Jonah the messenger of Ninevehs repentance Set forth in his calling, rebellion, and punishment.…Ionah the messenger of Ninevehs repentance Set forth in his calling, rebellion, and punishment.…

They cast lots.

But first, they consult and consent to cast lots. The tempest was so strong that they concluded with themselves, it was the revenging power of some angry God, for the sin of some notorious wretch that was amongst them.

Seeing therefore neither they, nor Jonah praying, had appeased the tempest, but it was rather increased, and no man confessed he was the sinner, ⟨p. 131⟩they take counsel, and agree to find him out by lots, wherein let us observe; first, never a one of them is of Davids spirit, who when he saw the people plagued, said, Lord it is I: Every man excuseth himself: for every man would extenuate his own sin, and diminish it, and every one thinketh his sin salved, when he hath excused himself. Let Adam be his own judge, and he will say. The woman tempted him to sin: and let the woman be her own judge, and she will ⟨p. 132⟩say, Yonder Serpent persuaded her to it. Let every one be his own judge, and there will be such posting off of sin, that never a one will be found guilty. There is none that will be so impudent, as to say he hath no sin at all, yet few that will freely confess they have grievously sinned. Therefore these here say every man within himself, though he be a sinner, yet he is no great sinner. None are accounted sinners, unless they be openly detected of some notable and heinous ⟨p. 133⟩crime. If they be dicers, swearers, drunkards, brawlers, pickers, flatterers, profaners of the Sabbath, sleepers at Church, and such like, they be not thought sinners: these actions are counted no sins, but rather recreations. For the multitude count none sinners, unless they be thieves, traitors, open and gross Idolaters, and taken with such like capital crimes: no more these neither, were it not for fear of the law: as none among the Jews, but Publicans, were counted