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…

Harden not your hearts.] Verse 8 By these words is showed that our rebellion against God proceeds from none other root than from a voluntary wickedness: ¹to wit, when we shut the gate against his grace. True it is that we have already hearts of stone, and every one of us hath brought this hardness with us from our mothers womb, neither is there any but God only who can soften and correct them. Notwithstanding whereas we repel the voice of God, we do it with a witting and willing obstinacy, and not by any other instigation: and whether this be a truth or no, let every mans conscience testify. Wherefore the holy Ghost doth justly reprove ⟨p. 61⟩all unbelievers, for opposing themselves against God and for that they themselves are masters and authors of their own obstinacy: least they should lay the fault upon some body else. Notwithstanding it cannot be gathered from hence, that on the contrary the liberty to frame our hearts to the obedience of God is in our power. For it will always necessarily come to pass unto men to harden their own hearts, till such time as another heart be given them from heaven. For as we are by nature inclined to malice, so we will never cease to resist God, till such time as we be tamed and brought under by his hand.

Harden not your hearts.] Verse 8 By these words is shewed that our rebellion against God proceeds from none other roote than from a voluntary wickednes: ¹to wit, when we shut the gate against his grace. True it is that we haue already hearts of stone, and euery one of vs hath brought this hardnes with vs from our mothers wombe, neither is there any but God onely who can soften and correct them. Notwithstanding whereas wee repell the voyce of God, we doe it with a witting and willing obstinacie, and not by any other instigation: and whether this be a truth or no, let euery mans conscience testifie. Wherefore the holy Ghost doth iustly reproue ⟨p. 61⟩al vnbeleeuers, for opposing themselues against God and for that they themselues are masters and authors of their owne obstinacie: least they should lay the fault vpon some bodie els. Notwithstanding it cannot bee gathered from hence, that on the contrarie the libertie to frame our hearts to the obedience of God is in our power. For it will alwaies necessarily come to passe vnto men to harden their owne hearts, till such time as another heart be giuen them from heauen. For as we are by nature enclined to malice, so we will neuer cease to resist God, till such time as we be tamed and brought vnder by his hand.