Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been…Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene…

When he sayeth, In the house of the Lord. He meaneth not that the praises of God should be enclosed within the temple, for every man in his own house may and ought to praise God. But Hezekiah showeth that it is not enough that he praiseth God in secrete, but that he will stir up other, to have more company. He speaketh here of a solemn sacrifice of praise which he will make to God in a great assembly. And for this same cause our Lord hath willed his to gather together. For he was able enough to have taught them particularly if he would, & to say: Let every man praise me in his chamber. But his pleasure is that there be this policy, that we be knit together in one body, that we call upon him with one mouth, and that we make confession of our faith with one ⟨p. 75⟩accord. And why so? True it is, that first we see that it behoveth that all our senses be applied to glorify him, but there is also a second point, that every one stir up other as we have need, for there is none of us that feeleth him self disposed to praise God, but he hath yet a prick forward when he shall see the company of the faithful, and example showed him. Forasmuch therefore as this doeth stir us up, God willeth that openly and in common we sing his praises. And for this cause Hezekiah sayeth expressly that he will go to the temple of the Lord to praise and bless his name, as we see also that Jonah did the like.¹ He speaketh of house of the Lord, and why? not (as I said) that the praises of the Lord are there shut up & hidden but for that the people there assemble together, & for that he knew that this should bring more profit because there should be some that should be stirred up by his example. Lo in a sum the song of Hezekiah.

When he sayeth, In the house of the Lorde. He meaneth not that the prayses of God shoulde be enclosed within the tēple, for euery man in hys owne house maye and ought to praise God. But Ezechias sheweth that it is not ynoughe that he prayseth God in secrete, but that he wyll styre vp other, to haue more companye. He speaketh here of a solemne sacrifice of praise which he wil make to God in a great assemblie. And for this same cause our Lorde hathe wylled his to gather together. For he was able ynough to haue taught thē perticulerly if he would, & to saye: Let euery man prayse me in his chāber. But his pleasure is that there be this policie, that we be knit together in one body, that we call vpon him with one mouth, and that we make confession of our fayth with one