Galatians 3:2

Our apostle having prepared the Galatians' attention, by. very smart and sharp reprehension in the foregoing verse, returns to the subject of justification by faith without the works of the law, which he had entered upon in the former chapter, and prosecutes at large in this; and he uses five arguments to prove that we are justified by faith, and not by works;

The first is contained in the verse before us, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? As if the apostle had said, "I appeal to your own experience; you have received the Spirit yourselves, some of you for sanctification, others for miraculous operations; now. would know by what means you received it? Was it by hearing the law of Moses preached? You cannot say it: for you were heathens, and without the written law; it must then be by hearing of the gospel, the doctrine of faith, which. preached to you."

Here we have. truth expressed, and. truth implied.

The truth expressed is this, that the hearing of the gospel faithfully preached, is the instrumental mean by which persons receive the holy Spirit in the sanctifying gifts and graces of it, to enable them to live. holy and spiritual life: Received ye not the Spirit by the hearing of faith? Yes, ye did.

The truth implied is this, that. people should take great heed, that they never undervalue, much less despise and vilify that ministry, or that doctrine, which God at first blessed for their conversion. How many are there in England at this day, who disown that church, despise that ministry which God blessed to their conversion, if ever they were converted? Sad it is, yet very certain, that like vipers they gnaw out the bowels of her who suckled them at her breast.