Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 2:25

25. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the Law : but if thou be a breaker of the Law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision .

If thou keep it Perfectly, to which Circumcision obligeth, Gal. 5.3. or if thou usest thy utmost Care and Endeavour so to do.

i. e. If otherwise thou Transgressest the Law, thy Circumcision avails thee nothing; it gives thee no Priviledge above the Uncircumcis'd. A wicked Iew is to God as an Aethiopian, Amos 9.7. The Apostle corrects the Carnal Confidence and Hypocrisy of the Iews, who valued themselves upon the account of this outward Ceremony, and thought it sufficient to be Circumcis'd in the Flesh. Some think the Apostle hath Respect in these words to the Time of the Law, whilst Circumcision was an ordinary Sacrament of the Covenant; then indeed it was Profitable and Available; but now, in the times of the Gospel, it is Abrogated. vid. Gal. 5.2, 5.

The Iews might Object, If the former Priviledges availed not to Righteousness and Salvation; yet Circumcision at least might stand them in some stead? In Answer whereunto you have, First a Concession, Circumcision indeed is Pro[illegible: 1 letter]itable. 2. A Limitation, if thou keep the Law, which is Illustrated by a large Antithesis, ver. 26, 27. 3. A Distinction; Circumcision is of two Sorts; Outward and Litteral, Inward and Spiritual; the Latter stands in Force, and hath Acceptation with God, ver. 28, 29.

Marginal references: Or, do the Law.