And this Jonah laboured in the ministry of Gods word at one time, with Amos, Oseas, and Joel the true Prophets of God. The state and condition of the common wealth, was troublous and very unquiet, for because the Israelites by their Idololatri in following that learning invented by man, and leaving the word of god, God punished them with many great & cruel wars, Yet after his accustomed pity and compassion upon those that he punisheth, to remove the occasion that worketh gods ire and displeasure, he sent them divers times his holy Prophets, that should call them from their Idololatry and corrupt living as Elijah, Elisha, and this our Prophet ⟨p. vii⟩Jonah, but all in vain: they would be naughty Idololatres and vicious livers continually, maugre gods head, and would (as we now adays, for the most part do) rather give faith unto the Prophets of men, and liars, then unto the Prophets of god, that be true men: But there reward was (as ours shall be, except we amend) utter destruction, and loss both of them selves, and their commune wealth. The common wealth and state of Israel and Judah, thus troublously being afflicted, the commandment of god came unto this our Jonah, that he should go to the great City of Nineveh, as the text saith. In the which words note first that no man can, or ⟨image 18⟩may teach truly the word of god, but he be called ordinarily, or extraordinarily. Ordinarily where as is no corruption of the ministry in the church, neither in doctrine, neither in the right ministration of the sacraments, which be as seals and conclusions of Gods holy word. Where as this integrity I say remaineth in the Church, no man ought without the appointment of the higher powers to intrude or appoint him self to preach, or minister, as it was in Moses time and the Apostles.
And thys Ionas labored in the ministery of Gods word at one tyme, wyth Amos, Oseas, and Ioell the true Prophetes of God. The state and condicion of the commone wealthe, was troublous and verye vnquiet, forbecause ye Israelits bi their Idololatri in folowing yt learning inuented by man, and leuing ye word of god, God punyshed them wt many greate & cruel warres, Yet after hys accustomed pytye and compassiō vpon those that he punysheth, to remoue ye occasion that worketh gods yre and displeasure, he sent them dyuers tymes his holy Prophetes, that shoulde cal thē from theyr Idololatry and corrupt lyuyng as Elias, Elizeus, and this our Prophet ⟨p. vii⟩Ionas, but all in vayne: they wold be noughty Idololatres and vicious lyuers continually, mawgree gods heade, and would (as we now adayes, for the most parte do) rather geue faythe vnto the Prophetes of men, and lyars, then vnto the Prophetes of god, that be true men: But ther reward was (as ours shalbe, except we amende) vtter destrucciō, and losse both of them selues, and theyr commune wealthe. The commone wealth and state of Israel and Iuda, thus troublouslye being afflicted, the commaundement of god came vnto thys oure Ionas, that he sholde go to the great Citie of Niniue, as the text saith. In the which words note fyrste that no man can, or ⟨image 18⟩may teach truly ye word of god, but he be called ordynarylye, or extraordinarily. Ordinarily wher as is no corruptiō of the ministery in the church, neither in doctrine, neither in the right ministracion of the sacramēts, whyche be as seales and conclusions of Gods holy worde. Wher as this integritie I say remayneth in the Churche, noman ought wtout the appointment of the hygher powers to intrude or appoynt hym self to preache, or minister, as it was in Moses tyme and the Apostelles.
