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…

Finally, they did as much as lay in them, to make the trueth of God his promise to be of none effect. Although a question may be moved of this matter: For if the promise made to Abraham was founded upon nothing but the good will of God, whatsoever the people were, it had been against reason that it should have failed through their fault. How then shall we reconcile those matters together? That the people obtained not the whole & perfect inheritance, and yet God was true of his promise? But certainly the faith of Gods promise was never so greatly shaken, decayed, or by any means diminished, but that in performance thereof it may better appear, how cunning a workman he is, which according to his incomprehensible wisdom, knoweth how to turn light even out of darkness. It was said unto Abraham, Unto thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates. Joshua affirmeth, that the effect of this promise was ⟨image 4⟩¹near and already present. Nevertheless, they being overcome with slothfulness, came not to those bounds: but rather as it were wilfully casting themselves into straits: they made a certain stop against the bountiful liberality of God. By this means there seemed as it were a certain Eclipse to darken the covenant of God. And there is no doubt, but the minds of godly men were troubled with much carefulness and doubtfulness, when they saw the work of God as it were cut off. Yet did he so moderate himself in chastising of the peoples wickedness, that this great and dangerous temptation, was turned into an aide and furtherance of their faith. For this want of performance admonished the people of God, that they should look for a better state, in which the grace of God should be seen more plentifully: yea, after it had overcome all lets or stays, should shine in full brightness. Hereby their minds were lift up unto Christ: whereby also it became manifest, that the perfect felicity of the Church depended upon the head thereof. To this purpose they were aided & supported with new prophesies. For that which Joshua doth now rehearse out of the ancient covenant, the Psalm translateth unto the kingdom of Messiah: ²because God had deferred until his coming the full enjoying of the land, that he might make the kingdom of his son more glorious.

Finally, they did as much as lay in them, to make the trueth of God his promise to be of none effect. Although a question may be moued of this matter: For if the promise made to Abraham was founded vpō nothing but the good will of God, whatsoeuer the people were, it had bene against reason that it shoulde haue failed through their fault. How then shall we reconcile those matters together? That the people obteined not the whole & perfect inheritance, and yet God was true of his promise? But certeinly the faith of Gods promise was neuer so greatly shaken, decayed, or by any meanes diminished, but that in performance thereof it may better appeare, how cunning a workeman he is, which according to his incomprehensible wisedome, knoweth howe to turne light euen out of darknesse. It was said vnto Abraham, Vnto thy seede will I geue this lande, from the riuer of Aegypt to the great riuer Euphrates. Iosue affirmeth, that the effect of this promise was