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…

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a better sacrifice than Cain, by the which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead yet speaketh.

4 By faith Abel offered vnto God a better sacrifice than Cain, by the which hee obtained witnes that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead yet speaketh.

For by it, Vers. 2 &c.] He will entreat of this matter to the very end of the chapter, to wit, that the ancient Fathers obtained salvation by faith only, and that they were no otherwise acceptable and well-pleasing unto God, but by it. The Jews had some reason to reverence their ancestors greatly: but yet a sottish and unbridled admiration of them had so possessed their minds, that it hindered them much from suffering themselves to be wholly ruled under Christ his government; and this they were carried unto, either by ambition, or superstition; or both. For hearing that Abraham's ⟨p. 241⟩seed was holy and blessed, they were so puffed up with this title, that they looked rather unto men, than unto God. Moreover, they had herewithall a stubborn and inconsiderate manner of imitation, because they considered not what it was that deserved imitation indeed in their Fathers. By this means they rested in the ancient ceremonies, as if all religion and perfection of holiness had consisted in them. The Apostle confutes this error, and teacheth what was the chief and principal virtue in them, to the end their successors might understand how they might resemble their forefathers in truth. ¹Let us remember then that the Apostles special and chief drift of his speech is, to show that all the Fathers who from the beginning were approved of God, were no otherwise conjoined with him but by faith: that so the Jews might know that they had no other mean to be allowed of God, and to be knit in an holy unity with their Fathers, but by faith: so that as soon as they left faith, they by and by banished themselves from the Church, and were no longer accounted Abraham's lawful children, but bastards.