18 Then said Joshua, &c.) When the army was discomfited, then Joshua did freely and at leisure take punishment on the Kings, wherein we must alway consider the commandment of GOD. Or else it had been barbarous cruelty, & intolerable pride, to tread with their feet upon the necks of Kings, and to hang up their dead bodies upon the gallows. For surely, they were not long before lifted up by God, into that excellent dignity, & placed in the royal throne. Wherefore, so to rejoice in despite of them, had been no point of humanity, but that God did so command it. But because he would have it to be so, we must rest in his sentence, neither is it lawful to enquire, Why he was so severe? Although we must remember that, which I touched before, that seeing from the highest to the lowest, they were all worthy of destruction, because their iniquity was come up to the full, the Kings which exceeded the rest in wickedness, deserved the sharper punishment: and secondly, example of rigour, without mercy, was to be showed in their person, least the people fondly desiring the praise of unlawful clemency, should have been made more ready to pardon the rest. For God would have them all to be destroyed, and the execution of this judgement he ⟨image 60⟩had committed to his people. And except he had sharply pricked them forward to do their duty in this behalf, they would have found out goodly pretences of granting of pardon. But that mercy is detestable, which breaketh the authority of God, for the will and pleasure of men. Now when the honour of Kings is not spared, all cause of humanity towards the inferiors, and the whole multitude, is cut off. And by this instruction GOD showeth, how greatly he esteemeth the chosen people: for it was a token, that he did highly esteem them, that he subdued Kings under their feet: that they might insult over their excellency, as much as if they had been poor varlets, as it is said in the Psalm: A two edged sword in their hands, that they may be revenged upon the nations: 1to bind their Kings in fetters, and their Nobles in chains of iron, that they may execute the judgement that is written, Such honour have all his Saints.
18 Then said Ioshue, &c.) When the armie was discomfited, then Iosue did freely and at leisure take punishment on the Kinges, wherein we must alway consider the commaundement of GOD. Or else it had bene barbarous crueltie, & intollerable pride, to tread with their feete vppon the neckes of Kinges, and to hang vp their dead bodies vppon the gallowes. For surely, they were not long before lifted vp by God, into that excellent dignitie, & placed in the royall throne. Wherefore, so to reioyce in despight of them, had bene no point of humanitie, but that God did so commaunde it. But because he would haue it to be so, we must rest in his sentence, neither is it lawfull to enquire, Why he was so seuere? Although we must remember that, which I touched before, that seing from the highest to the lowest, they were all worthie of destruction, because their iniquitie was come vp to the full, the Kings which exceeded the rest in wickednesse, deserued the sharper punishment: and secondly, example of rigour, without mercie, was to be shewed in their person, least the people fondly desiring the praise of vnlawfull clemencie, should haue bene made more readie to pardon the rest. For God would haue them all to be destroyed, and the execution of this iudgement he ⟨image 60⟩had committed to his people. And except he had sharpely pricked them forwarde to doe their duetie in this behalfe, they would haue found out goodly pretences of graunting of pardon. But that mercie is detestable, which breaketh the authoritie of God, for the will and pleasure of men. Now when the honour of Kinges is not spared, all cause of humanitie towardes the inferiours, and the whole multitude, is cut off. And by this instruction GOD sheweth, how greatly he esteemeth the chosen people: for it was a token, that he did highly esteeme them, that he subdued Kinges vnder their feete: that they might insult ouer their excellencie, as much as if they had bene poore varlots, as it is saide in the Psalme: A two edged sword in their handes, that they may be reuenged vppon the nations: 1to bind their Kings in fetters, and their Nobles in chaines of yron, that they may execute the iudgement that is written, Such honour haue all his Saintes.
- 1Psal. 149. 6. 7. 8. 9.
