A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

By which we draw near to God.] Here is a close antithesis between us and the fathers. For herein we are promoted to a more excellent dignity than they, because God now communicates himself familiarly unto us, whereas he only appeared ⟨p. 153⟩to them darkly and a far off. And this is an alluding to the form of the Tabernacle, or of the Temple. For the people remained far off in the court, and none approached near unto the Sanctuary but the Priests: and as touching the inward Sanctuary, none entered thereinto but the high Priest. But since the Tabernacle is taken away, God doth familiarly manifest himself unto us: which he did not to the Fathers. He then who yet holds, or any way prefers the shadows of the law; he not only thereby darkens the glory of Christ, but also deprives us of a singular benefit: because as much as in him is, he placeth a wall of separation again between God and us: to the approaching towards which bounty and liberality the way is now made plain for us by the Gospel. Whosoever therefore yet sticketh in these ceremonies, he wittingly deprives himself of this great benefit of drawing near to God.

By which we drawe neere to God.] Here is a close antithesis between vs and the fathers. For herein we are promoted to a more excellent dignity than they, because God now communicates himselfe familiarly vnto vs, whereas he only appeared ⟨p. 153⟩to them darkly and a farre off. And this is an alluding to the forme of the Tabernacle, or of the Temple. For the people remained farre off in the court, and none approched neere vnto the Sanctuarie but the Priests: and as touching the inward Sanctuarie, none entred thereinto but the high Priest. But since the Tabernacle is taken away, God doth familiarly manifest himselfe vnto vs: which he did not to the Fathers. He then who yet holds, or any way prefers the shadowes of the law; he not only thereby darkens the glorie of Christ, but also depriues vs of a singular benefit: because as much as in him is, he placeth a wall of separation againe betweene God and vs: to the approching towards which bountie and liberalitie the way is now made plaine for vs by the Gospell. Whosoeuer therefore yet sticketh in these ceremonies, hee wittingly depriues himselfe of this great benefit of drawing neere to God.