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…

Whosoever made this the beginning of the eleventh chapter, hath very unfitly disjoined the scope and drift of the text. For the meaning of the Apostle is, to prove his former speech touching the necessity of patience. He alleged the testimony of Habakkuk, who saith that the Just shall live by faith: now he shows what remaineth; to wit, That faith can no more be separate from patience, than from it self. Thus stands the order of the words then, We shall never attain to the end of our salvation, unless we be furnished with patience. For the Prophet affirms that the just shall live by faith. Now faith calls us to things very far off from us, which we do not as yet enjoy: it necessarily ⟨p. 239⟩then comprehends patience in it self. Thus then this proposition, That faith is a foundation, serves as the Minor of the syllogism: whereby also it appears that they much deceive themselves, who think this place to be a full definition of faith. For the Apostle speaks not here of the whole nature of faith, but he made choice of a part fitting his purpose; to wit, that faith is always joined with patience. Let us now come to the words. He calls it subsistence, or ground of things hoped for. It is evident that we hope not for that which we have in our hands, but for those things which are yet hidden from our senses, or at least wise, the enjoying whereof is deferred to another time. The Apostle then now teacheth the very same thing which S. Paul doth, Rom. 8.24. for having said, that we see not that which we hope for, he inferreth thereupon, that we wait for it by patience. So our Apostle admonisheth us that believe not God so much in regard of things present, as in regard of those things the expectation whereof is yet in suspense. Furthermore the appearance of contradiction, which is in this speech, wants not his grace. Faith, saith he, is the foundation or possession wherein we have already set sure footing (for the Greek word Hypostasis which he useth, signifieth so much.) But of what things? of things absent, which are so far off from being under our feet, that they do very much surmount the reach of our understandings.

WHosoeuer made this the beginning of the eleuenth chapter, hath very vnfitly disioyned the scope and drift of the text. For the meaning of the Apostle is, to proue his former speech touching the necessitie of patience. He alleadged the testimonie of Habacuck, who saith that the Iust shall liue by faith: now he shewes what remaineth; to wit, That faith can no more be separate from patience, than from it selfe. Thus stands the order of the words then, We shall neuer attaine to the end of our saluation, vnlesse we be furnished with patience. For the Prophet affirms that the iust shall liue by faith. Now faith calles vs to things very farre off from vs, which wee doe not as yet inioy: it necessarily