6 The Lord said, &c.) The more hard and difficult it was, to overthrow so mighty and well furnished an army: so much the more necessary it was for them to be newly confirmed in faith, that they might have good courage. Wherefore God appeareth to his servant Joshua, and promiseth, that he would give him the same success, which he had done in his other wars before. And we must note diligently, that so often as he repeateth his promises, men are admonished either of their forgetfulness, or of their slothfulness, or of their lightness. For except new and fresh nourishments be often times added to our faith, they will soon wax cold and vanish away. And yet we are sick of a froward loathsomeness, that almost it grieveth us, to hear one thing twice. Wherefore let us learn, whensoever new conflicts are at hand, to call to our mind the promise of God, which may reform our slothfulness, and stir up our dullness. Especially, that which is spoken generally, we must apply it to our daily use: like as now God doeth especially confirm in the present matter in hand, that which he had pronounced of all the nations. But by the circumstance of the time it may ⟨image 64⟩be gathered, that those Kings, had set them selves forward a good way in their journey, that they might have set upon Joshua, and the people in Gilgal. For immediately after the answer of God, is added the journey of Joshua. And the victory is promised the next day, therefore they were not far off. And the lake Meram, where they had pitched their camp, which adjoineth unto Jordan, is nearer to Gilgal than Genasara, out of which coast part of the enemies were come. For they say, that this lake doeth either diminish or increase, as the snow is either hardened in the mountains, or else melteth down. But where commandment is given to Joshua, and the people, to hough the horses, and burn the chariots, no doubt but it did signify, that all such principal furniture of war, as was in use with the profane nations, must be taken away from the people of God. For he would have them to hold wars, and valiantly to fight against their enemies, but so, that they should depend only upon God: that they might remember, that they were valiant by his power, that they might trust only in him: which could scarce have been, if they had been furnished with horsemen and chariots.
6 The Lorde saide, &c.) The more harde and difficult it was, to ouerthrowe so mightie and well furnished an armie: so much the more necessarie it was for them to be newly confirmed in faith, that they might haue good courage. Wherefore God appeareth to his seruant Iosue, and promiseth, that he woulde giue him the same successe, which he had done in his other warres before. And we must note diligently, that so often as he repeateth his promises, men are admonished either of their forgetfulnesse, or of their siouthfulnesse, or of their lightnesse. For except newe and fresh nourishmentes be often times added to our faith, they will soone waxe cold and vanish away. And yet we are sicke of a froward lothsomnesse, that almost it greeueth vs, to heare one thinge twise. Wherefore let vs learne, whensoeuer newe conflictes are at hande, to call to our minde the promise of God, which may reforme our slouthfulnesse, and stirre vp our dulnesse. Especially, that which is spoken generally, we must applie it to our daily vse: like as now God doeth especially confirme in the present matter in hand, that which he had pronounced of all the nations. But by the circumstance of the time it may ⟨image 64⟩be gathered, that those Kinges, had set them selues forwarde a good way in their iorney, that they might haue set vpon Iosue, and the people in Gilgal. For immediatly after the answer of God, is added the iorney of Iosue. And the victorie is promised the next day, therefore they were not farre off. And the lake Meram, where they had pitched their campe, which adioyneth vnto Iordan, is neerer to Gilgal than Genasara, out of which coast part of the enimies were come. For they say, that this lake doeth either diminish or increase, as the snowe is either hardened in the mountaines, or else mealceth downe. But where commandement is giuen to Iosue, and the people, to hough the horses, and burne the charriots, no doubt but it did signifie, that all such principall furniture of warre, as was in vse with the prophane nations, must be taken away from the people of God. For he would haue them to hold warres, and valiantly to fight against their enimies, but so, that they should depend onely vpon God: that they might remember, that they were valiant by his power, that they might trust onely in him: which could scarse haue bene, if they had bene furnished with horsmen and charriots.
