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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.