The Institution of Christian Religion

And here by the way it is to be noted, that the kingdom which §2at length was erected in the house of David, is part of the law, & contained under the ministry of Moses. Whereupon followeth, that as well in all the kindred of the Levites as in the posterity of David, Christ was set be•ore the eyes of the old people as in a double looking glass. For, as I said even now, they could not otherwise be before God either kings or priests, which were both the bondslaves of sin & of death, & defiled by their own corruption. Hereby appeareth that that saying of Paul is most true,¹ that the Jews were holden as under the keeping of a Schoolmaster, till the seed came for whose sake the promise was given. For, because Christ was not yet familiarly known, they were like unto children, whose weakness could not yet bear a full knowledge of heavenly things, but how they were by ceremonies as it were led by the hand to Christ, is before spoken, & may be better understand by many testimonies of the Prophets. For although it was commanded them, to come daily with new sacrifices to appease God: yet Isaiah promiseth that all their sins shall be cleansed with one only sacrifice.² Wherewith Daniel agreeably sayeth:³ The priests appointed of the tribe of Levi, did enter into the Sanctuary: but of the only priest ⟨image 119⟩it was ones said, that by an oath he was chosen of God to be a priest for ever,⁴ according to the order of Melchizedek. At that time the anointing with oil was visible: but Daniel by his vision pronounceth that there shall be an other manner of anointing. And, because I will not tarry upon many examples, the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews even from the .iiij. chapter to the xi. doth largely and plainly enough show, that the ceremonies are nothing worth & vain till we come to Christ. As concerning the ten commandments:⁵