Now if any man will object, that there is nothing to be gone about in the worship of God, not mentioned in the word, or contrary to the word: easy also is the answer,1 that the King of Nineveh by this, invented not any kind of pacifying of God, neither would he by this means worship God, but had respect unto the end whereof I spake. And that end very well agreeth unto the word of God, and the prescript rule thereof. Therefore the king of Nineveh trieth here nothing strange & unknown to the word of God, when he referreth all things to the scope, even that he with the people might come forth humbly before the judgement seat of God, and with earnest penitency and repentance, may desire pardon. This answer then is plain enough. When as therefore Jonah addeth, that the King commanded both the people, & the beasts to put on Sackcloth: let us know, that if any man will snatch up this naked example to imitate it, he should be nothing else but a Jester: because always this reason is to be observed, that the King sought helps wherewith he might drive both himself and his, unto true repentance. And good reason it is, that we take heed in the imitation of this: for the nature of man is prone unto a foolish zeal. And for the most part we are almost like Apes: but it is diligently to be looked unto, with what spirit they were led, whom we covet to imitate, least that we being content with the outward appearances, do neglect that which is principal, or chief. Afterward Jonah addeth, And they cry strongly, or in fortitude unto God. This must be restrained unto the men (& not unto the beast) for it would not agree unto brute beasts. Well: the men and the beasts abstain from meat and drink: and then the men cry unto God. This cry could not spring, ⟨image 60⟩but of the fear of God, and the perseverance and knowledge of godliness. Therefore as I have said it ought not confusedly to be drawn as well to brute beasts as men. But that the King of Nineveh commanded the people, in fortitude, to cry unto God, it is worthy the noting: for here hence we gather that he was in deed throughly terrified. For here is no mention of the common crying, but he addeth, in Fortitude, as if one should say, with open throat, and in French we say, A force, or forte, or term, with force strongly, or firmly.
Nowe if any man wyll obiect, that there is nothing to be gone about in the worshippe of God, not mencioned in the worde, or contrarie to the worde: easie also is the aunswer,1 that the King of Nineueh by this, inuented not any kinde of pacifying of God, neyther woulde he by this meanes worshyp God, but had respect vnto the ende whereof I spake. And that ende verie well agréeth vnto the worde of God, and the prescript rule thereof. Therefore the king of Nineueh tryeth here nothing straunge & vnknowne to the word of God, when he referreth all things to ye skope, euen that he with the people might come forth hūblie before the iudgement seate of God, and with earnest penitencie and repentaunce, may desyre pardon. This aunswere then is playne inough. When as therefore Ionas addeth, that the King cō maunded both the people, & the beasts to put on Sackcloath: let vs knowe, that if any man wyll snatche vp this naked example to immitate it, he shoulde be nothing else but a Iester: because alwayes this reason is to be obserued, that the King sought helpes wherwith he might driue both himselfe and his, vnto true repentaunce. And good reason it is, that we take heede in the immitation of this: for the nature of man is prone vnto a foolish zeale. And for the most part we are almost lyke Apes: but it is dilygentlie to be looked vnto, with what spirite they were ledde, whome we couet to immitate, least that we being content with the outward appearaunces, doo neglect yt which is principal, or chiefe. Afterward Ionas addeth, And they crie stronglie, or infortitude vnto God. This must be restrayned vnto the men (& not vnto the beast) for it woulde not agrée vnto brute beastes. Well: the men and the beastes abstaine from meate and drinke: and then the men crye vnto God. This crye coulde not spring, ⟨image 60⟩but of the feare of God, and the perceyueraunce and knowledge of godlinesse. Therefore as I haue sayde it ought not confusedlie to be drawne as well to brute beasts as men. But that the King of Nineueh commaunded the people, in fortitude, to crye vnto God, it is worthy the noting: for here hence we gather that he was in déede throughlie terrified. For here is no mencion of the common crying, but he addeth, in Fortitude, as if one shoulde saye, with open throte, and in Frenche we saye, A force, or forte, or terme, with force stronglie, or firmely.
- 1A notable Question, Answered.
