And under that they will have to lye hidden the calling of the Gentiles many years to come: as if Christ said that he would after come to the Gentiles, when he had proved the desperate wickedness of his elected people. But because Christ plainly applieth the similitude: it is not our part this way or that way, to draw his words. And he restraineth the figure to this one sense, that is: even as Jonah, was three days in the belly of the Whale: so must he be three days in the bowels of the earth, as if he should say, that in this he will be like unto Jonah, because he shall be a revived Prophet. And this thing said Jesus advisedly, because he perceived both him self to be contemned of the Jews, and his labour unto them to be unprofitable. Seeing that at this time now you give no ear unto me, neither get I among you any estimation, hereafter will I be a new Prophet, that is: after the resurrection, so then will I begin to speak more effectually, aswell with the Jews, as with the Gentiles, even as Jonah converted Nineveh, when he was returned to life. This is therefore the plain meaning of this place: Therefore was not Jonah a figure of Christ for that he was sent away unto the Gentiles, but because after three days he was revived, when he was in a manner a dead man. Whatsoever it be we see that Jonah is appointed a Teacher to the Ninevites, after that some while he had exercised the office of a Prophet among the people of Israel. They which say that then was made a show of the calling of the Gentiles, yet to come, they bring some thing plausible, or to be borne with: but they seem not to use sound reason, for this was an extraordinary thing. Therefore not as yet did God manifestly show, what thing he would do by the coming of Christ:1 Even as when Naaman the Syrian was converted unto the faith, and a few others, God then altered nothing in the accustomed order. For always there was a special calling of the generation of Abraham, and ⟨p. 3⟩always Religion was shut up within his ancient bounds:2 and always this was certain that God dealt not so with other Nations, as with the Jews, because he revealed not unto them his judgements.
And vnder that they wyll haue to lye hidden the calling of the Gentiles many yéeres to come: as if Christe sayde that he woulde after come to the Gentiles, when he had proued the desperate wickednesse of his elected people. But because Christe plainelie applyeth the simylitude: it is not our parte this way or that way, to drawe his wordes. And he restraineth the figure to this one sence, that is: euen as Ionas, was thrée dayes in the bellye of the Whale: so must hee be three dayes in the bowels of the earth, as if he should saye, that in this he wyll be lyke vnto Ionas, because he shalbe a reuiued Prophete. And this thing sayde Iesus aduisedlie, because he perceyued both him selfe to be contempned of the Iewes, and his labour vnto them to be vnprofitable. Seeing that at this time nowe you geue no eare vnto mée, neither get I among you any estimation, hereafter wyll I be a newe Prophete, that is: after the resurrection, so then wyl I beginne to speake more effectuously, aswell with the Iewes, as with the Gentyles, euen as Ionas conuerted Nineueh, when he was returned to lyfe. This is therefore the plaine meaning of this place: Therefore was not Ionas a figure of Christ for that he was sent away vnto the Gentiles, but because after thrée dayes he was reuiued, when he was in a maner a dead man. Whatsoeuer it be we see that Ionas is appointed a Teacher to the Nineuits, after that some whyle he had exercised the office of a Prophete among the people of Israel. They which saye that then was made a shewe of the calling of the Gentiles, yet to come, they bring some thing plausible, or to be borne with: but they seeme not to vse sounde reason, for this was an extraordinarye thinge. Therefore not as yet did God manifestly shewe, what thing hee woulde doo by the comming of Christe:1 Euen as when Naaman the Syrian was conuerted vnto the faith, and a fewe others, God then altered nothing in the accustomed order. For alwayes there was a speciall calling of the generation of Abraham, and ⟨p. 3⟩alwayes Religion was shut vp within his auncient boūds:2 and alwayes this was certaine that God dealt not so with other Nations, as with the Iewes, because he reuealed not vnto them his iudgements.
- 12. King. 5. ver. 15.
- 2Psal. 147. ver. 20.
