¶ And I say that the heir as long as he is a child differeth not from a servant, though he be lord of all, but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, as long as we were children, were in bondage under the ordinances of the world: But when the time was full come, God sent his son born of a woman, and made bond unto the law, to redeem them which were under the law: that we thorow election should receive the inheritance that belongeth unto the natural sons. Because ye are sons, God hath sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, which crieth Abba father. Wherefore now art thou not a servant, but a son. If thou be the son, thou art also the heir of God thorow Christ.
¶ Notwithstanding, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature were not goddes: But now seeing ye know God (yea rather are known of God) how is it that ye turn again unto the weak and beggarly ceremonies, whereunto again ye desire afresh to be in bondage? Ye observe the days, and months, and times, and years. I fear of you, lest I have bestowed on you labour in vain.
¶ Brethren I beseech you, be ye as I am: for I am as ye are. Ye have not hurt me. Ye know well how that thorow infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospell unto you at the first: and my temptation which I suffered by reason of my flesh, ye despised not, neither abhorred: but received me as an angel of God: yea as Christ Iesus. How happy were ye then? for I bear you record that if it had been possible, ye would have digged out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I so greatly become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
¶ They are jealous over you amiss. Yea they intend to exclude you that ye should be fervent to themward. It is good always to be fervent, so it be in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
¶ My little children (of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be fashioned in you) I would I were with you now, and could change my voice, for I stand in a doubt of you. Tell me ye that desire to be under the law: have ye not heard of the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. Yea and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise. Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments, the one from the mount Sina, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Agar. (For mount Sinai is called Agar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Ierusalem) and is in bondage with her children.
¶ But Ierusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all. For it is written: rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath an husband. Brethren we are after the manner of Isaac children of promise: But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually, Even so is it now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture: Cast a way the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then brethren we are not children of the bondwoman: but of the freewoman.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526