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…

11 Take good heed therefore unto your selves, that ye love the Lord your God.

11 Take good heede therefore vnto your selues, that ye loue the Lord your God.

Here is reported that solemn contestation, which Joshua used a little before his death, that he might leave the pure worship of God alive behind him. And although the peace and rest, which the Israelites had obtained among the nations of Canaan, be here rehearsed for an excellent benefit of God: yet it is meet we call to remembrance, that which I taught before, as it came to pass through their own slothfulness, that they dwelled among their enemies, whom they ought to have chased away and destroyed. But yet the mercy of God is worthily praised, that he pardoned their unthankfulness. Also this godly carefulness of Joshua is here set forth to be followed of all them that be in authority. For as he shall not be counted a good father nor a provident, which thinketh of his children but unto the end of his life, except he extend his care further, and as much as lieth in him doeth provide for them after his death: so good magistrates & governors ought to foresee, that such good and well ordered state as they leave, they confirm & prolong for a long time after them. For this cause Peter saith, that he would endeavour, ¹that after he was departed out of the world, the Church might still be mindful of his admonitions, and receive some fruit of them. Where it is said, that he called all Israel, it followeth immediately after, the Elders, and Heads, and Judges, and Rulers, which I do thus interpret, that it was free for all men to come, but that assembly was appointed of Heads and Rulers. And so this later member of the sentence seemeth to me, to be an exposition of the former. And surely, it is by no means credible, that the whole people was ⟨image 102⟩called together, neither could it be. Therefore after this manner, the people were called, because the •lers, Judges, and such like, were commanded to come, and to bring with them as many as would willingly come. Here is indeed rehearsed a double speech of Joshua: but the writer of the history seemeth to me first to touch the sum of his whole oration briefly, as the use of the tongue is, and afterward to prosecute more at large, and to comprehend that which he omitted. In this part, which hath the first place, Joshua doth briefly exhorts and encourage the people to a certain trust in the continual and unwearied grace of God.