43 The Lord gave, &c.) If any man move question of the rest, the answer is easy, that the nations of Canaan were so terrified and amazed with fear, that they thought nothing more profitable for them, than by slavish flattery to redeem peace of the children of Israel. Therefore the country was throughly subdued, and their habitation peaceable, seeing that no man did either trouble them, or durst enterprise any thing against them, seeing there was no threatening, no treason, no violence, or conspiracies. But of the second point it is doubted, how the children of Israel were placed in the possession of the promised land, & enjoyed it, so that not one syllable wanted in the promises of God of the fruition thereof. Whereas before we ⟨image 95⟩saw, that many enemies were dispersed amongest them. The sentence of God was, that not one should remain alive: yet many they expelled not, but admitted them for their neighbours, as though they had been partakers of the inheritance with them: yea, they make covenants also with them. How do these things agree together, that God gave the people the possession of the land, as he promised it, which yet was excluded from some part thereof by the force or stubbornness of their enemies? That this show of contrariety may be taken away, we must discern between the certain, clear, and steadfast faithfulness of God, in keeping his promises: and the ••ouch and negligence of the people, whereby it came to pass, that the benefit of God did fall away, as it were out of their hands. What wars so ever the people took in hand, into what part so ever they moved their standard, the victory was ready, neither was there any other let or stay, but that they might root out all their enemies, saving their own voluntary slothfulness. Wherefore, although they chased them not away, that the possession might be voided of them: yet the manifest trueth of God did appear, and set forth it self: because it had been no trouble for them to have obtained the rest, if the had listed to embrace the victories that were offered. The sum of all this is, that it was through their own cowardice, that they enjoyed not the full and perfect benefit of God, which we shall see in the next Chapter more plainly.
43 The Lord gaue, &c.) If any man moue question of the rest, the answere is easie, that the nations of Chanaan were so terrified and amased with feare, that they thought nothing more profitable for them, than by slauish flatterie to redeeme peace of the children of Israel. Therefore the contrie was throughly subdued, and their habitation peaceable, seeing that no man did either trouble them, or durst enterprise any thing against them, seeing there was no threatening, no treason, no violence, or conspiracies. But of the second point it is doubted, how the children of Israel were placed in the possession of the promised land, & enioyed it, so that not one syllable wanted in the promises of God of the fruition thereof. Whereas before we ⟨image 95⟩sawe, that manie enimies were dispersed amongest them. The sentence of God was, that not one should remaine aliue: yet many they expelled not, but admitted them for their neighboures, as though they had bene partakers of the inheritaunce with them: yea, they make couenantes also with them. How doe these thinges agree together, that God gaue the people the possession of the land, as he promised it, which yet was excluded from some parte thereof by the force or stubbornesse of their enimies? That this shew of cōtrarietie may be taken away, we must discerne betweene the certeine, cleere, and stedfast faithfulnesse of God, in keeping his promises: and the ••ouch and negligence of the people, whereby it came to passe, that the benefite of God did fall away, as it were out of their hands. What warres so euer the people tooke in hand, into what parte so euer they moued their standard, the victorie was readie, neither was there any other let or stay, but that they might roote out all their enimies, sauing their owne voluntarie slouthfulnesse. Wherefore, although they chaced them not away, that the possession might be voyded of them: yet the manifest trueth of God did appeare, and set forth it selfe: because it had bene no trouble for them to haue obteined the rest, if the had listed to embrace the victories that were offered. The summe of all this is, that it was through their owne cowardise, that they enioyed not the full and perfect benefite of God, which we shall see in the next Chapter more plainly.
