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…

If we read it by way of exhortation, to wit, Let us have, it will be a more obscure and constrained manner of speech. In a word, I take it the Apostle meant to say, that if so be we enter into the kingdom of Christ by faith, we shall obtain assured grace, which will cause us to serve God with fruit: for even as the kingdom of Christ is far higher than the world, so also is the gift of regeneration. When he faith, By which we may serve God, so as we may please him, with reverence and fear, although he requires a readiness and delight in the obedience which we give him; yet he therewithal signifies, that God approves of no service which is […] ⟨p. 316⟩their own abode, for the name of Christ. And that he might the better provoke those to whom he writes to the performance of this duty, he adds, that some have received Angels into their houses unawares, thinking they had been but men. I doubt not but this is to be understood of Abraham, and Lot. For they being accustomed to entertain strangers, sometimes lodged Angels unawares, when yet they thought of no such matter: & thus their houses were greatly honoured. And questionless the Lord also showed evident signs how acceptable hospitality is unto him, when he so largely recompensed both Abraham and Lot. ¹Objection. If any object that this fell not out often, Answer. the answer is easy: Angels are not only received, but even Christ himself is entertained of us, when we receive the poor home to our houses in his name. There is an allusion, and an artificial manner of speech in the Greek words, which have an excellent grace, which cannot be expressed in the French.

If we reade it by way of exhortation, to wit, Let vs haue, it will bee a more obscure and constrained manner of speech. In a word, I take it the Apostle meant to say, that if so be we enter into ye kingdom of Christ by faith, we shall obtaine assured grace, which will cause vs to serue God with fruite: for euen as the kingdome of Christ is farre higher than the world, so also is the gift of regeneration. When he faith, By which we may serue God, so as wee may please him, with reuerence and feare, although he requires a readines and delight in the obedience which wee giue him; yet he therewithall signifies, that God approoues of no seruice which is 〈…〉 ⟨p. 316⟩