But concerning the words: Dogs, Concision, Evil workers, they all signify the same thing, and he repeats the word beware, thrice: to show the necessity thereof, take heed of them that urge works of the law with Doctrines of ⟨p. 23⟩faith, especially of Pastors. Nay take heed of these (for so the word in the original is) these Dogs. By Concision, he means those that urged Circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be admitted of; But observe the term, the Holy Ghost calls these Dogs, a strange term, and such an one as I should not have dared to have given them, had not the holy Spirit led the way thereunto: and therefore since it is so, let us not be more modest than he is; but boldly affirm, that wicked men are Dogs. 1Now wicked men, are either without the Church, or within. Without the Church, all are Dogs. Matth. 15.26. Its not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to Dogs. Of this number are all Turks, and Jews, who were Filii, Children, but are Canes, Dogs. We were Canes, bu• now through Gods mercy are come to be Filii. All therefore, that are without the Church are Dogs. But there are also Dogs within the Church, and therefore the Philippians were bidden beware of them, which St. Paul needed not to have done, if they had not been troubled with them. And those Dogs he describes, in that they join works of the law, and Christ together, in matter of salvation; these are in St. Pauls esteem Dogs. And the reason hereof, may be grounded on Gods esteem, on their behaviour towards other men, and in regard of themselves. For Gods esteem, we may see it in Isaiah 66.3. he detests them as dogs. For ⟨p. 24⟩their behaviour towards men, whom they go about to seduce, they fawn on them, and use all manner of enticing, flattering, and false alluring words, Rom. 16.18. See the picture of a Jesuited Papist, a pleasing, humane, fawning nature, they creep into houses, and when these dogs cannot prevail by flattery, then they snarl, and bark against them, by false calumnies, and slanders, and railings, and bitter scoffs, and the like; and this they do when they cannot bite. But having gotten power in their hand, they persecute with fire and sword, and the most exquisite torments that they can devise.
But concerning the words: Dogges, Concision, Evill workers, they all signifie the same thing, and he repeats the word beware, thrice: to shew the necessitie thereof, take heed of them that urge workes of the law with Doctrines of ⟨p. 23⟩faith, especially of Pastors. Nay take heed of these (for so the word in the originall is) these Dogges. By Concision, he meanes those that urged Circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be admitted of; But observe the terme, the Holy Ghost calls these Dogges, a strange terme, and such an one as I should not have dared to have given them, had not the holy Spirit led the way thereunto: and therefore since it is so, let us not be more modest than he is; but boldly affirme, that wicked men are Dogges. 1Now wicked men, are eyther without the Church, or within. Without the Church, all are Dogges. Matth. 15.26. Its not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to Dogges. Of this number are all Turkes, and Iewes, who were Filii, Children, but are Canes, Dogges. We were Canes, bu• now through Gods mercy are come to be Filii. All therefore, that are without the Church are Dogges. But there are also Dogges within the Church, and therefore the Philippians were bidden beware of them, which St. Paul needed not to have done, if they had not beene troubled with them. And those Dogges he describes, in that they joyne workes of the law, and Christ together, in matter of salvation; these are in St. Pauls esteeme Dogges. And the reason hereof, may be grounded on Gods esteeme, on their behaviour towards other men, and in regard of themselves. For Gods esteeme, we may see it in Esay 66.3. he detests them as dogges. For ⟨p. 24⟩their behaviour towards men, whom they goe about to seduce, they fawne on them, and use all manner of inticing, flattering, and false alluring words, Rom. 16.18. See the picture of a Iesuited Papist, a pleasing, humane, fawning nature, they creepe into houses, and when these dogges cannot prevaile by flatterie, then they snarle, and barke against them, by false calumnies, and slanders, and railings, and bitter scoffes, and the like; and this they doe when they cannot bite. But having gotten power in their hand, they persecute with fire and sword, and the most exquisite torments that they can devise.
- 1Doctrine.
