The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 120
SECT. CXX.
JOſhua rebuilt the City of Timnath-ſerah in Mount Ephram, in which he dwelt ſeveral years, after God had given reſt to the Iſraelites. And having lived 110 years [which was the age of Joſeph] and finding his death to approach, He called for all Iſrael; that is, the repreſentative body of the people, viz. the Elders of each Tribe, with their Magiſtrates, Judges, and Officers to come to him. He tells them, He was now old and ſtricken in years: They had ſeen the great things the Lord had done for them, and how he had fought for them, and vanquiſhed the Canaanites. 'Tis true, they were not all yet ſubdued, but yet He had divided the Inheritances of thoſe that remained unto them by lot; and though he died and left the Work unfiniſhed, yet they might aſſure themſelves if they continued ſtedfaſt to the Lord, He would in due time perfect the Work He had begun, and perform all that He had promiſed, and drive out the Nations that were not yet driven out. He bids them therefore to be of good courage, and carefully to obſerve the Commandments of the Lord, not turning aſide from them to the right hand or to the left. He exhorts them to take heed of any familiar Converſe with thoſe Nations that remain'd among them, or to make Marriages with them, or to have any thing to do with their gods; He would not have them ſo much as to take the Name of their falſe gods into their Lips with any liking of them, [ſee Pſal. 16.4.] nor cauſe the men of theſe Nations to ſwear by their Idols, to juſtifie their Sayings, or confirm their Promiſes. Neither ſhould the Judges admit of an Oath by their Idols in the trial of any Cauſe, much leſs ſhould they bow down to them and ſerve them; but they ſhould cleave to the Lord their God, as they had done ſince they came under his Government.*Since that time we read not of any notable Rebellion of this people againſt God, ſee Judg. 2.7. The Lord [ſays He] has driven out for you great and potent Nations. None of them that you encountred were able to ſtand before you; And He will ſtill be with you, if you will be faithful unto Him. He will ſo Arm you with Courage and Strength, and will ſo diſpirit and weaken your Enemies with fear, that one of you ſhall chaſe a thouſand of them; that is, a few of you ſhall vanquiſh great numbers of them, ſee Deut. 32.30. Levit. 26.8. Judges 15.15. 2 Sam. 23.8. But know ye for certain, That if ye Revolt from the good way of your Obedience to God, wherein you have formerly walked, and cleave to the remnant of theſe Nations, and joyn your ſelves with them in Leagues or Marriages, then the Lord will not drive them out before you, but they ſhall be Snares and Traps unto you, and Scourges in your Sides, and Thorns in your Eyes; that is, they will be continually by their allurements drawing you into Idolatry and other Sins, and ſo will catch you with their Wiles, and by their Baits draw you to commit ſpiritual and corporal Whoredom with them; and then by their Injuries will vex and diſquiet you, until you be caſt out (for your ſins) from this good Land which the Lord has given you. And now behold I am going the way of all the Earth. I muſt die as all other men that live upon the Earth muſt do. And ſeeing my death approacheth, I thought good to tell you before-hand what will become of you, if ye tranſgreſs the Covenant of the Lord your God. You know there hath not any of the good things failed of coming to paſs, which the Lord promiſed you, ſee Ch. 21.45. And as the Lord hath hitherto been very good to you in performing all that He had promiſed you; ſo if ye tranſgreſs his Covenant, He will bring upon you all the Evils which He hath threatned againſt the Tranſgreſſors of it, and even at laſt will cauſe you to be carried Captive out of this good Land.
Joſh. Ch. 23. whole Chapter.