II. In their disposition —
[Ishmael, being born of the bond-woman, was himself a slave ; and therefore must, of necessity, have a servile spirit : but Isaac, the child of promise, felt all that freedom of spirit which an affectionate and beloved child is privileged to enjoy.
Thus the children of the old covenant are " brought forth to bondage." They may obey in many respects the will of their Father ; but they are invariably actuated, either by self- righteous hopes, or slavish fears. Whatever they do for God, it is " grudgingly and of necessity :" his work is irksome to them ; or, if at any time it be pleasant, their satisfaction arises from pride and self-complacency, and not from any delight they feel in his service. But the children of the new covenant are enabled to walk before God with holy confidence and joy. They serve him, not from fear, but from love ; not that he may save them, but because he has saved them. Whatever they want, they make known their requests to him, assured that he will gladly do for them more than they can ask or think. Thus they maintain sweet fellowship with him, regard- ing him in all things, not as a master or a judge, but as a father and a friend.
This distinction too is marked by the Apostle, who says also in another place, that believers have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry Abba, Father3.]
III. In their conduct —
[Whatever outward conformity Ishmael might shew to his father's will, it is certain he was averse to it in his heart ; for he persecuted Isaac on account of his superior piety, and derided him for claiming an exclusive right to his father's inheritance : but Isaac patiently endured the trial, " knowing in whom he had believed," and that " He was faithful who had promised."
Thus it is with all the children of the old covenant : they may obey the law in many points ; but they do not really love it in any respect: on the contrary, they hate those, whose superior piety is a reproach to them, and who profess, that the children of promise shall exclusively inherit their Father's kingdom. " The saints and the elect" are with them terms not of respect and honour, but of mockery and derision. Our Lord teaches all his followers to expect this treatment, and to expect it on this very account from those, who are merely born after the flesh : " if," says he, " ye were of the world, the world would love its own ; but because ye are not
d ver. 24, 25. with Rom. viii. 15.