Verse 2

Verse 2. But is under Tutors and Governors, until the time appointed of the father.

Verse 2. But is vnder Tuters and Gouerners, vntill the time appoynted of the father.

Tutors and Governors are they which do bring up the heir, and so rule him, and order his goods, that neither he wast his inheritance by riotous living, neither his goods otherwise perish or be consumed. They permit him not to use his goods at his own will or pleasure, but suffer him to enjoy them as they shall be needful and profitable unto him. First, whereas they keep him at home, and inform him with good manners, what do they else but prepare and instruct him, whereby he may most commodiously and long enjoy his inheritance? Again, the more straitly and severely they bring him up, so much greater desire they stir up and inflame in him to come to, and enjoy his inheritance. For as soon as he beginneth to be of any discretion and judgement, it can not be but grievous unto him, to live at the commandment and will of an other. After the same sort standeth the case of the elect,¹ which are brought up and instructed under the law, as under a Master, to the liberty of the sons. First the law profiteth them in this, that by the fear of it, and of the punishment which it threateneth, they are driven from sin, at the least from the outward work, least that the liberty of sinning increase overmuch, and remove them from all religion of God, that hope of salvation being paste, and God quite contemned, they should run headlong without all fear into all kinds of evil, as some desperate persons are wont to do. Again, the law is profitable to them in this, that by it they are brought unto knowledge of them selves, and learn how unwillingly they live under the law, and that they do no good at all with a willing and ready mind as it becometh sons, but with a servile and unwilling mind: whereby they may easily see, what is the root of this evil, and what is especially needful unto salvation, to wit a new and a willing spirit to that which is good. Which surely neither the law, nor the works of the law are able to give, yea the longer and the more that they apply them selves unto them, so much more unwilling shall they find them selves, and with so much more grief to work those things that are good. Hereupon now they learn, that they do not satisfy the law, although outwardly they live according to the prescript rule thereof: