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…

Whose house we are.] Verse 6 The Apostle Paul in the 1. to the Romans, after he had told them in his Preface, that he was appointed the Apostle of the Gentiles, addeth in the 6. verse, that the Romans to whom he wrote were of the number of them, and all to the end he might obtain authority with them. Even so now doth the author of this Epistle, exhort the faithful Jews, who had made profession of Christ, to persevere in the faith; to the end they might have place in the household of God. He had said before that the house of God was under the rule of Christ: and now he adds this admonition to very good purpose, telling them that they shall have a place in this house of God, if so be they obey Christ. But in regard they had before begun to receive the Gospel, he joins this condition, if they holdfast that confidence, and that rejoicing, ¹&c. for I take this word hope for faith. And truly hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith. He puts assurance and rejoicing, the better to express the virtue of it. ²And from hence we gather that those who faintly and staggeringly do consent unto the Gospel, are nothing less then true believers. For faith cannot be without a quiet and peaceable mind, ³which brings forth a constant boldness of rejoicing. For faith indeed hath always these two effects joined with it, to wit boldness, and rejoicing: as we have said in the fifth to the Romans, and in the third to the Ephesians. To which, as all the doctrine of the Papists is contrary, so if they had none other false doctrine but this alone; it would rather destroy the Church of God, then build it up. For they not only darken the truth, by their inventions, but openly condemn this confidence, whereof the Apostle speaks, of presumption. As if it were not lawful for a man to hold that he is consecrated to be the temple of God. ⟨p. 59⟩And besides, what assuredness of confidence and boldness could we have thereof, when men know not what to believe? Now this infolden faith, which they have forged of their own heads, is nothing else but a license to wander and stray out of the right way. We are therefore admonished out of this place always to profit and to go forward even till death, because our whole life is but a race.