Singularity, muft either clean come to nothing, or become unneceffary.

Q. What doth Circumcifion figuratively reprefent to us?

Col.ii. 11.

A. That as our Birth is impure by reason of Original Sin, fo we ought to lay afide all Filthinefs, Jam.i. 21. and Superfluity of Naughtiness, putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh, by the Circumcifion of Chrift, mortifying the Pleasures of the Body, which bewitch the Mind, and make us Captives to Sin and Death.

Q. What Rite of Admiffion into the Christian Church anfwereth to that of Circumcifion under the Law?

A. The Sacrament of Baptifm, called by St. Paul, Col ii. 11, the Circumcifion of Chrift, whereby the Children of 12. Christian Parents are made Members of Chrift, and obliged to obferve the Laws of theGospel Inftitution; as the circumcifed Infant, by that Rite, became a Debtor to obferve the whole Law of Mofes. By this Acts xv. 5. Means the Children of Believers are entered into Covenant with God under the Gofpel, as they were under the Law by Circumcifion; and that Infants are capable of this fæderal Relation, is plainly declared by Mofes; and fince they are the Offspring Dent. of Adam, and confequently obnoxious to Death by xxix. 11. his Fall, how can they be made Partakers of that Redemption which Chrift hath purchased for the Children of God, if they do not enjoy the Advantage of that Method which is alone appointed by Chrift for them to become Members of God's Kingdom? For Jefus himself hath affured us, Except Joh. iii. 5. one be born of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. And therefore it was the conftant Custom of the Primitive Church to adminifter Baptifm to Infants for the Remiffion of Sins. And this Practice was esteemed, by the best Tradition, to be derived from the Apofiles themselves.

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Q. Why

Q. Why was Jefus Chrift circumcifed, 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 Diftinction which they fo much valued, as to defpife thofe that wanted it; and that he might fulfil the whole Law, and fhew 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 circumcifed?

A. The imposing a Name being one of the Circumftances that attended Circumcifion, even from the firft Inftitution of it, as many think, our Lord was then called Jefus, according to the Direction of the Lukei. 31. Angel before he was conceived in the Womb: And the Mat. i. 21. Reafon of it is given by the Angel, becaufe be Should fave his People from their Sins.

43.

Q. What is implied in his faving 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 fhould 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 Jefus worthy of all Honour?

A. At the Name of Jefus every Knee fhall bow. Gen. xli. The bowing of the Knee was counted a Teftimony of Reverence; and it was very honourable to exhibit fuch Marks of Refpect, not only to fuch as were prefent, but to fuch as were abfent, upon the mentioning of their Names. And it was the Custom of the World in feveral Religions, to exprefs fome Kind of Reverence when that which they acknowledged for their God was named.

Q. What bath the Church enjoined when we hear that holy Name mentioned in Time of Divine Service?

A. That

A. That due and lowly Reverence fhall be done Can. 18. by all Perfons prefent, as hath been accustomed; teftifying by thefe outward Ceremonies and Gcftures, their inward Humility, Chriftian Refolu tion,and due Acknowledgment, that the Lord Jefus Chrift, the true and eternal Son of God, is the onJy Saviour of the World.

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

A. The Neceffity of fpiritual Circumcifion, 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 finful Lufts is neceffary. It teaches us alfo great Humility of Soul, whereby we fhould be ready to facrifice 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.

cifion?

What is farther implied in Spiritual Circum

A. The retrenching our temporal Enjoyments, the weaning our Affections from the World, and placing them upon Heaven, and all thofe Things whereby we may obtain the Favour of God. It denotes a ftrict Government of our fenfual Appetites, a totalAbftir ce from all forbidden Pleasures, and an utter Deteftation of fuch finful Satisfactions; and even when they are lawful, that they be not pursued with Eagernefs and Excefs: And it farther imports a Readiness of Mind to know our Duty, and what it is God requires from us, and a fincere Difpofition to comply with and obey

it.

Q. What Should the Beginning of the New Year fuggeft to us?

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A. The

A. The great Value of Time, which God hath given us for working out our Salvation; upon the fpending whereof depends our Happiness or Mifery to all Eternity; the Confideration whereof fhould put us upon all thofe Methods whereby we may employ it to the best Advantage.

Q. What makes Time fo very valuable, and why ought we to have fo great a Regard to the managing of it?

A. Because there is fo little of it at our Difpofal; what is paft is flipt from us; the future is uncertain; the prefent is all we can call our own, which is yet continually fleeting. And though the Seafon of Working is fo very short and uncertain, yet we have an Affair of the greatest Confequence to fecure, which requires the whole Force and Vigour of our Minds, the Labour and Industry of all our Days, not to be difpatched with any tolerable Comfort upon a fick Bed; nor in the Evening of our Lives, when our Strength and our Reason are departing from us. Befides, if we persist in an obftinate 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 miffpent, by lamenting the Folli which have confumed fo precious a Treafure, and by admiring that great Patience and Goodnefs of God, which fpared us when we deferved Punishment. What we can referve from the Neceffities of Nature, and our worldly Affairs, which thofe Neceffities engage us in, ought to be applied to the nobleft Purposes, the Glory of God, the Good and Salvation of Men. Nay, even the Affairs of this Life may be fanctified, by confidering ourselves as the Inftruments of Providence, and by faithfully discharging the Duties of

our

our Station with a Regard to another World more than this. And the best Method, in order to this End, is to live by Rule; to affign to all our Actions their proper Season, and fuch a Portion of it only as may be neceffary for them; whereby Time will never lie upon our Hands, nor fting us with Regret when it is paft. Men of Eftates and Parts may lay hold on Futurity, by founding Hospitals and Schools, for the Relief and Inftruction of the Poor. All Chriftians may dedicate their whole Lives to God's Service in the Days of their Youth; and may make fuch public Declaration in Behalf of Religion, that they may put themselves under a Neceffity of living virtuoufly, by cutting off any Retreat to Vanity and Folly.

The PRAYER S.

I.

ALMIGHTY God, who madeft thy Blessed For time

Mortifi

Son to be circumcifed, and obedient to the cation. Law of Man; grant me the true Circumcifion of the Spirit, that, my Heart and all my Members being mortified from all worldly and carnal Lufts, I may in all Things obey thy bleffed Will, through the fame thy Son Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

BLESSED Jefus! who by the Purity of For Delithy Life,and the meritorious Sufferings of thy verance Death, haft purchased for us an eternal Inheritance; Power of deliver me by the Power of thy Grace from the Sin. greatest Evil, my Sins; and reform and reduce my Heart to the Obedience of thy Laws. Make me carefully to avoid all thofe Occafions that have formerly betrayed me to Folly, all thofe Practices that heighten my corrupt Inclinations and Paffions, and alienate

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