19 And Joshua said, &c.) Here it seemeth, that Joshua doth altogether unreasonably, which discourageth the prompt and willing desire of the people. For to what end doeth he deny, that they are able to serve God, but that by very impossibility he might cast them in despair, whereby they must needs be alienated from the fear of God: But by this so sharp contestation, it was needful, that the people, which were slack and dull through security, should be awakened, which thing we see lacked not good success, though it continued not long. For they are not discouraged nor made slacker: but having overcome this hinderance, they answer readily, that they will be constant in doing their duty. Finally, Joshua doeth not discourage them from serving God: but only declareth, how stubborn and disobedient they are, that they may learn to change their froward disposition. So Moses, in his song, when he seemeth to make a divorce between God and them, doth nothing else but prick and sharpen them, that they go not forward to be like themselves. 1Joshua in deed doth reason simply of the nature of God: but chiefly he bendeth his edge against the froward manners and untamed stubbornness ⟨p. 104⟩of the people. He pronounceth, that God is holy and zealous. This truly should not discourage men from his service: but hereof it followeth, that he will have nothing to do with them that be unpure, wicked, and unholy contemners of him, and which are not afraid to provoke him to anger. For such shall find him unable to be appeased. But where it is said, that he will not spare their wickedness, no general rule is set down: but the speech is directed against disobedient persons, as in many places beside. For he speaketh not here of every offence, and special sin, but of the gross denying of God, as the next verse doth show. Wherefore, the people do answer more freely, that they will serve God.
19 And Iosue sayed, &c.) Here it seemeth, that Iosue doth altogether vnreasonably, which discourageth the prompt and willing desire of the people. For to what end doeth he denie, that they are able to serue God, but that by verie impossibilitie he might cast them in despaire, whereby they must needes be alienated from the feare of God: But by this so sharpe contestation, it was needefull, that the people, which were slacke and dull through securitie, shoulde be awakened, which thing we see lacked not good successe, though it continued not long. For they are not discouraged nor made slacker: but hauing ouercome this hinderance, they answere redily, that they will be constant in doing their duetie. Finally, Iosue doeth not discourage them from seruing God: but onely declareth, howe stubborne and disobedient they are, that they may learne to chaunge their frowarde disposition. So Moses, in his song, when he seemeth to make a diuorce betweene God and them, doth nothing else but pricke and sharpen them, that they goe not forward to be like themselues. 1Iosue in deede doth reason simply of the nature of God: but chiefly he bendeth his edge against the froward manners and vntamed stubbornesse ⟨p. 104⟩of the people. He pronounceth, that God is holy and zealous. This truely should not discourage men from his seruice: but hereof it followeth, that he will haue nothing to do with them that be vnpure, wicked, and vnholy contemners of him, and which are not afraide to prouoke him to anger. For such shall finde him vnable to be appeased. But where it is said, that he will not spare their wickednesse, no generall rule is set downe: but the speache is directed against disobedient persons, as in many places beside. For he speaketh not here of euerie offence, and speciall sinne, but of the grosse denying of God, as the next verse doth shewe. Wherefore, the people doe answeare more freely, that they will serue God.
- 1Deut. 32.
