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…

IT seems that in alleging this place, he draws it to a contrary sense. For albeit David doth in this Psalm describe the order which God keeps in governing of the world, so as out of all question in this fourth verse he speaks of the winds, which he saith are made his messengers, in regard they run as posts at his beck, and commandment: so that whensoever he causeth the earth to ring with his thunders, they show what ready and diligent servants they are to execute their charge enjoined them. But what doth all this appertain to the Angels? For answer, some take it to be spoken allegorically, as if the Apostle should expound ⟨p. 21⟩the literal and plain sense of Angels by an Allegory, as they call it. But for my part, I had rather say that this place was alleged to be applied to the Angels by way of similitude, in this manner: David compares the winds to the Angels, so as they exercise the like office here in this world, which the Angels do in heaven, the winds being visible spirits as it were. For even as Moses in the creation of the world recites only the things which are to be perceived by our senses, and yet notwithstanding would that higher things should be comprehended therewithal: so David in this description of the world, and of nature, paints out unto us as in a table that which we ought also to understand as touching the heavenly order. And therefore I think this is an argument which we call a simile, that is to say, of a thing like, when the Apostle transferreth that to the Angels, which is properly spoken of the winds.

IT seemes that in alleaging this place, hee drawes it to a contrarie sense. For albeit Dauid doth in this Psalme describe the order which God keepes in gouerning of the world, so as out of all question in this fourth verse he speaks of the windes, which he saith are made his messengers, in regard they runne as posts at his becke, and commandement: so that whensoeuer hee causeth the earth to ring with his thunders, they shew what readie and diligent seruants they are to execute their charge enioyned them. But what doth all this appertaine to the Angels? For answere, some take it to be spoken allegorically, as if the Apostle should expound ⟨p. 21⟩the literall and plaine sense of Angels by an Allegorie, as they call it. But for my part, I had rather say that this place was alleaged to bee applied to the Angels by way of similitude, in this manner: Dauid compares the windes to the Angels, so as they exercise the like office here in this world, which the Angels doe in heauen, the windes being visible spirits as it were. For euen as Moses in the creation of the world recites onely the things which are to be perceiued by our senses, and yet notwithstanding would that higher things should bee comprehended therewithall: so Dauid in this description of the world, and of nature, paints out vnto vs as in a table that which we ought also to vnderstand as touching the heauenly order. And therefore I think this is an argument which we call a similie, that is to say, of a thing like, when the Apostle transferreth that to the Angels, which is properly spoken of the windes.