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…

But that which they prate of as Parrots, Rahab pronouncing out of the sincere affection of faith that God had given that land to the children of Israel, because all the inhabitants melted before them, doeth challenge unto God that government over the hearts of men, which the pride of the world doeth deny him to have. For although the experience of all ages hath showed, that more armies have been vanquished and put to flight, by a sudden fear and terror ⟨image 15⟩unlooked for, than by violence & force of their enemies: yet this knowledge soon vanisheth out of mens minds. Whereupon it cometh to pass, that the conquerors have always extolled their own valiantness, & gloried of their prosperous success, that they them selves were warlike and valiant men. Sometimes I confess, they perceived, that their courage and bold spirit unto battle was of some other occasion either given them, or taken from them: wherefore they acknowledged that fortune was of great authority in the wars, and that she had in a manner the whole government of them: insomuch that a Proverb grew of sudden terrors, which they called Panicall fears. Vows also were height as well to Jupiter the stayer or stander out, as to the God of fear: but this persuasion was never throughly settled in their minds, that every man is so far forth valiant, as God shall give him a good courage: or so far forth timorous, as God shall cast down his boldness. But Rahab acknowledgeth, that the nations of Canaan were stricken with fear by God, in such sort, that they condemned them selves afore hand: and thereof she gathereth, that in as much as the children of Israel were so terrible unto them, it was a foretoken of their victory, because they fought under the conduct of God. But whereas all their hearts were fallen down, & as it were melted away for fear, and yet with obstinate madness, they prepared them selves to resist: it may well be seen, that when the ungodly are cast down, being broken and bruised to dust by the hand of God, yet are they not subdued to receive his yoke: but that in their fear and perplexity they still remain untameable. And here it is to be noted, how in a fear that is common to all men, the faithful differ from the unbelievers: in which behalf also we may plainly see the faith of Rahab. For she also feared as much as any one of all the people.

But that which they prate of as Parrats, Rahab pronouncing out of the sincere affection of faith that God had geuen that land to the children of Israel, because all the inhabitauntes mealted before them, doeth challenge vnto God that gouernement ouer the hearts of men, which the pride of the world doeth denie him to haue. For although the experience of all ages hath shewed, that more armies haue bene vanquished and put to flight, by a soudaine feare and errour