to say, "The love of Christ constraiueth me," a.re reminded tbnt "whatsoever a m.an BOweth that shall be also reap." III. THE TUTOR PREPARES FOR THE TrME O:f MANIIOOD, If !;Le does bis work w.ell be does not convert his pupil into a slave. By teaching the habit of obedience be prepares for a willing acquiescence in a higher will; by inculcating a certain course of action be lays the foundation for a character in harmony with it. 'l.'liis preparatory influence in education admits of wide application; e.g. the boy must fir~t. Il)a~ter the rules of arithmetic in order that ho may subsequently comprehend the.principles of mathema.1ics, must take grammar as an introduction to philology, etc. Thus.St. Paul gives no excuse for the Marciooite heresy, which rejects the Old Testament religion as a bad thing. He not only allows it to be good in its way, but the only. thjna possible in its time and a direct preparation for the later and freer religioµ. '!'here ,i; a continuity in history, there is a continuity in God'11 providentiaJ, pontrol of l;Listory and there is a continuity in the growing stream of grace that flows t4rough biswcy: Christianity stands on the foundation of Judaism, 'l'he. Old Testament is useful ;jn preparing as for Christ. Nevertheless, it must not be forgotten that part of this effi9l!,.i;iy is negative. The -;ery failure of the Law and its increasing irksomene~.s pr1;1pare for Christ by making us feel the need and enjoy the liberty of his grace. . . . .. , ,: IY. THE TU'l'OR rs DISIIIJ:SSED WHEN THE TIIIIE OF MANHOOD ARRIVES. The tutor wbo was useful to the child will be a hindrance to the grown man. The submiss\9n which was dutiful in childhood becomes servile in manhood. 'l'be yoke of. ~he La_w is not the less a nuisance to the Christian because it was a necessity for the Jew. There is great skill in the apostle's argument, for, while showing that he _was •no_ enemy to the Law bnt appreciated its utility, he pointed out that that very utility involved its being superseded. Its purpose was important, but. preparatory, ta prepare for. t)le gospel. The blossom must fall that the frwt may 4evelop.-W. F. A. . . .. , Vers. 26-29.-Sonship. Liberated from the tutelage of Law throug)l,f~th, and ,pn account of bis union with Christ, the Christian is exalted intq .the ~ondition:o{,11, free son of God and ~njoys the large privileges of sonship._ • •. : , : L THE C01'"DITION OF soNSHIP. God is ·the Father of a)l · mankind, . ~nd . all human creatures, even the most ignorant, the most degrad·ed, and the xnqst. vicious .~re naturally God's children. The prodigal son is still-a. son and can think of "_my fatb,:ir." Nevertheless, it is clear that St. Paul often speaks of a sonship that does not belong to all men-a sonsLlp which is tile Christian's peculiar condition and. is not even shared by the Jew, a sonshlp which is not enjoyeJ by natural birth, _but must be received by adoption. i.e. by a special act of Divine grace.. What does this mean? . 1. Near relationship with God. The son is most closely related to his father. But the dis• obedient cliild who fornakes his home, is practically de;i.d, for him practically: the old relation is severed. It needs to be restored if he is to enjoy it again. . The son, too• with St. Paul is not the young child in the mmery, but th6 older child admitted into the society of bis father. The Jew was kept in the nursery Heparated from God. by a "mediator" (ver. 19) and a "tutor" (ver. 24). The Christian is 3,\lmitted into close fellowship with God. 2. Lioerty. This is an id.ea always astiociated wi.th St. l;'aul's description of sonshlp. The son is no longer the child" under guar<lians and stewards," who "differeth nothing from a bond-servant."_ He is a free man t<njoying the con- fidence of hls father. Such are Christians; to them the mind·and will of Gc,d_are revealed; they are free from restraints of formal Law; they are· put in positions of trust. . II. THE ORIGIN OF SONSHIP. 1. Through faith. This is an important point in the apostle's argument. So long as we have not faith we remain in tuj;elage and ,at a distance from God. Faith breaks the yoke and brings us into the prescnc~ of God. Faith teaches us to realize that God is our l?at)j.cr and to trust him fearlessly, an(!. so to take the position of sons. 2. By union with Christ. Christ is tM Son of God. Yet he is not desirous of keeping bis privileges tQ himself. On the contra.ry, he laboured arid suffered that his people might share them. The baptized, that is to say, ali <>f, tbe Galatian people who accepted Christianity as a religion, had happily gone. fu,rthet ~nd really entered into the spi:·it of it. They had siuce backslidden, but they WArg 1 no bypocritee, Living Christhnity is. "putting on Chrj.st," being clothed with the -~~rit. OIJ, IV, 1-31.] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 179
of Christ. They who do this through faith in Christ become one with him, and, as his brethren, become sons of his Father. III. 'l'HE CONBEQUENOEB OF BONBHIP, 1. Universal 'brotherhood. We are all one "in Christ Jesus." Here is the secret. The fraternity that sprang from the rner<cJ enthusiasm of philosophic philanthropy led to the guillotine. It is only union in Christ that secures true lasting union among men. As all colours melt into one common brilliancy under the rays of a vr.ry strong light, all distinctions vaniMh when Christ's presence is deeply folt. (1) National distinctions vanish. 'fhe old antagonism of Jew e.nd Gentile disappears. Christianity now tends to blencl nations. (2) Soci~ I distinctions vanillh. Slaves are free in Christ. Free men are servants to Christ. Th•J gospel is the enemy of all caste-feeling. (3) Even distinctions of sex count for nothing. '!'his meant much in ancient times, when cruel injustice was done to women. Women a.re under eternal obligations to the gospel, which has freed them from an unworthy bondage and given them their true place in the world. 2. The inheritance of ancient promises. The son of a king is an heir. What shall be the inheritance of a Son of God? To him it is said," All things are yours." The Jew cherished the promises as a hope. The Christian enjoys the fulfilment of the promises. As yet the fulfilment is but partial, though enough to be an earnest of better things to come for those sons of God who are being macle "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light."- W. F.A.