Chapter 4

  Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;  

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  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:  

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  So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.  

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  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:  

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  That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.  

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  And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.  

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  Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.  

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  But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.  

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  But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?  

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  You observe days, and months, and times, and years.  

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  I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.  

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  Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech you: you have not injured me at all.  

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  And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,  

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  You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  

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  Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.  

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  Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  

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  They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.  

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  But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.  

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  My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.  

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  And I would willingly be present with you now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.  

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  Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?  

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  For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.  

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  But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.  

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  Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:  

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  For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  

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  But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother.  

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  For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.  

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  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  

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  But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.  

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  But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.  

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  So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.  

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