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…

So God, willing more abundantly, &c.] Vers. 17 See how the Lord applies himself to our dullness and slowness to believe; and how he upholds us; even as a most gentle father is wont to do his children. Because he seeth that we rest not satisfied with his bare and naked word, he adds an oath, to the end he might the more effectually confirm and ratify the same in our hearts. And hereby also we may see how profitable and necessary it is to have such an assurance of the love he bears us, that we might have no more occasion to waver or tremble. For as God forbids us to use his name without cause, or for a light cause, or a thing of nothing, and threatens all them with his sharp vengeance, who shall rashly and unadvisedly take up the same in vain. And as he also commands that we reverently use the majesty of his name; so by both, he shows that he hath his name in great price and estimation. The certainty then of our salvation must needs be a matter of great consequence, seeing he that forbids to take up his name in vain, vouchsafeth to swear to confirm us in the assurance of it. ¹We may also gather from hence, in what estimation our salvation is before god: seeing that to provide for the certainty thereof he not only supports our incredulity, but leaving as it were part of his own honour, and yielding much more to our weakness then he should, doeth yet notwithstanding by this means graciously remedy the same.

So God, willing more abundantly, &c.] Vers. 17 See how the Lord applies himselfe to our dulnesse and slownesse to beleeue; and how he vpholds vs; euen as a most gentle father is wont to do his children. Because he seeth that we rest not satisfied with his bare and naked word, he addes an oath, to the end he might the more effectually confirme and ratifie the same in our hearts. And hereby also we may see how profitable and necessarie it is to haue such an assurance of the loue he beares vs, that we might haue no more accasion to wauer or tremble. For as God forbids vs to vse his name without cause, or for a light cause, or a thing of nothing, and threatens all them with his sharpe vengeance, who shall rashly and vnaduisedly take vp the same in vaine. And as he also commands that we reuerently vse the maiestie of his name; so by both, he shewes that he hath his name in great price and estimation. The certentie then of our saluation must needes be a matter of great consequence, seeing he that forbiddes to take vp his name in vaine, vouchsafeth to sweare to confirme vs in the assurance of it.