to learn from you this only-Did you receive the spirit for 3 works of law, or for the obedience of belief? Are you so un wise? Having begun with spirit are you now perfecting your4 selves with flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain? 5 But if indeed in vain; doth he then, who ministereth the spirit to you abundantly, and worketh miracles among you, do this 6 for works of law, or for the obedience of belief? As Abra7 ham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, know therefore, that they who are believers are children of Abraham. 8 The scripture indeed, foreseeing that God would justify the nations for belief, predicted to Abraham the glad tidings 9 [in these words,] "By thee all the nations shall be blessed.*" So that they who are believers are blessed with the believing 10 Abraham. For as many as are of works of law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is every one who will not persevere in all that are written in the book of the law to do 11 them." And that none is justified by law in the sight of God 12 is evident, for "the just shall live because of belief.‡” Now the law is not because of faith, but, "The man who doth these 13 things shall live by them." From this curse of the law Christ hath redeemed us, being made a curse for us; (for it is written, 14 "Cursed is every one who is suspended on a cross,||") that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations by Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the spirit by means of this belief. 15 Brethren (I speak according to the practice of men) as no one disannulleth the covenant of a man, or superaddeth to it 16 when it is ratified; and the promises were made to Abraham and the seed of him (it is not said "and to the seeds" as if it 17 was a covenant for many, but as if for one, and to the seed of thee; namely Christ) now this I say that the law which was four hundred and thirty years¶T after, doth not disannul a covenant ratified by God for Christ, so as to put a stop to the *Gen. 12. 3: and 18. 18: and 22. 18. † Deut. 27. 23. 12. 40. Exodus 18 promise. For if the inheritance be by law, it is no longer by promise; but God granted it freely by promise. 19 20 (a) To what purpose then was the law? (b) On the account of transgressions it was superadded until the seed should come, to whom the promise was made; and it was introduced through angels by the hand of a mediator; but this mediator was not of one party. (a) But God is one party; is then the law against the promises of God? 21 (b) No by no means; for if a law had been given which could have put into a state of life, righteousness would as22 suredly have been by law. But the scripture hath shut all up under sin, that the promise for belief in Jesus Christ might be 23 granted to them who believe. Now before this belief came, we were under the custody of law, shut up together for the 24 future belief to be revealed. So that the law was our tutor to 25 guide us to Christ, that we might be justified for belief. But this belief being come, we are no longer under a tutor; for 26 you are all children of God by means of this belief in Christ 27 Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized to Christ, 28 have put on Christ, There is in him no distinction of Jew and Greek, no distinction of bondman and freeman, no distinction 29 of male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, you are then the seed of Abraham and heirs according to promise. IV. Now I say, as long as the heir is a minor, he differeth no2 thing from a bondman, though he be lord of all; but is under 3 governors and guardians till the time prefixed by the Father. 4 So we also when minors were in bondage, under the elements of the world; but when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman; born under law that he 5 might redeem those under law-that we may receive the adop 6 tion of children. And because you are children, God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba, 7 Father. So that thou art no longer a slave, but a son; and if a 8 son; then an heir of God through Christ. At the time indeed when you knew not God, you as slaves served things which 9 are in reality no gods; but now when you know God, or rather when God hath owned you, how turn ye again to those weak and beggarly elements to which you degradingly desire 10 again to be in bondage as before. You observe days and 11 months and seasons and years; I am afraid for you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren be, I beseech you, as I, for I am as you were. 13 You have not injured me at all; and you know that when in a weakness of the flesh I proclaimed to you formerly the glad 14 tidings; with respect to that trial of mine, which I had in my flesh, you did not despise, nor with scorn reject, but received 15 me as a messenger of God-as Christ Jesus. What was then your felicitation! For I bear you witness, that if it had been 16 possible you would have pulled out your very eyes and given 17 them to me. Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you truth? They affect a zeal for you; not in an honourable way; but they wish to exclude us, that you may be zealous 18 for them. Now it is honourable to be zealously affected towards a good man at all times, and not barely when I am present with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I again suffer pangs until 20 Christ be formed in you-but I wish I could this moment be with you and change the tone of my voice, for I am in doubt 21 about you tell me ye who desire to be under law, do ye not 22 hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, 23 one by a bondwoman, and one by a freewoman: but he in deed who was of the bondwoman, was born in the ordinary course of nature; and he who was of the freewoman, in virtue 24 of the promise. These things have an allegorical meaning, for by these women are represented the two covenants—one from mount Sina, bringing forth for bondage; this is Hagar. 25 (for Hagar meaneth mount Sina in Arabia*) and answereth to the present Jerusalem, who with her children is in a state 26 of bondage: but the Jerusalem above is free: this is the mo27 ther of us all; for it is written, * Hagar, (which in Arabic signifies a rock) was and still is the name of Sina among the Arabians. 28 Rejoice thou barren, who bearest not; Break forth with shouts of joy, Thou who sufferest not the pangs of childbirth, For many more are the children of the desolate Than of her who hath a husband.* Now we, brethren, are children of promise, as Isaak was. 29 But as then he who was born in the ordinary course of nature 30 persecuted him who was born in a spiritual manner, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Send away this bond woman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not share the inheritance with the son of the freewo31 man." Now we, brethren, are not children of the bondwoman, V. but of the free; therefore stand up for the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not again entangled with a 2 yoke of bondage. Behold I Paul say to you, that if you be 3 circumcised, Christ will avail you nothing. And I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that he is under an obligation to perform the whole law. You who are justified 4 by law, have done with the Christ-you have fallen from that 5 favour. As for us then, we by the spirit entertain a hope of 6 justification for faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a belief made operative by love. 7 You were running well. Who hath stopped you from obey. 8 ing the truth? This persuasion cometh not from him who 9 called you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole mass. I have a 10 confidence in the Lord with respect to you, that you will keep your minds bent on nothing else, and that he who troubleth you, whoever he may be, will bear the blame. As for me, 11 brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still perse cuted? In that case the offence of the cross is done away. I 12 wish that they who are unsettling you would cut themselves 13 off: for you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only let not that liberty be an advantage to the flesh; but be servants 14 to one another by offices of love. For the whole law is sum15 med up in this one precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Now if you bite and devour one another, take heed 16 that you be not destroyed by one another. This then I say, walk 17 by the spirit and by no means fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the inclinations of the flesh are contrary to the spirit; and the inclinations of the spirit are contrary to the flesh; they are op18 posed to one another; so that you do not, what you wish; but if 19 you are led by the spirit you are not under law. Now the works 20 of the flesh are manifest-they are these-adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, fascinations, enmities, 21 strifes, emulations, animosities, contentions, factions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and the like, of which I forewarn you, as I have indeed before declared that 22 they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom 23 of God: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbear24 ance, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temper25 ance-against such things there is no law. Now they who be long to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by spirit let us walk by spirit. Let us not be vain glorious, provoking one another, envying one another. VI. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, do you, who are spiritual, set such a one right again, with a spirit.of meek2 ness, keeping an eye on thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 3 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of the Christ. 4 For if any one thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Now let every one prove his own work, and then he will have his boasting for himself 5 alone and not for another. For every one shall bear his own 6 burthen. Let him who is taught the word make him who 7 teacheth a partaker in all good things. Be not deceived. God 8 is not to be imposed on; for whatever a man soweth, that he shall reap. Because he who soweth for his flesh shall from the 9 flesh reap corruption; but he who soweth for the spirit shall from the spirit reap life everlasting; therefore let us not be weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap without 10 being tired. As we therefore have an opportunity let us do good to all, but more especially to them who are of the household of faith. 11 You see in what large letters I have written to you with my own hand. As many as are desirous of making a figure in |