While doing some research for my exegetical paper on Colossians 2:11, I came across this material in Benjamin Keach’s Preaching from the Types and Metaphors of the Bible. Keach was a signatory of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (a daughter of the Westminster Confession) and has a catechism attributed to him (though there is some question about who authored it). I liked the guy right off the bat because he argued for congregational singing amongst the Particular Baptists in England. Also, he was listed as the pastor at Horse-lie-down, Southwark. I guess a more contemporary spelling would be “Horsely Down” but the old one is more fun.

Anyway, here’s the quote:

1. Circumcision was the cutting off the foreskin of the flesh; signifying the cutting off of the lusts of the heart and life, or parting with the corruption of nature, which rebels against the Spirit, Col. ii. 11
2. Circumcision puts the body to pain. So those who come under the Circumcision of the heart, are sensible of much spiritual pain upon the account of sin, Gen. xxxiv. 25.
3. As that part cut off was never set to the body again, but was taken away, so in this spiritual Circumcision, sin must not be parted with for a time only, but must be cast off for ever.
4. The Circumcised person was admitted in the Church and family of God. So he that is spiritually Circumcised becomes a fit person for baptism, and so to be admitted into the Church of God.
5. Such who were not Circumcised, were not to be admitted to the privileges of the Church, and outward worship of God. So the Uncircumcised in heart and life ought not to be admitted unto the spiritual privileges of the Gospel, and communion of the saints.
6. The Uncircumcised person was looked upon by God’s people as a hateful person; see with what contempt David beheld Goliath upon this account, “This Uncircumcised Philistine,” &c., 1 Sam. xvii. 36. So those who are not Circumcised in heart, are hate to God.
7. Circumcision was a sign of the righteousness of faith: so the spiritual Circumcision of the heart, i.e. putting away the body of sin, &c., is a sign of the truth of grace, and of an interest in the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

I think I’m going to put this in the conclusion of my exegetical paper. :)