Galatians 4

Galatians 4:1

Dffereth nothing) that is to say, he is kpt in strict subjection, as concerning his person, and hath neither the entire knowledge, nor the 〈…〉ment and enjoyment of his rights and 〈◊〉

Galatians 4:3

〈…〉 the Law the 〈…〉l members, for it was composed of Gods children, who had right to the heavenly inheritance in Christ, Rom. 4 13, 16. and yet by reason of their minoritie; namely, the small common distribution of Gods Spirit, it was all hidden under a forme of servile conduct Under the) namely, under the discipline of the Law called elements, because that in comparison of the full and solid doctrine of the Gospell, the Law was but onely as an Alphabet, or rough rudiments, Hebrews 5:12. by which the world began to be instructed in the mysteries of redemption; or because the Law made use of many corporeall and earthly meanes which were not so simply and generally spirituall as the Gospell, see Hebr. 7. 18. and 9. 1.

Galatians 4:4

The fulnesse] which was appointed and ordained by God Sent-forth] he would have him taking upon him humane flesh manifest himselfe unto the world, comming forth, as one should say, our of the everlasting habitation of his glorie, and fulfill in his own person the worke of humane redemption Made of] having assumed humane nature which he had not before, according to which he hath been true man and a creature, Iohn 1. 14. Romans 1:3. Philippians 2:7. Borne of the holy Virgin without any worke of man; Genesis 3:15. Isai 7. 14. Mich. 5. 3.

Made under] namely, hath taken upon him the forme of a servant, Philippians 2:7. subjecting himselfe to the the entire observation and satisfaction of the Law, to acquire by vertue thereof to his humane nature, and to all Believers, the right to eternall glorie; and to free them not onely from the curse of the Law, but also from that hard externall government of it which hath been spoken of before. Instead whereof he hath instituted the strong and free conduct of his Spirit.

Galatians 4:5

We might) namely, the whole Church of this present time The adoption) not onely the benefit thereof, but also the use and fruition. See Romans 8:15; Romans 8:23. Ephes. 1. 5.

Galatians 4:6

Because) Because God hath adopted you to be his children in Christ, he would make this gift full by regenerating you by his Spirit, powred upon you by Christ, who hath received the fulnesse of it, Iohn 1. 16. for to distribute it to all his members, by which also they being assured that God is their father, they do call upon him as such, with full confidence.

Galatians 4:7

Thou art no more) Every Believer is freed by Christ, both in right, and in deed, from the curse and servile pedagogie of the Law.

Galatians 4:8

Howbeit then) that which I have said of the servile discipline of the Law belongeth to the Jewes: but you O Galatians, Gntiles, we are under a worser servitude, namely, under a blinde idolatrie: now then seing it hath pleased God at the very fist to bring you 〈…〉ht, or fall libertie of his Gospell, why do you with foul ingratitude for such a benefit make your selves slaves to observe such things as are now altogether unprofitable and vain?

Galatians 4:9

Ye have known) namely, with that lively, saving and effectuall knowledge which he of himselfe gives by his Word and Spirit Are known) namely, chosen and accepted of, to be his.To the weak) to Mosaicall, externall, and corporeall ceremonies, by which God formerly instructed his Church in its childhood, as by a rough Alphabet, and which had never any power in themselves to produce any spirituall effects, Hebrews 9:9. and now under the Gospell, are not so much as of any figurative or sacramentall use Again, the Italian, going backe) namely, from that degree of forwardnesse in the course of your heavenly vocation, to which you have already attained in Christ. See Galat. 5. 7. Philippians 3:14.

Galatians 4:10

Ye observe) following the false Apostles doctrine, you do bring again the Mosaicall observation of distinction of times into a sacred use, binding your consciences thereunto, as if it were part of your holinesse and righteousnesse, Colossians 2:16.

Galatians 4:12

Be as) Be my imitatours, 1 Cor. 4. 16. and 11. 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:6. For I am as) in the state of a Believer and a Christian, I am in the same degree and condition as you are, under the same rule of faith, and of Gods service, that no man may thinke that I have any particular priviledge to exempt me from ceremonies Ye have not) I am not any way exasperated against you for any offence done to my person, I onely desire you to have a care of your own salvation.

Galatians 4:13

Infirmity) namely, afflictions and bodily miseries, by which God hath tried and exercised me.

Galatians 4:14

As an Angell) See Zechariah 12:8. As Christ) not by yielding the honour which is due to Christ onely, unto my person, but by yielding obedience to my word, as being the Word of Christ himselfe, 1 Thessalonians 2:13. 2 Peter 3:2.

Galatians 4:15

Where is then) that is to say, What is the use that you so quickly alienate your selves from me, and forsake my doctrine? since at other times you reputed your selves so happy in having me to be your Apostle and teacher, that there was nothing so dea, but you would willingly have given it me for an acknowledgement of so great a benefit; in me there is no change, the inconstancie is in you.

Galatians 4:16

Am I) Is it sitting for you at this time in recompence of the truth which I have preached to you, to hold me to be your enemie?

Galatians 4:17

They) namely, those false Apostles make shew of being moved by a singular love towards you, and a care to have you not drawn away from them, but seeing they lead you away from Christ the true Bridegroom and Master, to captivate you unto themselves, that shew of love is but a spirituall dishonestie. See contrariwise concerning godly jealousie, 2 Corinthians 11:2. Would exclude you) namely, they endeavour to separate you from the love of me, and of all other true Pastours, that you may wholly depend upon them alone.

Galatians 4:18

It is good) the faithfull are to be commended for being continually carefull of their Pastours love; but you Galatians, contrariwise have forgotten me, so soon as I have been absent from you.

Galatians 4:19

Of whom I travell) for whom I endure great paines and anguishes, as a woman that is in travell, untill such time as Christs pure Doctrine be re-established amongst you, as I had planted it.

Galatians 4:20

Change) to have occasion to be glad and rejoyce with you in stead of my former complaints and reproofes For I stand) this is the reason of the desire he had to see them, namely, because that being not certain what state they were in, he was in great doubt of them.

Galatians 4:21

Tell me) you that of your own will, without, and contrary to Gods command do put your selves again under ther yoak of the Mosaicall Law: consider in Abrahams familie, as in an allegoricall pourtraiture, what you ought to judge of your act Hear the Law) namely, this Scripture which is part of those bookes which are called the Law.

Galatians 4:22

That Abraham) the meaning is, that as in Abrahams familie there were two mothers, and two kindes of issues, the one of bondage, and the other free, and the heir: so amongst those that have the knowledge of the true God, and make profession of serving him, there are two kindes according to the two doctrines or covenants propounded by God unto men, namely, the Law and the Gospell: those which hold themselves to the Law to obtain righteousnesse and life are slaves to sin and to the curse, and are finally excluded from the heavenly inheritance: those that embrace the Gospell are heires and free.

Galatians 4:23

After the flesh) in a meer naturall way: A figure of them who are out of Christs grace, and do of themselves endeavour to obtain life, and righteousnesse by the Law By the promise)namely, by a free gift, and by a miraculous operation of God, out of the course of nature. A figure of Believers who are made sonnes and heires of God, by his onely grace and power.

Galatians 4:24

Are an allegorie, the Italian, have an allegoricall sense) namely, besides the historicall and literall sense, may be taken for a figure of Gods great familie Are the two) that is to say, they signifie and represent the two, &c The one) namely, that of the Law which was given in mount Sinai Gendreth) of it selfe it may make those who are its followers to be part of Gods people by knowledge, profession, and worship; but in the mean time it cannot free them from their naturall bondage, nor bring them into Gods grace, nor obtain the inheritance of heavenly life for them Which is] namely, this covenant was figured by Agar.

Galatians 4:25

Agar is] namely, in this similitude of Abrahams familie with Gods familie; Agar first is correspondent to Sinai, because that as Agar was a stranger, not of the blessed progenie, so Sinai was in Arabia in the Ismaelites land, out of the bounds of the Land of Promise. And secondly, to the earthly Jerusalem of this age which makes profession of seeking life and righteousnesse in the Law, whereby all those which follow it do lose all right in the adoption and grace of God, and doe remain subject to sin and malediction.

Galatians 4:26

But Irusalem] there is also another bodie which is correspondent to Sara; namely, the Christian Church, which God himselfe hath created by his Word and Spirit, whose state shall also be perfect in Heaven, and that is freed by God from all spirituall bondage; and in it, and by it God gendreth and bringeth up all his true children.

Galatians 4:27

For it is] he proves by this passage of the Prophet, that there was to be these two mothers, one spirituall, namely, the Christian Church; the other carnall, namely, the Jewish Synagogue, seeing that the great number of Gods true children was to be borne of the first by the calling of the Gentiles, not of the last, which in former times haue enjoyed Gods grace and presence; and finally, that those children should be brought forth by Gods onely grace and power without the worke of man, being the mother of her own nature was barren.

Galatians 4:28

Now we] namely, all true Christians are and ought to acknowledge themselves to be the children of God, supernaturally engendred by meer grace.

Galatians 4:29

But as] this singular priviledge hath a condition joyned unto it like unto that which happened unto Isaac who was scorned by Ismael, Genesis 21:9. that is to say, that all Christians are likewise persecuted by the Jewes; as indeed persecutions began by them Him that was]amely Isaac, who was not onely Abrahams son according to the flesh, but also was his spirituall issue in Gods adoption, and in the regeneration of the Spirit.

Galatians 4:30

What saith] namely, as the sacred Historie sets down, that God would have Ismael with his mother driven out of Abrahams familie; so all carnall, unbelieving, proud, and perverse Jewes shall be bainshed out of Gods Church, and out of the Kingdom of Heaven.