A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 27-29
Verſe 27. And ſhall not vncircumciſion which is by nature (if it keep the Law) iudge thee, which by the letter and circumciſion art a tranſgreſſour of the Law?
Verſe 28. For he is not a Iew, which is one outward: neither is that circumciſion, which is outward in the fleſh.
…erſe 29. 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.
THe next amplification followes, in a compariſon of vnequals: bare vvant of circumciſion ſhall not hinder the ſaluation of a beleeuing Gentile; nay more, his obedience performed in want of the ſacrament, ſhall iudge thee, which by the letter and circumciſion art a tranſgreſſour of the law. Circumciſion by nature: that is, a Gentile vvanting outward circumciſion: letter and circumciſion, that is, literall and externall circumciſion ſeuered from the grace of the Sacrament, ſhall iudge, that is, condemne: iudgement of men is properly aſcribed to God, as the principall agent; ſometimes to the wordi1 Ioh. 12.48. as the rule or witnes; ſometimes to the Miniſters and SaintskMat. 19.28. 1 Cor. 6.: Firſt, in reſpect of their teſtimonie; ſecondly, example; thirdly, approbation: ſo here, the Gentiles ſhall iudge the Iewes, viz. by their example, occaſioning the Lord to poure out the ſeueritie of his wrath vponupon ſuch, as hauing more meanes, and prouocations, performe leſſe duetie and obedience. Compare Mat. 12.41.42.
Then how heauy ſhall be the condemnation of many in the Church, Ʋſe. exceeded of the heathen in deuotion, iuſtice, and common honeſtie? how odious vvas periurie amongſt them? how rife amongſt vsus? Vſurie with them matched with murther; with vsus vſed as a lawful trade. Papiſts, to make proſelytes trauaile ſea & land; wander (good God) how farre, to the ſhrines of Saints by them made Idols? inſtruction of families with vsus neglected, and our aſſemblies deſolate, &c.
Which by the Letter and Circumciſion.] Letter and Circumciſion, that is literall circumciſion hauing the element, wanting the ſubſtance. Interpreters note an Enallage of the praepoſition (foreign) for (foreign:) perhaps fitly; and yet, it may be the Apoſtle would intimate, the occaſion of their tranſgreſſion; vaine confidence in the outward element receiued by them. This once is euident in common experience, that truſt to the elements incourageth many to libertiniſme in their liuesl1 Cor. 10.1.2.3.. Sacraments rightly meditated leade to obediencemRom. 6.: miſapplyed through corruption, occaſion licentiouſnes; as how often doe our people, reproued by the vvord GOD, for ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, whoredome, &c. take ſanctuarie at Baptiſme? as if it aſſured of remiſſion; men trading in tranſgreſſion. Let ſuch conſider, what now followes, in the Apoſtles anſwere; and that is the diſtinction of Iewes and Circumciſion, and analogically of Chriſtians and their Baptiſme.
Verſe 28.He is not a Iew, namely approued of God, and within the Couenant, that is one outward, &c. that hath onelyonly carnall generation of Abraham nRom 9.6.: neither is that Circumciſion; auaileable to ſaluation: that is outward in the fleſh; and cutting of the fore-skinne; but hee is the Iew indeede, that is ſuch in ſecret: that is, in heart; whoſe heart is vpright before GOD, in performing his reſtipulation, ſincere obedience; and circumciſion which is of the heart; whereby corruption of the heart is abated, in the ſpirit: by the worke and operation of the holy Ghoſt; whoſe praiſe is not of men onelyonly, which iudge after the outward appearance; but of God, which pondereth the hearts.
Obſer. Then there is more required to Chriſtendome, then to be borne in the Church, or to be ſprinckled vvith the water of Baptiſme, or to make profeſſion of Chriſtianitie; there be titular Iewes, that are in truth the verie ſinagogue of SathanoApoc. 2.9.: not all Iſrael that were born of Iacob pRom. 9.6.7.: not all Chriſtians that are Baptiſed. Act. 8.
Vſe 1 What a witleſſe concluſion then is that of Papiſts? from the name to the nature of Catholikes: becauſe named Catholiques by themſelues, and there adherents (for for vsus we giuegive it them foreign onelyonly) therefore the onelyonly Catholique Church in the world; and what a Church hauehave they framed vntounto Chriſt? whereof ſecret infidels, open offenders, men lacking all true grace, may be after a ſort, true members; ſo they profeſſe faith, partake ſacraments, performe outward ſubiection to their viſible Cerberus; indeed ſecret infidels, profeſſing faith, and not bewraying infidelitie by lacke of reformation, may till diſcouerie be reputed of men, members of the viſible Church; but that they ſhould be in any ſort true members of that Church, which Chriſt hath bought with his bloud, to vvhom thoſe benefits of remiſſion of ſinnes, reſurrection to glorie, and life eternall belong, paſſeth (I dare ſay) S. Pauls skill, to conceiue, and Bellarmines logique to proue. Reade this Text.
And let it teach vsus, not to content our ſelues vvith Vſe 2 theſe outward titular prerogatiues; but rather, labour wee to finde the ſolide nature of theſe in our hearts.
Notes of a true Chriſtian indeed; generall: oyntment of the ſpirit. 1 Ioh. 2.20. More particular firſt, they are kings in ruling their owne affections, gouerning their families, Ioſua 24. Gen. 18.19.
Prophets, inſtructing themſelues. Rom. 2.21. and others within their compaſſe. Epheſ. 6.
Prieſts, gifted with the ſpirit of deprication, Zachar. 12.10. Carefully and delightfully exerciſing it, in behalfe of themſelues and others. 1 Cor. 1.2. Iob. 1.5.
Notes of an heart truely circumciſed: firſt, ſuch worſhip GOD in ſpirit: ſecondly, reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus, hauing no confidence in the fleſhqPhil. 3.3.: thirdly, put of the ſinfull bodie off the fleſhrCol. 2.11.. And of this ſecond Chapter hitherto.