I answer, We have suffered a concision ; we have made none. And again, we acknowledge we have separated from these Romans, not from those that were in Paul's time. It is they that have made a concision, and cut themselves from the mother church. But to pass from these : we have a concision among us, and that in a contrary extreme, that think every ceremony and thing that suits not with their opinion to be antichristian and concision ; not considering that there be many things urged as fitting for order, being no parts of God's worship. Yet even for these things they make a concision, cutting themselves off" from our church, and unchurching us. It is dangerous for such ; for when the member is cut from the body, it must necessarily die ; and how can we receive grace from Christ as our head, but by union of ourselves to the body, whereof Christ is the head.
It must be our duty to beware of all manner of seducers ; and to this end let us,
Remedy 1. First, Get fundamental truths into our heart ; affect and love truth : for want hereof the eastern churches were given up to Mahomet ; and antichrist ruled over many in these western churches, because they * That is, ' spouse of the truth.' — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 3. 69
loved not the trath, 2 Thes. ii. 10. For none are seduced tliat are not cold in love.
Remedy 2. Secondly, het its labour to practise that we know, and Gnd wiU give lis a f idler measure of knowledije, whereby we shall learn to find and know seducers. John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he shall know.'
Hemedij 3. Thirdly, Fray to God for wisdom to discern of schisms, and heresies, and ill-disposed persons. God hath promised us anythinj^ that is necessary for our strengthening, and bringing us to heaven. God will not deny us so necessary an aid as this is.
Hemedy 4. Fourthly, Let us look that we keep in us an holy fear and reverence of God : Ps. xxv. 12, * What man is he that foareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way he shall choose.' And those things are we duly to observe, the rather because we shall ever find seducers. It will ever be a hard matter for men to find the way to heaven. And though the doctrine and profession of religion be not ever in all places opposed, yet shall we ever find the practisers thereof maligned ; as it is in these days, where none are accounted of to be protestants that are not loose libertines. And thus instead of concision from religion, they join that with it which ia quite coutrarj^ to the power thereof. Beware also of such, for their courses of life are as pernicious as fundamental errors ; for none shall be saved for his knowledge.
VERSE 3.
For we are the circuincision.
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,' 1 Cor. x. 2. 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 cir- cumcised as they. The difference was only in the outward ceremony and show, which the church being then young had need of. It is the same religion clothed diversely. Bellarmine saith that their government was carnal, and the promises to them were carnal, but it is carnally spoken of him {e), Heb. xi. 2, The fathers before Christ had respect to the recom- pence of reward ; and in ver. 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 overspreads 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 them- selves to hear corrupt lewd discourse ; such a tongue and lips as delight to utter and let out words savouring of a rotten and uncircumcised heart ; such eyes as do delight themselves in the beholding of lustful and sinful objects, whereby the heart is kindled into 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
70 EXPOSITION OF
painful and Moody. Mortification is very hard. Corruption it must be cut oil' though the blood follow, else it will kill thee at length. Wherefore we are also to labour for circumcised hearts to understand God's truth, his will, and commandments. Cut oS all extravagant desires, which* by little and little take away comfort and communion with God. It is no mercy therefore to spare them. Circumcise thy eyes ; pray with David, ' Turn away mine eyes from regarding vanity,' Ps. cxix. 37. Stop thy cars at the charming of such objects as may infect thy soul. We can never enjoy that beatifical vision hereafter, if we wean not ourselves from the liking of these things. And though we cannot, while we are in this house of clay, come to that perfection we should, yet endeavour to it earnestly, and God will accept our very endeavours, and will further them ; yea, we shall get the victory at length. If sin begins to fall it shall surely fall ; the house of David in us shall grow stronger, and the honse of Saul shall daily be "weakened. The means to this duty are,