IN these words, and those that follow, our Apostle describes, who are truly circumcised. We are the true Israel, the circumcised Sons of Abraham, who are members of Christ. The Philippians, they were not circumcised outwardly, yet were they truly circumcised, they had the truth of it; even as they that were under the cloud and in the Sea, were said to be truly baptized in the Cloud, and in the Sea. The Sacraments therefore, before and after Christ, were in substance all one, as the Church was one and the same, they may be said to be baptized, as we, and we circumcised as they: the difference was only in the outward Ceremony and show, which the Church being ⟨p. 41⟩then young had need of. It is the same Religion, clothed diversly. Bellarmin saith, that their government was carnal, & the promises to them were carnal, but it is carnally spoken of him. Heb. 11. The Fathers before Christ, had respect to the recompense of reward: and in vers. 35. they accepted not deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: are these carnal promises? The Anabaptists, they press rebaptizing, not considering that the same Covenant was before Christ, and after, in substance. So as every true Christian is spiritually circumcised, being once regenerate: before indeed he is uncircumcised, and a spiritual leprosy over spreads all his frame of body, and mind, which must be washed, pared, and cut off. We must part with uncircumcised hearts, ears, and lips: that is, such ears as do delight themselves to hear corrupt lewd discourse, such a tongue and lips, as delight to u•ter, and let out words savouring of a rotten and uncircumcised heart: such eyes as do delight themselves, in the beholding of lustful and sinful •bjects, whereby the heart is kindled in•o vain desires. I say, a Christian must circumcise himself, his heart, and those parts that are uncircumcised, before he can ever think to go to Heaven, whither nothing that is corrupt, or unclean entereth. Religion therefore is no easy thing. Circumcision is painful and bloody. Mortification is very hard, corruption it must be cut off, though the blood ⟨p. 32⟩[…] ⟨p. 41⟩[…] ⟨p. 32⟩[…] ⟨p. 41⟩[…] ⟨p. 42⟩follow, else it will kill thee at length. Wherefore, we are also to labour for circumcised hearts to understand Gods truth, his will and commandments;
IN these words, and those that follow, our Apostle describes, who are truely circumcised. We are the true Israel, the circumcised Sonnes of Abraham, who are members of Christ. The Philippians, they were not circumcised outwardly, yet were they truely circumcised, they had the truth of it; even as they that were under the cloud and in the Sea, were said to be truely baptized in the Cloud, and in the Sea. The Sacraments therefore, before and after Christ, were in substance all one, as the Church was one and the same, they may be said to be baptized, as we, and we circumcised as they: the difference was only in the outward Ceremony and shew, which the Church being ⟨p. 41⟩then young had need of. It is the same Religion, cloathed diversly. Bellarmin saith, that their government was carnall, & the promises to them were carnall, but it is carnally spoken of him. Heb. 11. The Fathers before Christ, had respect to the recompence of reward: and in vers. 35. they accepted not deliverance, that they might obtaine a better resurrection: are these carnall promises? The Anabaptists, they presse rebaptizing, not considering that the same Covenant was before Christ, and after, in substance. So as every true Christian is spiritually circumcised, being once regenerate: before indeed he is uncircumcised, and a spirituall leprosie over spreads all his frame of body, and minde, which must be washed, pared, and cut off. Wee must part with uncircumcised hearts, eares, and lippes: that is, such eares as doe delight themselves to heare corrupt lewd discourse, such a tongue and lippes, as delight to u•ter, and let out words savouring of a rotten and uncircumcised heart: such eyes as doe delight th•mselves, in the beholding of lustfull and sinfull •bjects, whereby the heart is kindled in•o vaine d•sires. I say, a Christian must circumcise himselfe, his heart, and those parts that are uncircumcised, before hee can ever thinke to goe to Heaven, whither nothing that is corrupt, or uncleane entreth. Religion therefore is no easie thing. Circumcision is painfull and bloody. Mortification is very hard, corruption it must be cut off, though the blood ⟨p. 32⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 41⟩〈…〉
