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…

[…] ⟨p. 264⟩quick, yet were they all but flea bitings in regard of this tentation, to wit, that having received the promises, he is then commanded to put his son Isaac to death. For all the promises were founded upon this, In Isaac shall thy seed be called, Gen. 21.12: so that this being taken away, there remained unto him no more hope of blessing, or of grace. The question is not here then as touching any earthly matter, but of Abraham's eternal salvation, yea of the salvation of the whole world. How many, and how great anguishes of mind think we was this good personage cast into, when it came into his heart that with the loss of his sons life, the hope of eternal salvation should be clean cut off and extinguished? And yet notwithstanding by faith he went on valiantly (overcoming all these thoughts) to put that in execution which was commanded him of God. If this his constancy deserves the title of an admirable virtue, thus to hold out in the middest of so many hard incumbrances, then doubtless that faith which only was the cause that made Abraham thus constantly to persevere, must of necessity deserve to carry away the prize.

〈…〉 ⟨p. 264⟩quicke, yet were they all but flea bitings in regard of this tentation, to wit, that hauing receiued the promises, hee is then commanded to put his sonne Isaak to death. For al the promises were founded vpon this, In Isaak shall thy seede be called, Gen. 21.12: so that this being taken away, there remained vnto him no more hope of blessing, or of grace. The question is not here then as touching any earthly matter, but of Abrahams eternall saluation, yea of the saluation of the whole world. How many, and how great anguishes of minde thinke we was this good personage cast into, when it came into his heart that with the losse of his sonnes life, the hope of eternall saluation should be cleane cut off and extinguished? And yet notwithstanding by faith hee went on valiantly (ouercomming all these thoughts) to put that in execution which was commanded him of God. If this his constancie deserues the title of an admirable vertue, thus to hold out in the middest of so many hard incumbrances, then doubtlesse that faith which onely was the cause that made Abraham thus constantly to perseuere, must of necessitie deserue to carrie away the prize.