The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And he addeth another similitude, which is, that we be builded to be the temple of God. Sometimes the holy Scripture saith, that every faithful man is the Temple of God, because he dwelleth in us by his holy spirit. But when it is spoken universally of the whole Church, then are we as lively stones, and the building is so bound and closed together, that every of us serveth too the perfecting thereof. Then is not the one contrary too the other. For every faithful body alone is the Temple of God, because he ought too be given too all holiness, by the working of the holy Ghost, and (as I said afore) God abideth in us. Howbeit forasmuch as we ought not too be separated asunder, but rather to be knit together in unity by the bond of faith▪ it agreeth very well also, that we should be named stones, and that like as a building is made of many stones, whereof there is none but it serveth too some purpose: so we should suffer our selves too be joined too our Lord Jesus Christ by belief of the Gospel, that God may dwell in us, and be there purely worshipped, and we be fully assured, that whensoever we call upon him, we shall always find him at hand too hear us, and that when we be gathered together in his name, we shall evermore have him among us. That is the thing which S. Paul treateth of here, when he sayeth, that they which had bin heathen men, and cut of from all hope of salvation, were builded up by the Gospel to be made a Temple for God.

And he addeth another similitude, which is, that we be builded to be the temple of God. Sometymes the holy Scripture sayth, that euery faithful man is the Tēple of God, bycause he dwelleth in vs by his holy spirit. But when it is spoken vniuersally of the whole Churche, then are wee as lyuely stones, and the building is so bound and clozed toogither, that euery of vs serueth too the perfectting therof. Then is not the one contrarie too the other. For euery faythfull bodye alone is the Temple of God, bycause he ought too bee giuen too all holinesse, by the woorking of the holie Ghost, and (as I sayd afore) God abydeth in vs. Howbeeit for asmuch as wee ought not too bee separated asunder, but rather to bee knit toogither in vnitie by the bond of fayth▪ it agreeth very well also, that wee should be named stones, and that lyke as a building is made of manye stones, wherof there is none but it serueth too some purpose: so wee should suffer our selues too bee ioyned too our Lord Iesus Christ by beleef of the Gospell, that God may dwell in vs, and bee there purely woorshipped, and wee bee fully assured, that whensoeuer wee call vppon him, wee shall alwayes fynd him at hand too heare vs, and that when wee bee gathered toogither in his name, wee shall euermore haue him among vs. That is the thing which S. Paule treateth of heere, when he sayeth, that they which had bin heathen men, and cut of from all hope of saluation, were builded vp by the Gospell to bee made a Temple for God.