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…

Calvin. WE have said in our reading yesterday, that this was a sign of extreme fear, that the Mariners and the rest cast lots, because this is not wont to be done, but where men perceive, them selves destitute both of reason and counsel. But this is also to be noted, that whereas they cast lots, it proceedeth of error; because they acknowledge not, that if the Lord would take vengeance of every of them, that they them selves were also worthy of greater punishment. For they would not have laid the fault upon one mans shoulders, if every man had well considered what he had deserved before God. Now if any calamity happen, it is the duty of every man to examine him self, and his life before God: so shall it come to pass, that from the first to the last, they all must confess, that they suffer just punishment. But while all men together enquire which of them is guilty before God, so do they exonerate them selves, as if they were innocent. And this disease also at this day doeth range in the world, even that willingly every man layeth the fault upon others, and will all seem innocent before God: Not that they may abolish all their guiltiness, but because every one extenuate their offences, as if justly God so severely might not persecute them: For examples sake. If a man perceive that he hath offended diverse ways he will certainly confess, with one word, that he is a sinner. But if any man shall reckon up and bring to light all his offences he will say: this is a light sin, this is a venial sin, and the Lord dealeth with us not according to good right, that he will bring us immediately to extreme punishment. If we offend lightly, this straight way, cometh in mind unto us. So did the Shipmen, of whom Jonah here speaketh. If a man had demanded, whether they were altogether without fault, every man had confessed, that he had been before God an offender: but in the mean time they cast lots, as if one man only ⟨image 25⟩had been subject to the judgement of God, and why so? Forsooth, even because they imagined that their offences deserved not so grievous punishment. Howsoever therefore they offended, and be convicted, & perceive this thing certainly, yet so great matter make they not of their sins, that they think them selves to have deserved any such punishment.

Caluin. WE haue sayde in our reading yesterdaye, that this was a signe of extreme feare, that the Mariners and the rest cast lottes, because this is not wonte to be done, but where men perceyue, them selues destitute both of reason and counsayle. But this is also to be noted, that wheras they cast lottes, it procéedeth of error; because they acknowledge not, that if the Lord would take vengaunce of euery of them, that they them selues were also worthy of greater punishment. For they would not haue layde the fault vppon one mans shoulders, if euery man had well considered what he had deserued before God. Nowe if any calamitie happen, it is the duetie of euerie man to examine him selfe, and his lyfe before God: so shall it come to passe, that from the first to the last, they all must confesse, that they suffer iust punishment. But whyle al men together enquire which of them is guyltie before God, so doo they exonerate them selues, as if they were innocent. And this disease also at this daye doeth raunge in the worlde, euen that wyllingly euerie man layeth the faulte vpon others, and wyll all séeme innocent before God: Not that they maye abolishe all their guiltinesse, but because euerie one extenuate their offences, as if iustlie God so seuerely might not persecute them: For examples sake. If a man perceyue that he hath offended diuerse ways he wyll certainely confesse, with one worde, that he is a sinner. But if any man shal recken vp and bring to light all his offences hée wyll saye: this is a light sinne, this is a veniall sinne, and the Lorde dealeth with vs not according to good right, that he will bring vs immediately to extréeme punishment. If we offende lightly, this straight way, commeth in minde vnto vs. So did the Shipmen, of whome Ionas here speaketh. If a man had demaunded, whether they were altogether without faulte, euery man had confessed, that he had bene before God an offender: but in the meane tyme they cast lottes, as if one man onely