+III. A relapse to legalism is an occasion of alarm to the earnest Christian teacher.+--"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (ver. 11). The apostle knew something of the fickleness of the Galatians and of the weakness of human nature but was hardly prepared for such a collapse of the work which he had built up with so much anxiety and care. He saw, more clearly than they, the peril of his converts, and the prospect of their further defection filled him with alarm and grief. It meant the loss of advantages gained, of precious blessing enjoyed, of peace, of character, of influence for good. It is a painful moment when the anxious Christian worker has to mourn over failure in any degree. +Lessons.+--1. _Legalism suppresses all religious growth._ 2. _Is a constant danger to the holiest._ 3. _Shows the necessity for earnest vigilance and prayer._ _GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._ Vers. 8-11. _The Dilemma of Turncoats._ +I. Their first condition was one of ignorance.+--1. _Ignorance of God._ (1) The light of nature is imperfect, because we know by it only some few and general things of God. (2) It is weak, because it serves only to cut off excuse, and is not sufficient to direct us in the worship of God. (3) It is a great and grievous sin. 2. _Idolatry._--(1) When that which is not God is placed and worshipped in the room of the true God. (2) When men acknowledge the true God, but do not conceive Him as He will be conceived, and as He has revealed Himself. (3) What a man loves most, cares for most, and delights in most, that is his god. Where the heart is, there is thy god. +II. Their changed condition is the knowledge of God in Christ.+--1. This is a special knowledge whereby we must acknowledge God to be our God in Christ. 2. This knowledge must be not confused, but distinct. (1) We must acknowledge God in respect of His presence in all places. (2) In respect of His particular providence over us. (3) In respect of His will in all things to be done and suffered. 3. This knowledge must be an effectual and lively knowledge, working in us new affections, and inclinations. +III. Their revolt is an abandonment of salvation.+--It is an exchange of knowledge for ignorance, of the substance for the shadow, of reality for emptiness--a return to weak and beggarly elements. It is the substitution of ceremonies for genuine worship. +IV. The conduct of turn-coats is an occasion of ministerial disappointment and alarm+ (ver. 11).--Work that is in vain in respect of men is not so before God.--_Perkins._