A17650:197
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…
A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated out of FrenchA commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated out of French
London: printed by Felix Kingston for Arthur Johnson, 1605London: printed by Felix Kingston for Arthur Iohnson, 1605
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And that is it which S. Paul means when he saith, that prophecy serveth to reprove and judge men, even to the revealing of the secrets of their hearts, 1. Cor. 14.24. Truly howsoever it be the office of Christ to discover & bring to light the secret thoughts of the heart, yet for the most part ⟨p. 82⟩he doth this by his Gospel. The word then performeth the office of a Judge: because it plucks the spirit of man as out of a labyrinth in which before it lay inwrapped, and kept it self close, and brings it forth into the Sun light, to the end knowledge and judgement may pass upon it. For no darkness is so thick as infidelity is: 1and hypocrisy blindeth after an horrible fashion. The word of God scattereth this darkness, & casteth off this hypocrisy quite and clean. From thence proceeds that discerning and judgement whereof the Apostle speaketh; for the vices which before were hidden under a vain pretence and appearance of virtue, are now perceived and known, the deceit being taken away. Now although the reprobates remain for a time hidden in their lurking holes, yet notwithstanding in the end they feel that the light of the word shineth even thither, so as they cannot escape the judgement of God. And from thence ariseth their murmurings and rage. For if they were not smitten with the word, they would not manifest their fury as they do: they would rather scorn it, or wind themselves out of the power of it: they would also be content to dissemble the matter: but God will not suffer them to scape so. Therefore as soon as they do begin to murmur at the word, or to be inflamed against it, they thereby confess that they feel the force of it within them in despite of their teeth, kick they never so much against it.
And that is it which S. Paul meanes when he saith, that prophecie serueth to reprooue and iudge men, euen to the reuealing of the secrets of their hearts, 1. Cor. 14.24. Truly howsoeuer it be the office of Christ to discouer & bring to light the secret thoughts of the heart, yet for the most part ⟨p. 82⟩