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…

To this end therefore tend the words of Jonah, as though he would appoint God to be a witness and a Judge, that not for fear of danger, nor for slothfulness, nor for rebellion, nor for any other respect, he withdrew gim self from the obedience of God: but only for that he would not have his sacred name violated and defiled, for that he would not willingly be a Minister of that preaching, which might open the mouth of ungodly & profane men to laugh God him self to scorn. When as (sayeth he) I hoped for none other profit of my preaching, but even that the Gentiles might laugh God to scorn, yea, might tear in pieces amongst them his holy name, as if he were deceitful and vain, therefore had I rather fly unto Tarshish. Therefore here Jonah doth not altogether excuse him self: for then to no purpose had his chastisement lighted upon him, whereby he ought to have been throughly tamed. He was called of late from the very hell: shall we say that he durst so lift up his horns against God, that he would altogether be free from all fault? This certainly is to to absurd: but as I have said, he objecteth to God, that at the beginning he fled not for any other cause, but for that he hoped not for any plausible fruit or success of his preaching, but rather he feared that which he saw imminent, even that the name of God should be a laughing stock. Immediately he addeth: Because I knew that thou art a God full of favour, and merciful, slow to anger, &c. ⟨p. 59⟩This is surely marvellous that Jonah was called away from his vocation, because he knew that God was merciful, seeing that no sharper goad ought to prick us forward, when as God will use our labour or diligence. For we know that no man can perform his obedience cheerfully unto God, but he which is even allured with his fatherly goodness. So then no man shall be a willing Prophet or Teacher, but he which is persuaded that God is merciful. Jonah therefore seemeth to to foolishly to reason, when he saith, that he was therefore withdrawn from his office, because he knew that God was merciful. Again, how knew Jonah this? even out of the law of God. For this place is taken out of the 33. of Exod. where that notable and memorial vision is described unto us,¹ where God set out him self to be seen of Moses, there was exhibited unto the holy Prophet a lively Image of God.

To this ende therfore tende the wordes of Ionas, as though he would appoint God to be a witnesse and a Iudge, that not for feare of daunger, nor for slouthfulnesse, nor for rebellion, nor for any other respect, he withdrewe gim selfe from the obedience of God: but onely for that he woulde not haue his sacred name violated and defiled, for that he would not wyllinglie be a Minister of that preaching, which might open ye mouth of vngodly & prophane men to laugh God him self to scorne. When as (sayeth he) I hoped for none other profite of my preaching, but euen that the Gentyles might laugh God to scorne, yea, might teare in péeces amongst them his holie name, as if he were deceyptfull and vaine, therefore had I rather flie vnto Tharsis. Therefore here Ionas doth not altogether excuse him selfe: for then to no purpose had his chastisement lyghted vpon him, whereby he ought to haue bene throughly tamed. He was called of late from the verie hell: shall we saye that he durst so lyfte vp his hornes against God, that he would altogether be free from al fault? This certainely is to to absurde: but as I haue sayde, he obiecteth to God, that at the beginning he fledde not for any other cause, but for yt he hoped not for any plausible fruite or successe of his preaching, but rather he feared that which he sawe imminent, euen that the name of God shoulde be a laughing stocke. Immediatly he addeth: Because I knew that thou art a God full of fauour, and mercifull, slowe to anger, &c.