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…

For Jonah signifieth that they were not only moved with his speech, but also exceedingly afraid, so that they gave glory to the true God. For we know how that superstitious men in a manner jest with their Idols. Yet truly oftentimes they conceive marvellous terrors, but afterwards they flatter them selves, & after a sort kotchell their own minds, so that they may pleasantly & sweetly laugh in their own delights. That therefore Jonah here saith, that, They feared with a great fear, he signifieth that they were so wounded, that now in deed they perceived the God of Israel to be a just Judge: and again not to be, as the rest of the Gentiles feigned him ⟨image 29⟩to be, but to be armed or furnished with fearful examples, as often as he is willing to take vengeance. We see then what Jonah meaneth, when he speaketh of great fear. Although each is to be marked, that they feared, even for that it was easy to gather out of the words of the Prophet, that the God of Israel was the only maker of heaven and earth: then that which followed of great fear must hither be referred, even as I have already said, unto an earnest and serious fear, seeing that all fear immediately vanisheth away from those which believe not. But where as the shipmen and the rest of the passengers did chide Jonah here the Lord payeth unto him the reward which he had deserved. He had fled from the presence of God, by this means as we have said, had he abrogated from God the chief sovereignty. For what manner of authority is that of Gods, if every of us refuseth his commandments and fleeth from his sight? when as therefore Jonah would privily escape God, he is subdued unto men. There be profane, yea barbarous men: which cha•ise his sin and which be his censors and judges. The which thing also we see oftentimes to happen. For they which willingly obey not God and his word afterwards do throw themselves into many offences, and the filthiness of them is seen unto the common people or publicly. And then because they cannot suffer God to be their master and teacher, they are compelled to suffer innumerable controllers: they are noted with the reproaches of the common people, they are made manifest every where by the finger, at the length they are drawn to the gallows, and the hangman is their chief master.

For Ionas signifieth that they were not onelie moued with his speach, but also excéedingly afrayde, so that they gaue glorie to the true God. For we knowe howe that superstitious men in a manner ieste with theyr Idolles. Yet truelie oftentimes they cōceyue marueylous terrors, but afterwards they flatter them selues, & after a sort kotchell their own minds, so yt they may pleasantly & sweetly laugh in their own delights. That therfore Ionas here sayth, that, They feared with a great feare, he signifieth that they were so wounded, that nowe in déede they perceyued the God of Israel to be a iust Iudge: and againe not to be, as the rest of the Gentyles fayned him