unclean seven days, and the child by touching her partaking of the same misfortune, was not till then fit to be admitted into covenant; nor by reason of its weakness could it well endure, before that time, the pain of the operation. The Jews laid such stress upon this, that circumcision before that time was counted no circumcision; and after that time it was of lesser value : hence they thought it necessary, rather than defer it beyond the stated time, to perform it on the Sabbath-day, though all work was on that day forbidden.

Q. What was the punishment threatened for neglecting this rite?

A. That soul was to be cut off from God's people ;a which, as the Jews generally interpret, supposed a man to neglect it when he came to a fitting age to understand the obligation of it. For when Moses' child was uncircumcised, the angel sought not to kill the child who was uncircumcised, but Moses, the father, who should have circumcised it."

Q. What was the original design of circumcision? A. That every son of Abraham might bear in his body the seal of the inheritance of the land of promise,' and the badge of distinction from all other people, with which all that were marked, professed their resolution to obey the only true God, creator of heaven and earth; and that this visible sign might put them constantly in mind of their duty, and make them strive after the invisible grace which it sealed, the inheritance of heaven, and walking as the peculiar of the Lord.

Q. Why was it to cease after the coming of Christ? A. The necessity of the change of it appears from the appropriated and peculiar ends of the rite. For when

Gen. xvii. 1.

Gen. xvii. 14.

Exod. iv. 24.'

there was to be no more distinction betwixt the children of Abraham and other people, and no one land more peculiarized than another, but of every land and nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him; that badge of approbation, and seal of singularity, must either come to nothing, or become

unnecessary.

Q. What does circumcision figuratively represent to us?

4. That as our birth is impure by reason of original sin, so we ought to lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness,' putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; mortifying the pleasures of the body, which bewitch the mind, and make us captives to sin and death.

Q. What rite of admission into the Christian church answers to that of circumcision under the law?

A. The sacrament of baptism, called by St. Paul the circumcision of Christ whereby the children of Christian parents are made members of Christ, and obliged to observe the laws of the gospel institution; as the circumcised infant, by that rite, became a debtor to observe the whole law of Moses. By this means the children of believers are entered into covenant with God under the gospel, as they were under the law by circumcision; and that infants are capable of this fœderal relation, is plainly declared by Moses; and since they are the offspring of Adam, and consequently obnoxious to death by his fall, how can they be made partakers of that redemption which Christ hath purchased for the children of God, if they do not enjoy the advantage of that method which is alone appointed by Christ for them to become mem

'Jam. i. 21.

B Col. iii. 11, 12.

h Acts xv. 5. Gal. v. 3.

bers of God's kingdom? for Jesus himself hath assured us, except one be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And therefore it was the constant custom of the primitive church to administer baptism to infants for the remission of sins. And this practice was esteemed, by the best tradition, to be derived from the Apostles themselves.

Q. Why was Jesus Christ circumcised, who was holy and without sin?

A. That he might thereby be esteemed the son of Abraham, and be the better qualified to do good among his countrymen the Jews, by bearing this mark of distinction which they so much valued, as to despise those that wanted it; and that he might fulfil the whole law, and shew that he came to bear the punishment due to our sins, and to expiate them with his blood.

Q. What name was given unto the son of God when he was circumcised?

A. The imposing a name being one of the circumstances that attended circumcision, even from the first institution of it, as many think, our Lord was then called Jesus, according to the direction of the angel before he was conceived in the womb: and the reason of it is given by the angel, because he should save his people from their sins.

Q. What is implied in his saving us from our sins? A. That by his death he should deliver us from the punishment due to sin, and reconcile us to God, and that by his grace he should deliver us from the power and dominion of sin, by enabling us to repent of it, and to mortify it.

Q. Is the name of Jesus worthy of all honour?

'Deut. xxix. 11. * John iii. 5. 1 Luke i. 31.

Mat. i. 21.

A. At the very name of Jesus every knee shall bow. The bowing of the knee was counted a testimony of reverence; and it was very honourable to exhibit such marks of respect, not only to such as were present, but to such as were absent, upon the mentioning of their names. And it was the custom of the world, in several religions, to express some kind of reverence when that which they acknowledged for their God was named.

Q. What has the church enjoined when we hear that holy name mentioned in time of divine service?

A. That due and lowly reverence shall be done by all persons present, as has been accustomed; testifying by these outward ceremonies and gestures, their inward humility, Christian resolution, and due acknowledgment, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the true and eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour of the world.

Q. What may we learn from the observation of this Festival?

A. The necessity of spiritual circumcision, or the change of the heart and life, which our Lord hath made the condition of salvation; in order to which, the mortifying our corrupt affections and sinful lusts is necessary. It teaches us also great humility of soul, whereby we should be ready to sacrifice our reputation rather than neglect our duty; after our Saviour's example, who, in order to fulfil the will of God, took upon him not only the form of a servant, but the appearance of a sinner.

Q. What is farther implied in spiritual circumcision ? A. The retrenching our temporal enjoyments, the weaning our affections from the world, and placing them upon heaven, and all those things whereby we may obtain the favour of God. It denotes a strict government of

Gen. xli. 43.

our sensual appetites, a total abstinence from all forbidden pleasures, and an utter detestation of such sinful satisfactions; and even when they are lawful, that they be not pursued with eagerness and excess: and it farther imports a readiness of mind to know our duty, and what it is God requires from us, and a sincere disposition to comply with and obey it.

Q. What should the beginning of the new year suggest to us?

A. The great value of time, which God hath given us for working out our salvation; upon the spending whereof depends our happiness or misery to all eternity; the consideration whereof should put us upon all those methods whereby we may employ it to the best advantage.

Q. What makes time so very valuable, and why ought we to have so great a regard to the managing of it?

A. Because there is so little of it at our disposal: what is past is slipt from us; the future is uncertain; the present is all we can call our own, which is yet continually fleeting. And though the season of working is so very short and uncertain, yet we have an affair of the greatest consequence to secure, which requires the whole force and vigour of our minds, the labour and industry of all our days, not to be dispatched with any tolerable comfort upon a sick bed; nor in the evening of our lives, when our strength and our reason are departing from us. Besides, if we persist in an obstinate neglect of all the repeated tenders of God's grace, the things that belong to our peace may be hid from our eyes. Q. How ought we to employ our time, that it may be improved to the best advantage?

A. We ought to redeem that which we have mispent, by lamenting the follies which have consumed so precious