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…

For the word of God is lively:] Ver. 12 Whatsoever he entreateth of in this place touching the efficacy of the word, tends to show that they shall not go unpunished if they despise it: as if he should say, when the Lord sends us his word, he speaks unto us in good earnest, to the end he may move all our inward senses: and therefore what power is there in the soul, which ought not to be touched to the quick? Now before we pass any further, we must see whether the Apostle speaks of the word in general, or whether he applies this to the faithful in particular. For it is certain (and we may see it clearly) that the word is not effectual indifferently and equally in all. For the virtue thereof manifests it self in the elect, that being humbled in the true acknowledgement of themselves, they should have their recourse to the grace of Christ: which cannot be done unless it pierce into the very depth of the heart. For hypocrisy, which hath many dark corners, and wonderful conveyances in the heart of man, must be cast out: neither is it enough that we feel some light prickings; but we must be pierced and gaged to the bottom, that so being overwhelmed with the feeling of eternal death, we may learn to die to our selves. In a word, we shall never be wholly renewed in the spirit of ⟨p. 78⟩our mind (which S. Paul notwithstanding commands, Eph. 4.23.) till our old man be slain by the stroke of this spiritual sword. And therefore in another place the same Apostle saith, that the faithful are sacrificed to God by the Gospel, Phil. 2.17. why? because they could not be brought under the obedience of God, unless their own will were brought to nothing: neither could they otherwise receive the light of Gods divine wisdom, unless the light of the flesh by wisdom were put out. As for the reprobates, no such thing can be perceived in them, for either they proudly contemn God speaking unto them, yea they spare not to deride him; or else they murmur against his doctrine, & obstinately kick and spurn against it. ¹So that even as the word of God is an hammer, so have they also an heart as the anvil, driving the blows back again, be they never so mighty. And therefore it is unpossible the word of God should pierce so far in them, as to come to the division of the soul and of the spirit.