Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. In these words the apostle doth present to our eye the true face of the Church in an allegory of Sarah and Hagar, of Ishmael and Isaac, of Mount Sinai and Mount Sion. Take the full scheme and delineation in brief. 1. Here is Sarah and Hagar; that is, servitude and freedom. 2. Here are two cities: "Jerusalem that now is," the synagogue of the Jews; and that "Jerusalem which is above," "the vision of peace," and "mother of all" the faithful. For by the new covenant we are made children unto God. 3. Here is the law promulgated and thundered out on Mount Sinai; and the gospel, the covenant of grace, which God published, not from the mount, but from heaven itself, by the voice of His Son. In all, you see a fair correspondence and agreement between the type and the thing, but so that "Jerusalem our mother" is still the highest; the gospel glorious with the liberty it brought, and the law putting OH a yoke, breathing nothing but servitude and fear; Isaac an "heir," and Ishmael "thrust out"; the Christian more honourable than the Jew.The veil is drawn, and you may behold presented to your view and consideration a double parallel. 1. Of the times; "But as then, so now." 2. Of the occurrences, the acts and monuments, of these times, divided between two, the agent and the patient, "those that are born after the flesh" persecuting, and "those that are born after the Spirit" suffering persecution. I. THOUGH THE PRIVILEGES AND PREROGATIVES OF THE CHURCH BE MANY, YET WAS SHE NEVER EXEMPTED FROM PERSECUTION, BUT RATHER HAD IT ENTAILED ON HER AS AN INHERITANCE. 1. In the persons themselves. 2. This will yet more plainly appear from the very nature and constitution of the Church, which is best seen in her blood, when she is militant; which is more full and expressive than any other representation of the title that she hath. 3. "As it was then, so it is now." St. Paul doth not say, "It may be so," or "It is by chance," but "So it is," by "the providence of God, which is seen in the well-ordering and bringing of every motion and action of man to a right end," which commonly runneth in a contrary course to that which flesh and blood, human infirmity, would find out. Eternity and mortality, majesty and dust and ashes, wisdom and ignorance, steer not the same course, nor are they bound to the same point, "My ways are not your ways, nor My thoughts yours," saith God, by His prophet, to a foolish nation who in extremity of folly would be wiser than God. We must first be made more spiritual by the contradiction of "those who are born after the flesh"; more Isaacs than before, for the many Ishmaels. So perfection is not only agreeable to the wisdom of God, but convenient to the weakness of man. And it is a beatitude: Blessed poverty, blessed mourning, blessed persecution (Matthew 5:3, 4, 10-12). Blessedness is set upon these as a crown, or as rich embroidery upon sackcloth, or some coarser stuff. Thus you see the Church is not, cannot be, exempt from persecution, if either we consider the quality of the persons themselves, or the nature and constitution of the Church, or the providence and wisdom and mercy of God. II. Let us now LOOK BACK UPON THIS DREADFUL BUT BLESSED SIGHT, AND SEE WHAT ADVANTAGE WE CAN WORK, what light we can strike, out of this cloud of blood to direct and strengthen us in this our warfare, that we may "be faithful unto death, and so receive the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). 1. Let us not be dismayed when we see that befall the Church which befalleth all the kingdoms and commonwealths in the world, when we see the face of the Church gather blackness, and not shine in that beauty in which formerly we beheld her. For what strange thing is it that Ishmael should mock Isaac? that a serpent should bite, or a lion roar? that the world should be the world, or the Church the Church? The Church, so far as she is visible, in respect of her visibility and out. ward form, is as subject to change as any other thing that is seen, as those things which we use to say are but the balls of fortune to play with. 2. And that we may not marvel, let us, in the next place, have a right judgment in all things, and not set up the Church in our fancy, and shape her out by the state and pomp of this world, but "be transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2). We must not make the world the idea and platform of a Church. 3. Therefore let us cast down these imaginations, these bubbles of air blown up by the flesh the worse part which doth soonest bring on a persecution, and doth soonest fear it; and let us, in the place of these, build up a royal fort, build ourselves up in our holy faith, and so fit and prepare ourselves against the fiery trial. 4. "Be ye therefore ready; for, in an hour when you think not, the Son of man," the Captain of your salvation, may come (Matthew 24:44), and put you into the lists. Though the trumpet sound not to battle, yet is it not peace. And now, to conclude, "What saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman."To cast out is an act of violence; and the true Church evermore hath the suffering part; but yet she may cast them out, and that with violence; but then it is with the same "violence we take the kingdom of heaven," a violence upon ourselves (Matthew 11:12). 1. By laying ourselves prostrate, by the vehemency of our devotion, by our frequent prayers that God would either melt their hearts, or shorten their hands; either bring them into the right way, or strike off their chariot wheels. 2 By our patience and long-suffering. Patience worketh more miracles than power. 3. We cast them out by our innocency of life, and sincerity of conversation. 4. Lastly: We may cast them out by "casting our burden on the Lord" (Psalm 55:22); by putting our cause into His hands who best can plead it, by citing our persecutors before His tribunal who is the righteous Judge. If we thus cast it upon Him, we need no other umpire, no other revenger. If it be a loss, He can restore it; if an injury, He can return it; if grief, He can heal it; if disgrace, He can wipe it off: and He will certainly do it, if we so cast it upon Him as to trust in Him alone; the full persuasion of God's power being that which "awaketh Him as one out of sleep," putteth Him to clothe Himself with His majesty, setteth His power a working, to bring mighty things to pass, and make Himself glorious by the delivery of His people. (A. Farindon, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. |
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