A17638:383
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…
A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the book of Joshua finished a little before his death: translated out of Latin into English by W.F. Whereunto is added a table of the principal matters.A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the booke of Iosue finished a little before his death: translated out of Latine into Englishe by W.F. Wherevnto is added a table of the principall matters.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop, 1578
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Therefore, that he doeth not doubtfully break out into this voice, That the Sun & the Moon should decline from the perpetual law of nature, it is as much as if he did adjure them by the infinite power of God, wherewith he is endued. And here shineth the singular favour of God toward his Church, that as in favour of mankind he divideth the day from the night by the daily course of the Sun, & it turneth about continually that mighty great globe with unwearied swiftness: so for a short time he would have it to stand still, until the enemies of Israel were destroyed.
Therefore, that he doeth not doubtfully breake out into this voice, That the Sunne & the Moone should decline from the pernetuall lawe of nature, it is as much as if he did adiure them by the infinite power of God, wherewith he is endued. And here shineth the singular fauour of God toward his Church, that as in fauour of mankinde he diuideth the day from the night by the daily course of the Sunne, & it turneth about continually that mightie great globe with vnwearied swiftenesse: so for a short time he would haue it to stand still, vntil the enimies of Israel were destroyed.
13 And the Sun, &c.) Some do no less unseasonably move a question, how the Sun stood in Giveon, than they do unskilfully answer it. For Joshua doeth not subtly place the Sun in one point: that we must needs feign the battle to have been fought on Midsummer day: but because he was going down towards the country of Avalon, so far as a man could judge by his sight, Joshua commanded him there to abide and stay, that he might remain above the Horizon, as they call it. Finally, the Sun is stayed from going down, whereunto he was then inclined: neither do I greatly regard the number of the hours, because it is sufficient for me, that the day was prolonged by the space of one whole night. If any stories of that age were remaining, there is no doubt, but so notable a miracle should be set forth in them: yet that the credit of it should not be doubtful, the writer of the book testifieth, ⟨p. 54⟩