Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 51
LECTƲRE LI.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 3.
For we are the circumciſion, which worſhip God in the ſpirit, and reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus, and hauehave no confidence in the fleſh.
IF now againe yee aske mee whether Circumciſion be quite and vtterly ſo aboliſhed as that nothing thereof remaineth? I anſwer that the circumciſion of the fleſh is quite and vtterly aboliſhed, ſo that ſince faith came, that is, ſince we began to beleeue in Chriſt manifeſted in the fleſh, iuſtified in the ſpirit, and receiued vp into glory, nothing at all of that ceremonie remaineth. But euen then when the ceremonie was in vſe, both this and likewiſe all other ceremonies of the law had beſides the ceremonie a morall vſe and ſignification vntounto that people of the Iewes, which was farre and incomparably more accepted with God then was the ceremonie it ſelfe whatſoeuer it was. This we may plainely ſee and perceiue by thoſe manifold increpations ſo often vſed in the writings of the Prophets, when obſeruing the ceremonie commanded, the Iewes neglected that morall vſe thereof which they ſhould eſpecially hauehave regarded.Eſay 1.11. I am full (ſaith the Lord) of the burnt offering of rammes, and of the fat of fed beaſts; and I deſire not the bloud of bullockes, nor of lambes, nor of goates. Bring no mo oblations in vaine, 13.incenſe is an abomination to me &c. Againe,Amos 5.21 in another place he ſaith, I hate and abhorre your feaſt daies, and I will not ſmell in your ſolemne aſſemblies: though yee offer me burnt offerings, and meat offerings I will not accept them, neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beaſts. Amos 5.22What then? Did not the Lord deſire the bloud of bullockes, nor of lambes, nor of goates? Did he not regard burnt offerings, peace offerings, and meat offerings? Were the ſabboths, and new moones, and feaſt daies ſuch things as in which he tooke no pleaſure at all? No doubt but the Lord had commanded all theſe things whereof the Prophets here ſpeake, in his law giuen by the hand of Moſes, as might eaſily be proued out of the bookes of Numbers, and Leuiticus. And this was it that the hypocriticall Iewes ſtood vponupon with the Prophets, ſaying, that they kept the law of God duely becauſe they obſerued the outward ceremonies & ſacrifices commanded in the law. But this was that that the Lord by his Prophets reproued in them, that they neglected that morall vſe of thoſe things which they ſhould principally hauehave regarded. They ſtaied themſelues in the outward worſhip of God, and looked not vntounto the inward worſhip of him; they obſerued the naked ceremonie, but they regarded not mercy and iudgement, piety and obedience, faith and repentance. Theſe things they ſhould hauehave done, and not hauehave left the other vndone. The ceremonie ſhould not hauehave beene neglected by them, but that inward and more holy worſhip wherevnto by the ceremonie they were led ſhould hauehave been principally regarded by them. For in this the Lord had more pleaſure then in all burnt offerings and ſacrifices what ſoeuer: as it iS ſayd,1 Sa. 15.22 to obey is better then ſacrifice, and to hearken is better then the fat of Rams. And againe the Lord ſaith by his Prophet,Hoſ. 6.6. I deſired mercy and not ſacrifice, and the knowledge of God more then burnt offerings. Thus then it is plaine, both that the outward ceremonies had a morall and more ſpirituall vſe, and likewiſe that this was more accepted with God, euen then when the ceremonie was in vſe, then was the ceremonie though commanded.
Now as it was in other ceremonies of the law, ſo was it in this circumciſion of the fleſh, that it had a morall vſe and ſignification, the regard whereof was farre more accepted with God then was the obſeruation of the ceremonie it ſelfe. The morall vſe and ſignification thereof was, to put them in minde of the circumciſion of the heart, that thence they might purge all wicked and carnall affections, ſuch as any way were like to croſſe and hinder their ſpirituall ſeruice and worſhip of God. And as in other ceremonies, when the ceremonie was aboliſhed yet the morall vſe thereof ſtill remained, ſo likewiſe in this, when the outward circumciſion of the fleſh was aboliſhed, yet the inward circumciſion of the heart which was morally ſignified by the outward ceremonie ſtill remained; ſo that as they then were, ſo ſtill wee are to circumciſe the fore-skinnes of our hearts, by cutting away from thence all carnall affections, and vngodly luſts which fight againſt the ſoule. And this was that circumciſion wherein our Apoſtle gloried, when he ſaid, we are the circumciſion.
Hence then 3. I obſerue what that circumciſion is which yet remaineth, and wherein we may and ought to glorie and reioice. The circumciſion which yet remaineth, if yee will hauehave it in one word, is our regeneration, the waſhing of the new birth,Tit. 3.5. and the renuing of the holy Ghoſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes. If ye would hauehave a larger deſcription of it, it is, as this place of our Apoſtle maketh manifeſt, a cutting away from the heart of all carnall affections, whereby wee might be hindred in the ſpirituall ſeruice of God, and in our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo that being thus circumciſed wee worſhip God in the ſpirit, and reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, and hauehave no confidence in the fleſh, or in any outward thing whatſoeuer. This is moſt commonly called the circumciſion of the heart; both by Moſes where he ſaith,De…t 10.16 Circumciſe the fore skinne of your heart, and harden your neckes no more. And by the Prophet Ieremie, where he ſaith vntounto the men of Iudah, and Inhabitants of Ieruſalem, Be circumciſed to the Lord, Ier. 4.4. Ro…. 2 29.and take away the foreskinnes of your hearts: And by our Apoſtle Paul where he ſaith, that the circumciſion is of the heart, in the ſpirit, not in the letter. Neither is it called circumciſion of the heart by way of excluſion of circumciſion from other parts of man. For there is alſo mention of the circumciſion of the eares,Act. 7.51. as where Steuen ſaith, Yee ſtifnecked and of vncircumciſed hearts, and eares, i. which will not heare when God ſpeakes vntounto you: and alſo of the circumciſion of the lippes, as where Moſes ſaid vntounto the Lord, Behold I am of vncircumciſed lippes; Exod. 6.30i. I am not abl… to ſpeake vntounto Pharaoh, being barbarous and rude in ſpeech. There is then not onelyonly circumciſion of the heart in the will and vnderſtanding, when all carnall affections are purged thence, but there is alſo circumciſion of the lippes, when our ſpeech is ſuch as that it miniſters grace vntounto the hearers; and alſo circumciſion of the eares, when wee open our eares vntounto the Lord ſpeaking vntounto vsus, and willingly and euen greed…ly harken after thoſe things which belong vntounto our peace. But yet commonly I thinke both theſe are comprehended in the circumciſion of the heart, ſo that by the circumciſion of the heart, the circumciſion of the eares, and of the lippes likewiſe is vnderſtood. It is called alſo ſpirituall circumciſion, becauſe it is made without hands, by the ſpirit of almightie God,Col. 2.11. Deut. 30.6. as witneſſeth Moſes, where he ſaith, the Lord thy God will circumciſe thine heart, and the heart of thy ſeede, that thou maieſt louelove the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoule, that thou maiſt liue. Whereupon the Apoſtle ſaith,Rom. 2.29. that the praiſe of it is not of men, but of God. It is called alſo by the Apoſtle, the circumciſion of Chriſt, becauſe made by the ſpirit of Chriſt, which doth illuminate our vuderſtanding, renue our will,Col. 2.11. ſanctifie our affections, and worke in vsus all holy deſires to die vntounto ſinne, and to liue vntounto God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. This circumciſion then of Chriſt, this circumciſion of the heart, this ſpirituall circumciſion which is made without hands by the finger of the ſpirit, illuminating our vnderſtandings, renuing our wills, purging our carnall affections, crucifying in vsus the old man, and quickning vsus in our inner man, in the ſpirit of our minde, this is the true circumciſion, and this is that circumciſion wherewith the Apoſtle reioyced that he was circumciſed, and vnleſſe wee be circumciſed with this circumciſion we hauehave no cauſe of reioicing. For that which the Apoſtle ſaith of carnall circumciſion,Gal. 5.2. If ye be circumciſed Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing, is quite otherwiſe in this ſpirituall circumciſion. For vnleſſe wee be thus circumciſed Chriſt ſhall profit vsus nothing; according to that of our Sauiour,Iob. 3.5. Except a man be borne of water and of the ſpirit, hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God: Except a man be borne of water and of the ſpirit, i. vnleſſe he be borne againe by the ſpirit, vnleſſe he be circumciſed with the circumciſion of Chriſt by putting off the ſinfull body of the fleſh, and becomming a new creature, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God, he hath no portion among the ſonnes of God. So that that holdeth ſtill, if we be not circumciſed we belong not to the couenant. But if we be circumciſed with this circumciſion of Chriſt, then may we reioice, knowing that we are the ſonnes of God, and partakers of the couenant of promiſe. Then looke what was the preferment of the Iew aboue all other people, that is our preferment aboue the ſonnes of men, and looke what was the profit of circumciſion vntounto the Iewe, that and more is the profit of circumciſion vntounto vsus. For thus we are the circumciſion, and not they, we are that peculiar people of the Iewes, and not they,Rom. 2.28.29. inaſmuch as now he is not a Iew which is one outward, neither now 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.
Let this, men and brethren, teach vsus to deſcend into our ſelues and ſee whether we bee circumciſed or vncircumciſed, whether we can with the Apoſtle truely ſay, that wee are the circumciſion, that we are circumciſed with the true circumciſion. Do we worſhip the Lord in the ſpirit with holy worſhippe not after the fooliſh fancies of mans braine? Do we reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus as in the horne of our ſaluation, and renounce all confidence in all outward things whatſoeuer? Are our vnderſtandings inſtructed in the things which are ſpiritually diſcerned? Are our affections enclined to the rule of Gods ſpirit? Are our deſires bent to the things that belong vntounto our peace? Are we purged from all carnall affections, and vngodly deſires? Are our lippes faine when we ſing vntounto our God? and are our tongues glad when we talke of his righteouſneſſe and ſaluation? Doe we refraine our feete from eueryevery euill path? and doe we giuegive our members as weapons of righteouſneſſe vntounto God to ſerue him in righteouſneſſe and in holineſſe? If the ſpirit do witneſſe thoſe things vntounto our ſpirits, then let vsus know that we are circumciſed with the true circumciſion, ſo that wee may ſay with the Apoſtle, We are the circumciſion. For this is the worke of the ſpirit thus to conſecrate vsus to his holy worſhip, thus to ſettle our reioycing on Chriſt Ieſus, and on him alone, thus to teach vsus his will, thus to ſanctifie our deſires, thus to purge and cleanſe vsus from inordinate affections, thus to make vsus veſſells holy vntounto the Lord, and thus to guide our feete in to the way of peace. And working thus in vsus he doth circumciſe vsus with circumciſion made without hands making vsus ne creatures. But if we worſhippe the Lord, ſo that we bowe both to him and Baal, if we truſt to be ſaued by our workes, or by any thing but onelyonly by Chriſt Ieſus, and faith in his bloud, if the Goſpell be yet hid vntounto vsus ſo that we cannot ſauour or perceiue the things of the ſpirit of God, if our affections be ſo inordinate as that we be full of ſtriefe, enuie, hatred, malice, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whiſpering, ſwelling, and diſcorde, if our deſires be ſo vnbridled as that we runne wholly after the pleaſures of the fleſh, and neuer minde the things of the ſpirit; if as yet we will bee eueryevery one more loth then other to talke of matters of religion, of things belonging to our ſaluation, of the mercies of God in Chriſt Ieſus, and the like; but will ſtraine no curteſie at all to talke filthily, and vncleanly, and vnſeemly, and ſcoffingly, and irreligiouſly, if as yet either we will not open our eares to heare the voice of the charmer charme hee neuer ſo wiſely, or elſe will grinne and gnaſh our teeth at him that ſhall roundly knocke at the doore of our hearts to rowſe vsus out of the dead ſleepe of ſinne whereinto we are fallen; if I ſay things ſtand thus with vsus, are we not of vncircumciſed hearts, and lippes, and eares? yes my brethren if it be thus whatſoeuer we ſay, or what ſhew ſoeuer we make, yet are we of vncircumciſed hearts, lips, and eares. For therefore is our vnderſtanding full of darkneſſe, our will and deſires peruerſe and crooked, and our affections inordinate, becauſe the Lord by his ſpirit hath not circumciſed our hearts; therefore are our mouthes filled not with talke of ſuch things as belong vntounto our peace, but with corrupt communication, and ieſting, and taunting, and profane talking, becauſe the Lord by his ſpirit hath not circumciſed our lippes; and therefore are our eares open vntounto eueryevery wicked profanation of Gods name, and eueryevery bad ſuggeſtion of our neighbours, rather then vntounto the word of our ſaluation, becauſe the Lord by his ſpirit hath not circumciſed our eares. In one word, are we and walke we as children of diſobedience? it is becauſe the Lord hath not yet regenerated vsus by his holy ſpirit, becauſe we yet are not circumciſed with the circumciſion of Chriſt. Let eueryevery man therefore deſcend into his owne heart, and as he doth finde himſelfe, by thus ſearching his heart, and his reynes to be circumciſed, or vncircumciſed, ſo let him thinke himſelfe to be receiued into the couenant, or yet to be a ſtranger from the couenant of promiſe. And hee that is circumciſed, let him not gather his vncircumciſion: i. as now I expound it, let him not defile himſelfe with the corruptions which are in the world through luſt, but hauing eſcaped from the filthineſſe of the world, let him giuegive his members ſeruants vntounto righteouſneſſe in holineſſe, and worſhip the Lord with holy worſhip. But he that hath walked either 40 or 4. yeeres in the wilderneſſe of this life, and is not yet circumciſed, let him know that euen that perſon that is not circumciſed, that man that is not regenerated by the Lord his ſpirit, euen hee ſhall be cut off from the Lord his people, and ſhall hauehave none inheritance among the Saints of God. VntoUnto ſuch therefore I ſay as the Lord by his Prophet ſaith to the men of Iudah, and to Ieruſalem, Ierem. 4 4breake vp the fallow ground of your hearts, and ſome not among the thornes: be circumciſed to the Lord, and take away the fore-skins of your hearts, leaſt the Lord his wrath come foorth like fire, and burne that none can quench it, becauſe of the wickedneſſe of your inuentions: And with the Prophet Hoſea, I ſay farther,Hoſ. 10.12. ſow to your ſelues in righteouſneſſe, reape after the meaſure of merciemercy, breake vp your fallow ground: for it is time to ſeeke the Lord till he come and raine righteouſneſſe vponupon you. Weede out al impiety and wicked affections from your hearts, put off the ſinnefull body of the fleſh, 1 Cor. 15.50 Ap…c. 20.6.and be renued in the ſpirit of your mindes. For this I ſay vntounto you that fleſh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God. Bleſſed and holy is he that hath his part in the firſt reſurrection, i. by the power of God his ſpirit regenerating him, riſeth from ſinne wherein he was dead vntounto newneſſe and holineſſe of life: for on ſuch the ſecond death hath no power. And let this ſuffice to be ſpoken touching both the carnall, and likewiſe the ſpirituall circumciſion by occaſion of theſe words, we are the circumciſion. It followeth.
Which worſhippe God in the ſpirit] By this and the reſt that followes is deſcribed, as I told you who are circumciſed with ſpirituall circumciſion, euen they which worſhip God ſpiritually &c. ſo that hauing ſpoken of ſpirituall circumciſion we hauehave ſpoken in a generality both of this, and the reſt that followes. Yet it will not be amiſſe ſomewhat more particularly, yet as briefly as we can, to ſpeake by occaſion of theſe words of the ſpirituall worſhip of God. There is no people ſo farre without God in this world, Iewe, or Gentile, Turke, or other, but that both they know there is a God, and likewiſe thinke they worſhip him with true worſhippe. But how a great many nations and languages ſhould either know the true God, or truely worſhippe him, it can ſcarce be imagined, ſeeing they want the holy word of life, where alone we both clearly know him, and likewiſe how to worſhip him. Nay how ſhould not they moſt groſſely erre touching the true worſhip of God, ſeeing where the word is there are ſo many errors touching the true and ſpirituall worſhip of God. Witneſſe thoſe manifold will-worſhippes of God which men hauehave deuiſed vntounto themſelues, and for which they hauehave no warrant at all in the word: ſuch as are forbidding of marriage, and forbidding of meates to ſome men at all times, and to all men at ſometimes vnderunder pretence of holy religion, and deuout ſeruice of God. But for our inſtruction in this point, let vsus hence obſerue that not only in the ſpirit of our minde purified by the ſpirit to ſerue him in holineſſe and in righteouſneſſe, but that if we will not erre in the performance of true and ſpirituall worſhippe vntounto our God, we muſt proceede by this rule of reioicing in Chriſt Ieſus, inaſmuch as by reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus wee worſhippe God ſpiritually. For what is there required in our ſpirituall worſhip of God which by our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus is not performed vntounto him? Is it not our ſpirituall worſhip of God to louelove him, to put our truſt in him, to feare him, to pray vntounto him, to obey him, and to glorifie him both in our bodies, and in our ſpirits? And are not all theſe things performed vntounto him by our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus? We reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, knowing that in him we are beloued: and therefore we louelove God who we know doth louelove vsus in Chriſt Ieſus. Againe, we reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, knowing that in him all the promiſes of God are yea, and Amen; and therefore we belieue in God & put our truſt in his name who we know for his ſake maketh good all his promiſes vntounto vsus. Againe we reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, knowing that by him an atonement and reconciliation is made betweene God and vsus: and therfore we feare God whoſe wrath we know is now appeaſed towards vsus by the mediation of Chriſt Ieſus. Againe, wee reioice in Chriſt Ieſus knowing that by him we may go boldly vntounto the throne of grace: and therefore wee poure out our praiers vntounto God who wee know giueth vsus whatſoeuer wee aske by faith in his name. Againe, wee reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus knowing that through Chriſt wee are able to doe all things: and therefore wee obey God who wee know ſtrengtheneth vsus in Chriſt to doe all things that hee requireth of vsus. Againe, wee reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus knowing that hee is made of God vntounto vsus wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption: and therefore we glorifie GOD both in our bodies and in our ſpirits, who we know hath giuen vsus his ſonne, and together with him hath giuen vsus all things alſo. So that through the reioycing which we hauehave in Chriſt Ieſus we worſhip God ſpiritually with all holy worſhip of louelove, of faith, of feare, of praier, of obedience, and of glorifying his name both in our bodies and in our ſpirits. Yea and whoſoeuer hath not this reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus it is impoſſible that he ſhould worſhip God with this ſpirituall and holy worſhippe. For how ſhall hee louelove GOD that is not perſwaded of the louelove of God towards him in Chriſt Ieſus? how ſhall hee belieue in God and put his truſt in his name, that knoweth not that all his promiſes are yea and Amen, moſt certaine and ſure in Chriſt Ieſus? How ſhall hee feare God as a dutifull childe that aſſures not himſelfe of his reconciliation with God by the death and interceſſion of Chriſt Ieſus? How ſhall hee pray vntounto. God in faith that knows not that his praiers ſhall bee accepted and heard in Chriſt Ieſus, that offereth our praiers vntounto God, and makes continuall interceſſion for vsus? How ſhall hee obey God in that which he commands that knowes nor that God in Chriſt Ieſus doth enable him to doe that which hee commandeth? How ſhall hee glorifie God in his body, or in his ſpirit, that knowes not what great mercies God hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus through Chriſt Ieſus? So that vnleſſe wee can reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus euen becauſe wee know all theſe thinges wee cannot poſſiblie worſhippe God with ſpirituall worſhippe.
Will you then, men and brethren, hauehave a direction for your ſpirituall worſhipping of God? Surely it is needfull,Ioh. 4.24. for God is a ſpirit, and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth. Let this then be your direction: Reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus; reioyce in him, becauſe yee are beloued in him, and then ſurely yee will louelove God who loues you in Chriſt Ieſus. Reioyce in Chriſt, becauſe in him all Gods promiſes are made good and performed vntounto you, and then ſurely yee will beleeue in God, and put your truſt in him, who keepeth promiſe, and ſuffereth not his truth to faile for euer. Reioyce in Chriſt, becauſe by him yee hauehave receiued the attonement, and then ſurely yee will feare God, whoſe wrath was appeaſed by the reconciliation of Chriſt Ieſus. Reioyce in Chriſt, becauſe through him your praiers are accepted and heard with God, and then ſurely ye will powre out your praiers vntounto God, who giues you whatſoeuer yee aske in faith in his name. Reioice in Chriſt, becauſe in him ye are made able to doe all things, and then ſurely yee will obey God, who ſtrengthneth you in Chriſt to doe all things. Reioice in Chriſt, becauſe by him yee are redeemed, and ſaued, and by the power of his ſpirit ſanctified, and then ſurely yee will glorifie God both in your bodies, and in your ſpirits, who with Chriſt his Sonne giueth you all things both for this life preſent, and likewiſe for that that is to come. So that there cannot be a better direction for our ſpirituall worſhip of God, then to reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe by our reioicing which we hauehave in Chriſt Ieſus wee are enflamed to louelove God, to beleeue in him, to put our truſt in him, to feare him, to pray vntounto him to obey him, and to glorifie him both in our bodies and in our ſpirits, which is our ſpirituall worſhipping of God. Whence it is alſo eaſie to gheſſe why it is that wee faile ſo much in the ſpirituall worſhipping of God, which is euen hence, becauſe wee faile in our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus.
For our better inſtruction in which point of our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus, let vsus in the next place hence obſerue, that to reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, is not onelyonly to repoſe our whole truſt and confidence in him, as in the horne of our ſaluation, to make our boaſt of him, and to tell of all the wondrous workes that hee hath done for vsus with gladneſſe, but withall to renounce all confidence in the fleſh, and in any outward thing whatſoeuer. For theſe are things which cannot ſtand together, reioicing in Chriſt Ieſus, and repoſing our confidence in any outward thing whatſoeuer: for if we reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, then wee repoſe the whole confidence of our ſaluation, and eueryevery part thereof vponupon him, and him alone; and if wee repoſe our whole, or any part of the confidence of our ſaluation on any outward thing, and not on Chriſt Ieſus alone, then we doe not indeed reioice in Chriſt Ieſus. This the Apoſtle plainly ſheweth,Gal. 5.4. where he ſaith, that whoſoeuer are iuſtified by the Law, they are fallen from grace; that is, whoſoeuer ſeeke for their righteouſneſſe by the workes of the Law, or hope to be ſaued by them, they are fallen from grace, Chriſt profiteth them nothing. Let them looke vntounto this, that truſt vntounto their merits, to be ſaued by them. Surely the concluſion from this place of our Apoſtle lieth very hard vponupon them. For hence thus I gather: They that hauehave confidence of their ſaluation by their merits, or by any outward thing whatſoeuer, and not only by Chriſt Ieſus, they reioice not in Chriſt Ieſus: They that reioice not in Chriſt Ieſus, they worſhip not God in the ſpirit: They that worſhip not God in the ſpirit, they are not circumciſed with the true and ſpirituall circumciſion: Ergo, they that hauehave confidence of their ſaluation by their merits, they are not circumciſed with the true and ſpirituall circumciſion. Where in my iudgement the concluſion is as ineuitable as hard. If they anſwer that the Apoſtle maketh no mention of the merit of workes, and therefore nothing can hence be concluded againſt the merit of workes; I anſwer againe, that by the name of fleſh in this place of our Apoſtle is vnderſtood not only the circumciſion of the fleſh, or other ceremonies of the Law, but all the workes of the Law, all mans merits whatſoeuer, euen all outward things whatſoeuer. Which is plaine by the antitheſis and oppoſition in this place betweene Chriſt and the fleſh, and likewiſe by that that followeth in the Apoſtle. For firſt, where he ſaith, Wee reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus, and hauehave no confidence in the fleſh, in that he denieth that they hauehave any confidence in the fleſh, what elſe is his meaning, but that they hauehave no confidence in any thing but only in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo reioicing in him, as that they put their whole confidence in him. Againe, when he ſhewes afterwards what he meanes by the fleſh, hee ſpeaketh not only of the circumciſion of the fleſh, but of his tribe, of his ſtocke, of his religion, of his zeale; yea and leſt hee ſhould ſeeme to leaue out any thing without Chriſt wherein he had any confidence, hee ſpeaketh expreſſely of all things without Chriſt, that for Chriſt he counteth all things loſſe. So that the concluſion (though moſt hard) will not be auoided, but that they that truſt to be ſaued by their merits are not circumciſed with the true and ſpirituall circumciſion, but are as yet ſtrangers from the couenant of promiſe, and hauehave no inheritance among the ſonnes of God.
Let vsus therefore, men and brethren, renounce all confidence in any thing without Chriſt whatſoeuer, and let vsus truſt only in the merits of Chriſt Ieſus. He alone is made of God vntounto vsus wiſdome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption: he hath purchaſed vsus with his owne bloud: he is ſet for euer at the right hand of the throne of God to make interceſſion for vsus; and through him alone we receiue all the bleſſing, that wee hauehave either for this life, or that that is to come. Let vsus therefore reioice in him, and not in any thing without him. Hee that beleeueth in him, beleeueth in him that ſent him; and hee that loueth him, loueth him that ſent him; and hee that obeyeth him, obeyeth him that ſent him; and he that glorifieth him, glorifieth him that ſent him. Let vsus therefore worſhip him with all holy worſhip, and ſo ſhall wee worſhip God in the ſpirit, and ſo ſhall we be able truly to ſay with the Apoſtle, We are the circumciſion, which worſhip God in the ſpirit, and reioice in Chriſt Ieſus, and hauehave no confidence in the fleſh.
Circumciſe (O Lord) wee beſeech thee the foreskinnes of our hearts with the finger of thy holy ſpirit, that we may worſhip thee in ſpirit and in truth, & that we may reioyce in thy Sonne Chriſt Ieſus as in the horne of our ſaluation, renouncing all confidence in any thing without him whatſoeuer. O Lord purge vsus daily more and more from all inordinate affections, and vnbridled deſires, which any way may draw vsus from thee, or hinder vsus in thy ſeruice: renew in vsus right ſpirits, that wee may worſhip thee, not after the fond deuices of our owne braine, but in ſpirit and in truth, after the rule of thy holy word; and ſo ſanctifie vsus with thy holy ſpirit, that abandoning all worldly confidence whatſoeuer, wee may wholly and only reioyce in thy Sonne Chriſt Ieſus for euer.