that it is circumcision and the customs that is here called the law of Moses, which the Gentiles were commanded not to keep. But to think that the Gentiles should be forbidden to keep the law of God that was written in their natures is abominable, and contrary both to Scripture and reason. _Obj._ 5. But the Scripture saith, _Cast out the bond-woman and her son, for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman_; which bond-woman was an allegory of the covenant from Mount Sinai, and therefore to be cast out. _Ans._ The Apostle is here showing how impossible it is for works and grace to stand together in point of justification; for this people were seeking to be justified by the works of the law. He shows the difference betwixt the two covenants, one of works gendering to bondage, _the righteousness of the law being this, that the man that doeth these things should live in them_, (Rom. 10:5;) the other of grace or free promise, without any respect to man's righteousness. He shows that the sons of the covenants are like unto their mothers; the sons of the one covenant are born after the flesh, the sons of the other by promise; and those that are born after the flesh persecute those that are born after the Spirit. Nevertheless, what saith the Scripture? _Cast out the bond-woman and her son, for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman;_ that is, the covenant of works with those that seek to be justified thereby, _Christ being the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth_. Rom. 10:4. But if we should understand the ten commandments in themselves to be the bond-woman, then it is impossible for them that keep them to be heirs or children of the promise, but they must be cast out as children of the bond-woman, which is very erroneous, and contrary to the current of the Scriptures. For the doers of the law are justified before God, (Rom. 2:13,) though not for doing. And mark how the Apostle forbids this notion in Romans 3:31--_Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Shall we continue in sin,_ or transgress the law, _that grace may abound? God forbid!_ Rom. 6:1, 2. _Is the law sin? God forbid!_ Rom. 7:7. _Was the law, which was good, made death unto me? God forbid!_ Verse 13. _Shall we transgress the law because we are not under the condemning power of it,_ (Christ having redeemed us from it?) _God forbid!_ Rom. 6:15. Certainly the Scripture did foresee how apt men would be to slight and make void the law of God under specious pretences, as their being believers, and Gentiles which had not the law given to them, but that they are under grace, and the like. _If the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?_ Rom. 2:26.