n their wars and in peace, and
had composed them a body of laws, and procured them an excellent form
of government, he foretold, as God had declared to him that if they
transgressed that institution for the worship of God, they should
experience the following miseries:--Their land should be full of weapons
of war from their enemies, and their cities should be overthrown, and
their temple should be burnt that they should be sold for slaves, to
such men as would have no pity on them in their afflictions; that they
would then repent, when that repentance would no way profit them under
their sufferings. "Yet," said he, "will that God who founded your
nation, restore your cities to your citizens, with their temple also;
and you shall lose these advantages not once only, but often."

47. Now when Moses had encouraged Joshua to lead out the army against
the Canaanites, by telling him that God would assist him in all his
undertakings, and had blessed the whole multitude, he said, "Since I am
going to my forefathers, and God has determined that this should be the
day of my departure to them, I return him thanks while I am still alive
and present with you, for that providence he hath exercised over you,
which hath not only delivered us from the miseries we lay under, but
hath bestowed a state of prosperity upon us; as also, that he hath
assisted me in the pains I took, and in all the contrivances I had in
my care about you, in order to better your condition, and hath on all
occasions showed himself favorable to us; or rather he it was who first
conducted our affairs, and brought them to a happy conclusion, by making
use of me as a vicarious general under him, and as a minister in those
matters wherein he was willing to do you good: on which account I think
it proper to bless that Divine Power which will take care of you for the
time to come, and this in order to repay that debt which I owe him, and
to leave behind me a memorial that we are obliged to worship and honor
him, and to keep those laws which are the most excellent gift of
all those he hath already bestowed upon us, or which, if he continue
favorable to us, he will bestow upon us hereafter. Certainly a human
legislator is a terrible enemy when his laws are affronted, and are
made to no purpose. And may you never experience that displeasure of God
which will be the consequence of the neglect of these his laws, which
he, who is your Creator, hath given you."

48. When Mos