1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ from a servant, though he is lord of all;
2. But is under guardians and overseers until the time appointed by the father.
3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the principles of the world:
4. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, made from a woman, made under the law,
5. To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6. And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father.
7. Therefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8. Then, however, when you did not know God, you did service to those who by nature are no gods.
9. But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how can you turn back to the weak and impoverished principles, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10. You observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11. I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
12. Brethren, I plead with you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all.
13. You know how through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14. And my temptation which was in my flesh you did not despise, nor reject; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15. Where is then the blessedness you spoke of? For I bear you witness, that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16. Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17. They make a great show of warmth for you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.
18. But it is always good to make a show of warmth in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19. My little children, for whom I labor painfully in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21. Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24. These things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which bears children for bondage, which is Hagar.
25. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27. For it is written, Rejoice, you barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry out, you who do not labor in birth: for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.
28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29. But as then he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30. Nevertheless what does the scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
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