A Golden Chain

But God awoke him out of his dream, and set his sins before his face: for when the lot had caught Jonah, then be sure that his sin came to remembrance again, and that his conscience raged no less then the waters of the sea. And then he thought, he only was a sinner, and thought also that as verily as he had fled from God, as verily God had cast him away: for the sight of the rod maketh the natural child not only to see and acknowledge his fault, but also to forget all his fathers old mercy and goodness. And then he confessed his sin openly, and of very desperation to have lived any longer he had cast himself into the sea betimes, except they would be lost also: for all this God provided a fish to swallow Jonah. When Jonah had been in the fishes belly a space, the rage of his conscience was somewhat quieted, and he came to himself again, and had received a little hope, and the qualms and pangs of desperation which went over his heart were half overcome: then he prayed to God, and gave thanks unto him. When Jonah was cast upon the land again, then his will was free, and he had ⟨p. 629⟩power to go whither God sent him, and to what God commanded him, his own imagination laid apart: for he had been at a new school, and in a furnace where he was purged of much refuse & dross of fleshly wisdom which resisted the wisdom of God. For as far as we be blind in Adam we cannot but seek and will our own profit, pleasure, and glory: and as far as we be taught in the spirit, we cannot but seek and will the pleasure of God only. Then Jonah preached to Nineveh, and they repented: then Jonah showed again his corrupt nature for all his trying in the Whales belly. He was so displeased because the Ninevites perished not, that he was weary of his life, and wished death for very sorrow, that he had lost the glory of his prophesying, in that his prophecy came not to pass, but he was rebuked of God, as in his prophecy you may read. The Apostles, Christ taught them ever to be meek and to humble themselves: yet oft they strived among themselves who should be greatest: the sons of Zebedee would fit one on the right hand of Christ, the other on the left. They would pray that fire might descend from heaven and consume the Samaritans. When Christ asked, Who say men that I am?

But God awoke him out of his dreame, and set his sinnes before his face: for when the lot had caught Ionas, then be sure that his sinne came to remembrance againe, and that his conscience raged no lesse then the waters of the sea. And then he thought, he onely was a sinner, and thought also that as verily as he had fled from God, as verily God had cast him away: for the sight of the rod maketh the naturall child not onely to see and acknowledge his fault, but also to forget al his fathers old mercy and goodnes. And then he confessed his sinne openly, and of very desperation to haue liued any longer he had cast himselfe into the sea betimes, except they would be lost also: for all this God prouided a fish to swallow Ionas. When Ionas had beene in the fishes bellie a space, the rage of his conscience was somewhat quieted, and he came to himselfe againe, and had receiued a little hope, and the qualmes and pangs of desperation which went ouer his heart were halfe ouercome: then he praied to God, and gaue thanks vnto him. When Ionas was cast vpon the land againe, then his will was free, and he had