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…

For it is like that when the other ten spies objected the names of the Giants, Enakim, to terrify the people, Caleb to confute their lewdness, answered the truth, that when he had seen them in the Mount Hebron, they were not so terrible, but that he durst set upon them himself, that after he had chased them away, he might succeed in their place, and that upon this condition his dwelling was granted to be in that place, which he should conquer by his own valiantness.

For it is like that when the other tenne spies obiected the names of the Giantes, Enakim, to terrifie the people, Caleb to confute their lewdnesse, answered the truth, that when he had seene them in the Mount Hebron, they were not so terrible, but that he durst sette vppon them himselfe, that after he had chased them away, he might succeed in their place, and that vpon this condition his dwelling was graunted to be in that place, which he should conquere by his owne valiantnesse.

7 I was forty years old, &c.) He seemeth to boast of his virtue more gloriously, than becometh a godly and modest man. But we must remember, that when the matter of it self was odious and subject to many quarrels, he hath need of singular commendation to deliver him from envy. Wherefore he rehearseth how faithfully he reported that, which he knew of the land. For this clause (Even as it was in my heart) doeth doubtless declare sincerity, and so his heart is opposite to deceitful words. For it is a fond interpretation, that he said in his heart: because he durst say nothing by the way, least he should have been slain of his companions. For he meaneth ⟨image 74⟩nothing else, but that without colour and dissimulation, he did faithfully execute that, which was given him in charge, he amplifieth the praise of his upright dealing, that when all his companions (except Joshua) were against him, yet he gave no place to their malice, neither was he overcome with their wicked conspiracy, but abode constantly in his purpose. The words are, (I fulfilled to go after God.) But the sense is clear, that he was not carried away from the faithfulness of his duty, by the wicked practising of those ten men, which was hard to abide: but that he was throughly determined to follow God. Namely, because he was certainly persuaded, that God was the author of the enterprise, from which those unfaithful men assayed to withdraw the people. But let us learn out of this place, that except the last end answer to the beginnings, good beginnings vanish away and come to nothing: and secondly, that this constancy is only worthy of praise, when we follow God.