Anf-01 vi.ii.xvi Pg 8
Dan. ix. 24–27; Hag. ii. 10.
I find, therefore, that a temple does exist. Learn, then, how it shall be built in the name of the Lord. Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak, as being indeed like a temple made with hands. For it was full of idolatry, and was a habitation of demons, through our doing such things as were opposed to [the will of] God. But it shall be built, observe ye, in the name of the Lord, in order that the temple of the Lord may be built in glory. How? Learn [as follows]. Having received the forgiveness of sins, and placed our trust in the name of the Lord, we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning. Wherefore in our habitation God truly dwells in us. How? His word of faith; His calling1679 1679 Cod. Sin. reads, “the calling.”
of promise; the wisdom of the statutes; the commands of the doctrine; He himself prophesying in us; He himself dwelling in us; opening to us who were enslaved by death the doors of the temple, that is, the mouth; and by giving us repentance introduced us into the incorruptible temple.1680 1680 Cod. Sin. gives the clauses of this sentence separately, each occupying a line.
He then, who wishes to be saved, looks not to man,1681 1681 That is, the man who is engaged in preaching the Gospel.
but to Him who dwelleth in him, and speaketh in him, amazed at never having either heard him utter such words with his mouth, nor himself having ever desired to hear them.1682 1682 Such is the punctuation adopted by Hefele, Dressel, and Hilgenfeld.
This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.