JOHN CALVIN

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42 express more, for he includes the whole nation, and declares that God will be their destruction. The nation was divided into two kingdoms, Ephraim and Judah; and, therefore, he mentioned both. There were, indeed, some exceptions, but he speaks here of the whole body... For a snare to the inhabitant of Jerusalem. This is the second circumstance introduced for heightening the picture; for, after having mentioned the two kingdoms, he names the metropolis itself. Although the whole country was crippled, yet it seemed that the Lord kept his abode there. He therefore means that God became a snare, not only to the common people who were scattered throughout the fields and villages, but to the nobles themselves, and to the priests who dwelt in Jerusalem, who dwelt in that holy habitation in which God intended that the remembrance of his name should be chiefly preserved. That was testified also by David, that those builders whom the Lord appointed rejected the chief corner-stone. (Psalm 118:22.) Christ quotes this passage against the Jews, and shows that it applies to himself. (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10.) This happened, indeed, in the time of Isaiah, but still more in the time of Christ; for ungodliness and rebellion gradually increased till they came to a height. Accordingly, both the highest and the lowest, who always had obstinately disobeyed God, at that time broke out against him still more with unrestrained indulgence, and therefore their destruction also reached its height; for they were altogether rejected by God, whose Son they had refused. Hence also we infer the eternal divinity of Christ, for Paul shows that it is God of whom the Prophet here speaks. (Romans 9:33.) Now, he speaks not of a pretended God, but of that God by whom heaven and earth were created, and who revealed himself to Moses. (Exodus 3:6.) It is, therefore, the same God by whom the Church has been always governed. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, [yet] a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22) He casts down hypocrites from foolish confidence; for they reckoned it enough to be the descendants of holy Abraham according to the flesh, and, therefore, on the sole ground of their
43 birth, they wished to be accounted holy. Yet he exhorts the godly to patience, that they may learn to await calmly that calamity and diminution of their number, lest, when it took place, it should be unexpected, and give them uneasiness. He therefore comforts them, that they may not be grieved at so great desolation; for the Lord will at least collect a remnant of it. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17) With regard to the perfection of his life, Christ might justly have maintained that he came to fulfill the law: but here he treats of doctrine, not of life. As he afterwards exclaimed, that “the kingdom of God is come,” (Matthew 12:28,) and raised the minds of men with unusual expectation, and even admitted disciples by baptism, it is probable, that the minds of many were in a state of suspense and doubt, and were eagerly inquiring, what was the design of that novelty. Christ, therefore, now declares, that his doctrine is so far from being at variance with the law, that it agrees perfectly with the law and the prophets, and not only so, but brings the complete fulfillment of them. There appear to have been chiefly two reasons, which induced him to declare this agreement between the law and the Gospel. As soon as any new method of teaching makes its appearance, the body of the people immediately look upon it, as if everything were to be overturned. Now the preaching of the Gospel, as I mentioned a little ago, tended to raise the expectation, that the Church would assume a totally different form from what had previously belonged to it. They thought that the ancient and accustomed government was to be abolished. This opinion, in many respects, was very dangerous. Devout worshippers of God would never have embraced the Gospel, if it had been a revolt from the law; while light and turbulent spirits would eagerly have seized on an occasion offered to them for entirely overthrowing the state of religion: for we know in what insolent freaks rash people are ready to indulge when there is any thing new. Besides, Christ saw that the greater part of the Jews, though they professed to believe the Law,
Page 1 and 2: JOHN CALVIN Response To Questions A
Page 3 and 4: RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND OBJECTION
Page 5 and 6: 5 I. Introduction Martin Luther's o
Page 7 and 8: 7 their common tactics is to sugges
Page 9 and 10: 9 form and it is therefore not wide
Page 11 and 12: 11 long as they spurn this gift, in
Page 13 and 14: 13 end God established the sabbath,
Page 15 and 16: 15 though in a mortal man, but beca
Page 17 and 18: 17 QUESTION 5 JEW: I ask you, why d
Page 19 and 20: 19 QUESTION 7 JEW: I ask you, you s
Page 21 and 22: 21 called upon God with calm and tr
Page 23 and 24: 23 would be ignoble, because the st
Page 25 and 26: 25 QUESTION 11 JEW: I ask you, sinc
Page 27 and 28: 27 the spirit of adoption brings to
Page 29 and 30: 29 QUESTION 14 JEW: I ask you, how
Page 31 and 32: 31 acknowledge that the kingdom God
Page 33 and 34: 33 QUESTION 17 JEW: I ask you, to w
Page 35 and 36: 35 QUESTION 19 JEW: I ask you, if h
Page 37 and 38: 37 QUESTION 21 JEW: I ask you, you
Page 39 and 40: 39 QUESTION 23 JEW: I ask you, ther
Page 41: 41 But afterwards they change their
Page 45 and 46: 45 contrary, its design was, to giv
Page 47 and 48: 47 representation, such as it was,
Page 49 and 50: 49 In his days Judah shall be saved
Page 51 and 52: 51 God as our righteousness, we mus
Page 53 and 54: 53 of his fatherly love. And how co
Page 55 and 56: 55 have before seen) could not be f
Page 57 and 58: 57 with the Seventy, who, it appear
Page 59 and 60: 59 princes, until the Jews became s
Page 61 and 62: 61 They that sanctify themselves, a
Page 63 and 64: 63 been without the angel as their
Page 65 and 66: 65 as he had allowed a return to th
Page 67: 67 All we like sheep have gone astr

JOHN CALVIN

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