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…

When as therefore Jonah sayeth that he is an Hebrew, and the worshipper of the true God, this rather tendeth to the aggravation of the crime or offence: then to any pretence or colour of excusation. For if he had simply said that he had been guilty in his own sight, because he was not obedient unto God, the offence had not been so heinous. But when he maketh his preface, that the true God, the maker of heaven and earth, was known unto him, even the God of Israel, which manifested him self, his law being given and published: when as therefore thus Jonah maketh his preface, therein taketh he away from him self all colours or excuses of ignorance, or error. He was trained up in the law, and from a child had learned who was the true God. He could not therefore fall by error, he also worshipped not counterfeit Gods, as did the other men, and he was an Israelite. Seeing then he was instructed in true godliness, his offence was the more grievous, when he fell away from that God, when he contemned his commandment, and as it were, shaked of his yoke, and was a fugitive. Now therefore we perceive for what cause he here ⟨image 28⟩calleth him self an Hebrew, and testifieth him self to be the worshipper of the true God. First when he saith that he is an Hebrew, he discerneth the God of Abraham from the Idols of the Gentiles. For in all those places, the Religion of the elected people was sufficiently known, although by the consent of all men it was disallowed: For both the Cilicians and all the Asiatics, and Grecians also, and on the other side, the Syrians knew, what thing the Israelites vaunted of, even that the true God appeared unto their father Abraham: and also had made with him a free covenant: and further, had given the law by the hands of Moses: all this by fame was sufficiently blazed abroad. Therefore now Jonah declareth him self to be an Hebrew: as if he should say, that he meddled not with any feigned God, but with the God of Abraham, which in time past had appeared to the holy Fathers, and also which had rendered an eternal testimony of his will by Moses. We see therefore this, that he is an Hebrew, to be put Emphatically, or for the more plainer expression of that which is intended. Afterwards he addeth: I fear the Lord God of Heaven. By the word fear, is understand worship.

When as therefore Ionas sayeth that he is an Hebrew, and the worshipper of the true God, this rather tendeth to the aggrauation of the crime or offence: then to any pretēce or coulor of excusation. For if he had simplie saide that he had bene guyltie in his owne sight, because he was not obedient vnto God, the offence had not bene so heynous. But when he maketh his preface, that the true God, the maker of heauen and earth, was knowne vnto him, euen the God of Israel, which manifested him selfe, his lawe being geuen and published: when as therefore thus Ionas maketh his preface, therein taketh he awaye from him selfe all coulors or excuses of ignoraunce, or error. He was trayned vp in the lawe, and from a chylde had learned who was the true God. He coulde not therefore fall by error, he also worshipped not counterfeyte Gods, as dyd the other men, and he was an Israelite. Séeing then he was instructed in true godlynesse, his offence was the more grieuous, when he fell awaye from that God, when he contempned his commaundement, and as it were, shaked of his yoke, and was a fugitiue. Nowe therefore we perceyue for what cause he here