Paul has beautifully illustrated this subject by comparing the condition
of a son before and after becoming of age.*[Gal. iv.] While a minor, he
is kept in subordination to his father; "under tutors and governors,"
his judgment in the management of affairs is under the control of
another. While a minor, he is kept in subordination to his father;
"under tutors and governors," his judgment in the management of affairs
is under the control of another. But when he comes of age, he is
elevated to a new position, assumes new interests and new
responsibilities. He must then reason, judge, and act for himself. So
under the Jewish dispensation, God dealt with our race as minors; left
them not to the direction of their own individual wisdom--to form
specific rules from general principles; but led them by definite
precepts; not such always as rise out of the nature of things; but such
as he saw best fitted, by a sort of foreshadowing, to prepare them for
the more glorious state to which they were approaching. Hence all those
positive laws, rites, and solemn festivals--appointed "days, and months,
and times, and years," tithes and double tithes to which they were in
bondage. But when Christ came, this bondage was broken. We were
emancipated from this system of tutelage; henceforth, breathing the
spirit of adoption and enjoying the freedom of sons, we were to act
according to the dictates of our sanctified hearts and enlightened
judgments, like beatified spirits, who, swayed alone by reason,
conscience, and love, in the highest sense free and intelligent, speed
on their course in harmony with Jehovah. So, under the dispensation of
grace, every act must spring voluntarily from the mind, enlightened by
comprehensive views of Scripture principles. Charged with obligations
inalienable as our very being, we are sent forth on the career of
probationary existence, amenable alone to our own consciences and the
bar of final awards. God, so to speak, has reposed confidence in us,
and it may not be abused. This is true in relation to charity, as well