A17683:287
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…
The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of the Church of God in Geneva, upon the prophet Jonah, by N.B. student in Divinity. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. John, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of the Church of God in Geneua, vpon the prophet Ionas, by N.B. student in Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. Iohn, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.
London: printed by J. Charlewood for Edward White, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Jonah therefore expresseth a thing rare & singular, when as he reciteth that this was comprised in the Kings Edict, that men should cry strongly unto God. And it is as much as if he should say: Let all men now awake to the shaking off their deadly sleep. For to much hitherto hath every one of us kotcheled himself in his sins: Now time it is that fear begin to possess our hearts; and drive us forward to crave the favour and love of God.
Ionas therefore expresseth a thing rare & singular, when as he recyteth that this was comprised in the Kings Edict, that men should crie strongly vnto God. And it is as much as if he should say: Let al men now awake to ye shaking off their deadly sléepe. For to much hytherto hath euerie one of vs kotcheled himself in his sins: Nowe time it is that feare begynne to possesse our hartes; and driue vs forwarde to craue the fauour and loue of God.
1And this also is worthy to be noted, that the king inventeth not any other remedy, but that the people should fly unto prayer. And it may well be that Jonah exhorted the Ninevites unto it: but we may easily gather: that this perseverance is ingrafted in us by nature, that when we are urged with adversity, then do we implore and crave the favour & grace of God. Well then: To pray unto God, is the only remedy in all afflictions, and miseries. If we therefore being taught both in the law and the Gospel, do not use this remedy, when God doth admonish and exhort us to repentance: what show of excuse shall we have, seeing that profane men, which held not one syllable of true piety, yet in misery besought the Lord God, & the King him self commanded the same by the consent of all his Nobility? More careful, modesty therefore ought this Edict of the king to strike into us, then if a man should but even simply utter this doctrine out of the word of God. For although the kings authority be not equal unto the authority of God: yet when that miserable & blind ⟨p. 51⟩prince acknowledged by the instinct of nature that God was to be pacified with prayer, what excusation (as I have said) remaineth for us? But Jonah showeth more plainly that, that the repentance of the people was not counterfeit, when he declareth that the Ninevites put on sackcloth: and kept themselves from meat & drink. Well: it followeth more in the edict of the king: And let every man turn from his wicked way, & from the Rapine which is in their hands. This profane king now declareth to what end and with what determination, he gave commandment of fasting and the other exercises even that by this means the Ninevites might stir up themselves the better unto the fear of God. For here he exhorteth that they should convert from their wicked way. By the word, way, the scripture is accustomed to understand the whole course or order of mans life. It is as much therefore as it he said. Let each of you change his disposition and manners: let us all be new creatures. For this is true repentance. The conversion of a man unto God. And thus much understood this profane king.