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 whirlwind, and of the tempest, with such other things. For these miracles and signs which God showed to give authority to his law, & to cause it to be received with reverence; if we conciser them in themselves they are indeed magnificent & heavenly: but when we come to the kingdom of Christ, the things which God sets before us therein surpasseth all heavens. And thus it comes to pass, that all the dignity of the law begins to wax in a manner earthly. For in this manner Mount Sinai might be touched with hands: but the mountain of Zion cannot be apprehended but by the spirit. All those things which are recited in the 19. of Exodus, were visible figures: but those which we have in the kingdom of Christ, are hidden from the sense of the flesh. If any shall object, Objection. that the signification of all these things was spiritual, and that there are yet at this day external exercises of godliness, by which we are raised up to heaven: I answer, Answer. that the Apostle speaks by comparison from the less to the greater. Now when we come once to confer the law with the Gospel, no man doubts but that which is spiritual in the Gospel carrieth his weight in this behalf: and contrariwise, that the earthly signs in the law, were more apparent, and surmounted the rest in number.

the whirelewinde, and of the tempest, with such other things. For these miracles and signes which God shewed to giue authority to his law, & to cause it to be receued with reuerence; if we con••ser thē in thēselues they are indeed magnificent & heauenly: but when we come to the kingdome of Christ, the things which God sets before vs therein surpasseth all heauens. And thus it comes to passe, that all the dignitie of the law beginnes to waxe in a manner earthly. For in this manner Mount Sinai might be touched with hands: but the mountaine of Sion cannot bee apprehended but by the spirit. All those things which are recited in the 19. of Exodus, were visible figures: but those which we haue in the kingdome of Christ, are hidden from the sense of the flesh. If any shall obiect, Obiection. that the signification of all these things was spirituall, and that there are yet at this day externall exercises of godlinesse, by which we are raised vp to heauen: I answer, Answere. that the Apostle speakes by comparison from the lesse to the greater. Now when wee come once to conferre the law with the Gospel, no man doubts but that which is spirituall in the Gospel carrieth his waight in this behalfe: and contrariwise, that the earthly signes in the law, were more apparant, and surmounted the rest in number.