Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
for he intimates not only that God is more to him than all earthly wealth, but that in comparison with Him all that others accounted to be most excellent and delectable was worthless. Since now we are all made priests in Christ, this condition is imposed upon us, that we should seek no other portion. Not that we are actually to renounce all earthly goods, but because our felicity is so securely based on Him, that, contented with Him, we should patiently endure the want of all things, whilst those who possess anything should be no less free and unentangled than as if they possessed nothing.
Leviticus 27
Leviticus 27:30-33
30. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of
30. Onmes autem decimae terrae sive de semine terrae, sive de fructu arborum, Jehovae sunt, sanctitas Jehovae. the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
31. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add
31. Si vero redimendo redemerit vir allquid de decimis suis, quintam ejus partem addet ultra eam. thereto the fifth part thereof.
32. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
32. Et onmis decima boum et ovium, omnium nempe quae transeunt sub virga, decima inquam pars erit sanctitas Jehovae.
33. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
33. Non disquiret utrum bonum an malum, neque permutabit illud: quod si commutando commutaverit ipsum, erit tam hoc quam illud quod commutatum est, erit inquam sanctificatio, non redimetur.
30. And all the tithe of the land. In these words God shews that in assigning the tithes to the Levites, He ceded His own rights, inasmuch as they were a kind of royal revenue; and thus He bars all complaint, since otherwise the other tribes might have murmured on being unduly burdened.