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…

But Jonah speaketh Metaphorically, when he saith, that he was enwrapped in the Sedge, because there is no hope when a man is enwrapped in the Sedge in the bottom of the Sea. For how should he escape from destruction, which in the Sea is held as it were bound. Metaphorically therefore Jonah meaneth, that he was so drenched in the deep, that he could thence by no means escape, but by the incredible power of God. In the same sense he also saith. I went down even to the bottom of the mountains. But he speaketh of the mountains which adjoin to the sea: as if he said: that he was not only cast into the middest of the sea, but so overwhelmed that he was fast fixed as it were in the bottom under the very roots of the mountains. All these tend to this end, even that there might no going out be hoped for, except God reached him the hand from heaven, and deliver him by a strange and incredible example.

But Ionas speaketh Metaphorically, when he sayth, that he was enwrapped in the Sedge, because there is no hope whē a man is enwrapped in the Sedge in the bottom of the Sea. For howe shoulde he escape from destruction, which in the Sea is helde as it were bounde. Metaphoricallie therefore Ionas meaneth, that he was so drenched in the déepe, that he coulde thence by no meanes escape, but by the incredible power of God. In the same sense he also sayth. I went downe euen to the bottome of the mountaines. But he speaketh of the mountaynes which adioyne to the sea: as if he sayde: that he was not onely cast into the middest of the sea, but so ouerwhelmed that he was fast fixed as it were in the bottom vnder the very rootes of the mountaines. All these tende to this ende, euen that there might no going out be hoped for, except God reached him the hand from heauen, and delyuer him by a straunge and incredible example.

He saith that, The earth with her bars was about him. By this manner of speech he giveth us to understand, that he was even so shut up, as if the whole earth were like a gate. We know what manner of bars, the bars of the earth be, if we will grant bars unto it. For if a gate be quite shut up by bars, we know what and how great is the portion of the earth. And if we imagine the earth to be the gate, what manner of bars must there be. It is even thereafter therefore, as if Jonah should say, that he was forbidden this vital life, even as if the earth were set against him, he should not escape out to the sight of the Sun. The earth (therefore, saith he) was opposite unto me, and that for ever. Afterward, her cometh to thanksgiving, saying: But thou O Lord God hast made my life to ascend out of the pit. After that Jonah had used a long description, that he might declare that he was not once dead only, but with many and diverse deaths oppressed: here now he addeth a thanksgiving, because he was delivered by the Lord. Thou (saith he) O Lord my God hast caused my life to ascend. Now again he confirmeth