A12184:87
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the…
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulness. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philip. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn.An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulnesse. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philipp. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne.
London: printed by T. Cotes and John Dawson for Peter Cole, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VERS. 3. For we are the Circumcision.
VERS. 3. For wee are the Circumcision.
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