The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

But if God do not dwell in Temples made with hands: why doth he testify in so many places of Scripture, that he sitteth between the Cherubins, and that the Temple is his eternal rest? I answer, As he was not tied to any place, so he meant nothing less than to tie his people to earthly signs, but rather he cometh down to them that he might lift them up unto himself. Therefore those men did wickedly abuse the Temple and the ark,¹ who did so behold those things that they stayed still upon earth, and did depart from the spiritual worship of God. Hereby we see that there was great difference between those tokens of Gods presence which men indented to themselves unadvisedly, & those which were ordained by God: because men do always incline downward, that they may lay hold upon God after a carnal manner: but God by the leading of his word doth lift them upward. Only he useth middle signs and tokens, whereby he doth insinuate himself with slow men, until they may ascend into heaven by degrees and steps.

But if God doe not dwell in Temples made with hands: why doth he testifie in so many places of Scripture, that he sitteth between the Cherubines, and that the Temple is his eternall rest? I answere, As he was not tyed to any place, so he meant nothing lesse than to tye his people to earthly signes, but rather he commeth downe to them that he might lift them vp vnto himselfe. Therefore those men did wickedly abuse the Temple and the arke,¹ who did so behold those things that they staied stil vpon earth, and did depart from the spirituall worship of God. Hereby we see that there was great difference betweene those tokens of Gods presense which men indented to themselues vnaduisedly, & those which were ordained by God: because men do alwaies incline dounward, that they may lay hold vppon God after a carnall manner: but God by the leading of his word doth lift them vpward. Onely he vseth midle signes and tokens, whereby he doth insinuate himselfe with slowe men, vntill they may ascend into heauen by degrees and steps.

1. 12. Reg. 19.15. Psal. 80.2. Psal. 132.14