above, and eternal. The expression, which is above, is said with the greater propriety on this account, that it alludes to the higher and nobler part of Jerusalem, and rises above Mount Sinai : and the Jerusalem which is above, inasmuch as she is already our mother, could not be suitably spoken of as future [as that which is about to be, in antithesis to the Jerusalem that now is'] ; not only is she future [" about to be," as regards the future], but also more ancient [as regards the past], than jj vvv, [the Jerusalem] which now is, inasmuch as the latter has not existed for a long period, nor will it exist in time to come. — &>yXsue/, is in bondage) As Hagar was in bondage to her mistress, so Jerusalem, that now is, is in bondage to the law, and also to the Romans, — her civil state thus being in accordance with her spiritual state.
26. *H 62 avu, but she who is above) Heb. xii. 22 ; Rev. xxi. — sXevdepa, free) as Sarah was. — ring, who) Jerusalem. — wrrtp, mother) The ancients said of their own Rome : Rome is our common father-land. — ndvruv, of all) as many as there are of us. To this refer the many [children] in the following verse.
27. rsypflwrra/, it is written) Is. liv. i. — svtppdvQqri, rejoice) with singing. — ffrefya, barren) Sion, Jerusalem above. — p^ov, break forth) into crying. — xai j36r,cov, and shout) for joy. — r^c, sp^ov, of the desolate) i.e. The New Testament Church, collected for the most part from the Gentiles, who had not [answering to rJjg epqpov) the desolate'] the promise ; and as this New Testament Church was made up of those who heretofore were seen to have had no such aims, it is called " not bearing," " not travailing," — rrig £%ouff?2£, than she who hath) the Jewish Church.
28. Kara 'itfaax, [as] after the similitude of Isaac). — Icray/sX/as, of the promise) ver. 23 — sapev) we are, and ought to wish to be so, ver. 31.
29. 'E&/MXI, persecuted) wantonly, Gen. xxi. 9. Persecution is the work of carnal, not of spiritual men. [Take care lest you esteem it of little importance, whatever is done against the children of the free woman. — V. g.] — rbv xa,r& wvsvpa) viz. yevvqQ'evraj him who was born after the Spirit. Paul, having the Apodosis in his mind, so frames his discourse respecting Ishmael and Isaac as to apply it to carnal men and believers. Where the Spirit is, there is liberty.