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

25 For it is written, Rejoice thou barren that bringest not forth children, break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for more are the children of the forsaken, than of her that hath an husband. 28 And we brethren, are after Isaac the children of promise. 29 But as he that was born than after the flesh, did persecute him that was born after the spirit: even so is it now. 30 But what saith the Scripture? Cast forth the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall obtain no inheritance with the son of the freewoman. 31 Therefore brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman.

25 For it is written, Reioice thou barraine that bringest not forth children, breake forth and crie, thou that trauailest not: for more are the children of the forsaken, than of her that hath an husband. 28 And we brethrē, are after Isaac the childrē of promise. 29 But as he that was born thā after the flesh, did persecute him that was born after the spirite: euē so is it now. 30 But what saith the Scripture? Cast forth the bondwoman and her sonne for the sonne of the bondwomā shall obtaine no inheritaunce with the sonne of the freewoman. 31 Therefore bretheren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman.

27 It is written.) He proveth by the testimony of Isaiah, that legitimate children are born of the church according to promise. the place is in the 54. cha. 3. ve. where the Prophet treateth of both the Kingdom of Christ, & the calling of the Gentiles, and it promiseth unto the barren and widow a very great offspring. for this is the cause of mirth & joy to which he exhorteth the church. And it must be noted that the purpose of the Apostle tendeth to this point, to take away from the Jews, this spiritual Jerusalem, of which Isaiah prophecieth. as to which the Prophet denounceth children to be gathered from every place out of all nations: & yet that not by any her own preparation, but by the free blessing of God. and therefore he concludeth by and by that we are the sons of GOD by promise by the example of Isaac ⟨p. 110⟩Hom. 9 8. and that we obtain not this dignity by any other way. This conclusion seemeth to be weak to the unlearned and such as are smally exercised in the Scripture: because they hold not the principal or ground. which notwithstanding is most certain, that all the promises are freely grounded in Messiah. Now because the Apostle did hold that as granted, therefore did he so securely set the promise against the Law.