A17650:304
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.
21 But this is made with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, 1thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.)
21 But this is made with an oath by him that said vnto him, The Lord hath sworne, and will not repent, 1thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedec.)
22 By so much the more is Jesus made a surety of a better Testament.
22 By so much the more is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament.
And it is yet a more evident thing, &c.] Ver. 15 He proves by another argument that the law is abolished. He reasoned heretofore from the person of the Priesthood: now from the nature of the Priesthood, and from the reason, for which it was instituted. The old Priesthood, saith he, was instituted consisting of outward ceremonies: but in the Priesthood of Christ, there is nothing but that which is Spiritual. It appears then that the old was temporary and transitory: but it is manifest that this Priesthood of Christ is perpetual. The carnal commandment is taken for the bodily ceremonies, that is to say, outward. We know with what solemn observations both Aaron and his children were ordained Priests. Now that which was fulfilled in Christ by a secret and heavenly power of the holy Ghost, was figured in the institution of Aaron, by oil, by divers garments, by sprinkling with blood, and other earthly ceremonies. Now this kind of observation in ordaining the Priesthood was agreeable to the nature of that Priesthood. Whereof it followed that even the Priesthood it self was subject to change. Although (as we shall see afterwards) the Priesthood was not so carnal, that it was not also spiritual: But the Apostle hath respect only to that difference which was between Christ and Aaron. So then howsoever the signification of the shadows was spiritual, notwithstanding the shadows themselves are rightly termed earthly, because they consisted of the elements of this world.