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…

4 From the wilderness and Libanus, &c.) How the trueth and effect of this promise advanced it self, above all lets of the peoples malice & wickedness, & yet the people them selves did not immediately enjoy so large a dominion, I have already declared in the Preface, For, although God had set abroad the inestimable treasures of his goodness, in appointing them to be Lords of the land: yet he spared not to chastise and punish their slothfulness: yea, it was necessary to be fulfilled, which Moses threatened unto ¹them: that except they destroyed these nations appointed to destruction, they should become unto them pricks and thorns, with which their sides and eyes should be pricked. But as by the delay of forty years, in which they were led about the wilderness, the promise of God was not made frustrate and of none effect: so the full possession of the land•, although it were long held in suspense, yet it changed nothing of the faith and truth of Gods decrees, by which it was adjudged unto them. The people might well in due time have gone forward unto the bounds & limits that were appointed unto them: but they would not. Therefore were they worthy to be utterly driven out again. Nevertheless, the mercy and clemency of God granted them a country, that was sufficient for their commodious dwelling. And although it was told them before, that those remnants of the nations which they had reserved, as a just reward of their disobedience, should become their deadly enemies, yet suffered they no displeasure at their hands, but when through their own unfaithfulness and continual rebelling against God, they provoked his anger against them. For so often as they enjoyed prosperity, straight way they fell to lasciviousness & wantonness. But always it came to pass by the wonderful goodness of God, that when they were oppressed by the violence of their enemies, and as it were overwhelmed in the grave, yet they lived in the middest of death: and not that only, but oftentimes there were raised up deliverers that restored their state, when it was utterly decayed and lost.

4 From the wildernesse and Libanus, &c.) How the trueth and effect of this promise aduaunced it selfe, aboue all lettes of the peoples malice & wickednesse, & yet the people them selues did not immediatly enioy so large a dominion, I haue already declared in the Preface, For, although God had set abroade the inestimable treasures of his goodnesse, in appointing them to be Lordes of the lande: yet he spared not to chastise and punish their slouthfulnesse: yea, it was necessarie to be fulfilled, which Moses threatened vnto