and the earth, the sea and the dry land; whose omnipotent arm supports the universe, and whose voice all nature obeys. He is the God of heaven, who holds in his hand the winds and storms; the God of the sea, whose breath lifts up the swelling waves, and who alone can still them; and the God of the dry land, which the affrighted mariners cannot reach but by his permission.

This description of Jonah's God not only serves to instruct the seamen, but to aggravate the offence of the rebellious prophet; for, as we see in the tenth verse, he acknowledged with shame, that he had fled from the presence of this glorious Jehovah, who now sent a furious tempest to arrest him. Some think, that Jonah bad mentioned his offence when be came on board, and that the sailors had then made light of it, and did not recollect it till now; but the close of the tenth verse seems to be a supplement to the ninth, and speaks of what Jonah related now, rather than of any thing which he had said before: such supplements being not uncommon in the abridged narratives of scripture history. Had the mariners been previously informed of his crime, they would naturally have fixed on bim, as the author of their trouble, without waiting for the decision of the lot: but Jonah had no inclination to confess his guilt till the lot fell on him. It was now, when he was condemned by the voice of Providence, as well as by his own conscience, that he humbly acknowledged his shameful behaviour, in deserting the service of his glorious God.

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On hearing Jonah's confession, the mariners were struck with the utmost terror: they were afraid " when the storm arose, but now they "were exceedingly afraid; for they found, that it was indeed the messen. ger of divine vengeance, and that the God who sent it was vastly superior to any deity whom they had hitherto known. They said in their hearts; "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?" "Who knoweth the power of his anger?"* Conscious of their own guilt, particularly in their having just now rendered unto other gods the glory due to his name, they trembled at the thoughts of his wrath, of which they already felt the effects; being persuaded, that he whose anger pursued his own servant in a form so dreadful, would not fail to take vengeance on his enemies.

In the midst of their alarm, they expostulate with the prophet on the madness of his conduct: "Why hast thou done this?" Why hast thou rebelled against thy God, and attempted to escape from him who made the sea and the dry land?

What could tempt

And if thou wast

thee to awaken his indignation? resolved to brave his fury, why hast thou exposed us to the same perils? Had it not been for thee, instead of being surrounded with terrors, we might have been prosecuting our voyage in safety.' To these expostulations Jonah could make no reply; he felt the justness of this rebuke, and received it in humble silence, When we have deserved reproof, let us not fly in the face of our reprovers, as if they were our

* 1 Sam. vi. 20. Psalm xc. 11.

enemies; but rather thank them for their kindness in reminding us of our sins, and learn to profit by their salutary admonitions.

In

The seamen had good reason to complain of Jonah, for involving them in such awful dangers, by his rebellion against God. Little did he think, when he was embarking with them, what mischiefs he would occasion. In numerous instances, the effects of sin fall not on the sinner alone, but on all who are connected with him. Ungodly parents often entail misery and shame on their offspring; and, on the other hand, the crimes of children frequently bring down the gray hairs of their parents with sorrow to the grave. like manner, how often do we see wicked husbands, brothers, or friends, embittering the lives of their relations, or bringing them to ruin, by their vicious courses! How baneful are the fruits of sin! How wide the havoc which it causes, and the sorrows which it spreads, in families, societies, and states! We cannot abhor too much that abominable thing, so bateful to God, and so ruinous to man. Let us hasten to escape from this worst of enemies, by believing in that divine Saviour, who came " to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself;" and "who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."*

*Heb. ix. 26. Titus ii. 13, 14.

H

LECTURE IV.

JONAH'S PUNISHMENT AND MIRACULOUS

PRESERVATION.

Ver. 11, 12.

Chap. I. 11-17.

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? (for the sea wrought and was tempestuous.) And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea, so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.”

The mariners had discovered the cause of their troubles; and this was an important point gained: but something more must be done to escape impending ruin; for the sea raged as much as before, and the fury of the tempest was not abated. A sense of our lost state is a good step towards salvation, but it is not salvation itself: and many have felt convictions of sin, who have relapsed into a fatal security, instead of fleeing from the wrath to come.

Since Jonah had fled from the service of his God, the seamen might naturally suppose, that the best way to obtain deliverance from their present dangers was to land bim again at Joppa, or put him ashore on the coast of Syria or Cilicia, that he might return to his

work but, not knowing what course to adopt, they ask advice at the prophet himself. By his honest confession, he had become his own accuser, and they are willing to make him his own judge; especially as he might be expected to know, by the spirit of prophecy, what method must be taken to appease the wrath of his offended God. "What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us ?" Must we return with thee unto Joppa; or land thee on the nearest coast; or inflict some punishment upon thee; or proceed with thee to Tarshish, after offering up some sacrifice to thy God? Tell us what is the will of God concerning thee, that we may hasten to comply with it, that so this tremendous storm may subside.'

Jonah's answer must have struck them with great surprise : "Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you." Had he committed murder, or sacrilege, or some other flagrant crime, for which his life was forfeited by the laws of society, the most obvious remedy was to throw him overboard, that he might meet the punishment due to his guilt: but, as he had merely deserted his post, it might be hoped, that a speedy and penitent return to his duty might suffice; or that a trespass-offering would be accepted for his sin. He assures them, however, that, in order to still the raging sea, they must cast him into the waves. As the storm was sent for him, it would not go off without him; and they must throw him out as a sacrifice to its fury, before it can be appeased. This measure was not suggested by his own