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…

But notwithstanding that our faith ought properly to rest in the only trueth of God: yet that letteth not, but trial by experience as a second prop of our weakness, and a profitable aide for confirmation, may help to stay the same. For that which God hath promised by his word, he sealeth and confirmeth by the deed it self: and look how many documents of his grace and power he setteth forth unto us in acts, he would have them to be so many trials of his word, & aids to take away all doubtfulness.

But notwithstanding that our faith ought properly to rest in the onely trueth of God: yet that letteth not, but triall by experience as a second prop of our weakenesse, and a profitable aide for confirmation, may help to stay the same. For that which God hath promised by his worde, he sealeth and confirmeth by the deed it selfe: and looke how many documents of his grace and power he setteth foorth vnto vs in actes, he would haue them to be so many trialles of his word, & aids to take away all doubfulnes.

11 Behold the Ark, &c.) First he saith the Ark shall go before them: then he declareth for what end: namely, that Jordan might give place, as astonished, at the presence & sight of God, as it is said in the Psalm. As for that story which is interlaced of the twelve ¹men, &c. is broken off, because he doeth but only touch briefly those matters, which afterward he setteth out plainly and more at large. Now let us observe no more but this, that when the Ark went before, God showed his power in governing the people. And by this means was commended, that religious worship which was according to the law, when the Israelites did see, that it was no vain thing, ⟨p. 16⟩which God committed to them, to be the token of his presence. For the river Jordan was none otherwise constrained unto obedience, than if it had seen the majesty of God. And yet withal let us remember, that God was not moved, in any other respect, to set forth his grace in the Ark, but because he had placed therein the tables of his covenant. And because the matter was hard to be credited, Joshua called back the minds of the people, to consider the power of God, which overcometh all difficulties. For it is no small title. (The Lord of all the earth) which is here given to God: but it advanceth his authority over all the elements of the world, that the Israelites should not doubt, seeing that seas and floods are under his dominion, but that the waters, though of their own nature they be running, yet by his commandment should be made to stand unmoveable.