Silas.
The purpose of Paul is to con∣firme & illustrate that Paradox or strange Doctrine propounded in the former Chapter, of beeing not vnder the Law, but vnder grace, which haply some of the Iewes might haue taken, as if the Apostle had bin an enemy to the knowledge and obedience of the Law: therefore, now he sheweth how our freedome from the Law is to be vnderstood, and vpon what groundes and reasons it is founded. This is shewed and declared by the similitude of ciuill marriage, wherein the woman during natural life, is obliged to the Husband, 1. to be his, or to him onely, 2. not to depart from him, 3. nor to marry with another; but the husband being dead, she is free, being, 1. his no more; 2. and may (without guilt of Adultery) marry to another. 3. to bring forth fruite to another, to the second man. So all the elect before new byrth, are in bondage to sin, to which they bring forth Children, that is euill workes by the force of the Lawe; but after regeneration, the vigour and coaction of the Law ceaseth (in part at least) and they 1. are free, being dead to the Law. and 2. married vnto Christ. 3. do now bring forth good workes (as children) to God. Paul exemplieth in the woman, rather then in the man, be∣cause her Obligation and bond is straighter toward the man, then of him toward her (for by the Lawe the man was suffered to giue a Bill of Diuorce to the woman, so was it not on the contrary) also because his meaning was to compare vs to the wife.
The Chapter consisteth of three parts. The first, set∣teth out our liberty from the Law, and proueth it by 3. reasons, in verse 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Secondly, he aunswereth certaine obiections made against the Law, which he ex∣cuseth