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…

For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me, &c.] These two places are taken out of the 32. of Deut. 35. Now seeing Moses there promiseth that God will show vengeance upon them that have wronged his people, it seems that that which is there spoken of vengeance, is here improperly wrested to the matter in hand. For what should the Apostles drift now be? He saith that the impiety of those who have mocked God, shall not go unpunished. And S. Paul in the 12. to the Rom. 19. following the true meaning of this place of Moses, applies it to another end. For exhorting us to patience, he commands us that we […] ⟨p. 232⟩them by another means. As often then as the troubles which we have suffered for Christ shall come into our minds, let them be so many goads in our sides to prick us forward to profit more and more.

For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth vnto me, &c.] These two places are taken out of the 32. of Deut. 35. Now seeing Moses there promiseth that God will shew vengeance vpon them that haue wronged his people, it seemes that that which is there spoken of vengeance, is here improperly wrested to the matter in hand. For what should the Apostles drift now be? He saith that the impietie of those who haue mocked God, shall not goe vnpunished. And S. Paul in the 12. to the Rom. 19. following the true meaning of this place of Moses, applies it to another ende. For exhorting vs to patience, he commands vs that we 〈…〉 ⟨p. 232⟩them by another meanes. As often then as the troubles which we haue suffred for Christ shall come into our minds, let them bee so many goades in our sides to pricke vs forward to profit more and more.

Partly while ye were made, Vers. 33 &c.] We see to what manner of persons he speaketh, to wit, to such whose faith had been tried by no small experiences: and yet he ceaseth not to exhort them to greater things. Wherefore let no man deceive himself through false flatteries, as if he were come to the goal, or had no more need to be stirred up by others. Now he saith that they were made gazing stocks by reproaches, and afflictions, as if they had bin brought upon scaffolds. Whence we may gather that the persecutions which they endured were great. But we must diligently observe the other member where he saith, they were made companions of the faithful in their persecutions. For seeing the cause for the which all the faithful do suffer, is the cause of Christ, yea & the common cause of them all: therefore whatsoever one of them endures, the rest ought to bear the burden with them, and to take it to heart as if they themselves did endure it. And truly thus we must do, unless we mean to separate our selves even from Christ himself.