sinne and giue it gall to eate and when you haue done so set a crowne of thornes vpon his head and when you haue thus crow 〈…〉 you haue condemned it put it to death and when you haue put it to death burie it and when you haue buried it â—oll a great stone vpon the head of it and set watch men to keepe it and let your watch-men be fasting and prayer that it may neuer rise againe to raigne any more the which the Lord for his mercie sake grant Amen THE CALLING OF IONAH Ionah 1. 1. 2. 1 The vvord of the Lord came to Ionah the sonne of Amittai saying 2 Arise and go to Niniuie that great Citie and crie against it for their vvickednesse is come â—p before me YOu haue heard the sweet song of old father Simeon like the pleasaunt song of a sweet bird before her death setting foorth the ioy of the righteous which embrace Christ Iesus Before Christ Iesus vouchsafed to come vnto vs we would not come vnto him but in all our doings we wrought our condemnation through the innumerable heapes of our iniquities laboured to driue him without all hope of mercie from vs. So we continued like flies which flutter about the candle till they haue consumed them selues When we had done as much as in vs lay to driue him away from vs then he saued and recompenced good for euill vnto vs. So that if God had loued vs no better theÌ„ we loued our selues we might haue perished in our sinne and our bloud should be vpon our owne heads If Christ be the light of the Gentiles let vs embrace himâ— and let euerie one walke as becommeth the children of light but many do shut their eyes against it least they should see and many do not onely smoother their owne light but the Sunne sayth vnto the Moone shine not and the Moone sayth vnto the Stars be not bright And many haue smothered their light so long that the dampe hath put out the candle and thus they labor to bring the darkenesse of Egypt vpon Goshen so that their eyes haue forgotten to see and so manie goe out of the way because they would not looke vpon the candle and the deuill giueth to euerie one that which he wisheth so it may be for his hurt to the bramble fire and who can but pittie that the same Manna which commeth from heauen should be poysoned with it The Iewes had no cause to enuie our light for he gaue theÌ„ glorie he was poore and yet he gaue them riches he was counted base and yet he made them honourable he was contemned and yet he made them beloued they were full of darknesse and he brought them light but they contemned this light and so procured their owne condemnation And therefore now it is come to passe that they are become vagabonds vpon the earth and most contemned of all other nations euerie people haue a dwelling but since they prophesied euill vnto themselues saying his blood be vpon vs and our children goodnesse hath put on the face of bath fulnesse amongst them If thou embrace Christ as Simeon did then Christ is thy glorie but if thy glorie consist in beautie which fadeth in gay clothing which weareth in wealth which wasteth or in gold which rusteth then Christ is not thy glorie We haue gone long with an olde man and now we haue lost him but we are loth to part with him he is such a good companion neuerthelesse we hope to finde him againe in Ionah We haue gone but slowly with him as with an olde man which is not verie swift on foote but now we must runne with Ionah as with a poste least Niniuie be destroied The word of the Lord came vnto Ionah I neede not shew the authoritie of Prophets but concerning their sorts and difference there are three sorts of Prophets The first were such as called vpon the name of the Lord in prayer for the people and receiued an answer from the Lord in the peoples behalfe of which sort was Samuell these 〈◊〉 Sa. 10. 9 were called Seers A second sort of Prophets were such as God raysed to expouÌ„d the law and declare the will of God vnto the people when the Priests and such as should do so were slacke in their callings of which sort was Esay Ieremie Ezechiell Damell Hose Ioell Aâ—â—os Obadiah Ionah and the rest of the holy Prophets A third sort were such as haue beene since Christ woorking such like effectes of which sort was the Prophet Agabus of whome mention is Act. 11 28. made in the eleuenth of the Acts and the 28. verse Now in the second sort of these was Ionah whom God sent to declare his wil vnto his people vnto whom also the Lord did reueale the subuersion of kingdomes the ouerthrow of Tribes the captiuitie of Nations and calamities that were to come vnto the sonnes of men for iniquitie and rebellion against God As all wise men were not borne at once nor liued togither so these holy Prophets haue not beene at once but were raised vp by the Lord God some here some there according to his pleasure and as he sawe the people stand in need of them by reason of the corruption of the times And furthermore the Lord hath not at any time reuealed vnto one of these all things that might be reuealed but as much as was sufficient for them euerie one in their times and places Neither hath any of them told as much of the will of God as might be nor the expounding of his lawes But the Patriarkes haue left some to the Prophets and the Prophets haue left some to the Apostles but they haue left none for vs but they haue all left open the whole will of GOD vnto vs and euerie one bringeth Golde and Myrrhe and Frankensense like the wise men which came to see our Lord. There are three things which moued me to take this storie in hand aboue al others First because you know the storie and therefore can the better conceiue of the matter as I go forward with it Secondly because it is brief and doth containe a great deale in a little Thirdly because it is most agreeable for the time and state of this sinfull age wherein we liue and therefore most conuenient for vs. It is manifest that Ionah liued in a very troublesome time namely in the time of Ieroboam a wicked king of whom it was said that he not only sinned himself against the Lord but it is he which is called the IeroboaÌ„ that made Israell to sinne Also this commeÌ„deth the constancie of Ionah that he in the midst of all the corruptions wherwith all the people were ouerflowne kept him selfe vncorrupted and vnspotted amongst them all And furthermore it layeth open and magnifieth the great loue of God in that he sent a Prophet to admonish his vngodly people when as he should haue sent a thunderbolt to terrifie them or rather vtterly to destroy
by your experience Now a dayes men take vpon them to reproue others for committing such thinges as themselues haue practised and do practise without amendment notwithstanding their diligence in teaching others their dutie they can teach all the doctrine of Christ sauing three sillables that is Follow me Therefore these are like some Tailers which are verie busie in decking and tricking vp of others but go bare beggerly themselues They wil not let vs plucke out the moate that is in their eyes vutill we haue plucked out the beame in our owne eyes Niniuie was the greatest and the auncientest citie in the land of Assyria and the name of it signified Beautifull which name was giuen it rather for the greatnesse and beautie thereof then for the name of Ashur which was the builder and first founder therofâ— as we read in the booke of Genesis Some thinke it to be built by Ninus Geâ— 10. 11. but I am not of that minde It had a faire name but foule deeds like this citie The Iewes would not heare the word of God by Ionah and therfore the Lord sent to Niniuie signifying thereby that the Iewes for their contempt and negligence should be reiected and the Gentiles should be receyued into the fauour of God that they might be an holie sanctified people vnto the Lord in their stead Their sinne is noted in this that they sinned euen vntill the Prophets were gone from them Therefore this was as it were to shake off the dust of their feet to witnesse against them for their obstinacie and hardnesse of heart and to let them see that the wickedest Gentiles were more righteous then they that they repented at the voice of one Prophet yea with one sermon whereas they refused resisted all the holy and worthy Prophets that God sent vnto them Againe the calling of the Gentiles is declared in this their submission with all willingnesse which they did shewe vnto the words of this prophet wheras the Iewes reiected all the words of God and would not heare the Prophets whom God had raysed vp amongst them which made those Niniuits to proclaime a fast to put on sackcloth and to humble themselues before the Lord desiring him to turne away his wrath from their citie Thus they repented and repenting were saued with mercie so they which grieue the spirit quench the spirit for the worde of God went from Samaria to Niniuie The Gospell was in Ephesus but it went from thence and came to England and it may go again from England Let theÌ„ which thinke that they stand take heede least they fall Niniuie receyued the word of God and neuer heard it before and this sheweth that the foolish simple are more diligent and ready to heare and receiue the word of god than those that are wise in their owne conceit also in the view of the world What saith Christ the poore receiue the Gospel Mat. 11 5. 1. Cor. 1. 2 6 what saith Paule not many rich not many wise For if we haue knowledge if this knowledge be like the Pharisies that is in shew of sinceritie in counterfeit holinesse and hollow-hart friendship through hypocrisie it had beene better for vs that we had beene ignorant for it will but leaue vs inexcusable it will be found insufficient to saue vs but sufficient to condemne vs because we knowe our maisters will and doe it not Luk. 12. 4â— 84. Actâ— 8. 20. therefore as Peter said to Simon Magus thy money perish with thee So will the Lord say vnto such thy knowledge perish with thee seeing it is vnprofitable That great citie c. As if hee had saide Feare it not for though it were neuer so great I am able to destroy it and will destroy it if it doth offend me And moreouer the greater it is the more vngodly For as one man taketh sicknesse of another so one man is infected by ill example of another and so taught to sinne the more till the measure of sinne be full Niniuie had 1500. towers in it and 120000 little children as is noted in the end Ion 4. 11 of this storie therefore it may well be called a great citie But yet the greatnesse the beautie the strength and riches of this citie could not withstand the hand of God or keep it from destruction but rather further it and hasten it For with the more excellent ornaments that it was adorned by the Lord the more haynous and grieuous in his sight was the abuse of them Therefore the hugenesse nor the strength of this or any other Citie can saue it from the iudgement of God being sinfull in his sight Great Sodom is destroyed Ierico is destroyed Gen. 19. Iosh 6. 1 â—in 24. 25 Râ—u 18. 2. great Niniuie is destroyed great Ierusalem is destroyed and great Rome the roome of all vncleane spirits stayeth for her destruction like a whoore that stayeth for her punishment till she be deliuered and all these were punished for vnthankefulnesse and contempt of the worde of God Yet Ierico nor Sodome nor Niniuie haue had halfe the preaching that we haue yet we are vnthankefull too When Sodom was burnede Zoar stoode safe when Ierusalem was destroyed Bethlehem Gen. 19. Ier. 41. 17. stood still so the Lord doth alwayes prouide for his people though he make neuer so great a slaughter and destruction amongst his enemies Great Sodome is destroyed great Niniuie is destroyed great Ierusalem is destroyed then what haue wee to looke for Ionah was cast into the sea swallowed of a fish and cast vp againe and after all this he must go preach at Niniuie and he must conuert it within fortie dayes and that without miracles which wanne great credite among the Gentiles Within fortie dayes hee must conuert Niniuie in fortie dayes the seed sowen growen and ripe Who would haue thought Ionah should haue beene cast out of the sea to conuert Niniuie They that scorned at Ionah are conuerted by Ionah and they that despised the worde are ouercome by the worde Though Ionah were cast out of a shippe swallowed of a fish and cast out of the sea yet there is hope of him Ioseph is in prisonâ— and who knoweth what shall become of him who would haue thought that Saule should become Paule or Zacheus a Christian God woulde not suffer anie people to 2. Pet. 2. 5. Gen. 19. Exod. 4. bee vntaught therefore hee sent vnto the olde world Noah Lot to Sodome Moses to Israell Thinke no worse of no man though hee were cast out of the sea as Ionah or baselie brought vp for the Sauiour of Israell is brought out of the flags and the saluation of the whole world out of a stall It is saide that GOD worketh manie things at once It might well be said for the mercie of God the conuersion of the Gentiles the reiection of the Iewes were al set forth herein and yet a further matter was contained in it And although
be called the foolish nation again then ye are most vnhappie and most cursed So now we haue heard that the Lord doth â—eueale all his counsels vnto his Prophets and how the glory of Israell is now reuealed to be the light of the Gentiles And you haue heard the cause why because the Jewes reiected their owne saluation You haue heard that the cause was onely his mercie his loue because mercy can not containe it selfe within Ierusalem A light to be reuealed to the Gentiles and the glorie of thy people Israell You haue heard why Christ is called light why he is called the light of the Gentils why the Lord did change a curse vnto a blessing why the Gentils did chaÌ„ge darknesse for light and a thousand gods for one true God Then the Gentiles receiued more grace then they desired for the Lord came vncalled into their houses and made a feast vnto them in their owne houses The light of the Gentiles is our light your light and my light Christ is our grace your grace my grace and Christ is our saluation your saluation and my saluation He came vnto the Iewes for the Iewes and yet his comming vnto the Gentiles was better then to the Iewes He came into the world when the world did abound in all wickednesse and saued vs when we most deserued wrath Wonder at this you that wonder at nothing that the Lord would come to bring saluation to redeeme our lost soules euen as it were against our willes so that now we would not be as we were for a thousand worlds I shewed the blindnesse of the Iewes who hauing heard of their reiection and of our conuersion yet vnderstood it not neither sought to preueÌ„t Gods wrath in reiecting of them Therefore the rocke which should haue saued them did shiuer them in peeces wherin was shewed their wonderful blockishnesse hauing it so ofteÌ„ foretold by their Ptophets figured in their Law shadowed in their sacrifices and read in their churches from Saboth to Saboth Euery thing that commeth to passe in churches in common weales in cities in countreys in kingdomes and in prouâ—â—ces these are all foretold in the scriptures and yet none do vnderstand it sauing a few chosen ones whom God loueth For the comming of Antichrist the ouerthrow of kingdomes the darknesse of Poperie the light of the Gospell the conuersion of the Gentiles and the reiecting of the Iewes all these are set downe in the scriptures and yet we can not vnderstand it though we heare it day by day because we do not giue our minds to vnderstanding Such hearers shall stand in a maze before the righteous terrible throne of God the dead shall rise the trumpe shall blow and all the world shal be in an vprore and they shall stand quaking when their hearing without profiting shall be layd to their charge and they shall say ô we haue knowne no such things but surely if the Iewes could come out of hell they wold admonish vs to take better heed how we heare for we heare as though we did not heare at all our minds are otherwise occupied Now when we see any thing come come to passe as it is foretold in the Scriptures then we must say as Christ sayd this prophecie is fulfilled for all things that are written are come to scriptum est factum est that is as sure as it is written so surely doth it come to passe It prophecieth nothing but that which truely is fulfilled in due time and the more often it speakes of a thing the more certaine the more excellent and the more to be beleeued it is Like a iewell that is beset with pearle so is our calling ordained with scriptures for so doth God tender our calling which is so often in his mouth and we so often in his remembrance that he speaketh of vs in euery book throughout the whole scriptures like a kind spouse whose loue is in a straunge countrey and he delighteth him selfe with thoughts and meditations of her so he did long vntil the Gentiles were come to him againe like the prodigall child whose father did long Luke 15. vntill he had imbraced him When shal my prodigall sonne come home againe saith he I will put my best garment on his backe my gold ring vpon his finger and his fare shall be the daintiest morsel And thus God longeth for our saluation and he knocketh at our doores Is faith here is loue here is one called the feare of God in this place And as loue maketh louers sometime to speake plainly and familiarly one to another sometime by darke speeches and riddles sometime by letters sometime by dumbe shewes and signes and sometime to hide them selues one from another so our God speaketh sometimes playnely vnto his Church sometime darkely and mystically somtime he turneth his face froÌ„ his Church and deare spouse as though he would not speake vnto her for loue as appeareth in the booke of the Canticles The first type or figure was Caine and Certain types figures of the electioÌ„ of the Gentiles and the reiection of the Iews which here he rehearsâ—d for the confirmation of this doctrine Gen. 4. Abell Caine was the eldest sonne of Adam and Abell the yonger yet God loued Abell and accepted his sacrifices but God reiected Caine for his wickednesse and he became a reprobate euen so doth God he reiecteth the Iewes which were the eldest sonne the true oliue and the seede of promise and Gods deare children if theâ— had continued in obedience and he taketh vs being but the yongest sonne the wyld oliue and maketh vs children by adoption vnto him only of his meere mercie without anie other cause The 2. example was Sem Iaphet both Gen. 9. which were Noahs sons Sem was the first son Iaphet the third yoÌ„gest of this Iaphet came the Gentiles of him said Noah God perswade Iaphet that he may dwell in the teÌ„ts of Sem that is that they may be vnited together as we see it is come to passe Other sheepe I haue saith Christ which are not of this fold them also will I bring they shal heare my voyce there shall be one sheepe fold and one shepherd Iohn 10. The third type or figure of Christ was Gen. 21. Ismael and Isaac both the sonnes of Abraham Ismaell was the eldest Isaac the yonger yet Isaac was chosen of God a figure of Christ at that time when he went to haue bene offered as a sweet sacrifice at Gods coÌ„mandement And Ismael his eldest brother was a mocker of his brother and therfore he was put away and the Lord was not with Gen. 22. him The fourth type or figure was Iacob and Gen. 25. Esau both sonnes to Isaac Esau was the elder brother and Iacob the yonger yet God loued Iacob and hated Esau because Esau contemned his birthright and sold it to Iacob for a messe of pottage and