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…

And is called of God, &c.] Vers. 10. & 11. Because it was very requisite he should more largely follow the comparison between Christ and Melchizedek, which he hath already touched; and that it was needful to awaken the spirits of the Jews to the greater attention: he so entereth into the digression following, which continues till the beginning of the seventh chapter, that yet therewithal he holds himself still to the point. In the beginning of which digression he protests, that he hath many things to say concerning this matter, Verse 11 but their dullness was such as they must be prepared thereunto; that his speech might not be in vain, nor his labour lost. He tells them that the matter is hard; not to discourage them, but rather to whet their attention. For even as the easiness of that which we have to learn, doth easily beget slothfulness, and negligence; so on the contrary where the matter is more obscure and hard, it stirs up in us the greater heedfulness to hearken. Notwithstanding he attributes the cause of the difficulty not to the thing it self, but to them. For it is certain that God always speaks in such clearness; avoiding all obscurity, or doubtfulness of speech, ¹that his word is called our light: but the brightness of it is smothered by our darkness. Which partly comes to pass by the blockishness and dullness of our mind, and partly by our own carelessness. For howsoever we be more than very dullards to understand the doctrine of God; yet besides, there is also the vice of untowardness planted in our affections. For we rather apply our minds to vanity, §1than to the truth of God: and either the rebellion of our nature, §2the cares of this world, the concupiscences of the flesh; §3or some impediments or other, are as so many cords wherewithal we ⟨p. 104⟩often feel our selves to be hampered. As touching this word, of whom, it is not to be referred to Christ, but to Melchizedek: yet not as to a private man, but to him that was the figure of Christ, and in some sort representing his person.

And is called of God, &c.] Vers. 10. & 11. Because it was very requisite he should more largely followe the comparison betweene Christ and Melchisedec, which he hath alreadie touched; and that it was needfull to awaken the spirits of the Iewes to the greater attention: he so entreth into the digression following, which continues till the beginning of the seuenth chapter, that yet therewithall he holds himselfe still to the point. In the beginning of which digression he protests, that he hath many things to say concerning this matter, Verse 11 but their dulnes was such as they must be prepared thereunto; that his speech might not bee in vaine, nor his labour lost. He tels them that the matter is hard; not to discourage them, but rather to whet their attention. For euen as the easines of that which wee haue to learne, doth easily beget slothfulnes, and negligence; so on the contrarie where the matter is more obscure and hard, it stirs vp in vs the greater heedfulnes to hearken. Notwithstanding he attributes the cause of the difficultie not to the thing it selfe, but to them. For it is certaine that God alwaies speaks in such cleerenes; auoyding all obscuritie, or doubtfulnes of speech,