Now, although the long deferring of the final discomfiture of these nations, was a profitable trial of the constancy of the people, yet must we therein consider the wonderful purpose of God, whereof they were admonished in good time by Moses, that they should not faint through weariness: namely, that God would not have those nations at once destroyed, least the wild beasts should enter upon the country being void of inhabitants. 1But whereas God by this appointment had very well provided for their security in time to come, they through their wickedness turned it into their own destruction. For when they had once obtained sufficient room & commodious for their habitation, as they thought, through their wicked sloth & cowardliness they turned their course backward, & shamefully retired: which one offence of theirs drew many other after it. For they were also disobedient to God, and unfaithful in finishing ⟨image 4⟩the course of their warfare like runagate Soldiers, which forgetting the oath of warfare shamefully forsake their standard. And as for the dominion of the whole land, which God offered unto them, through wicked unthankfulness they forsook, and received only a part thereof. Moreover, whereas they were commanded to purge that holy land from all corruptions, that no profanation of the pure and lawful worship of God should remain therein: they suffered those ungodly superstitions, which the Lord abhorred, to remain, & be in force, as they were accustomed. Beside this, whereas they knew right well, that it was for their own safety, that they should not be mingled with those nations, to be snared and entangled with their deceitful & crafty practises: yet as though they desired of purpose to make a trial thereof, they suffered them to remain as the matter of a most dangerous & detestable fire of destruction. And that by no threatening of punishment they were terrified to beware in time, therein they bewrayed their obstinate infidelity. Yet at the length they tried by experience, that all was not in vain that God threatened, that those nations, to whom they had showed such unlawful favour, should become pricks 2and thorns in their sides. For they were vexed with their daily invasions, spoiled by their robberies, and at the length almost oppressed with their tyrannical violence.
Now, although the long deferring of the finall discomfiture of these nations, was a profitable triall of the constancie of the people, yet must we therein consider the wonderfull purpose of God, whereof they were admonished in good time by Moses, that they shoulde not faint through wearinesse: namely, that God woulde not haue those nations at once destroyed, least the wilde beastes should enter vpon the countrie being voyde of inhabitantes. 1But whereas God by this appointment had verie well prouided for their securitie in time to come, they through their wickednes turned it into their owne destruction. For when they had once obteined sufficient roome & cōmodious for their habitatiō, as they thought, through their wicked slouth & cowardlinesse they turned their course backeward, & shamefully retired: which one offence of theirs drewe many other after it. For they were also disobedient to God, and vnfaithfull in finishing ⟨image 4⟩the course of their warrefare like runnagate Souldiers, which forgetting the othe of warrefare shamefully forsake their standarde. And as for the dominion of the whole land, which God offered vnto them, through wicked vnthankefulnesse they forsooke, and receiued onely a parte thereof. Moreouer, whereas they were commaunded to purge that holy lande from all corruptions, that no prophanation of the pure and lawfull woorshippe of God shoulde remaine therein: they suffered those vngodly superstitions, which the Lord abhorred, to remaine, & be in force, as they were accustomed. Beside this, wheras they knew right well, that it was for their owne safetie, that they should not be mingled with those nations, to be snared and intangled with their deceiptfull & craftie practises: yet as though they desired of purpose to make a triall therof, they suffered them to remaine as the matter of a most daungerous & detestable fire of destruction. And that by no threatning of punishment they were terrified to beware in time, therein they bewraied their obstinate infidelitie. Yet at the length they tried by experience, that all was not in vaine that God threatened, that those nations, to whom they had shewed such vnlawfull fauour, should beecome prickes 2and thornes in their sides. For they were vexed with their dailie inuasions, spoiled by their robberies, and at the length almost oppressed with their tyrannicall violence.
- 1Deut. 7. 22.
- 2Num, 33. 55,
