But if the 1elect, aswell little as great, which have ben among y• Gentiles 2& Paynims, have been saved without exterior circumcision, as it appeareth in y• Ninevites, Nahaman, Job, Nebuchadnezzar & other like, which have had knowledge of God, & have had their recourse unto his mercy, wherefore shall y• same privilege be denied unto those that be hath, not only elected through his eternal election, belonging unto all his servants, but also he hath given unto them y• witness by the exterior sacraments, if they had such lets & excuses, & as reasonable as the Gentiles and Paynims could have? For why were not the elect which were among y• Paynims accused, in being not circumcised, but because that they were not in the land of Israel, nor in the visible church, & among y• people which he had chosen, unto whom he commanded such things. If they had been among the Israelites, and that they might have communicated with them, it had been requisite to be circum•• sed, and to use the same sacraments. But when they were in a place, in which they had not that exterior mym•re, nor could not have it, the Lord was contented with the means that it pleased him to give unto them. Now if such necessity happened unto the Israelites, I doubt not, but that the obligation of the law hath ceased, ⟨p. 230⟩when the causes, for which it was given are ceased: and the spiritual circumcision of the heart, sufficeth for it self & for the exterior, & the spiritual sacrifices, for the material. For when they were in y• wilderness, & that they must be ready every day to remove their host & household stuff every hour, when God commanded them they did well Judge, y• God would not y• they should be murderers of their young children, whom they could not circumcise, but y• they would be very sick & in danger of death, if they had not had time & place to look well unto them, as we may presume, by the Sichemytes, who were so sick after 3their circumcision, y• they could not defend themselves against y• two sons of Jacob. And therefore Moses hath well considered, y• the circumcision was made for man & 4not man for y• circumcision, as he writeth of y• sabbath. And also y• the people were not in place, where they might have their church garnished & beautified as it ought to be.
But if the 1elect, aswel little as great, which haue ben among y• Gentiles 2& Panims, haue bene saued without exteriour circumcision, as it appeareth in y• Niniuites, Nahaman, Iob, Nabuchodonosor & other like, which haue had knowledg of God, & haue had their recourse vnto his mercie, wherefore shal y• same priuiledge be denyed vnto those that be hath, not only elected through his eternall election, belō ging vnto all his seruants, but also he hath giuen vnto them y• witnesse by the exteriour sacraments, if they had such lettes & excuses, & as reasonable as the Gentiles and Panyms could haue? For why were not the elect which were among y• Panims accused, in being not circumcised, but bicause that they were not in the land of Israel, nor in the visible church, & among y• people which he had chosen, vnto whom he cōmaunded such things. If they had bene among the Israelites, and that they might haue communicated with them, it had bene requisite to be circum•• sed, and to vse the same sacraments. But when they were in a place, in which they had not that exteriour mym•re, nor could not haue it, the Lorde was contented with the meanes that it pleased him to giue vnto thé. Now if such necessitie happened vnto the Israelites, I doubt not, but that the obli•ation of the lawe hath ceased, ⟨p. 230⟩when the causes, for which it was giuen are ceased: and the spirituall circumcision of the heart, suffiecth for it selfe & for the exterior, & the spirituall sacrifices, for the material. For whē they were in y• wildernes, & that they must be readie euery day to remoue their host & houshold stuffe euery houre, when God commaunded them they did well Iudge, y• God woulde not y• they should be murtherers of their young children, whom they could not circumcise, but y• they would be very sick & in daunger of drath, if they had not had time & place to looke well vnto them, as we may presume, by the Sichemytes, who were so sicke after
- 1Mat. 3. c. 13
- 2The gentiles saved without circumcision Jon. 35. 3. & 4 4. Reg. 5. a. d 14 4. Reg. 24. a Job. 43.The gentiles saued vvithout circumcision Ion. 35. 3. & 4 4. Reg. 5. a. d 14 4. Reg. 24. a Iob. 43.
- 3Sichemites Genes. 34. d. 26
- 4Mat. 12. a 1 Mar. 2. d. 27 Luc. G. a. 5 John. 7. c. 22Mat. 12. a 1 Mar. 2. d. 27 Luc. G. a. 5 Iohn. 7. c. 22
