An oversight, and deliberation upon the holy prophet JonahAn ouersight, and deliberacion vpon the holy prophete Ionas

☞The Preface.

Saint Paul sayeth: it is a most true saying, and worthy to be received of every part, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners .i. Timo. i. Unto the which saying agreeth the words of our Saviour Christ. Luke .xix. The son of man came to seek, and save that which was lost, Who is it among us all that would not joyfully at the hearing of so amiable & sweet a saying, rejoice? seeing ⟨image 78⟩we be all miserable and cursed sinners by nature, and yet would (as full of misery and blindness as we be) be saved, wish ever to be out of pain. But in this is all the heed to be taken, lest we sinisterly understand these comfortable promises, which the devil avē truth to swad us unto. Where as he can not all together bereave and rob us of the promises he would us to construe & understand the promises amiss. And where as these promises appertaineth to none but unto repē taunt sinners, he dazeth, and deceiveth our affection and love we bear to our selves, that he will bear us in hand Gods promise appertaineth as well to the impenitent and ⟨p. lxx⟩never minding sinner to amend, as unto the sorrowful afflicted believing sinner, and he that will study the amendment of life. Against the which illusion and craft of the devil, Christ speaketh. Mat. ix. Luc. v. I came not to call the just, but sinners to repentance. Of the which repentance if we be destitute, nothing availeth us the promises of God. Luc. xiii. Except ye repent, all shall perish. And the former promises were not so sweet, but these threatenings be as bitter: Not unto all men, but unto such as be obstinately evil or desperate. Against whom crieth John Baptiste: Even now is the axe put unto the root of the tree: