John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 6:9

"But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:" — Hebrews 6:9 (ASV)

But we are persuaded, etc. As the preceding sentences were like thunderbolts, by which readers might have been struck dead, it was necessary to mitigate this severity. He therefore says now that he did not speak in this manner, as though he held such an opinion of them.

And undoubtedly, whoever wishes to do good by teaching should treat his disciples so as to always add encouragement to them rather than diminish it. For there is nothing that can alienate us more from paying attention to the truth than to see that we are considered to be beyond hope. The Apostle then testifies that he thus warned the Jews because he had a good hope of them and was anxious to lead them to salvation. We therefore conclude that not only the reprobate should be reproved severely and with sharp earnestness, but also the elect themselves, even those whom we consider to be the children of God.