The Temple

Chapter 1

1. The Anabaptists tell us that the old superstition has made those

houses more suitable for stables than for churches. They claim that these places should no longer be called Temples of God but Temples of Idols. Similarly, they suggest that during those corrupt times, the Passover was n

Chapter 2

2. The sacrilegious, to whom God is indebted if they allow His

Temple to stand, are bold enough to take from Him for its maintenance, either by sharing half or leaving Him with nothing. There are many who pray in the Temple, yet they also prey on the Temple, just as a thief would pa

Chapter 3

1. The first concern pertains to us, the Ministry, who serve in the

Temple. It has long been said, "All good or evil comes from the Temple." When the pastor is righteous and the people are -- 13 of 49 -- righteous, he may say to them, as Paul said to the Corinthians, "Are you not my wo

Chapter 4

2. The second concern applies to all Christians: that they beware of

despising the Temple of God because of the abuses of men. Just as the altar cannot sanctify the priest, the unholiness of the priest cannot profane the altar. His sin is his own and cannot make you guilty. The virtue and

Chapter 5

1. Vain Pleasure: Oh, how many foolish worshippers flock to this

merry goddess! She has a temple in every corner. Intoxication sits in taverns, offering smoky incense and sacrificing libations of drink to her. So, if a man were to prophesy about wine and strong drink, he would be cons

Chapter 6

2. Vain Honor is the idol of fools; no wise person has ever sought

happiness in shadows. Its temple is pride, its altar ambition, its service flattery, and its sacrifice insolence. Silly Sennacherib made an idol of a chariot, and no wiser was the Prince of Tyre to make an idol of his ow

Chapter 7

3. Wealth is the idol of the covetous person. Job describes its

canonization: "He makes gold his hope and says to the wedge, 'You are my security.'" Just as treason sets up a new king in place of David, covetousness sets up a new god in place of Jehovah—Mammon. But, as Luther remarke