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¹ O foolish Galatians, who hath deluded you, you that have had the crucifixion of Jesus Christ represented to your view? ² this one thing I desire to know of you, did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by the gospel preach'd to you? ³ have you so little understanding, as having begun in the spiritual doctrine of the gospel, to turn again to the law? ⁴ have you suffered so many things in vain? ⁵ if it be in vain. he therefore that ministreth the spirit to you, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or by the preaching of faith?

⁶ As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: ⁷ so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham. ⁸ and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed." ⁹ so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe. ¹⁰ but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:" ¹¹ but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, " the just shall live by faith." ¹² now the law does not justify by FAITH, but says, "he that DOES these things shall live by them." ¹³ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. (for it is written, " cursed is every one, that hangeth upon a tree.") ¹⁴ that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised. ¹⁵ Brethren, I speak according to the practice of men; contracts between men, when once ratified, cannot be disannulled or altered afterwards by any man. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ now if the right to the inheritance be from the law, it is no longer founded upon the promise; altho' God made a donation of it to Abraham by promise.

¹⁹ "To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator. ²⁰ now a mediator supposes two parties, of which God is but one. ²¹ Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law. ²² but the scripture has declar'd all guilty of sin, that the blessing promised on condition of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ but before faith came, we were shut up together as prisoners under the custody of the law, 'till faith was to be revealed. ²⁴ so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ but now faith being come, we are no longer under a pedagogue. ²⁶ for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. ²⁸ there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.