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

But a man might ask to what purpose this thing is spoken of by me? doubtless to this end to prosecute and follow my matter begun. I said that the authors of this unquietness in the realm in the church, & in every household, were very Jonasses, and those that troubled the ship: which ought either to be amended or removed out of their office, or else the ship may never come to rest. But because these that be cast into the sea should not despair, there must be some remedy found to solace and comfort such as be fallen into danger of drowning.

But a mā myght aske to what purpose thys thyng is spoken of by me? doutles to thys end to prosequute and folowe my matter begon. I sayd that the authours of thys vnquietnes in the realme in the churche, & in euerye housholde, were verye Ionasses, and those that troubled the shyppe: whyche oughte eyther to be amended or remoued out of their office, or els the shyppe maye neuer come to rest. But because these that be cast into the sea should not dispaire, ther must be some remedye founde to solace and conforte suche as be fallen into daunger of drownyng.

This is the way: if they take the admonitions and the admonitors gently and rail not against them, neither wink at their own faults: but with a true repentance of the hart follow this our Prophet Jonah, who confessed his fault, and humbly asked remission & pardon for the same. So shall every sinner be saved as he was according to the oath of God Eze. xviii. As truly as I live saith the Lord, I will not the death of a sinner, but that he be converted and live. This counsel of the Lord except our troublous Jonasses follow they shall be drowned in the water of eternal damnation, with Pharaoh. But as heretofore ye have heard how Jonah ⟨image 80⟩for his disobedience was punished: so now out of the text ye shall hear how he repenting his misbehaviour and offences, is preserved in his dangers: how he prayeth, and at last how he is delivered. And that I may the better & more plainly teach and open the same, I will deuyde the text that followeth into four parts. The first part containeth the behaviour and doings of the shipmen, after they had caste Jonah into the sea. The second part containeth how Jonah being cast into the sea was received into the belly of the whale. The third containeth the behaviour and doings of Jonah in the whales belly.