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They that waite vpon lying vanities, forsake their owne mercie.
THe figure epiphonema, or acclamation, with the which the third part of this praier beginneth, to wit, a thanksgiuing the which Ionas yeildeth vnto God. This place cōtaineth two things.
One, the singular praise of the true God (whome Ionas witnesseth that he called vpon, and by whome he was deliuered) by com∣paring him with idols, it containeth, I say, the praise of God as the fountaine of all mercie, of al good things, of all saluation, and that the onely fountaine, of the which they doe depriue or bereaue themselues, whosoeuer call vpon & worship other gods. There∣fore Ionas being now deliuered, & rauished as it were besides him selfe, doth triumph vpon the earnest consideration of so great a benefit, and as a conquerour ouer the idolatours, auoucheth the glorie of the true God, crieth out that al men may heare him, that this God alone is the father of all clemencie and mercie, that is, of all good thinges, the which benefits they through their owne fault forsake, which flee vnto idols. Wherefore in this place I take the word mercie, for the effects of mercie, the which God being mercifull, bestoweth vpon men. The second part of this verse hath a very excellent and most true description of idols, the which by the way of contrarieties is opposed or set against that most boun∣teous nature of the true God. * 1.1 For he is true: the idols are lyes: He is bounteous in deede: the idols are vaine, that is, without any ef∣fect. Those therfore which call vpon them, and in their necessities pray vnto them, and not vnto the true God, doe willingly depriue themselues of true and certaine helpe of all good things: of salua∣tion it selfe: because they forsake the true God the fountaine of all good things, as Ieremie, or rather God by Ieremie complaineth, Ierem. 2.13. My people (saith God) haue committed two euils: they haue forsaken me the fountaine of liuing waters, to digge them pittes, ouen broken pittes, that can hold no water.
A notable de∣scription of i∣dols by way of contrarieties set against God.