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 faith then which he had in the word of God framed him to that obedience, by which he gave a testimony in the building of the Ark. Objection. But some make a question here why the Apostle makes faith the cause of fear, seeing faith hath respect rather to the promises of grace, than to the threatenings: by reason whereof Saint Paul calls the Gospel (by which the righteousness of God is offered us unto salvation) the word of faith, Rom. 10.8: It seems then it is an improper speech to say, that faith moved Noah to reverence. Answer. I answer, that properly faith springs out of the promises; that it is built upon them; ¹that they are rightly and truly her object: and therefore we say that Christ is the true object of faith, in whose person the heavenly Father is merciful unto us, and in whom are sealed up, and confirmed, all the promises of salvation. ²And yet notwithstanding this is no hindrance why faith should not look unto God, and that it should not with reverence receive whatsoever he commandeth. Or if we will have it in fewer words, The nature of faith is to hear God speak, and without any doubting ⟨p. 252⟩at all to receive whatsoever proceeds out of his holy and sacred mouth. Faith then you see is no less subject to the commandments and threatenings, than it is to the free promises. But because we are never touched as we should, and as need requireth with the commandments of God to yield him that obedience he requireth, neither yet moved by his threatenings to seek by prayers, to prevent, and turn away his wrath, unless we have first apprehended the promises of grace, ³so as we can boldly acknowledge God to be our merciful Father and the author of our salvation: for this cause the Gospel is called, as of the principal part of it, the word of faith: and thus we do put a mutual relation, or correspondency, between faith and the Gospel. Yet howsoever faith in some things do look directly to the promises of God: so also doth she no less look unto the threatenings, so far forth as is necessary for us to be led to the fear and obedience of God.