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…

Otherwise it were better for us to lie still like sluggards and cowards, than to be carried forth with rash and headlong boldness. Moreover, God will not have his servant to be valiant only to keep the law, but rather he willeth him to contend manfully, that he faint not under the burden of his painful office: but because this doubt might trouble him, how he should acquit himself in matters of perplexity, and what counsel he should take: he calleth him to the doctrine of the law, for that in following God, who therein goeth before him, he should be sufficiently instructed, for all matters. Thou shalt do wisely (saith he) in all things, so long as thou keepest thy self under the direction of the law. Although the Hebrew Verb SHACAL doth not only signify to do wisely, but also to prosper, because rashness is for the most part punished with misfortunes. How so ever it be, by this mean he is more certainly encouraged to hope for the help of God, if he give himself wholly to be his scholar. For it is a matter of great force to comfort us, when any danger is at hand to make us afraid, that we can assure our selves, that the matter we have in hand pleaseth God, because we seek nothing else but to obey his commandments. And because it were not sufficient to obey God in some part, he commendeth unto him modesty and sobriety, by which Joshua should be retained in simple obedience. For many, which are otherwise well affected, do some times take upon them to be wiser than they ought to be: whereby it cometh to pass, that through negligence they omit many things, or else mingle their own devises with the commandment of God. Therefore that which was ¹generally forbidden unto all men by the law, to add or take any ⟨p. 4⟩thing away: now doth God especially apply to Joshua: for if this be the only right way for private men to frame their lives, it is much more necessary for them that rule & govern the people, namely that they submit them selves to God. And if so excellent a person as Joshua was, had need of this bridle of modesty to keep him in, that he passed not his bounds: what intolerable boldness would it be, if we that be far inferior unto him, should take more liberty unto our selves?

Otherwise it were better for vs to lie still like •luggardes and cowardes, than to be carried foorth with rashe and headlong boldnesse. Moreouer, God will not haue his seruant to be valiant onely to keepe the lawe, but rather he willeth him to contende manfully, that he faint not vnder the burthen of his painefull office: but because this doubt might trouble him, how he should acquite himselfe in matters of perplexitie, and what counsell he should take: he calleth him to the doctrine of the lawe, for that in following God, who therein goeth before him, he should be sufficiently instructed, for all matters. Thou shalte do wisely (saith he) in all thinges, so long as thou keepest thy selfe vnder the direction of the lawe. Although the Hebrue Uerbe SHACAL doth not onely signifie to do wisely, but also to prosper, because rashnesse is for the most parte punished with misfortunes. How so euer it be, by this meane he is more certainely encouraged to hope for the helpe of God, if he giue himselfe wholy to be his scholer. For it is a matter of great force to comfort vs, when any daunger is at hande to make vs afraide, that we can assure our selues, that the matter we haue in hande pleaseth God, because we seeke nothing else but to obey his commandementes. And because it were not sufficient to obey God in some part, he commendeth vnto him modestie and sobrietie, by which Iosue shoulde be reteined in simple obedience. For many, whiche are otherwise well affected, doe some times take vpon them to be wiser than they ought to be: whereby it commeth to passe, that through negligence they omitte many thinges, or els mingle their owne deuises with the commaundement of God. Therefore that which was