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

And by the withering away of this little tree, God would ⟨p. clxxv⟩show Jonah how uncharitable he was: angry that y• great City of Nineveh was saved: as though he had said, if it grieve the so much for the loss of this little tree, should it not be a greater grief unto thee, to see the destruction of so great a City? For the tree sprang up in one night, and the City had stand many hundred years. Again for the tree, Jonah laboured never a deal, but God builded Nineveh. The tree is but one thing, the City had great number both of men and cattle. And least Jonah might have said: yea, but all men of the city be evil, therefore worthy to perish: but God addeth to the matter and saith: there were in the city above a hundred and ⟨image 185⟩twenty thousand persons that knew not between the right hand and the left: that is to say, children, and fowls.

And by the withering away of this lytle tree, God woulde ⟨p. clxxv⟩shew Ionas howe vncharitable he was: angry that y• great Citie of Niniue was saued: as though he had sayd, if it greue the somuch for the losse of this lytle tre, shuld it not be a greater grefe vnto the, to se the destruccion of so greate a Citye? For the tree sprang vp in one nyght, and the Citie had stand many hundred yeares. Againe for the tree, Ionas laboured neuer a dele, but God buylded Niniue. The tree is but one thynge, the Citie had greate nombre both of men and catel. And least Ionas myght haue sayd: yea, but al men of the citie be euyl, therfore worthy to perysh: but God addeth to the mater and sayth: there were in the citie aboue a hundred and ⟨image 185⟩twentye thousande persones that knewe not betwene the ryghte hande and the lefte: that is to saye, chyldren, and foules.