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…

Seeing these words then, Thou art my son, are exclusively spoken of Christ, it also follows, that such honour is unbeseeming any of the Angels. If any do yet reply, Objection. that by this David is exalted above the Angels: I answer, Answer. there is no inconvenience at all if he be preferred before them, in as much as he is the figure of Christ: neither in that sense is it any injury to the Angels that the high Priest was called the mediator to purge sins. For the Priests had not this as being properly theirs: but because they represented the kingdom of Christ; they therefore borrowed this name of mediator from him. Yea, and howsoever the Sacraments are but dead things in themselves, yet notwithstanding ⟨p. 18⟩they are adorned with those titles which the Angels cannot attribute unto themselves without sacrilege.

Seeing these words then, Thou art my sonne, are exclusiuely spoken of Christ, it also followes, that such honour is vnbeseeming any of the Angels. If any doe yet replie, Obiection. that by this Dauid is exalted aboue the Angels: I answere, Answere. there is no inconuenience at all if hee be preferred before them, in as much as he is the figure of Christ: neither in that sense is it any iniurie to the Angels that the high Priest was called the mediatour to purge sinnes. For the Priests had not this as being properly theirs: but because they represented the kingdome of Christ; they therefore borrowed this name of mediatour from him. Yea, and howsoeuer the Sacraments are but dead things in themselues, yet notwithstanding ⟨p. 18⟩they are adorned with those titles which the Angels cannot attribute vnto themselues without sacriledge.

Hereby then it sufficiently appears, that the argument taken from this title of Son, is good. As touching the generation or begetting of the Son, this we are to note in a word, that it is taken here by way of relation. For the subtlety of S. Augustine is frivolous, who imagines that Christ is eternal to day, and so continues. True it is that Christ is the eternal son of God: for he is his wisdom, begotten of him before all worlds: but this makes nothing to this present place, which speaks not of the eternal generation of the Son, but is rather spoken in regard of us, who do now acknowledge him to be the Son of God, since the Father hath manifested him in the flesh. And therefore that same declaration whereof also S. Paul makes mention,