Jonah was commanded to cry & preach against the Ninevites, but being afeard, & suspecting yt difficulty of yt vocation, fleeth an other way. Here first are two things to be noted: whether he flieth, & from whence he flieth, the text saith he fled to Tarshish, which some men think is yt sea called Mare mediterranean, but y• more true opinion is, that Tarshish is the city called Tunes, or Carthage. ⟨image 24⟩Japho is the city called Joppe, a haven town in Palestine. He flieth from the face of God, that is to wite from the benevolent and merciful god that appointed him to the vocation of preaching. Of this text we learn many Godly doctrines. First, how hard & difficult a vocation it is, to be a preacher, that in case he be not with a singular mercy of God comforted and strengthened, he can not, nor is it possible he should preach truly Gods word, as it is to be seen by Moses. Ex. v. vi. Isaiah. vi. Hier. i.ii. Math. x. and in this ye may see the diversity between the ministry of God, & of y• devil, of Christ, and of Antichrist. Christs ministry is full of labours, pains ⟨p. xiiii⟩slanders, and calamities. Antichrist is full of care, pleasures, commodities, & honours: as ye may see through all the kingdom of the Pope, for there is not a bishopric nor benefice can fall, but ten are ready to take it or it come to the ground. Yea, and help away the incumbent with an Italian fig before time, as ye may read of Victor the third. The second doctrine is, that who so ever leaveth undone the office commanded unto him by god, flieth from the favour and good will of God, as it is to be seen. i. Regu. xv. Here be all bishops and priests admonished to beware how they leave their duties and cures. They fly from y• face of god as many as bear ⟨image 25⟩that name and preach not the word of God, and instruct not the people after the mouth of god. Miserable and cursed is our time of gods own mouth that there be such dom bishops, unpreaching prelates, and such ass-headed Ministers in the church of God. Christ instituted nether singers, nor massers, but preachers, and testimonies of his true doctrine. Mar. xvi. Mat. xxviii. Luk. xxiiii. Act. i. He that leaveth this doctrine untaught in the church, or teacheth a contrary doctrine flieth from the face of god, and do incur the danger and damnation that is written. Ezechi. xxxiii. iii.
Ionas was cōmaūded to cry & preach against ye Niniuites, but being afeard, & suspecting yt difficulty of yt vocaciō, flyith an other way. Here first ar two things to be noted: whether he flyeth, & frō whēce he flieth, the text saith he fledde to Tharsis, which some mē thīk is yt sea called Mare mediterraneū, but y• more true opiniō is, yt Tharsis is the citi caled Tunes, or Carthage. ⟨image 24⟩Iapho is the citie called Ioppe, a hauē towne in Palestina. He flieth from the face of God, that is to wyte from the beneuolente and mercyful god that appoynted hym to the vocacion of preachyng. Of thys text we learne manye Godlye doctrines. First, how hard & difficult a vocaciō it is, to be a preacher, that incase he be not wyth a synguler mercy of God comforted and strengthned, he can not, nor is it possyble he shuld preach truly Gods word, as it is to be sene by Moses. Ex. v. vi. Esay. vi. Hier. i.ii. Math. x. and in thys ye may see the dyuersitie betwene the ministerye of God, & of y• deuil, of Christ, and of Antechrist. Christs mynistery is ful of labors, paines ⟨p. xiiii⟩sclounders, and calamytyes. Antichrist is ful of care, pleasures, cōmodities, & honoures: as ye maye see through all the kingdom of the Pope, for ther is not a byshoppricke nor benefice cā fal, but ten ar reddy to take it or it come to the groūd. Yea, and healpe awaye the incumbēt wyth an Italion figge before tyme, as ye may rede of Uictor the thyrd. The seconde doctryne is, that who so euer leaueth vndone the office commaunded vnto him by god, flieth from the fauour and good wyl of God, as it is to be sene. i. Regu. xv. Here be al bishops and priestes admonished to beware how they leaue their deuties and cures. They flie from y• face of god as many as beare ⟨image 25⟩that name and preache not the word of God, and instruct not the people after the mouthe of god. Myserable and cursed is our tyme of gods owne mouth that ther be such dom bishops, vnpreaching prelats, and such asseheadded Mynysters in the church of God. Christ institutid nether singers, nor massers, but preachers, and testimonies of his true doctrine. Mar. xvi.
