A16000:26
The prophet Jonah with an introduccio[n] before teaching to understo[n]de him and the right…The prophete Ionas with an introduccio[n] before teachinge to vndersto[n]de him and the right…
The prophet Jonah with an introduccio[n] before teaching to understo[n]de him and the right use also of all the scripture, and why it was written, and what is therein to be sought, and showing wherewith the scripture is locked up that he which readeth it, can not understo[n]de it, though he study therein never so much: and again with what keys it is so opened, that the reader can be stopped out with no sotilte or false doctrine of man, from the true sense and uderstondynge thereof.The prophete Ionas with an introduccio[n] before teachinge to vndersto[n]de him and the right vse also of all the scripture, and why it was written, and what is therin to be sought, and shewenge wherewith the scripture is locked vpp that he which readeth it, can not vndersto[n]de it, though he studie therin never so moch: and agayne with what keyes it is so opened, that the reader can be stopped out with no sotilte or false doctrine of man, from the true sense and vderstondynge therof.
Antwerp : M. de Keyser, 1531?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
W. T. unto the Christen reader.W. T. vn to the Christen reader.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ The heathen s•epinē astonied at y• sight of y• miracle / feared God / prayed to him / offered sacrifice & vowed vows. And I doubt not / but that some of them or haply all came thereby unto the true knowledge & true worshipping of God & ware won to God in their souls. And thus God which is infinite merciful in all his ways / wrought their souls health out of y• infirmity of Jonah / even of his good will & purpose & love wherewith he loved them before the world was made / & not of chance / as it appeareth unto the eyes of the ignorant.
¶ The hethen s•epinē asstonied at y• sight of y• miracle / feared God / prayed to him / offered sacrifice & vowed vowes. And I doute not / but that some of thē or haply all came therby vn to the true knowlege & true worshepinge of God & ware wōne to God in theyr soules. And thꝰ God which is infinite mercifull in all his wayes / wrought their soules health out of y• infirmite of Ionas / euen of his good will & purpose & loue wherewith he loued them before the world was made / & not of chaunce / as it appereth vn to the eyes of the ignoraunt.
¶ And that Jonah was .iij. days & .iij. nights in the belly of his fish: we can not there by prove unto the Jews & infidels or unto any man / y• Christ must therefore dye and be buried & rise again. But we use y• ensample and likeness to strength the saith of the ⟨image 11⟩weak. For he that believeth the one cannot doubt in y• other: in as much as the hand of God was no less mighty in preserving Jonah alive against all natural possibility & in delivering hi safe out of his fish / than in raising up Christ again out of his sepulchre. And we may describe y power & virtue of y resurrection thereby / ac Christ him self borroweth y similitude thereto Mat. xij. saying unto y Jews that came about him & desired a sign or a wonder from heaven to certify them that he was christ: this evil & wed lockebreakinge nation (which break y wedlock of faith wherewith they be married unto God / and believe in their false works) seek a sign / but there shall no sign be given them save the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was. iij. days and iij. nights in the belly of the whale / even so shall the Son of man be. iij. days &. iij. nights in the heart of the earth. Which was a watch word / as we say / & a sharp threatening unto y Jews & as much to say as thus / ye hard hearted Jews seek a sign: lo / this shall be your sign / as Jonah