1 When all the Kings, &c.) Seeing these Kings were not ignorant from the beginning of the peoples coming, it is certain, that their minds were made drunk from above with security, or rather slothfulness, that they did not at the first make a league, & join together to come forth against them. For it was a point of extreme blockishness, to take no care of themselves before they were violently drawn out of their drowsiness, by the overthrow of two cities. For because it was a common war, it was a kind of voluntary yielding, to send no aide to their neighbours against their enemies, yea to have no army in a readiness that might violently set upon them for their defence. But by this means God favoured the infirmity of his people, unto whom the strength of so many nations being joined in one, would have been very terrible. Wherefore it is certain, that by their sloth and dullness, the Israelites were made more valiant. For they had time given them to gather their forces together, & they that would have ben troubled with the very name of their enemies, prepare themselves at leisure to be ready to receive them when they came. So although the reprobate do use all means to destroy the church: yet God, to take away from them all power of annoying, doeth scatter and overthrow their counsels: yea doeth cut off their courage. On the other side their furious boldness betrayeth it self, that they are not moved with so manifest a miracle, but they will still set themselves like fierce and mad beasts, against the invincible power of God. The report of the taking of Jericho was brought unto ⟨p. 47⟩them. But how was it taken? By policy or labour of men? By assault, or by artillery was it overthrown? Nay, the walls fell down alone. With what confidence then do they conspire to make war against Heaven?
1 When all the Kings, &c.) Seeing these Kings were not ignorant from the beginning of the peoples comming, it is certaine, that their mindes were made dronke from aboue with securitie, or rather slouthfulnes, that they did not at the first make a league, & ioyne to gether to come foorth against them. For it was a point of extreme blockishnesse, to take no care of thēselues before they were violently drawen out of their drousinesse, by the ouerthrowe of two cities. For because it was a common warre, it was a kinde of voluntarie yeelding, to send no aide to their neighboures against their enimies, yea to haue no armie in a redinesse that might violently set vpon them for their defence. But by this meanes God fauoured the infirmitie of his people, vnto whom the strength of so many nations being ioyned in one, would haue bene very terrible. Wherefore it is certain, that by their slouth and dulnesse, the Israelits were made more valiant. For they had time geuen them to gather their forces together, & they that would haue ben troubled with the very name of their enimies, prepare themselues at leasure to be redy to receiue them when they came. So although the reprobate doe vse all meanes to destroy the church: yet God, to take away from them all power of annoying, doeth scatter and ouerthrowe their counsels: yea doeth cut off their courage. On the other side their furious boldnesse bewraieth it selfe, that they are not moued with so manifest a miracle, but they will still set themselues like fearce and mad beasts, against the inuincible power of God. The report of the taking of Iericho was brought vnto ⟨p. 47⟩them. But how was it taken? By policie or labour of men? By assault, or by artillerie was it ouerthrown? Nay, the walls fell downe alone. With what confidence then do they conspire to make warre against Heauen?
