A17683:138
The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…
The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of the Church of God in Geneva, upon the prophet Jonah, by N.B. student in Divinity. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. John, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of the Church of God in Geneua, vpon the prophet Ionas, by N.B. student in Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. Iohn, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.
London: printed by J. Charlewood for Edward White, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Chap. 1.
The text. ¶And the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying: Arise, go to Nineveh to that great City, and cry against it, because the wickedness of them is come up before my face.
The text. ¶And the worde of the Lorde came to Ionas the sonne of Amittai, saying: Aryse, goe to Nineueh to that great Citie, and crye against it, because the wickednesse of them is come vp before my face.
Calvin. Jonah seemeth here (as I have touched already) covertly to note that he was before this time called to the office of teaching: for that, after that sort he speaketh, as if he compiled this History together with his ordinary function. The word of God therefore began not only to come to Jonah ⟨p. 2⟩when he was sent to Nineveh, but when he was an ordinary Prophet, the Lord would also transfer his labour to other Nations. But that he was sent unto Nineveh: it might be that the Lord, weary of the obstinacy of his own people, would show an example of godly docility, in a profane and incircumcised Nation, whereby he might make the Israelites the more inexcusable. They outwardly gave honour to true piety: they boasted that they were a holy people. Circumcision was unto them a token and pledge of the covenant of God: yet despised they all the Prophets, that teaching with them might be unprofitable. It is therefore probable, that the Prophet was taken away from them, that the Ninevites with their example might augment the crime of the people of Israel, for that in three days they were converted unto God, after that Jonah preached there. But with the Israelites and their Gentiles, nothing long time he profited, when as yet sufficiently was his authority established, and that unto their profit as we have said of late. For Jonah prophesied that the kingdom of Israel as yet should continue: although they were worthy to perish, the Lord yet performed that which he had spoken by the mouth of his servant. They ought therefore to have embraced his doctrine, not only because it was of God, but also because the Lord would have it to be amiable unto them. And I truly do not doubt but that the ingratitude of the people by this means was increased, seeing that the Ninevites repented at the voice of Jonah, and that in short time: but the Israelites always continued hardened in their stubbornness. And therefore certain men more subtly then wisely, do expound this place of