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…

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which ⟨p. 28⟩at the first began to be preached by the Lord, & afterward was confirmed unto us by them that heard him,

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great saluation, which ⟨p. 28⟩at the first began to be preached by the Lord, & afterward was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard him,

4 God bearing witness thereto, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his own will.

4 God bearing witnes thereto, both with signes and wonders, and with diuers miracles, and gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his owne will.

For this cause we ought &c.] Now he shows what his drift hath been all this while in comparing of Christ with the Angels: even that he might thereby maintain the sovereign authority of his doctrine. For if the law which was given by Angels, ought not to be lightly regarded and received: and if the transgression thereof was also grievously punished: what will become (saith he) of the contemners of the Gospel, which hath the Son of God both for the author and defender of it, and hath also been confirmed by so many miracles? The sum of these four verses is this, that because the dignity of Christ is far greater than that of the Angels, so much the more reverence is due rather to the Gospel than to the Law. So then he commends and extols the doctrine, by the excellency of the authors person. Objection. Now if it seem harsh unto any, seeing that both the doctrines, as well of the Law as of the Gospel are of God, and yet that the one should be preferred before the other, as if thereby the majesty of God should be impaired, because the Law is less esteemed than the Gospel. Answer. The answer to this is easy, to wit, it is very certain, that God ought always to be heard alike as often as he speaks: and yet it hinders not, but by how much the more plainly it pleaseth him to speak unto us, by so much the more have we good reason with all reverence and obedient affection to be moved forthwith to hearken, according to the measure of that which is revealed. Not that God in himself is less at one time more than at another: but because we are unable to acknowledge and perceive his greatness and excellency always alike.