the third day] Wounds received are most painefull to the wounded the third day. sore] Circumcision put the circumcised to much paine, and for a time disabled them though at full age from bodily motion, or action. See Joshua 5:8. Yet was it exercised by Gods appointment upon little children; an argument of a Divine power, and authoritie going along with that Ordinance, else it would have beene thought by the wiser sort not a reproach to be without it, as the sonnes of Jacob said, vers. 14. but rather a reproach to receive it as a Sacrament; and being a great paine, not without some perill, especially to tender Infants, neither fathers, nor mothers, nor nurses, nor mid-wives, nor any that had power to refuse or resist, it, would have given way unto it; if Gods stampe had not beene upon it, though but meane metall in it selfe, to make it to passe for current Coine among men. Our entrance into Covenant with God by Baptisme by the sprinkling of water, not by the shedding of bloud, (as in the Sacrament of Circumcision) is an evidence of the Divine Indulgence to Christian Churches, and may be an inducement to a more generall Covenant with God, and a stronger obligation for lightsomenesse, and cheerfulnesse in his service under the Gospel then that of the Jewes living under the Law. two of the sonnes of Jacob] Viz. Simeon and Levi; these are mentioned as they that were most offended for the wrong done unto their sister both by the fathers and the mothers side, but their other brethren mentioned without distinction, vers. 7. 13. may well be thought to have had their parts in this bloody plot, yea and it is likely Jacobs servants also, and that in their Masters name, as is observed on vers. 17. all the males] Because the wrong their sister suffered came from the male kind; and though in respect of man it was not just to slay the innocent with the wicked in this case, yet all being guilty of sinne and of death before God, he might justly permit this rage to the ruine of that people; and many times he takes occasion upon the excesses or sinnes of Princes to punish their subjects with them, and for their sakes, as well as for their owne. See 2 Chronicles 32:25. 2 Samuel 24. See Annot. on Chap. 20. 5: 7.