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 that ye follow those who by faith and patience.] Vers. 12 Against this laziness, he puts this study of following, and imitation. It is as much then as if he had said, it behooves you to have a cheerfulness of heart in persevering. But this yet hath greater weight, when he advertiseth them that the Fathers themselves did not obtain the promises, but with an invincible strength of faith: for examples do represent the matter unto us with the greater liveliness. If the doctrine should only be proposed simply and plainly, it would not move us so much as when we see that that which is required of us, is fulfilled in the person of Abraham. Now the example of Abraham is brought in, not because there was none other, but because his example was the most excellent above all others. For Abraham had this in common with all the faithful to believe: but it is not without great cause that he was established, and called the father of all the faithful. No marvel therefore if the Apostle do make special choice of him amongst others: as of him unto whom he would all men should look as oft as they would find a clear mirror of faith. He saith, faith and patience, as if he should say, a constant faith which hath also patience joined therewith. For faith is first required: but because many who at the beginning might seem to have an admirable faith, have yet notwithstanding by and by waxen careless; patience is a true approbation of that faith which is not vain, nor such as will vanish with the time. When he saith that we obtain, & receive the promises by faith, he beats down the opinion of […] ⟨p. 128⟩by his own name? This you see is the principal thing now in hand: but we are here to note two things by the way: first, §1that we ought to swear by the name of God, when we are required to swear: §2secondly, that an oath is permitted unto Christians, because it is a lawful remedy to appease contentions. God doth expressly charge us that we swear by his name: and if we mingle any other with his, he protests that it is a profanation of an oath. §1Now there are three special reasons of this. For when we are destitute of the means to bring the truth to light, it is not lawful to have recourse to any other than to God, §2who is himself the eternal truth. Secondly, because it is he who knoweth the hearts,