Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

In like manner we also (saith he) when we were children, served under the rudiments of the world, that is to say: the law had dominion over us, oppressed us and kept us in a strait bondage, as servants and captives. For first it restrained carnal and rebellious persons that they should not run headlong into all kinds of vice. For the law threateneth punishment to transgressors,¹ which if they feared not, there is no mischief which they would not commit: And over those whom the law so bridleth, it ruleth & reigneth. Again, it did accuse us, terrify us, kill us,² and condemn us spiritually and before God: and this was the principal dominion that the law had over us. Therefore like as an heir is subject unto his tutors, is beaten, and is compelled to obey their laws and diligently to execute their commandments: even so mens consciences, before Christ come, are oppressed with the sharp servitude of the law: that is to say, they are accused, terrified, and condemned of the law. But this dominion, or rather this tyranny of the law is not continual, but must only endure until the time of grace. Wherefore the office of the law is to reprove and to increase sins, but to righteousness: to kill, but to life, For the law is a Schoolmaster unto Christ. ³Like as therefore the tutors do handle the heir being yet a child, strictly and hardly, rule him and command him as a servant, and he again is constrained to be subject unto them: even so the law accuseth us, humbleth us, and bringeth us into bondage, that we may be the servants of sin, death, and of the wrath of God, which is in deed a most miserable kind of bondage. But as the power of the tutors, and the subjection and bondage of the little heir is not continual, but only endureth unto the time appointed of the Father, which being ended, he needeth not to be governed by his tutors, nor remaineth under their subjection any more, but with liberty enjoyeth the inheritance: even so the law hath dominion over us, and we are constrained to be servants and captives under his government, but not for ever. For this clause which followeth must be added: until the appointed time of the Father. For Christ which was promised, came and redeemed us which were oppressed with the tyranny of the law.

In like maner vve also (sayth he) vvhen vve vvere children, serued vnder the rudimentes of the vvorld, that is to say: the lawe had dominion ouer vs, oppressed vs and kept vs in a streite bondage, as seruaunts and captiues. For first it restrained carnall and rebellious persons that they should not runne headlong into all kindes of vice. For the lawe threatneth punishment to transgressours,