6 Be of good comfort, &c.) Now followeth an exhortation unto fortitude and courage, and that again repeated, that it may more vehemently move his mind. Although the promise is also interlaced in other words, whereby Joshua is assured of his calling, that he should not take upon him that charge with any doubtfulness, which he was assured to be laid upon him by God himself: or that if he should wrestle with lets and hinderances, he might not faint and give over in the middest of his course. For it had not ben sufficient to have prepared him self manfully in the beginning, if he had not ben throughly furnished to continue unto the end. And although it be the property of faith, to encourage us to take in hand any thing manfully, as likewise by slackness and cowardice infidelity is bewrayed: yet out of this place we may gather, that bare promises have not sufficient force in them to move our dull minds, except there be added the pricks of exhortations. For if Joshua, whose courage was otherwise singular, had yet need to be stirred up to do his duty, how much more sharply is it necessary for us to be pricked, which are so slow and dull by nature? Consider also, that not once nor in one word, strength and constancy is required of Joshua, but because he was to be exercised with many and sundry conflicts: he is often and with many words confirmed and encouraged. He is willed to be of a valiant and invincible courage. Although by these two words, it might be evident, that God chargeth him with a very earnest matter, yet not content with this doubling of words, he repeateth the same sentence again with an amplification: in that he ⟨image 8⟩addeth the Adverb, greatly and exceedingly. Wherefore out of this place let us learn, that we shall be never able to execute great and weighty affairs, except we go about them with all our might: because both our ability is small: and Satan hardly withstandeth us, so that nothing is more like, than that our hearts should fail us. But because many with wandering and uncertain attempts do bend all their force in vain, here is set forth the true mean and way of valiantness: namely, that Joshua apply all his study and endeavour to keep the law of GOD. Whereby we are taught, that by this means we shall become invincible, if we apply our selves with all our might, to yield faithful obedience to GOD.
6 Be of good comfort, &c.) Now followeth an exhortation vnto fortitude and courage, and that againe repeated, that it may more vehemently moue his minde. Although the promise is also interlaced in other wordes, whereby Iosue is assured of his calling, that he should not take vpon him that charge with any doubtfulnesse, which he was assured to be laide vpon him by God himselfe: or that if he should wrestle with lettes and hinderances, he might not faint and giue ouer in the middest of his course. For it had not ben sufficient to haue prepared him selfe manfully in the beginning, if he had not ben throughly furnished to continue vnto the ende. And although it be the propertie of faith, to encourage vs to take in hande any thing manfully, as likewise by slacknesse and cowardise infidelitie is bewrayed: yet out of this place we may gather, that bare promises haue not sufficient force in them to moue our dull mindes, except there be added the prickes of exhortations. For if Iosue, whose courage was otherwise singular, had yet neede to be stirred vp to doe his duetie, how much more sharply is it necessarie for vs to be pricked, which are so slow and dull by nature? Consider also, that not once nor in one worde, strength and constancie is required of Iosue, but because he was to be exercised with many and sundrie conflictes: he is often and with many wordes confirmed and encouraged. He is willed to be of a valiant and inuincible courage. Although by these two woordes, it might be euident, that God chargeth him with a verie earnest matter, yet not content with this doubling of words, he repeateth the same sentence againe with an amplification: in that he ⟨image 8⟩addeth the Aduerb, greatly and exceedingly. Wherefore out of this place let vs learne, that we shalbe neuer able to execute great and weightie affaires, except we goe about them with all our might: because both our abilitie is small: and Satan hardly withstandeth vs, so that nothing is more like, than that our hearts should faile vs. But because many with wandering and vncerteine attemptes doe bend all their force in vaine, here is set foorth the true meane and way of valiantnesse: namely, that Iosue applie all his studie and endeuour to keepe the lawe of GOD. Whereby wee are taught, that by this meanes we shall become inuincible, if we applie our selues with all our might, to yeeld faithfull obedience to GOD.
