ALbeit there is nothing that more prouoketh Gods wrath, then mans ingratitude: yet is there nothing ſo diſpleaſant and heinous that can turne backe Gods loue from his Church. For now when the Iſraelites were entred into the land of Canaan, and ſawe the trueth of Gods promes performed, in ſtead of acknowledging his great benefites and giuing thankes for the ſame, they fell to moſte horrible obliuion of Gods graces, contrarie to their ſolemne promes made vnto Ioſhúa, and ſo prouoked his vengeance (as muche as in them ſtode) to their vtter deſtruction. Whereof as they had moſte euident ſignes by the mutabilitie of their ſtate: for he ſuffered them to be moſte cruelly vexed and tormented by tyrants: he pulled them from libertie, and caſt them into ſlauerie, to the intent they might fele their owne miſeries and ſo call vnto him and be deliuered. Yet to ſhewe that his mercies indure for euer, he raiſed vp from time to time ſuche as ſhulde deliuer them and aſſure them of his fauour and grace, if they wolde turne to him by true repentance. And theſe deliuerers the Scripture calleth Iudges, becauſe they were executers of Gods iudgements, not choſen of the people nor by ſucceſsion, but raiſed vp, as it ſemed beſt to God, for the gouernance of his people. They were twelue in nomber beſides Ioſhúa, and gouerned from Ioſhúa vnto Saúl the firſt King of Iſrael. Ioſhúa and theſe vnto the tyme of Saúl ruled 336 yeres. In this boke are manie notable points declared, but two eſpecially: firſt, the battel that the Church of God hathe for the maintenance of true religion againſt idolatrie and ſuperſtition: next, what great danger that commune wealth is in, when as God giueth not a magiſtrate to reteine his people in the purenes of religion and his true ſeruice.