They had past many tempests before, but they never cast lots, for their casting of lots doth note some special danger, supposing this tempest to be sent from some angry god, and that for some one mans sin amongst them, therefore they determined to seek him out by lots: and having found him, to sacrifice him unto the god that, was so offended by him. But if they knew the angry gods, they should have taken their sins by the throat, and sacrificed them unto them. In that they cast lots, it showeth that their heads were full of doubts in this time of extremity, for the wind said, I will overturn them, the waters said, I will drown them, the ship said, I cannot hold them, the ⟨p. 163⟩mariners said, we cannot help Jonah nor our selves, for God was gone from them, and Jonah his conscience accused him, within sin was bleeding, and God knocked at the door of his heart, saying, it is for thee the tempest is come thou fugitive. It doth not appear that Jonah doth free him self, in that he said nothing but hid him, went to sleep, and tried it by the lots, for he thought, it may be the lot will fall upon me, like a thief which (notwithstanding) in his own heart he knows himself guilty of that wherewithal he is charged, yet will not confess until the matter be throughly sifted out and proved to his face, in such sort that he cannot for shame deny it. For every man would extenuate 1his sin and diminish it, and every one thinketh his sin salved, when he excuseth him self. Let Adam be his own judge, and he will say the woman tempted 2him to sin, and let the woman be her own judge, and she will say, yonder serpent persuaded her to it, let every one be their own judge, and there will be such posting off of sin, that never a one will be found guilty. Therefore if God had not sifted out this sin the better, Jonah would not have confessed. Christ saith, he that breaketh the least commandment, 3and teacheth others so, shall be ⟨p. 164⟩least in the kingdom of heaven, but none are accounted sinners, unless they be openly detected of some notable and heinous crime.
They had past many tempestes before, but they neuer cast lots, for their casting of lots doth note some speciall danger, supposing this tempest to be sent from some angrie god, and that for some one mans sinne amongst them, therefore they determined to seeke him out by lots: and hauing found him, to sacrifice him vnto the god that, was so offended by him. But if they knewe the angry gods, they should haue taken their sinnes by the throte, and sacrificed them vnto them. In that they cast lots, it sheweth that their heads were full of doubts in this time of extremitie, for the wind sayd, I will ouerturne thē, the waters sayd, I wil drowne them, the ship said, I cannot hold them, the ⟨p. 163⟩mariners said, we cannot help Ionah nor our selues, for God was gone from them, and Ionah his conscience accused him, within sin was bleeding, and God knocked at the dore of his heart, saying, it is for thee the tempest is come thou fugitiue. It doth not appeare that Ionah doth free him selfe, in that he said nothing but hid him, went to sleepe, and tried it by the lots, for he thought, it may be the lot will fall vpon me, like a thiefe which (notwithstanding) in his owne heart he knowes himselfe guilty of that wherwithall he is charged, yet will not confesse vntil the matter be throughly sifted out and proued to his face, in such sort that he cannot for shame denie it. For euerie man would extenuate 1his sinne and diminish it, and euerie one thinketh his sinne salued, when he excuseth him selfe. Let Adam be his owne iudge, and he will say the woman tempted 2him to sinne, and let the woman be her own iudge, and she will say, yonder serpent perswaded her to it, let euerie one be their own iudge, and there will be such posting off of sinne, that neuer a one will be found guiltie. Therefore if God had not sifted out this sin the better, Ionah would not haue confessed. Christ saith, he that breaketh the least commandement, 3and teacheth others so, shal be ⟨p. 164⟩least in the kingdome of heauen, but none are accounted sinners, vnlesse they be opēly detected of some notable and hainous crime.
- 1Every ma• shifts off sin upon others.Euerie ma• shifts off sin vpon others.
- 2Gen. 3. 12. 13.
- 3Mat. 5. 19.
