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…

And therefore he adds, least that which is halting be turned out of the way, that is to say, least by halting you be cast behind far from the way. Now he calls it an halting, when mens minds do vary: being now of that opinion, and then of that. As also when they do not wholly and unfeignedly submit themselves to God. So speaks Elijah to those double hearted ones, who mingled the service of God with their superstitions; How long (saith he) will you halt between two opinions? 1. King. 18.21. Now this is a very fit manner of speaking and wants not his grace: for it is far worse to err than to halt. Those which begin to halt do not turn out of the way at the first chop, but they recoil back by little and little more and more, till being carried away into error, they find themselves fast snared in the middest of Satan's labyrinth. ¹The Apostle admonisheth us then that we labour to take heed of halting betimes, because if we once fall to dissemble, and bethink us not of a remedy, we shall at the last with the time turn far off from God. We may also turn it in this manner, Least halting corrupt, or estrange it self: but the sense will remain always one. For the Apostle signifies that those which keep not the right way, but suffer themselves by carelessness to err hither or thither any way whatsoever; do in process of time, as much as in them is, wholly estrange themselves from God.

And therefore he addes, least that which is halting be turned out of the way, that is to say, least by halting you bee cast behinde farre from the way. Now hee calles it an halting, when mens mindes doe varie: being now of that opinion, and then of that. As also when they doe not wholy and vnfainedly submit themselues to God. So speakes Elias to those double hearted ones, who mingled the seruice of God with their superstitions; How long (saith he) will you halt betweene two opinions? 1. King. 18.21. Now this is a very fit manner of speaking and wants not his grace: for it is farre worse to erre than to halt. Those which begin to halt doe not turne out of the way at the first chop, but they recoyle backe by little and little more and more, till being caried away into error, they finde themselues fast snared in the middest of Satans labyrinth.