out your very eyes, and given them to me. 16am I now become your enemy in continuing to tell you the truth? 17they court your affection, but not in a fair way; for they design to exclude me, that you might have the greater esteem for them. 18but it is just you should cultivate my affection for you upon all proper occasions, and not only when I am present with you. 19my dear children, how am I in pain, till Christ be formed in you? 20I wish I could be present this very moment with you, and suit my discourse accordingly, for I stand in doubt what to think of you.

Hagar and Sarah

21But tell me, you that are so willing to be under the law, why don't you consider the law? 22for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. 23he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the promise. 24these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude. 25this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude with her children: 26but the heavenly Jerusalem is represented by the free-woman, who is the mother of us all.

27for it is written, "rejoice thou barren, that bearest not; break out into loud acclamations, thou that hast not the travels of childbirth, for more are the children of the desolate, than of her that hath an husband."

28Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. 29but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now.

30but what saith the scripture? "cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not share the inheritance with the son of the free-woman."

31so then, my brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free-woman, by virtue of that freedom which Christ has procur'd for us.