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 they shall be my people.] This is the fruit of the covenant, to wit, that God takes us for his people, and testifies that he will be the protector of our salvation. For this manner of speech, and I will be their God, imports so much. For he is not the God of the dead, neither receives he us under his safeguard, but to make us partakers of his righteousness, and of life: ¹for David crieth excellently in the Psalms; Blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Now we need not doubt but this doctrine belongs even to us also. For although the Israelites occupied the first place, and were the right and lawful heirs of the covenant: yet their prerogative hinders not us to have our portion in it. So that the wider and larger the kingdom of Christ spreads, so far hath this covenant of salvation his efficacy. But some may ask whether there were no certainty nor efficacy of the promise under the law: Question. that is, whether the ancient Fathers were deprived of the grace of the holy Ghost, and whether ⟨p. 171⟩they tasted not of Gods fatherly kindness in the remission of their sins? §1For it well appears that they served God in sincerity of heart, and in purity of conscience, and that they walked in his commandments: which surely they could not have done, unless the Spirit of God had taught them inwardly. §2It also appears that as oft as they thought upon their sins, they were comforted, and sustained by the hope and confidence which they had in the free remission of them. Objection. But (may some say) it seems that the Apostle excludes them from having part in any of these benefits: in putting over the prophecy of Jeremiah to the coming of Christ. I answer, Answer. he simply denies not that God wrote his law in the hearts of those which were his, even under the law, or that he did not pardon them their sins: but he speaks by a comparison from the greater to the less. Therefore for as much as the heavenly Father hath more abundantly manifested his power under the kingdom of Christ, and hath shed abroad his mercy and grace upon men: this his so exceeding liberality is the cause that the little portion of grace (in comparison) which was showed to the Fathers under the law, comes not into account. We see also how dark and intricate the promises then were: