The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of the Church of God in Geneua, vpon the prophet Ionas, by N.B. student in Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. Iohn, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.

[Caluin.] WE toulde yesterdaye howe God released the Nineuits of the punishment which he threat∣ned them by the mouth of Ionas, yea they had frée remission and release of the sinne as of the punishment. As often as God setteth pardon before the eyes of sinners, this condition is added withall: euen that they doo repent: but yet it followeth not that re∣pentaunce is the cause of obtayning forgeuenesse. For Gra∣tis, the Lord offereth himselfe, neyther is he otherwyse in∣duced thereto then by his mere liberalitye. But because he will not haue men abuse his mercy and fauour, he addeth

that lawe or condicion, euen that men repent them of their former life, to chaūge it into better. So then he respecteth y^e workes of these, which confesse, that they detest their sinns, and with a true and sincere desyre doo flye for succour vnto the mercye of God, for no man also from the hart wyll co∣uet that God should be merciful vnto him, otherwise then he which is displeased with himselfe for his sinne. This is the reason also why Esay sayth: that God wilbe mercifull vnto the remnaunte of his people, euen for that euery man tur∣ned from his iniquitye. But God certainely in these words meaneth not, that repentaunce (as I sayd) is the cause of our saluation: but for this cause he requyreth repentaunce and newnesse of lyfe: because no man earnestly desireth grace & the fauour of God, but he which is displeased with himselfe in his sinnes. And nowe that Ionas addeth that, God was tou∣ched with repentaunce, this manner of speaking ought to be well knowne vnto vs.

Surely if we wyll speake properlie, Repentaunce is neuer found in God, & againe Repentaunce is neuer referred to the inward & secret coūsaile of God: for God alwayes in himself remaineth one, and in him selfe is constant and firme. But he is sayde to be moued with Repentaunce, in respect of the vnderstanding and capacitie of man: For euen as we per∣ceyue God to be angrye, as often as he cyteth vs vnto his iudgement seate, & declareth vnto vs our sinnes: so also doo we perceyue that he is pacified & appeased, when as he offe∣reth vs hope of pardon. And there is according to our sense, some chaunge in God, when as he forgetteth his anger, as though he tooke to him a newe minde or affection. Because therefore we can not otherwise be terrifyed, so that we may humble our selues before God and repent, vnlesse he set be∣fore vs his yre and wrath, therefore the Scripture applyeth it selfe vnto this grosenesse of our vnderstanding.

Nowe on the other side, we cannot chéerefullie call vpon God, vnlesse we thinke him to be at one with vs, and appea∣sed

towarde vs, we sée therfore that a certaine kind of Gods chaunging commeth into our mindes, as often as eyther God threatneth vs, or geueth vs any hope of pardon and re∣conciliation, and so this speeche, (when Ionas sayth that God was moued with repentaunce) ought to be referred to this ende. Further we se that God is two wayes set out vn∣to vs, first In his word, and again secondly in his secret coun∣sayle. As touching his secret counsayle, I haue alredy sayd, that God is alwayes one, neyther doth he vse any of our af∣fections. But as touching the doctrine of the word which is applyed vnto our sences, God is sometyme angry with vs, and sometyme, as pacified offereth vnto vs forgeuenesse, and is fauorable, and propitiouse vnto vs, and this is that repentaunce of God. Let vs remember therefore that this dependeth and is to be referred to the word, when it is sayd, y^t God was touched with repentance: euen because the Nine∣uits coulde perceiue none other but that God had fully deter∣mined that they should perish. And why so? euen because so he had declared by his worde. But now when as they rise vp vnto the hope of their safegarde, then doo they perceyue some chaunge & alteration, euen according to the capacity of theyr fayth. And sure, each affection as wel of feare as of ioye doth spring of the word: because when God by his worde denoun∣ceth his yre, it must néedes be that miserable men shoulde be terrified. But when he inuiteth them by his worde vnto sal∣uation, in setting before them reconciliation, then by and by they take vnto them as it were a newe affection, and so also doo they attribute an alteration of mynde vnto God, this is the Summe. Now let vs procéede.

Notes

• Esai. 1.
• Properlie, Repentance is not in God, ney∣ther can it be referred to the secrete wil of God. Howe God is sayde to repent.
• God two wayes, de∣scribed vnto vs.