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…

8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turn their backs before their enemies?

8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turne their backes before their enimies?

9 For the Canaanites, and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall compass us, and destroy our name out of the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy mighty Name?

9 For the Canaanites, and all the inhabitants of the land shall heare of it, and shall compasse vs, and destroy our name out of the earth: and what wilt thou doe vnto thy mightie Name?

1 But the children of Israel transgressed, &c.) Here is rehearsed the offence of one man, and that done in secret, the fault whereof is ascribed to the whole people: and not that only, but the punishment is laid upon many, that were innocent in the fault. But it seemeth not agreeable to reason, that all the people, which were ignorant of the crime, that was both private and secret, should be charged withal. I answer, it is no strange thing, that the sin of one member should redound to the hurt of the whole body. If the reason thereof were hidden from us, yet it ought abundantly to satisfy us, that transgression is imputed to the children of Israel, when the fault is restrained but unto one man. But because it cometh to pass oftentimes, that not the worst men, by winking at their brethren's offences, do nourish their sins, and so part of the fault is worthily laid upon all them, whom their dissimulation and forbearing linketh in society with them. By this reason S. Paul layeth to all the Corinthians, the private offence of one man: and inveigheth ¹