John Trapp on Jonah 3:4

Verſ. 4. And Ionas began to enter into the city] Having ſeen God, he now fears no colours, dreads no danger; as neither did Moſes, Michaiah, Eſay, Chap. 6. Paul, Act. 21. Luther going to Wormes, &c. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord, we perſwade men, 2 Cor. 5.18. we forewarne them to flee from the wrath to come, Mat. 3.7. we pull them out of the fire of hell, as firebrands, Iude 2.3.

a dayes journey] One of the three dayes, Verſ. 3. Not all the three in one day, for haſte, as Hierome would have it.

and he cried and ſaid,] Not fearfully muttering his meſſage, but delivering it with a courage, Boanerges like, able almoſt to make his hearers hearts fall down, Mr. Full[illegible: 2 letters]. and hairs ſtand upright, as One ſaith of Maſter Perkins.

Yet fourty dayes and Niniveh ſhall be overthrown] The word properly noteth a ſudden, inevitable, and perpetual deſtruction, ſuch as was that of Sodom and her Siſters, Gen 19.25. Ier. 20.16. Eſ. 13.19. Am. 4.11. Now we muſt not think that Ionah ſaid no more then is here ſet down: that he expreſſed no condition, ſuch as was that, Rev. 2.5. Except ye repent, or that like a mad man he ran up and down the city (as one did once about Jeruſalem, and another lately about London) repeating and thundering out theſe words onely, inconditis & ineptis clamoribus, Am. 3.7. with harſh and hoarſe outcries. God therefore threatneth that he may not puniſh, and all his threats are conditional, Ier. 18.8. if they repent, he will alſo. This, if Ionah expreſſed not, yet the Ninivites underſtood; for elſe they would never have repented but deſpaired (as Iudas with his poenitentia Iſcariotica) and defied Ionah as an evil meſſenger ſent againſt them. They might well enough think that if God had not meant them mercy, he would never have forewarned them, never have given them fourty dayes reſpite: the Septuagint cannot be refuſed for rendring it three dayes (though ſome have attempted it) It is probable that Ionah omitted nothing that pertained to the preaching of repentance, though here we have it ſet down in ſome onely. The Hebrews tell us, that the Mariners alſo went to Niniveh; and telling what had befallen Ionah at ſea, confirmed his doctrine, and ſentence againſt the Ninivites, who thereupon repented. But theſe, as they affirm without reaſon, ſo they may be diſmiſſed without refutation.