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…

For although the people having before this time obtained notable victories, dwelled in a country that was of reasonable commodities, and meanly good fruitfulness: yet the promise ⟨image 3⟩of God concerning the land of Canaan remained still in suspense, & wanted execution. Yea, the chiefest point of the covenant, as yet did lack the effect & performance: as though that God, after he had cast the people into a narrow corner, had given over his enterprise, and left it maimed and unperfect.

For although the people hauing before this time obteined notable victories, dwelled in a countrie that was of reasonable commodities, and meanelie good fruitfulnesse: yet the promise ⟨image 3⟩of God concerning the land of Chanaan remained still in suspense, & wanted execution. Yea, the chiefest point of the couenant, as yet did lacke the effect & performaunce: as though that God, after he had cast the people into a narrowe corner, had geuen ouer his enterprise, and left it maymed and vnperfect.

This book therefore declareth, that when the intolerable ungodliness of the people had broken off the course of their deliverance, yet God notwithstanding in taking punishment of their sins, did so temper the rigour of his judgement, that nevertheless at the length he performed whatsoever he promised of the inheritance of the land of Canaan. Where also we meet with a very profitable consideration: that although men being taken away by death, do fail in the middest of their course, yet the faith of Gods promise never falleth away. There seemed to follow by the death of Moses an heavy change & conversion of the state. The people were left as a body whose head was cut off. In this so great fear of their dispersion, appeared not only the immortal truth of God, which never dieth, though men decay, but also in the person of Joshua was declared and showed as it were in a notable clear glass, that when God taketh away those men, whom he hath adorned with singular gifts, he hath enow in store, whom he can set up in their place: and that, although he will have some men to excel for a time, yet his power is not so tied unto their persons, but he can find successors for them, whensoever it pleaseth him: yea, he can raise up men of stones, which shall be meet to take in hand the greatest affairs.