Richard Sibbes on Philippians 3:4

VERS. 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh, that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. AS if he had said: if any other man may glory in the flesh, then may I much more. But I doe not thinke, that I have cause sufficient to glory in the flesh; therefore have not they, or may not they, glory in the flesh. And the reason, or ground of this proposition, is taken from his many prerogatives he had,St. Pauls prerogatives. which he comes to in the 5. and 6. verses following. Circumcision was the first prerogative before conversion, and it was not before the eighth day, to the end, that the childe might gather some strength to beare, and indure the ceremony, for it was of it selfe grievous, and a bloudy ceremonie. Wherefore it was that Moses his wife called him a bloudy husband: and this ceremony was not to be respited above eight dayes, that the parents might not be delayed in their comfort. Whence we may gather, that dying before baptisme is no necessary impediment to the salvation of the childe: for the same covenant is annexed to circumcision, that is, to baptisme: and the Papists that hold, that the death of children before baptisme hindreth the salvation of the infant, may as wel hold, that all the children that dyed before the eight day (being the day of circumcision) were damned. Secondly, observe this; that children, though infants, may, nay must bee baptized, if it may be with conveniencie; for children were circumcised, nay they were injoyned circumcision on the eighth day. Now seeing the covenant is the same, and given to children, now as then: why may not the seale therof be now given in their infancie, as then?