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…

He afterwards adds, Vers. 19 that the Tabernacle, with all the vessels, ¹yea and the book it self also was sprinkled with blood: by which ceremony the people were advertised that it was impossible either to seek God, or to behold him unto salvation, or to serve him duly, unless faith had always an eye to the blood that came between. For first of all we must needs grant that the majesty of God is fearful, §1and the way thither is nothing else but a deadly labyrinth, till such time as we know that he is pacified towards us by the blood of Christ: and that by the same blood we may have our access thereunto. §2On the other side also all services are faulty and unclean, unless Christ wash and cleanse them by the sprinkling of his blood. For the Tabernacle was as it were a visible image of God: and the ministering vessels, as they were ordained to serve God withal, so were they also resemblances of the true service. Now if nothing of all this were available to the people as touching salvation, unless blood came between, from thence we may easily gather that we have nothing to do with God, unless Christ by his blood present himself between him and us. And in this regard, the very doctrine it self, although it be the will and inviolable truth of God, yet it shall have no efficacy in us to our profit, unless it be consecrated by blood: as by this verse is well expressed. I know that others expound it otherwise: for after their sense, The Tabernacle is the body of the Church: the vessels are all the faithful, by whose ministry God serves himself. But that which I have said agrees much better. ⟨p. 191⟩For as soon as they were to call upon God, they turned towards the Sanctuary: and it is a manner of speech common in the Scripture, to say they presented themselves before the face of the Lord, when they appeared in the Temple.

He afterwards addes, Vers. 19 that the Tabernacle, with all the vessels, ¹yea and the booke it selfe also was sprinkled with blood: by which ceremonie the people were aduertised that it was impossible either to seeke God, or to behold him vnto saluation, or to serue him duly, vnlesse faith had alwaies an eye to the blood that came betweene. For first of al we must needs graunt that the maiestie of God is feareful,