Jonah ii. 6. Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,
0 Lord my God.
IT is of the highest importance to have seasons of recollection for the more solemn investigation of the state of our souls. Not a day should be closed with- out serious reflections on our conduct through the day. On particular occasions it would be well to commit them to writing, with a view to our future humiliation or encouragement. Jonah's example in this respect is worthy of imitation. Having received from God a commission to denounce his judgments against Nineveh, and being afraid, that, after all, God would exercise mercy towards them, and make him appear a false prophet, he declined the office that had been assigned him, and endeavoured to " flee from the presence of the Lord." But a storm overtook him ; and he was cast into the sea, and swallowed by a fish ; and then, being preserved alive in that ex- traordinary situation, he thought on his ways, and cried unto his God for mercy. After his deliverance, he called to remembrance the exercises of his mind during his perilous confinement ; and recorded them, for the benefit of the Church to the end of time. He tells us, that at first he began to despair ; conceiving that " the Lord had cast him out of his sight." But, knowing that nothing was impossible with God, he directed his eyes towards heaven, and prayed. His prayer was heard, and the desired mercy was vouch- safed to him. This he acknowledges in the words before us : in which we have,
I. An instructive history —
Every part of this history is replete with instruc- tion. Other parts of Holy Writ inform us of the frail- ties of God's people, and exhibit Noah, Lot, David, Peter, and others, in very humiliating conditions. But there is a peculiarity in the character of Jonah that distinguishes him from all others, and gives us a
vol. x. s