The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 212

one." When ho speaks to us we have all that we need, Many a,lvantnges belong to this pure and lofty relation with God. 1. CJlemr visi@s of truth. Truth i8 no longer adulterated with human imaginations. 2. The full efficacy of grace. This is not weakened by the harsh and ugly ndditions of man's blundering attempts to improve his fellow-man. It flows clear and full in its own heavenly beauty. 3. The blessedness of fellowship with God. A religion of Law is irksome. There is no joy in obedience forced by constraint. But direct communion with God is itself the source of the deepest joy, and it makes all service glad, so that we delight to do the will or God. III. THE GOSPEL BRINGS TO UB THIS RELIGION 011' DIRECT COMMUNION, It is true thn.t Christ is a Mediator, but in quite another way from the mediation of Moses. Moses and all human mediators stand beLween us and God, so as to separate us from -him and darken the vision of his glory by their human shadows. Tiut Christ only comes between to bridge over the gulf that separates, to unite u~ to God, to be the mirror in which the presence of God is revealed; nay, to bring God to us, made manifest in the flesh. Thus in Christ we have immediate communication with God. Through him we not only know that God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, we also have grace thus to worship. In Christ God's grace directly flows to us with all its fresh, untainted purity and power. In Christ we have grace to enter through the rent veil to the holiest place, and to rest in the eternal light of God's near presence.-W. F. A. Vers. 24, 25.-The tutor. The ima.ge of the Law as a tutor would apply directly to the condition of the Jews, to whom the Levitical system was given in their religious childhood in order to prepare them for the privileges of sonship which Christ was to confer. But what was true of them is more or less true of all of us. For the religious history of Israel is just an emphasized epitome of the religious history of the rac~. Through longer a.ges, by more obscure methods, in spite of more grievous lapses, God is educating mankind as he educated the Jews. Though in their case the process was hastened by the tropical heat of prophetic inspiration, a.nd the results are portrayed in the clear light of a Scripture revelation, the method is· still essentially the same. Law comes :first a.nd serves a.a the tutor till the gospel of Christ brings the liberty of manhood. Individually we pass through a similar education. The function of Law is here described. Law is a. tutor. I. THE TUTOR RESTRAINS AND CONTROLS ms PUPIL, The tutor or predagogos was not so much the teacher as the person to whom was entrusted the charge of the whole moral direction of the child. He had an almost absolute authority, such as English lads with the greater freedom allowed among us would resent as a galling yoke. A similar function pertained to the Jewish Law, and pertains to all law in so far aa it comes into practical relations with our religious life. In particular note three chara.cteristics common to the control of the tutor over his charge and the dominion of a. religion of Law. 1. Rigid orders. The tutor would lea.ve little to the discretion of his pupil, nor would he be likely to expla.in the reason fur his mandates. So Law requires definite actions and affords little scope for the intelligent consideration of general principles and none for freedom of action upon them. 2. Compulsion. The tutor commands. He does not spare the rod. La.w depends on threats and fear of punish- ment, or on hopes of· reward, or at best on a stern sense of necessary obligation, and not on love and willing acquiescence. 3. Restraints. Probably the old tutor would check and repress rather than guide, encourage, and develop the natural disposition of his pupil. Law says, "Thou shalt not," with more emphasis than "Thou shalt." II. 'l'HE TUTOR IS SUITED TO THE PERIOD OF CHILDHOOD. Much that entere<l into the stern old system of discipline was as unfitted to youth as to manhood, and we are beginning to see the advantages of e. freer kind of education. Nevertheless, certain restraints are essential to the condition of childhood, and the relaxing of them must be most disastrous. The duty of implicit obedience must be learnt before it is possible to understand the principles of abstract morality. Conscience must be educated by Law. In the inrancy of the raco the pure spirituality of Christianity could not be perceived, e.nd a lower, narrower religion was all that came withiu the grasp of men. 'rhere is II law enclosed withiu the gospel, and those who are spiritually too backwe.rd Q4LA'f~AN~. .,.  178 THE EPIS'l'LE TO THE GALATIANS. [ OH. ill, l-:-29.