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

But the doctrine of the Gospel doth as well both in the time of birth give full freedom unto her children, as also bringeth them up as those that be free. Yet I confess that Paul speaketh not here of such Children: as shall appear by the text. for he will show that he meaneth by the children of Sinai, hypocrites, which at last are banished out of the Church of God, and are put from the inheritance. What engendering into bondage than is this that he here reasoneth about? forsooth it is of them who frowardly abuse the Law, so that they conceive nothing of the law, but that which is servile and bond. So did not the godly Fathers which lived under the old testament. for the servile engendering of the Law, did not hinder but that they had Jerusalem their mother in spirit. But they that stick in the naked ⟨p. 107⟩and bare law, and acknowledge it not a Schoolmastership whereby they are lead unto Christ, but rather make a let or stop thereof lest they should come unto Christ: they are Israelites borne unto bondage. Objection. Some man again will make an exception, why doth the Apostle say that such are borne, by the covenant of GOD, and why doeth he reckon them in the Church. I answer, Answer. that they are adulterous seed of a corrupt seed: and that they are not properly engendered or begotten of God, but be gone out of kind, and as it were Bastards, which falsely call God Father, of whom they be repudiate and refused▪ and by the same title are they reckoned also in the Church: not because they are very members thereof, but because they usurp a place for a time, and having put on a fair show do deceive. for in this place the Apostle doth consider the Church, as here it is seen in this world. concerning which, more is to be said by and by.

But the doctrine of the Gospel doth as wel both in the time of byrth giue full freedome vnto her children, as also bringeth them vp as those that bee free. Yet I confesse yt Paule speaketh not here of such Children: as shall appeare by ye texte. for he will shew that he meaneth by the children of Sina, hypocrits, which at last are banished out of the Church of God, and are put from the enheritaunce. What ingendring into bondage than is this that he here reasoneth about? forsooth it is of them who frowardlye abuse the Lawe, so that they conceiue nothing of the law, but that which is seruile and bonde. So didde not the godly Fathers which liued vnder the olde testament. for the seruile engendring of the Law, did not hinder but that they hadde Ierusalem their mother in spirite. But they that stick in the naked