for a time, was no impediment to the beleeuing Iewes, but yet it furthered them not: no more then Timothie his circumcision did profit him, or Pauls purifying, which both were done not for any benefit to themselues: but least they might haue giuen offence, and so hindered others: But the Apostle speaketh here of the profit which circumcision brought: which was onely during the continuance of such legall sacraments, which were profitable vnto them then, as beeing seales vnto them of the righteousnesse of faith in Christ: so then circumcision with other legall tites was profitable vnder the lawe: but after the ceremonies were abolished, they became vnprofitable in the meane time betweene both, as they profi∣ted not such as beleeued of the circumcision, so they hindred not, if they did not repose their trust and confidence in them: Therefore of all these expositions I resolue of the first, that the Apostle here speaketh of circumcision, as it was an ordinarie sacrament vnder the lawe, not yet abolished. Quest. 42. How circumcision was availeable for infants. Obiect. If circumcision did not profit, except they kept the law: this doubt will be made that then it was not profitable at all vnto infants, who could not keepe the lawe. Answ. 1. Hugo answeareth, that circumcision did not profit infants ex virtute sua, sed ex virtute & fide parentium, by it owne vertue, but by the vertue and faith of the parents: But although the beleeuing parents may obtaine graces by their faith for others: yet formal∣ly none are iustified before God, but by their owne faith, or some grace infused by the spi∣rit of God: for as the parents sinnes cannot condemne the child, so the parents faith cannot saue the infant. 2. Gorrhan thinketh, that circumcision herein was avayleable, quia peccatum originale delebat, because it blotted out originall sinne: But it is euident by this place, that the cir∣cumcision of the flesh did not outwardly conferre grace: for then circumcision could neuer be turned to vncircumcision: that is to be of no more force without keeping of the law, then if they had not beene circumcised at all. 3. Augustine, as Pet. Martyr alleadgeth him, not citing the place, reporteth the opini∣on of some, which affirmed, that a man beeing once baptized, though he were an euill liuer, yet in the ende should be saued, but should suffer many things in this life: the like opinion the Iewes might haue of their circumcision: and so it might be profitable to infants, but more profitable to those, that also kept the law: But the Apostle denieth circumcision to be profitable any thing at all without keeping the law, because it is turned into vncircumcisi∣on: it is no more availeable, then if they were not circumcised at all. 4. Wherefore the best solution is, that the Apostle speaketh not here of infants, sed de adultis, but of those which were of yeares and discretion: that circumcision did not profit them, vnlesse they kept the law: as baptisme now is not any helpe vnto saluation to Christi∣ans, that lead an euill life: As for infants they were then saued by the couenant of grace sea∣led in circumcision, as now in baptisme. 43. Quest. What vncircumcised the Apostle here speaketh of, whether such of the Gentiles as were conuerted to the faith, and what keeping of the law he meaneth. 1. Calvin thinketh, that the Apostle saying, v. 26. if the vncircumcision keepe the ordi∣nances of the law, speaketh ex hypothesi, by way of supposition, if any such could be found, that did keepe the law, which no man could: so also Pareus. de obedientia plena loquitur, ad quam obligabat circumcisio, he speaketh of the full and perfect obedience of the law, vnto the which circumcision did bind: and he speaketh ex hypothesi, by supposition, if the vncir∣cumcision keepe. But it is euident, that the Apostle speaketh not by way of supposition, as of a thing impossible to be done, but supposing, if it were done: for then it would follow, that circumcision were not profitable at all, because he saith, circumcision is profitable, if thou keepe the lawe: if the Apostle should speake of the perfect keeping of the lawe, which is impossible, then all profitable vse is denied to circumcision: but he ealed not so much detract from that holy institution of God: circumcision indeede did bind them to keepe the whole law: but it did profit them, if there were an endeauour in them, and care to keepe the lawe, though they perfectly keepe it not. 2. But Lyranus here hath a verie vnfound assertion, that the Apostle should here speake of such vncircumcised Gentiles, which did the workes of the Lawe, ex rationis naturalis 0