The Institution of Christian Religion

The seventh Chapter. ¶That the law was given, not to hold still the people in it, but to nourish the hope of salvation in Christ until his coming.

The seuenth Chapter. ¶That the lawe was geuen, not to holde still the people in it, but to nourish the hope of saluation in Christ vntill his comyng.

BY this continual process that we have rehearsed, may be gathered, that the law was added about four hundred years after the death of Abraham, not for this intent to lead away the chosen people from Christ: but rather to keep their minds in expectation until his coming, to kindle a desire of him, & to confirm them in looking for him, that they should not wax faint with long tarriance. I mean by this word Law, not only the ten commandments, which prescribe a rule how to live godlily and righteously, but also the form of religion delivered by the hand of Moses. For Moses was not made a lawgiver to abolish the blessing promised to the kindred of Abraham: but rather we see how every where he putteth the Jews in remembrance of that free covenant made with their fathers whose heirs they were, as if he had ben sent to renew the same. That was most plainly set forth by the ceremonies. For what were more vain and fond, than for men to offer up loathsome stink of the fat of cattle, to reconcile themselves to God thereby? to flee to the sprinkling of water or blood to wash away their filthiness? Finally, all the service of God appointed in the law (if it be considered by it self, and do not contain shadows and figures, which the truth should answer unto) shall be but a very mockery. Wherefore not without a cause both in Stephens sermon,¹ and in the Epistle to the Hebrews is that place so diligently weighed,² where God commandeth Moses to make all things pertaining to the tabernacle, according to the pattern that had ben showed him in the mount. For if there had not ben some spiritual thing appointed that they should tend unto, the Jews should no less have fondly spent their labour in them, than the Gentiles did in their trifles. Profane men that never earnestly applied the study of godliness, cannot without loathsome tediousness abide to here so many sundry fashions of usages: & they not only marvel why God wearied his people with such a heap of ceremonies, but also they despise them & scorn them as children's plays. And the cause is, for that they consider not the end, from which if the figures of the law be severed, they must needs be condemned of vanity.