In the second place, not only the young ordinary Christians, but even the best settled Christians had need to beware also. The Philippians were a church established in the truth. Eve was seduced, being in her innocent estate. But I need not stand on this at this time. I proceed to the duty, which is to ' beware.'' Which word signifies : first, to discern of, then to avoid. And because those that are aware of evil, by nature will avoid it; therefore 'bew^are' here, intends both discerning and avoiding of evil. For the church of God in this world is ever subject to danger. And God suffers it to be so : first, to try who be true, and who false ; and secondly, to try them that are good, and to be as an evidence to them of their own estates, so as where such trial and danger is, it is true, infjeniusum est esse Christianwn.
But concerning the words ' dogs, concision, evil workers,' they all signify the same thing ; and he repeats the word ' beware' thrice, to shew the neces- sity thereof. Take heed of them that urge works of the law with doctrines of faith, especially of pastors. Nay, take heed of these, for so the word in the original is, ' these dogs' (c). By ' concision,' he means those that urged circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be ad- mitted of.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 iciched men are dogs. Now, wicked men are either without the church or within. Without the chm-ch, all are dogs: Mat. xv. 26, ' It is not meet to take the children's
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GQ EXPOSITION OP
bread and to cast it to dogs.' Of this number are all Turks and Jews, who wore fUii, children, but arc canes, dogs. We were canes, but now through God's mercy are come to be filu. All, therefore, that are without the church are dogs. But there are also dogs within the church ; and there- fore 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 Paul's esteem dogs. And the reason hereof may be grounded on God's esteem, on their behaviour towards other men, and in regard of themselves. For God's esteem, we may see it in Isa. Ixvi. 3 ; he detests them as dogs. For their behaviour towards men, whom they go about to seduce, they fawn on them, and use all man- ner of enticing, flattering, and false alluring words, Rom. xvi. 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 fa'se calumnies, and slanders, and rail- ings, 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. In regard of them- selves also they are dogs, rotten in nature, corrupt in life, filthy in their own courts, devouring their own vomit ; and God justly punishing them, by suffering of them to heap up wrath in store, 2 Peter, ii. 22, and to return with the sow that was washed to wallow in the mire of corrupt courses. Hence we may observe and see, what a man is now brought to by sin. He that w^ould be like to God is justly compared to the beasts that perish. Now all by nature are no better than dogs, who are all for their bellies, for present contentments, an envious and currish disposition against any that shall endeavour to cross them in their unlawful lusts ; and that rule of reason which should overrule him and amend him, he so abuses it, as thereby he is made more like a devil than a dog.* Would we be then changed ? Let us attend on that word, that is able of lions to make lambs. It can cleanse us throughout, John xv. 3. It sanctifies and alters us. Moral precepts may restrain and alter outward practices. The word that alters the condition and nature of men, it is the word of him that w^orks all with his Spirit. And therefore take heed of them, and deal not more with them than thou must needs. They will fawn ; they will not be dogged at the first : but till religion altereth him, assuredly he hath a currish nature. But to proceed. He saith not only, ' beware of dogs' in general, but beware of these dogs of the concision. And these also ought we to beware of, for there is a perpetual Utter of them. Though those that the apostle spake of are gone, yet the same spirit is now-a-days in many. Fawners they are and flatterers, yet do they bark at Protestants ; and of this sort are our Jesuited papists and seminaries. Our fathers were troubled with them. Let these take heed ; for were these men dogs that press circumcision with Christ ? and shall not such be also, that press merits with Christ, saints ■with Christ, and equal traditions with the word of God ? The dogs in St Paul's time had some excuse. Circumcision they urged, but it was first founded by God. But these men out of their own brain endeavour to establish fancies ; and where they cannot prevail by conference, they by scattering of books seek to accomplish their intents. Magistrates therefore in their place ought to look to them ; and every private person look to their own salvation. We ought also to take heed of neuters, such as are or