Further, circumcision answered a two-fold purpose. 1st. It was a seal of the Abrahamic covenant, which included the Messiah. 2d. It obligated men to keep the whole law, ' For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law,' Gal. 5, 3, compared with Rom. 2, 25. In so far as circumcision was a seal of the Abrahamic covenant, it was grand and evangelical ; because it sealed an evangelical covenant. In this respect it has some affinity to baptism. But in so far as circumcision obligated men to do the whole law, it never did avail any thing unto justification ; because Abraham, nor no other believer, ever was justified by the works of the law. Baptism doth not belong to the works of the law ; for it is evangelical, and was instituted by him who fulfilled all the law and the prophets.

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