Miscellanies Christian and Judaical, Chapter 26
CAP. XXVI. Of the Iewes Sacraments, Circumcision, and Passeouer.
BOth these Sacraments of the Iewes were with bloud: both in figure: the one to carrie the memorie of Christ till he came, and the other the passion of him being come. Abraham receiued the signe of Circumcision, the seale of the righteousnesse of faith which he had when he was vncircumcised: Rom. 4. The Israelites receiued the institution of the Passeouer in Aegypt: Exod. 12. I will not stand to allegorize these matters, of the time and manner of receiuing these two, but onelyonly of the things themselues.
Circumcision giuen in such a place is not for nothing: but in the place of generation, it is giuen Abraham, as a seale of his faith, that he should be the father of all those that beleeue, Rom. 4. And especially a seale to him of Christs comming from those loines neere to which his circumcision was. And appertaining to this I take to be the oath that Abraham giues his seruant, and that Iacob giues Ioseph, with their hands put vnderunder their thighes *As the Iewes think.not to sweare by their circumcision, but by Christ that should come from those thighes. Circumcision was also vsed for distinction of an Israelite, at the first: and hence were they distinguished; but in time, Ismael had taught his race so much, and Aegyptians, Phaenicians, Arabians, and the countries about them grew circumcised. So was Pythagoras circumcised, that he might hauehave accesse to the recluse misteries of the Aegyptians religion.
Circumcision was also vsed with the Iewes as Baptisme with vsus, for admission into the Church of Israel. And it was Gods expresse command that the child on the eight day should be circumcised. And on that day more then any other (saith Saint Austen) to signifie Christs resurrection, who rested the weekes end in the graue, and rose on the eight day: And if Aristotle say true, one may giuegive a reason, why not before the eight day: because a child for the seuen dayes is most dangerous for weakenesse. A stranger was so admitted to their congregation: Exod. 2.48. And of this does Rabbi Eliezer fantastically expound that verse in Ionah 1.16. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered sacrifice: whereupon the wandring Iew saith thus. As soone as the mariners saw (when they drew neere to Niniueh) all the wonders that the blessed God did to Ionah, they stood and cast eueryevery one his gods into the sea. They returned to Ioppa, and went vp to Ierusalem, and circumcised the flesh of their fore-skin, as it is said. And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed sacrifices: what sacrifice? but this bloud of the circumcision which is as the blood of a sacrifice: And they vowed to bring eueryevery one his wife and children, and all that he had, to feare the Lord God of Ionah: and they vowed and performed.
This was indeed the way to admit proselytes, by circumcision, but in Salomons time, when they became Proselytes by thousands, they admitted them by Bap…sme or washing as …ome Iewes doe witnesse.
Whether the neglect of Circumcision (as I may so tearme it) in the wildernesse, were meerely politicke, because of their more fitnesse, for any moments remoouall, and march, or whether some mysterie were in it I will not decide. Nor need I relate how the Iewes vse to circumcise their children, for the great Buxtorfius hath punctually done it: Nor can I relate how highly the Iewes prize their Circumcision, for one might gather volumes out of them vponupon this subiect. For they consider not, that he is not a Iew, which is one outward: neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Iew which is one within, and the circumcision is of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God.