Newes from Niniue to Englande, brought by the prophete Ionas vvhich newes in plainlye published in the godly and learned exposition of Maister Iohn Brentius folovving, translated out of Latine into Englishe by Thomas Tymme minister.

¶ And Ionas made him readie to flie vnto Tharsis from the face of the Lorde:

IONAS flieth to Tharsis from the pre∣sence of the Lorde, which some interprete to be the sea, other thinke it to be the pro∣per name of a Citie, which men call now Tunetum, sometime Carthage.

Here therefore twoo thinges are to bée considered, the one, is the disobedience of IONAS, and his flight from the presence of the Lorde. The other, is the cause why he fled and was disobedient to the calling of God.

First, let me here demaund a question. What meaneth the Scripture when it sayth that IONAS fled from the presence of the Lorde? Howe coulde IONAS flie from the presence of God, when as his maiestie fulfilleth both heauen and earth and all places else? Whither shall I goe (sayth the Psalmist) from thy spirite, or

where shall I hyde me from thy presence: if I climbe vp into heauen, thou art there, & if I go downe to hel, thou art there also, and so forth. And the Prophete Amos sayth: They shall not flie awaye: there shall not one of them escape, nor be deliue∣red. Though they were buried in the hell, my hande shall fetch them from thence: though they climbe vp to heauen, yet shal I cast them downe: though they hyde themselues vppon the toppe of Carmell, yet shall I séeke them out: though they créepe down from my sight into the déepe of the sea, I shall commaunde the serpent euen there to bite them. Let vs therefore note, that if mention be made here of the eternall and omnipotent maiestie of God, then there is none that can flie from hys hand or presence. The which thing the ex∣ample of IONAS proueth very well.

For here he flieth from the hande and presence of the Lorde, taketh shippe, and goeth about to passe into a straunge coun∣trie: yet notwithstanding, he could not es∣cape from the presence of the Lorde. God sawe his flyght, yea, God sawe his secret

councell, purpose, and intent. And he so stayeth him wyth his mighty arme in the sea, that the more he séeketh to escape, the more straightly he is helde with the hande and power of God, and is cast into ex∣tréeme peril and daunger which he sought to auoyde. Wherefore, méere foolishe and vaine is their purpose, which thinke by their deuise and pollicie to escape from the power and presence of God. But where as the scripture sayeth that IONAS fled from the presence of the Lorde, it signifi∣eth that he fled out of the lande of Israell, in the which, God is sayde aboue all other nations to dwell. First, bicause in that lande was the chiefe place of the Churche of God, and the Arke of the testament, by the which it pleased God oftentimes to aunswere. Secondly, bicause God had ap∣pointed in that lande the publike ministe∣rie of the preaching of his worde, and was wont to reueale himselfe to the Prophets, and to worke miracles to confirme his promises as concerning Christ. Last of all bicause in that lande the stocke of Christe dwelt, which is the true face and liuelye

presence of God, bicause whosoeuer séeth Christ, séeth the true and euerlasting God. By this we may learne, that then a man is sayde to flye from the presence of God, or to hyde him from his sight when he flyeth those places, in the which the worde of God is preached, or when hée shunneth those men which preache the worde of God. So Caine is sayde to go forth, and to flie from the presence of God, bicause he fled from his father Adam, and dwelt farre from him, least he shoulde be reprehended of his father by the worde of God. So disobedient seruants and sonnes flie from the face of God, when they flie from their parents and maisters, least for their disobedience they shoulde be repre∣hended by the worde of the Lorde and pu∣nished. So the wicked and vngodlye flie from the face of God, when they despise the preaching of the word of God, fearing least by the same they should be reprehen∣ded from their sinne & wickednesse. Where∣fore although no man as touching the om∣nipotencie of God, can flie from his ma∣iestie, power, and presence: yet notwith∣standing,

as touching the externall prea∣ching of the worde of God, those flie hys presence, which doe despise his word, neg∣lect his sacraments, continue in disobedi∣ence towardes him, and go forwarde in a wicked lyfe.

What shall we saye then? Can such as flie the presence of God, escape God hym∣selfe, and his punishment which they so feare? No vndoubtedly. For the more they flie the worde and sacraments of God, the more they fall into his hande, and incurre his wrath, prouoking iust vengeance vp∣pon themselues. Caine fled from the pre∣sence of the Lorde, but the more he fledde the more hée was tormented with horror of minde. IONAS fled from the presence of the Lorde, but the farther he fled, the more subiect he was to perill and daun∣ger. Wherefore, we must not flie from God in sinne, and in the feare of punish∣ment, but rather we must approche vnto God by repentance and inuocation, by the which meanes alone, we escape the wrath of God, and the deserued punishment for sinne. But of this we will speake more

plentifully anone.

Secondlye, it is demaunded for what purpose and intent IONAS fledde out of the lande of Israell, and woulde not obey the calling of God sending him to Niniue. Of sundrie men sundrie and diuers cau∣ses are declared and alleaged. Some saye that IONAS was afearde of the daun∣ger that might come vnto him at Niniue for his ambassage sake. For to preach, that a citie should sodenly be ouerthrowne and destroyed, in the Citie it selfe, is inough to stirre vp against a man all the Citizens & inhabitants of the same, and to make him∣selfe to be accused of sedition. Other some thinke, that IONAS feared least that the Niniuets which were Ethnickes shoulde receyue the worde of God, and repent, and be receyued of the Lord to be his peo∣ple, and so the Israelites to be reiected. Therefore least his countriemen the Is∣raelites shoulde be reiected, hée rather sought to flie, than to obey the calling of God. And it maye be that IONAS had such cogitations in his mind. But IONAS himselfe in y^e fourth chapter folowing re∣hearseth

the true and certaine cause of his flight. For when God did spare the Nini∣uets, and destroyed them not, according to the preaching of IONAS, IONAS reasoned with God, and sayth: O Lorde was not this my saying (I pray thée) when I was yet in my countrie? therefore I hasted rather to flie vnto Tharsis. By these wordes we may plainly gather, that IONAS hearing the commaundement of the Lorde, by the which he was com∣maunded to preache the subuersion of the Niniuets, thought within himselfe of the inspeakable clemency and mercy of God: by the which, God is wont to forgiue those that repent, and séeke for the same. He feared therefore, least he preaching the o∣uerthrow of the Niniuets, they in repen∣ting shoulde be preserued, and so he coun∣ted and estéemed as a vaine and false Prophete. For IONAS was not of the common sort of men, neyther was he on∣ly famous in Israell. But he was a singu∣lar and excellent Prophete, and so he was estéemed and accounted of, not onely a∣mong the Iewes his countriemen, but al∣so

among other nations. Which fame he got by this, that according to his prophesie the whole kingdome of Israell was resto∣red, as it is written in the booke of Kings.

Wherfore, IONAS feared to impaire his fame and glorie, by preaching that to the Niniuets which afterward should not come to passe, whereby he myght be coun∣ted a lyer, the which thing to the vertuous IONAS was more grieuous than death.

But what? Coulde IONAS by his de∣termined flight escape daungers, and pre∣serue the fame and glorie of his name? No truly: but rather he casteth hymselfe into extréeme perill, and doth not only by his disobedience bring infamy to himselfe, but also putteth his lyfe in venture, and suffereth euen the paines of hell, whyle he is constreyned thrée dayes to lye in the belly of the Whale, alwayes looking for present destruction. Here therefore wée maye sée that the common prouerbe is of∣tentimes verified: namely, that the wyse man sometimes prooueth himselfe a foole. IONAS was the wisest and y^e holiest Pro∣phet in Israell. And yet notwithstanding

in this poynt he is so ouerwhelmed wyth foolishnesse, that he thinketh by disobedi∣ence and sinne to preserue hys name and fame: not considering that by this waye he shoulde rather loose all his goodes, both corporall and spirituall, than preserue and kéepe them from shipwracke and hazarde. He knewe no doubt, that Salomon sayth: that the thing which the vngodly feareth, falleth alway on him. But thys saying came not now into hys mynde. For so it was wont to come to passe, that if God doe staye his hande, then not one Prophet abideth in true obedience.

First of all therefore let vs learne by this example of IONAS the feare of God. No man ought to trust to hys wyse∣dome, holynesse, power, or other gyftes, but onely to the clemencie and mercie of God, & in all his actions to call vpon God by Christ his sonne, that he will vouch∣safe to preserue and kéepe vs in the true obedience of his worde. We maye not by the example of IONAS take anye thing rashly or disobediently in hande, and saye: if God preserued IONAS in his disobe∣dience,

he will also preserue mée: where∣fore, I also will be disobedient vnto God. This is detestable rashnesse and tempta∣tion of God. For God preserued IONAS not that we should learne to be rashe, and disobedient, but bicause we should learne to feare God and to obey him, bicause tru∣ly we may fall with IONAS: but perad∣uenture wée cannot rise with him againe, specially if we rashly tempt God. But and if we fall vnaduisedlye, then the example of IONAS teacheth vs to repent, and to trust to the mercye of god, and so we shall be deliuered. Furthermore, the example of IONAS veryfieth and confirmeth the saying of Salomon, namelye, that the thing which the vngodly man feareth, fal∣leth on him. For it is commonly séene that men séeke to escape daunger by impietie and sinne, as IONAS did: who went a∣bout to put awaye infamie by disobeying the will of God. So Pilate would auoyde exile and banishment from his dominion and office, by shedding the innocent bloud of Christ. So artificers, merchant men, and other occupiers, goe about to auoyde

pouertie and néede, by craft, fraude, and deceyte in bargayning, and selling. But that which they so greatly feare falleth v∣pon them. Let vs therefore abyde in our calling and obedience towards god, so shal we in déede escape all daunger and perill.

Notes

• The text
• Two thin∣ges here to be conside∣red.
• Of flying from the Lorde.
• Cap. 9.
• Exodus. 15.
• Cap. 4.
• 4. Reg. 14.