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…

The Jews took this as a great dishonour to them, so as many among them revolted from the Church; thinking they had sufficient occasion so to do, because of such a mingling of the Gentiles with them. For they could not easily be persuaded that they ought to lose their prerogative. Why so? they thought that the right of adoption belonged to them properly and particularly. The Apostle then admonisheth them that they should not be stirred up to forsake the Church because of this equality: and to the end they might not think that he admonisheth them without cause, he gives them to wit, that it is a common vice whereof they were guilty. We now understand ⟨p. 219⟩what the Apostles meaning is, and what necessity there was that constrained him to make this exhortation. Yet we must from hence gather a general doctrine. For this disease reigns every where among men, to wit, that every man is ready to prefer himself before his brother, but especially those who seem to have somewhat in them more excellent than others, can hardly endure that their inferiors should be made their equals. Moreover there is almost in all of us such emulation, that every one would willingly make Churches apart, if it were possible: why? because it is hard to apply a mans self to the manners of others. The rich they envy one another. And scarcely shall you find one among an hundred that would bestow so much as the naming of one of their poor brethren, ¹much less to esteem them as brethren, were it not that they are drawn unto it either by some likeness and agreement in manners, or by other allurements of outward profit and commodity: otherwise it is more than difficult to nourish amongst us this perpetual concord.

The Iewes tooke this as a great dishonour to them, so as many among them reuolted from the Church; thinking they had sufficient occasion so to doe, because of such a mingling of the Gentiles with them. For they could not easily bee perswaded that they ought to lose their prerogatiue. Why so? they thought that the right of adoption belonged to them properly and particularly. The Apostle then admonisheth them that they should not bee stirred vp to forsake the Church because of this equalitie: and to the end they might not thinke that he admonisheth them without cause, he giues them to wit, that it is a common vice whereof they were guiltie. We now vnderstand