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…

But beloved we are persuaded better of you, &c.] Verse 9 Because the former sentences were like thunderings, by which the readers might be overwhelmed, and altogether amazed, it was needful now to allay this sharpness: and therefore ⟨p. 120⟩he saith, that though he hath thus spoken, it was not because he had conceived so hard an opinion of them. And truly whosoever he be that doth indeed desire to profit by teaching or exhorting, ought thus to deal with his Disciples, to wit, that he rather increase affection in them, than any way diminish the same. For there is nothing that doth more discourage us to hear the word of God, than when we see we are reputed for desperate persons. For this cause the Apostle here protests that he admonisheth the Jews, because he had good hope of them, and desired to bring them to salvation. We gather from this practise of the Apostle, ¹that it is needful to reprove sharply, and with great vehemency, not the Reprobates only, but even the Elect themselves, and those whom we account as the children of God.

But beloued we are perswaded better of you, &c.] Verse 9 Because the former sentences were like thunderings, by which the readers might be ouerwhelmed, and altogether amazed, it was needfull now to allaie this sharpnesse: and therefore ⟨p. 120⟩he saith, that though he hath thus spoken, it was not because he had conceiued so hard an opinion of them. And truely whosoeuer he be that doth indeed desire to profit by teaching or exhorting, ought thus to deale with his Disciples, to wit, that he rather increase affection in them, than any way diminish the same. For there is nothing that doth more discourage vs to heare the word of God, than when we see we are reputed for desperate persons. For this cause the Apostle here protests that he admonisheth the Iews, because he had good hope of them, and desired to bring them to saluation. We gather from this practise of the Apostle, ¹that it is needfull to reprooue sharpely, and with great vehemencie, not the Reprobates onely, but euen the Elect themselues, and those whome we account as the children of God.