Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 24:19

19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD : for he is an holy God: he is a jealous God , he will not forgive your transgressions , nor your sins.

He speaks not of an absolute impossibility, (for then both his resolution to serve God himself, and his exhortation to them to do so, had been vain and ridiculous; but of a moral impossibility, or a very great difficulty, which he alledgeth, not to discourage them from Gods Service, which is his great design to engage them in; but only to make them more considerate and cautious in obliging themselves; and more circumspect and resolved in answering their obligations. The meaning is, Gods Service is not, as you seem to fancy, a slight and easy thing, as soon done as said; but it is a work of great difficulty, and requires great care, and courage and resolution; and when I consider the infinite purity of God, that he will not be mocked or abused; and withal your great and often manifested proneness to Superstition and Idolatry, even during the Life of Moses, and in some of you, whilst I live, and whilest the obligations which God hath laid upon you in this Land, are fresh in remembrance; I cannot but fear that after my Decease you will think the Service of God too hard and burdensom for you, and therefore will cast it off, and revolt from him, if you do not double your Watch, and carefully avoid all occasions of Idolatry, which I fear you will not do, but I do hereby exhort you to do.

He will not endure a corrival, or partner in his Worship; you cannot serve him and Idols together, as you will be inclined and tempted to do.

If you who own your selves for his People and Servants, shall wickedly and wilfully transgress his Laws by Idolatry or other Crimes, he will not let this go unpunished in you, as he doth in other Nations; Therefore consider what you do when you take the Lord for your God, weigh your advantages and inconveniences together; for as if you be sincere and faithful in Gods Service, you will have admirable benefits by it; so if you be false to your Professions, and forsake him whom you have so solemnly avouched to be your God, he will deal more severely with you, than with any people in the World.

Marginal references: Exod. 23. 21