Ver. 20. +Now a Mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.+--The very idea of mediation supposes two persons at least, between whom the mediation is carried on. The law then is of the nature of a contract between two parties--God on the one hand, and the Jewish people on the other. It is only valid so long as both parties fulfil the terms of the contract. It is therefore contingent and not absolute. Unlike the law, the promise is absolute and unconditional. It depends on the sole decree of God. There are not two contracting parties. There is nothing of the nature of a stipulation. The Giver is everything, the recipient nothing (_Lightfoot_). Ver. 22. +The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.+--The written letter was needed so as permanently to convict man of disobedience to God's command. He is shut up under condemnation as in a prison. Ver. 24. +The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.+--As a tutor, checking our sinful propensities, making the consciousness of the sinful principle more vivid, and showing the need of forgiveness and freedom from the bondage of sin. Ver. 26. +Ye are all the children of God.+--No longer children requiring a tutor, but sons emancipated and walking at liberty. Ver. 28. +Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.+--No class privileged above another, as the Jews under the law had been above the Gentiles. Difference of sex makes no difference in Christian privileges. But under the law the male sex had great privileges. Ver. 29. +If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs.+--Christ is Abraham's seed, and all who are baptised into Christ, put on Christ (ver. 27), and are one in Christ (ver. 28), are children entitled to the inheritance of promise. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 1-5. _The Deceptive Glamour of Error_--