A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

because the Jews boast, they are the natural offspring, and the Gentiles are by faith, without the help of man, made the spiritual descent of Abraham.

because the Iewes boast, they are the natural offspring, and the Gentils are by fayth, without the helpe of man, made the spirituall discent of Abraham.

24 For there are two covenants.) Therefore had I rather so translate it, lest it should lose the grace of the similitude. For Paul doth compare the ii covenants to the two mothers. It is hard that a testament which is the neuter gender should be called a mother. Therefore the name of covenant is more apt, yet have I not so much desired to show elegance as perspicuity or plainness. finally he doth now set forth the very matter, that as there were two mothers in the house of Abraham, so likewise is there in the church of God. For doctrine or teaching is the mother, of whom God doth beget us, & that is twofold, of the law, & of the Gospel. The law engendereth into bondage: therefore it is like Hagar. But Sarah representeth the second (the gospel) which engendereth into liberty ⟨p. 106⟩although Paul fetcheth it higher, making the first mother Sinai, and the second Jerusalem: therefore if it shall like any man to discuss every point more narrowly, he shall make the law as it were the seed, whereof are engendered the children of Sinai, and the Gospel the seed, whereof are engendered the children of Jerusalem. But this belongs nothing to the sum of the matter: it is enough if we understand that the two Covenants are like mothers, of which, unlike children are borne, because the covenant of the law maketh bond, and the covenant of the Gospel maketh free. Objection. But all this at the first blush might, seem unlikely to be true: because there are no children begotten unto God, but to be free: wherefore the similitude accordeth not. I answer, Answer. two manner of ways is that which Paul speaketh true. for the law in time past, engendered the disciples thereof into bondage, I mean the holy Prophets, and the residue of the faithful: not that they should remain bond, but because God did keep them under a schoolmastership for a time. For their liberty was hidden under the veil of ceremonies, and of the whole government, wherewith they were at that time governed: in the outward appearance nothing but bondage was seen. There Paul saith the same to the