whom be glory for ever and ever. amen. I wonder you have so soon deserted unto another gospel,

as I said before, so say I now again, if any one preach any other thing to you for gospel, than what you have received, let him be accursed.

After three years, I went up to Jerusalem, to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days:

but other of the apostles saw I none, except James the Lord's brother.

but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize?

have you so little understanding, as having begun in the spiritual doctrine of the gospel, to turn again to the law?

have you suffered so many things in vain?

so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham.

so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.

now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.

this therefore I say, that the law, which was not till four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the promise, that was ratified before by God, so as to set the promise afoot.

so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is in a state of servitude, tho' he is to be lord of all;

even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world. but when the time appointed was accomplished,

so that thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God thro' Christ.

But tell me, you that are so willing to be under the law, why don't you consider the law?

but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now.

so then, my brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free-woman, by virtue of that freedom which Christ has procur'd for us.

I have confidence in you, that, through the Lord, you will be of the same mind with me, so that he who troubles you shall fall under the censure he deserves, whoever he be.

as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross.

I say then, conduct yourselves by the spirit, and you will not then gratify the animal passions.

for the vicious desires are contrary to those of the spirit, and the inclinations of the spirit are contrary to those of the animal part; these are opposite to each other, so that you do not the things that you would.

bear with one another's infirmities, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

You see how long a letter I have writ to you with my own hand.