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…

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

10 For he that is entred into his rest, hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

HE begins now to polish and to amplify the place of David, which he had alleged; hitherunto he hath handled it according to the letter, as they say; that is, in the own natural sense: but now he amplifies it by way of decking or polishing of it. Therefore now he rather alludes to the words of David, than making any interpretation of them. In the tenth to the Romans, S. Paul amplifies a place of Moses two ways. The place is, Say not, who shall ascend up into heaven, &c. neither is there any inconvenience, if in applying the scripture to that which is presently handled, one do illustrate by way of similitudes that which was spoken more plainly. Now the sum of all these words is, that whereas God threatened in the Psalm, to deprive them of his rest, the same threatening also appertains unto us: for at this day we are called by the Gospel to a certain kind of rest. The chiefest difficulty of this place is from hence, that many have offered violence unto it, to draw it to another sense: for the Apostle hath none other meaning, but by setting of a certain rest before us, to spur us on forward to the desire of it; as also to prick us on with fear, that we be not turned aside from enjoying of it through infidelity. In the mean while he shows, that the rest into which we now enter, is of much greater excellency than that of the land of Canaan. But let us declare the whole matter orderly.

HE beginnes now to polish and to amplifie the place of Dauid, which he had alleadged; hitherunto he hath handled it according to the letter, as they say; that is, in the own naturall sense: but now he amplifies it by way of decking or polishing of it. Therefore now he rather alludes to the words of Dauid, than making any interpretation of them. In the tenth to the Romans, S. Paul amplifies a place of Moses two wayes. The place is, Say not, who shall ascend vp into heauen, &c. neither is there any inconuenience, if in applying the scripture to that which is presently handled, one doe illustrate by way of similitudes that which was spoken more plainely. Now the summe of all these wordes is, that whereas God threatened in the Psalme, to depriue them of his rest, the same threatning also appertaines vnto vs: for at this day we are called by the Gospel to a certaine kind of rest. The chiefest difficultie of this place is from hence, that many haue offered violence vnto it, to drawe it to another sense: for the Apostle hath none other meaning, but by setting of a certaine rest before vs, to spurre vs on forward to the desire of it; as also to pricke vs on with feare, that we be not turned aside from inioying of it through infidelitie. In the meane while he shewes, that the rest into which we now enter, is of much greater excellency than that of the land of Canaan. But let vs declare the whole matter orderly.