One doubt we must not overpass: And that is, How this will stand with what he saith in the Epistle to the Galatians. Here he saith [Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike: Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind:] But there he saith [Ye observe days and months, and times, and years; I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain, Gal. 4.10, 11.] And of Circumcision, Gal. 5.2, 3. [Behold I Paul say unto you, If ye be Circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing; for I testify again to every ⟨p. 318⟩man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law.] •or the understanding of this you must observe, 1. That there is a great difference between Circumcision, and the Ceremonies here spoken of. 2. And between the outward act of Circumcision, and the Sacrament of Circumcision as appointed by God. 3. And there is a great difference between the using it as necessary to Justification, and the using the outward part only for some lawful end. 4. And between the time when the Gospel was but newly revealed, and the time when it was oft and fully declared to the world. 5. And between those that are ignorant for want of full information, and those that are obstinate after long instruction. 6. And between those that scruple the omission of such Ceremonies themselves; and those that would obtrude them as necessary upon others. ⟨p. 319⟩Observing these distinctions, you may see the difficulty plainly resolved, as followeth, 1. In this Text, Rom. 14. Paul speaketh not of Circumcision, but of meats and days only. For Circumcision engaged men further to Moses Law, then these single Ceremonies. 2. When Paul saith, he was afraid of the Galatians, because of their observation of days and weeks, and months, he means because they still adhered to the abrogated Law, after so long and plain Instruction. 3. And though he circumcised Timothy, Acts 16.3. and yet speak against it, Gal. 5.2, 3. the difference of the Cases is exceeding great. For 1. It was but the outward Circumcision of the flesh that he used with Timothy (as with one that did not intend by it any engagement to Moses, or necessity of it to Justification.)
One doubt we must not overp•ss: And that is, How this will stand with what he saith in the Epistle to the Galathians. Here he saith [Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike: Let every man be fully perswaded in his own minde:] But there he saith [Ye observe days and moneths, and times, and years; I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain, Gal. 4.10, 11.] And of Circumcision, Gal. 5.2, 3. [Behold I Paul say unto you, If ye be Circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing; for I testifie again to every ⟨p. 318⟩man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law.] •or the understanding of this you must observe, 1. That there is a great difference between Circumcision, and the Ceremonies here spoken of. 2. And between the outward act of Circumcision, and the Sacrament of Circumcision as appointed by God. 3. And there is a great difference between the using it as necessary to Justification, and the using the outward part only for some lawfull end. 4. And between the time when the Gospel was but newly revealed, and the time when it was oft and fully declared to the world. 5. And between those that are ignorant for want of full information, and those that are obstinate after long instruction. 6. And between those that scruple the omission of such Ceremonies themselves; and those that would obtrude them as necessary upon others. ⟨p. 319⟩Observing these distinctions, you may see the difficulty plainly resolved, as followeth, 1. In this Text, Rom. 14. Paul speaketh not of Circumcision, but of meats and days only. For Circumcision engaged men further to Moses Law, then these single Ceremonies. 2. When Paul saith, he was afraid of the Galathians, because of their observation of days and weeks, and moneths, he means because they still adhered to the abrogated Law, after so long and plain Instruction. 3. And though he circumcised Timothy, Acts 16.3. and yet speak against it, Gal. 5.2, 3. the difference of the Cases is exceeding great. For 1. It was but the outward Circumcision of the flesh that he used with Timothy (as with one that did not intend by it any engagement to Moses, or necessity of it to Justification.)
