The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

30 And when forty years were expired. As Moses was no blockish man, every one of us may easily gather, how many things might have come into his mind, which might have caused him to mistrust his calling. The shifts & sleights of Satan are captious: we are more than bent naturally to distrustfulness, what doubts soever arise in our minds concerning the word of god, we do easily admit the same. It was a hard exchange, to be thrust from earthly delights, & a sumptuous life, unto the painful and base office of feeding sheep: and especially forasmuch as Moses saw so much time spent, and being in the mean season sent into the wilderness, what other thing could he imagine with him self, but that that was vain, & a plain mock which the Lord had promised? Forasmuch as being now fourscore years of age, he was occupied about the feeding of his father in law his sheep, when could he have hoped that there should have been any use of him in delivering the people? It is good for us oftentimes to call to mind these combats of the godly until they be throughly imprinted in our memory, least our minds faint, and our hearts fail us, if the Lord make us stay longer than we could wish. Again, Moses giveth a notable example of modesty, seeing that in all that time he attempteth nothing, he raiseth no tumults, neither intrudeth himself any way, to bear rule: as troublesome men use to do: but employeth himself in his shepherds function, as diligently as if he should never have been called unto any greater charge. But whiles he tarrieth the Lords leisure so patiently, he appeareth unto him at length.

30 And when fortie yeeres were expired. As Moses was no blockishe man, euery one of vs may easilie gather, howe manie things might haue come into his minde, which might haue caused him to mistrust his calling. The shifts & sleights of Satan are captious: we are more than bent naturally to distrustfulnes, what doubts soeuer arise in our mindes concerning the worde of god, we do easily admit the same. It was a hard exchange, to be thrust from earthly delights, & a sumptuous life, vnto the painfull and base office of feeding sheepe: and especially forasmuch as Moses sawe so muche time spent, and beeing in the meane season sent into the wildernesse, what other thing could he imagine with him selfe, but that that was vaine, & a plain mock which the Lorde had promised? Forasmuch as being now fourescore yeres of age, he was occupied about the feeding of his father in law his sheepe, when could hee haue hoped that there should haue been any vse of him in deliuering the people? It is good for vs oftētimes to cal to mind these cumbates of the godly vntil they be throughly imprinted in our memorie, least our mindes faint, and our hearts faile vs, if the Lord make vs stay longer than we could wishe. Againe, Moses giueth a notable example of modestie, seeing that in all that time hee attempteh nothing, he raiseth no tumults, neitheir intrudeth himself any way, to beare rule: as troublesome men vse to doe: but employeth himselfe in his sheepheardes function, as diligently as if hee should neuer haue been called vnto any greater charge. But whiles he tarryeth the Lordes leysure so patientlye, hee appeareth vnto hym at length.