And we must remember, that which I said, that nothing else was declared by the lot, but that the border of the sons of Judah joined upon the land of Edom, and the sons of Sin, and that on the other side, they bordered upon the brook of Egypt, and upon the Midland sea: but they that were chosen to be ⟨p. 73⟩dividers, as their judgement served them, according to the multitude of men, did measure out how great their portion should be, & did not enlarge their bounds further: & the same reason they followed in the rest, as the nearness of the places required. Neither did the error which they committed, any thing hinder, but that which they decreed remained steadfast. For as they were not ashamed in part to retract that portion, which they had made unadvisedly: so on the other side, when the people did see, that they handled the matter, with all faithfulness and upright dealing, they did willingly submit them selves to their decree: neither did a particular error let a general action from being confirmed & ratified. It shall not be amiss, in one word to touch the city of Jebus, which afterward was called Jerusalem. Although it was already, by the secret counsel of God, chosen to be his Sanctuary, and the seat of the kingdom, which should be there: yet it was possessed of the enemies, until the time of David. For in that they were so long deprived of that place, in which was grounded the holiness, excellency, and beauty of all the land beside: therein appeared plainly the curse of God, to punish the slothfulness of the people. For it was as much, as if the chief and principal ornament and dignity of the land, were taken away from them. But on the other part did shine the marvellous goodness of God, that the Jebusites, which after their time was prolonged, seemed to have taken so deep and sure root in the land: yet for all that were rooted out, and pulled out of their place, when they thought least of it.
And we must remember, that which I said, that nothing else was declared by the lot, but that the border of the sonnes of Iuda ioyned vppon the land of Edom, and the sonnes of Sin, and that on the other side, they bordered vpon the brooke of Egypt, and vppon the Midland sea: but they that were chosen to be ⟨p. 73⟩diuiders, as their iudgement serued them, according to the multitude of men, did measure out how great their portion should be, & did not enlarge their boundes further: & the same reason they followed in the rest, as the neerenesse of the places required. Neither did the errour which they committed, any thing hinder, but that which they decreed remained stedfast. For as they were not ashamed in parte to retracte that portion, which they had made vnaduisedly: so on the other side, when the people did see, that they handled the matter, with all faithfulnesse and vpright dealing, they did willingly submit them selues to their decree: neither did a particular errour let a generall action from being confirmed & ratified. It shall not be amisse, in one worde to touch the citie of Iebus, which afterward was called Hierusalem. Although it was alreadie, by the secreat counsell of God, chosen to be his Sanctuarie, and the seate of the kingdome, which should be there: yet it was possessed of the enimies, vntill the time of Dauid. For in that they were so long depriued of that place, in which was grounded the holinesse, excellencie, and beautie of all the lande beside: therein appeared plainly the curse of God, to punish the slouthfulnesse of the people. For it was as much, as if the cheefe and principall ornament and dignitie of the land, were taken away from them. But on the other parte did shine the meruelious goodnesse of God, that the Iebusites, which after their time was prolonged, seemed to haue taken so deepe and sure roote in the land: yet for all that were rooted out, and pulled out of their place, when they thought least of it.
