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…

truly I shall come into the principal seat of that Monarchy, which this day treadeth all the earth under feet: I being a contemned and obscure: and moreover shall bring a message full of hatred, which immediately shall stir up the minds of men unto fury. What shall I say to the Ninevites? you are wicked men: God can no longer suffer your impiety: therefore horrible vengeance is at hand unto you. Howe shall I be entertained? Therefore Jonah might, being as yet environed with the infirmities of the flesh, conceive fear in his mind, which might cast away, or shake off from him the affection of obedience. And I doubt not for my part, but Jonah pondered all these things with him self: for he was not like a block. And this is not superfluous as I said before, that he declared that City to be great. God truly was willing to remove the offence: but Jonah argueth on the contrary part; I see sharp war shall come upon me, yea an heap of troubles to invade me, which an hundred times might overwhelm me: when the Lord not in vain foretold him of the greatness of the City. And although he might conceive hope, if they were rebuked that they would yield due honour unto God, yet he confesseth that this cometh as a let into his mind, that he should not go forward in the course of ⟨image 15⟩his calling. Therefore aswell distrust, as fear of the flesh, did delay or stay Jonah: and that novelty or strangeness, might even as I have said already, move him, that he had rather as it were enter the grave, then to undertake that office,¹ which in a manner was void of all reason. For to what end are the Prophets sent, but that they might profit somewhat by their labour, and might reap some fruit: but Jonah hoped for no such thing. Moreover, to the Prophets is given some authority, or at the least some liberty to teach. But Jonah thought that all ways to enter were shut from him. And further, Jonah thought that this was contrary to the covenant of the Lord. For he had chosen one only people to him self: and now Jonah thought that he was as it were tied to one stake, when he was ordained a Teacher in his own country. He could not therefore be taken thence to another place, but he felt in him self great resistance.

truelie I shall come into the principall seate of that Monarchie, which this daye treadeth all the earth vnder féete: I being a contemned and obscure: and moreouer shall bring a message full of hatred, which immediatlie shall styrre vp the mindes of men vnto furie. What shall I saye to the Nineuits? you are wicked men: God can no longer suffer your impietie: therefore horrible vengeaunce is at hande vnto you. Howe shall I be entertayned? Therefore Ionas might, being as yet enuironed with the infirmities of the fleshe, conceyue feare in his minde, which might cast awaye, or shake off from him the affection of obedience. And I doubt not for my parte, but Ionas pondered all these thinges with him selfe: for he was not lyke a blocke. And this is not superfluous as I sayde before, that he declared that Citie to be greate. God truely was wylling to remoue the offence: but Ionas argueth on the contrarie part; I see sharpe warre shall come vppon mée, yea an heape of troubles to inuade mee, which an hundred tymes myght ouerwhelme mée: when the Lorde not in vayne foretolde him of the greatnesse of the Citie. And although he might conceyue hope, if they were rebuked that they woulde yéelde due honour vnto God, yet he confesseth that this commeth as a let into his minde, that he shoulde not goe forewarde in the course of