A16000:48
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.
¶ And in the last end of all / thou hast yet a goodly ensample of learning / to see how earth ye Jonah is still for all his trying in the whales belly. He was so sore displeased because the Ninevites perished not / that he was weary of his life and wished after the death for very sorrow & pain / that he had lost the glory of his prophesying / in that his prophecy come not to pass. But god rebuked him with a likeness saying: it grieveth thine heart for the loss of a vile shrub be or spray / whereon thou bestoweddest no labour or cost / nether was it thine handiwork. How much more then should grieve mine heart / the loss of so great a multitude of innocents as are in Nineveh / which are all mine hands work. Nay Jonah / Jam God over all / and father as well unto the heathen as unto the Jews and merciful to all and warn ere I smite: nether threaten I so cruelly by any prophet / but that I will ⟨image 17⟩forgive if they repent and axe mercy: nether on the other side / what soever I promise / will I fulfil it / save for their sakes only which trust in me and submit them selves to keep my laws of very love / as natural children.
¶ And in the last ende of all / thou hast yet a goodly ensample of lernynge / to se how erth ye Jonas is styll for all hys tryenge in the whales bely. He was so sore displeased because the Niniuites perished not / that he was wery of hys lyfe and wished after the deeth for very sorow & payne / that he had loost the glorie of his prophesienge / in that his prophesie come not to passe. But god rebuked him with a likenesse sayenge: it greueth thyne hert for the losse of a vile shrob be or spraye / wheron thou bestoweddest no loboure or cost / nether was it thyne handwerke. How moch moare then shuld greue myne herte / the losse of so greate a multitude of innocētes as are in Niniue / which are all myne handes werke. Nay Jonas / Jam God ouer all / and father as well vn to the hethen as vn to the Jewes ād mercifull to all and warne yer I smyte: nether threte I so cruelly by any prophete / but that I wyll ⟨image 17⟩forgeue yf they repent ād ax mercie: nether on the other syde / what soeuer I promyse / wyll I fulfyll it / saue for theyr sakes only whych trust in me and submitte them selues to kepe my lawes of very loue / as naturall chyldern.