The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 7
The Circumcision of our Lord called also New-yeares-day.
ITt was very necessary that our Lord Iesus Christ (who (together with his Father and the holy Ghost) made the law of Circumcision, should also keepe the law,Why Christ was circumcised, especially being borne a Iew, made subiect to the law, and vndergoing the lawes curse for our sakes. And as he truely kept the Sabboth, and brake no part thereof, but abrogated the ceremony and ended it, by resting that day in the graue, which was the Iewes Sabboth: So he was circumcised with the circumcision made with hands: albeit in stead thereof he ordained a new Sacrament: to wit,Old Circumcision. Baptisme for the new couenant in stead of this of circumcision: & the Lords Supper: a new Passeouer in stead of the old, that euening Sacrament of the law.
The occasion why these sixe Scriptures are chosen.The learned and ancient Fathers of Christs Church, hauehave therefore chosen for morning and euening prayer, this day sixe remarkeable Scriptures. And the rather because this feast of the Circumcision fals out very fitly to be celebrated about this time of Christs natiuity, and oftentimes vponupon the Sonday.
Generall sūme of the two first Lessons.Moses in our first Lesson for morning prayer doth relate Gods ordinance and commandement to Abraham and his family, concerning Circumcision. In the first Lessō for euening prayer he maketh speciall vse of this doctrine.
To this Moses agreeeth & S Paul, who meetes with the Iewes vaine boasting in outward circumcision and Iudaisme,Generall sūme of the Epistle & Gospell, & the two second Lessons, calling them to another: that is, to the inward, as appeareth in the second Lesson for morning prayer,
And writing to another people he sheweth the truth of this inward circumcision, by that effectuall circumcision of the gentile Colossians, who were circumcised with circumcision made without hands: and this he doth in our second Lesson for euening prayer.
In our Epistle for this day he teacheth, that it was not actus circumcisionis, that did iustifie Ahraham: but faith was imputed to him for righteousnesse, before he was circumcised.
In the Gospell for this day, the sequele and subsequents of Christs birth, with the particulars of his circumcision, are by S. Luke related.
Mor. Prayer. 1 Les. Genes. 17. Parts.The 17. chapter of Genesis being the first Lesson for morning prayer hath these chiefe points to be considered of,
First how God indenteth with Ahraham, 1. as concerning his free louelove and mercifull kindnesse towards him of the one party,1 Gods indenting and couenanting with Abraham, 2. as touching Abrams obedience and dutifulnesse to God on the other party, concerning his obseruation of the Sacrament of circumcision, Ʋer. 1. to the end of the 14.
Internall circumcision requiredSecondly,Gods fauour to Abrahams wife, how he vouchsafeth his merciful kindnes also to Abrahams wife Sarai (whose name he changeth, as he had done her husbands) and maketh her a promise of bearing a child vntounto her husband, that was an hundred yeare old, hearing also Abrams request, for his base sonne Ishmael, but establishing his couenant with Isaack the sonne of Sarah the freewoman. ver. 15. to the end of the 22.
The third part of the chapter relateth the obedience of Abraham and his family,3 Abrahams obedience. in performing the act of circumcision accordingly, ver. 23. to the end of the 27. the end of the chapter.
A part of the tenth chapter of Deuteronomy is the first Lesson for euening prayer,Eue. Prayer. 1 Les. Deu. 10 12 from the 12. ver. to the end of the chapter, wherein Moses,
First, chargeth the Israelites,1 Moses his iniunction. and straitely enioynes them to feare the Lord, to walke in his wayes, to louelove, and serue him ver. 12. to the end of the 15.
Secondly, he makes vse of this his generall charge,2 The vse of his general charge by cōmanding a speciall iniunction of circumcision internall. by enioyning them a speciall circumcision of the heart, and to harden their necks no more: alleaging many reasons to vrge these exhortatiue precepts and commandements, ver. 16. to verse 22. which is the end of the chapter.
A part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, Mor. Prayer. 2 Les. Rom. 2.7.from the 17. ve. to the end of the 29. is the second Lesson for morning prayer: wherein,
Saint Paul teacheth the Iew his duty how to behaue himselfe, in regard of inward circumcision,Paul schooleth the bragging Iew. who boasted so much of the outward, He therefore doth
First,1 A description of the estate of the circumcised Iew. describe the estate of the cireumcised Iew boasting therein: ver. 17.18.19.20.
Secondly, he reprehends these Iewes, as, 1. for reprouing and censuring others and not themselues,2 A reprehension of them. 2. for dishonoring and blaspheming God, and 3. for bragging so much of outward circumcision: ver. 21. to the end of the 25.
Thirdly, he shewes the vse of outward circumcision:3 The vse & referrence of outward circumcision. to wit, that it is to be referred to the inward circumsion, both in the circumcised and vncircumcised,Effectuall Circumcision of the Gentiles. alleaging seuerall sound reasons for the same, ver. 26. to the end of the 29. the end of the chapter.
The second chapter of S. Pauls Epistle to the Colossians, is the second Lesson for euening prayer.Eue. Prayer. Colos. 2. In a part whereof he beateth vponupon the former points, prouing it to be true by experience of that effectuall circumcision of the Gentiles, and namely the Colossians: who as,
First, they are complete in Christ,1 That they were complete in Christ. which is the head of all Principality and Power, ver. 10. so
Secondly, this is a part of their and our complement, that in him we are circumcised with circumcision made without hands,2 What this complement is; to wit, their sp…ritua…l circumcision. by putting off the sinfull bodie of the flesh through the circumcision of Christ. ver. 11.
A part of the 4. chapter of S. Pauls Epistle to the Romanes is the Epistle for this day,Epistle. Romanes 4. from the 8. ver. to the end of the chapter. In which he
First, propoundeth a proposition concerning blessednes1 A propositiō concerning blessednesse. vponupon them to whom sinne is not imputed. ver. 8.
Secondly, he disputes the point, determines & concludes it,2 A determination of this true blessednesse. concerning the true obiect of this blessednes: whether it be the circumcised, or the vncircumcised, he that seeks iustification by the law, or which is iustified by faith, ver. 9. to the end of the 25. the end of the chapter.
The sixt and last Scripture is a part of the second chapter of Saint Lukes Gospell, ver. 15.Gospell. Luke 2.15. to the end of the 21. Wherein Sant Luke
Parts.First, relateth the effects and sequele of the Angels Sermon,1 Effects & sequele of the Angels Sermon. as touching the birth of our Lord Iesus Christ. ver. 15. to the end of the 20.
2 The History of Christs circumcision. Effects diuers according to diuerse obiects. Sheepeheards. Others.Secondly, vntounto this Saint Luke annexeth the History of Christs Circumcision, ver. 21. there being not aboue 8. daies betweene the one and the other.
The effects of the Angels Sermon are diuerse, according to the diuers obiects thereof.
First, in the Sheepeheards? secondly, others.
Sheepeheards true, Circumcision of the heartThe Sheepehards are said.1 Talking and conference, First to confer & consider vponupon that which they heard: they said one to another. Let vsus go euen to Bethleem and see this thing. ver. 15.
Secondly, they acted that whereof they had conference,2 Walking and performance. so they came with hast, and found both Mary. &c. ver. 16.
Thirdly, they did impart it to others,3 Imparting & communicating to others. and hid not their Talent in the ground. And when they had seene it, they published abroad the things that were told them of that child. ver. 17.
Fourthly, they liued not idlely afterwards,4 Returning to their callings againe. but applyed themselues to their callings, they returned.
Fiftly,5 Glorifying God for all: they glorified and praised God (as they were taught, by the example of the multitude of heauenly souldiers) glorifying and praysing God, for all that they had heard and seene, &c. ver. 20.
The effect of the Sheepeheards ruminating,Effects of the Sheepeheards, paines in others and repeating the Sermon in others, is two-fold, according to the two sorts of obiects.
First, wondering in the common multitude.1 Wondering in the multitude. All that heard it, wondered at the things that were told them of the Sheepeheards. ver. 6.
Secondly, Maries, 1. keeping all these sayings, 2. Pondered, 2 Pondering in Mary.meditated and well considered of them, in her heart, But Mary kept all these sayings. &c. ver. 19.
The particulars of the hystory of Christs Circumcision:Particulars of Christs circumcision. are,
First the time when1 The time when: it was done, when the eighth day was come, to circumcise him.
Secondly, the manner of doing it,2 The manner how. the name which he had when he receiued this Sacrament, his name was called Iesus.
Thirdly, the reasons why3 The reasons why he was so named, it was a name giuen vntounto him of the Angell before he was conceiued in the wombe. ver. 21.