A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the book of Joshua finished a little…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the booke of Iosue finished a little…

2 That time, &c.) It seemeth to be most unreasonable and monstrous, that circumcision was so long time omitted: because they being admonished by daily instructions, should have been more diligent in practising all such exercises of godliness. Circumcision was a seal of their adoption, through which they obtained deliverance. And surely while they remained in their greatest misery, and mourned under the tyranny, yet they did alway circumcise their children. And we know how sharply God threateneth, that he will revenge it, if any omitted the eight day. So that if they had neglected the keeping of that sacrament in Egypt, their slackness had been more excusable, for then it might have seemed unto them, that the covenant of God was grown out of use. But now, when the trueth of God shineth a fresh upon them, to establish his covenant, what excuse can they have, if they do not for their parts also testify, that ⟨image 27⟩they are the people of God? That defence which the interpreters do commonly allege, is altogether frivolous. I confess they were daily in a readiness to remove, and that they were always uncertain, when they should depart. Nevertheless I say, we do not well gather hereof, that they had never a day free for that purpose: because it should have been a cruel thing to circumcise the young infants, when they should presently after remove with the whole camp. For nothing should have been of so great force with them, that for it, they should contemn that which was said to Abraham: The soul that is not circumcised, shall be cut off from his people. And if there had ¹been any danger of death, the best and only remedy had ben, to have rested upon the fatherly providence of God, which doubtless would not have suffered, that his commandment should be cause of destruction to the infants. Finally, omitting of the sacrament in respect of peril, could grow of nothing else, but of distrust. For if their infants should have been cast into present danger, yet for all that, they should have been obedient to God: because the sealing up of the covenant, by which they were received into the Church, was more precious than an hundred lives. Neither would Moses have suffered so great negligence, if he had not been induced by an other reason.

2 That time, &c.) It seemeth to be most vnreasonable and monstruous, that circumcision was so long time omitted: because they being admonished by dailie instructions, should haue bene more diligent in practising all such exercises of godlinesse. Circumcision was a seale of their adoption, through which they obteined deliuerance. And surely while they remained in their greatest miserie, and morned vnder the tyrannie, yet they did alway circumcise their children. And we knowe howe sharply God threateneth, that he will reuenge it, if any omitted the eight day. So that if they had neglected the keeping of that sacrament in Egypt, their flacknes had bene more excusable, for then it might haue seemed vnto them, that the couenant of God was growne out of vse. But now, when the trueth of God shineth a freshe vpon them, to establish his couenant, what excuse can they haue, if they doe not for their partes also testifie, that