Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

ƲƲhich were the vses and ends of Circumcision?

1 That it might be a couenant, and an agreement, that is, a signe of the couenant of grace betweene God and the posterity of Abraham, whereby they might confirme their faith, and might know that they were in the gouernment of their Lord, and

possessor, against all their enemies: According to the promise, I will be a God vnto thee, and to thy seede after thee, namely in a speciall manner, whereby I will make thee partaker of my spirit, of my righteousnesse, of all good thing, & in one word of heauenly lifed 1.1.

2 That the people might be distinguished by that signe, and badge of their profession from other nations and profane people, and that the people might be discerned, of whom that promised Redeemer must be borne. Whereupon circumcision, by a Me∣tonymie, is put for the Iewes circumcisede 1.2, as also vncircumci∣sion for the vncircumcised or the Gentilesf 1.3. And Christ is cal∣led the Minister of circumcisiong 1.4, that is, not of the law, which he did abrogate by his comming, or rather fulfilled, but of the Iewes within whose bounds he contained himselfe so long as hee was conuersant among men, as he testifieth of himselfe. Math. 1.24. And yet so, as he would haue the Gospell also in his time appoin∣ted to be published to the Gentilesh 1.5. But especially by the spiri∣tuall and internall circumcision, the Iewes were both distingui∣shed from them, and also among themselues one from another: For by reason of the twofold circumcision, the one outward, the other inward, it comes to passe that Paule makes two kindes of Iewes.i 1.6. And Stephen called the Iewes men of vn∣circumcised hearts, and eares, which yet stucke plunged in the vice of nature corrupted, & which would not indure to heare the voice of God, as we are all by naturek 1.7.

3 That the circumcised might be put in minde of their du∣tie, know that the good things promised did belong vnto them, might stand to their couenant and promise, and might confirme themselues in aduersity by calling vpon God, in prosperity by the signe of the promises of GOD,l 1.8 and of the couenant, as we may see in the example of Ionathan, and Dauid encoun∣tering with Goliah, l. 4. That they might be instructed concer∣ning the corruption of nature, which could not bee amended, but by the effusion of bloud, and also of the blessed seed which should come into the world.

5 That it might be a seale vnto them that beleeue, of righ∣teousnesse, and faith, that is, of that righteousnesse, which is brought vnto vs, by faith in Iesus Christ,a 1.9.

6 That they might bee put in minde of the spirituall cir∣cumcision

of the heart, mouth, eare, eyes, and of the rest of the members, nnd might labour for it, and of the restipula∣tion, and binding themselues to keepe the law, and so might be a Sacrament of Repentance.

7 Of the continuall bearing of the Crosse, and of the first fruits of our bloud to be offered to him, who should shed all his bloud vpon the Crosse for vs.

Notes

• d 1.1

  Gen 7.7
• e 1.2

  Titus 1.10
• f 1.3

  Rom. 2.26
• g 1.4

  Rom. 15.8
• h 1.5

  Ioh. 10.16
• i 1.6

  Rom. 2.28
• k 1.7

  Act. 7.51
• l 1.8

  1 Sam. 17 26
• a 1.9

  Rom. 4.11