A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

Behold here am I and the children &c.] It is very certain that Isaiah in this eight chapter speaks of himself. For howsoever it be true that he gives the people hope of their deliverance, and that the promise which he published was not received as a thing of any certainty: yet to the end the infidelity and obstinacy of the people should be no discouragement unto him, the Lord commands him to seal up that doctrine which he had taught, among a very few of the faithful. And it is as much as if he had said, the doctrine which thou hast delivered is rejected of the greater part, yet there are some notwithstanding (although a little handful indeed) which will receive it. Isaiah staying himself upon this answer, takes courage again unto him, and protesteth that he and the disciples which God hath given him, are always ready to follow God. Now it remains to show how the Apostle applies this sentence to Christ. First of all, there is no man of sound judgement which will deny, but that which is there spoken as touching the Lord, who should be a stone of offence to the kingdom of Judah and Israel, was fulfilled in Christ. And in very trueth, like as the return and deliverance out of the captivity of Babylon, was as a beginning and figure of that principal deliverance which was achieved unto us and to the fathers by the outstretched arm of Christ: so also there were then so few even among the Jews which enjoyed this benefit of God; that only a small remnant were saved. Now that was a foretelling as it were and a sign of their blinding which was to ensue: by which it is now come to pass that in rejecting of Christ, they have therewithal rejected God also, and have worthily ⟨p. 46⟩perished. For we must note that the promises as touching the restoration of the Church, whereof the Prophets make mention; began when the Jews were brought out of captivity, and doth also reach even to the kingdom of Christ. As also the Lord himself in bringing back the people from thence, had this end, that the Church should continue even to the coming of his son, by whom at the last it was truly and firmly established. Seeing it is so, God speaks not only to Isai, when he commands him to seal up the law and the testimony: but in his person he commands the same to all the Ministers of his word, who should fight against the incredulity of the people:

Behold here am I and the children &c.] It is very certaine that Isaiah in this eight chapter speakes of himselfe. For howsoeuer it be true that he giues the people hope of their deliuerance, and that the promise which hee published was not receiued as a thing of any certaintie: yet to the end the infidelitie and obstinacy of the people should be no discouragement vnto him, the Lord commaunds him to seale vp that doctrine which he had taught, among a very few of the faithfull. And it is as much as if hee had said, the doctrine which thou hast deliuered is reiected of the greater part, yet there are some notwithstanding (although a little handfull indeede) which will receiue it. Isaiah staying himselfe vpon this answere, takes courage againe vnto him, and protesteth that he and the disciples which God hath giuen him, are alwaies readie to follow God. Now it remaines to shew how the Apostle applies this sentence to Christ. First of all, there is no man of sound iudgement which will denie, but that which is there spoken as touching the Lord, who should be a stone of offence to the kingdome of Iudah and Israel, was fulfilled in Christ. And in very trueth, like as the returne and deliuerance out of the captiuitie of Babylon, was as a beginning and figure of that principall deliuerance which was atchieued vnto vs and to the fathers by the outstretched arme of Christ: so also there were then so few euen among the Iewes which enioyed this benefit of God; that onely a small remnant were saued. Now that was a foretelling as it were and a signe of their blinding which was to ensue: by which it is now come to passe that in reiecting of Christ, they haue therewithal reiected God also, and haue worthily