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…

Be not carried about, &c. Vers. 9 He gathers that we ought not to float hither and thither, seeing the truth of Christ is sure and stable; in which also we ought to rest. ¹For out of question the cause of the diversity of opinions; of all sorts of superstitions; of all monstrous errors; in a word, of all corruptions of true religion, ariseth from hence, that men do not rest themselves wholly in Christ alone. For that which Saint Paul teacheth is not in vain, to wit, that Christ is made unto us of God wisdom, 1. Cor. 1.30. The sum then of the place is, that we must rest in Christ alone, if we will embrace the grounded truth of God. From whence we gather that all those who are ignorant of Christ, are laid open to all the bewitchings of Satan: because that out of him there is no stability of faith, but contrariwise innumerable tossings and turnings. The Papists then showed themselves marvellous […] ⟨p. 324⟩ceremony of the Law to the present estate of the Church. There was a special kind of solemn sacrifice, whereof mention is made in the 16. chapter of Leviticus, whereof the Priests and Levites had no part. He now shows here by a fit allusion, that this is accomplished in Christ, because he was offered upon this condition, that those who served in the Tabernacle should not eat of it. Now by those who served in the Tabernacle, he means all them who addict themselves to ceremonies. Thus he teacheth that if we will communicate with Christ, we must renounce the Tabernacle. For even as this word Altar, comprehends the offering and the thing sacrificed; so also this word Tabernacle comprehends under it all the external figures which were conjoined with the Tabernacle. The sense of the place then is this, that we are not to marvel if the ancient ceremonies of the Law do now cease. For this was figured in the sacrifice which the Levites carried out of the host to be burned there, Levit. 16.27. to wit, because that even as the Ministers of the Tabernacle did eat nothing at all of it: so also if we serve in the Tabernacle, that is to say, if we yet retain the ceremonies thereof, we shall not participate of this sacrifice which Christ hath once offered, nor of the satisfaction which he hath once accomplished by his blood. For he carried his blood into the heavenly Sanctuary: to the end he might do away the sins of the world.