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…

And this is no place in the law, which better and more lively expresseth the nature of God. For there God would familiarly manifest him self unto his servant. For when as therefore Jonah was so instructed and endued with this doctrine of the law, how could he exercise the office of a Prophet amongst his own people & countrymen? why did not this thought also vex his heart, when he was called to the office of a Teacher? Certain it is therefore, that this ought to be restrained unto his preaching, such as before was declared unto us. Jonah had never despised the commandment of God, if he had been sent to the Ninevites, even as before he was commanded to teach the elect people the Jews. If therefore this office had been enjoined to Jonah, that he should have set forth God merciful and gentle unto the Ninevites, he had not doubted to have offered his obedient service. But seeing this precise threatening was enjoined him: Nineveh shall perish: therefore is he drawn away, and coveteth rather to run away, then to execute such a commandment. And why so? Forsooth he reasoneth thus with himself: I denounce imminent destruction to the Ninevites: To what end doth God command, but even that he might ⟨image 69⟩invite and call these wretched men to repentance? Now if they shall repent, will not God by & by be ready to forgive them? for otherwise he should deny his own nature. God can not be unlike him self, or contrary to him self, he can not put off that affection, whereof he testified once unto Moses. When as therefore the Lord shall be appeased and pacified, if the Ninevites repent, and flee to him for succour, he will by and by embrace them: and so shall I be found false in my preaching. Now therefore we know how this place of Jonah ought to be understanded, when he saith that he fled over the sea, (or at the least, that was his determination) because he knew that God was merciful. For he had never disobeyed God, but that this contrariety did trouble him and fear his mind: what? I shall goo thither as the messenger of God: shortly after I shall be found a liar: shall not this reproach redound to the name of God himself? it is better therefore that I hold my peace, then that God, which is the author of my vocation, be counted a jesting stock.

And this is no place in the lawe, which better and more liuely expresseth the nature of God. For there God would familiarly manifest him selfe vnto his seruant. For when as therefore Ionas was so instructed and endued with this doctrine of the lawe, howe could he exercise the office of a Prophet amongst his owne people & countreymen? why dyd not this thought also vexe his harte, when he was called to the office of a Teacher? Certaine it is therfore, that this ought to be restrained vnto his preaching, such as before was declared vnto vs. Ionas had neuer despised the commaundement of God, if he had bene sent to the Nineuits, euē as before he was commaunded to teach the elect people the Iewes. If therefore this office had bene enioyned to Ionas, yt he shoulde haue set forth God mercifull and gentle vnto the Nineuits, he had not doubted to haue offered his obedient seruice. But séeing this precise threatning was enioygned him: Nineueh shall perish: therefore is he drawne away, and coueteth rather to runne awaye, then to execute such a commaundement. And why so? Forsooth he reasoneth thus with himselfe: I denounce imminent destruction to the Nineuits: To what ende doth God commaunde, but euen yt he might