The result of that conviction we shall see in, III. The determination formed —
Now would the prophet henceforth praise his God : and, having made vows to God in the hour of his extremity, he would now pay them ; and be a living- witness for God, that " salvation is of the Lord" for every soul that will seek it, however deep his guilt, or however desperate his condition.
These are the determinations, Brethren, which I desire you, in dependence upon God's help, to form —
[Look to the mercies vouchsafed to you in the hour of your necessity, when you cried unto the Lord : look at your deliverance from death and hell : look at a resurrection vouch- safed to you, from death to life, from misery to peace, from hell to heaven ; a resurrection like unto that of Jonah ; or rather like to that which was typified by it, the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : and then tell me, whether you should not " sacrifice unto the Lord with the voice of thanksgiving," and your every word be praise Call to
a Jer. ii. 13.
mind, also, the vows which you made in the hour of trouble ; how you would live henceforth, not unto yourselves, but to your God ; and not for time only, but for eternity. Now, be- ware that you forget not the resolutions then formed. Beg of God that they may not, as is too generally the case, vanish as the early dew that passeth away. They are all recorded in the book of God's remembrance ; and if violated by you, in return for all the mercies vouchsafed unto you, they will fearfully
aggravate your eternal condemnation Now, too, be
living witnesses for God, for the encouragement of others. Shew to others what a salvation you have found, and found in your lowest extremity, in answer to the prayer of faith. Who can tell what a blessing you may be to those around you ? Doubtless the mercy vouchsafed to Jonah was, under God, the salvation of all that great and populous city to which he preached. His miraculous deliverance gave, so to speak, an irresistible energy to his word ; insomuch that all, from the king on the throne to the lowest of the populace, instantly turned in penitential sorrow to the Lord. So you, when you can say to others, " What my eyes have seen, and ears have heard, and hands have handled, of the word of life, the same declare I unto you," may be instrumental to the honouring of God your Saviour, and to the saving of many souls alive.] On a review of this subject, see,
1. How wonderful are the ways of God!
[Who would have thought to what even the rebellion of Jonah should lead ; and how the punishing of that should lead to the salvation of his soul, and of the souls of many others ? Truly, " God's ways are in the great deep, and his footsteps are not known." But from all this we may learn never to de- spond; but rather, however desperate our condition may be, to say, " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" ]
2. How marvellous is the efficacy of converting grace !
[See what a change is wrought in Jonah ; though, indeed, far less than might have been expected. But to change our rebellious hearts into a frame of obediential love and gratitude; and to renew us in our inner man, so as to make us as lights in a dark world ; this is, and must be, the effect of true conver- sion. See then, brethren, that ye offer unto God the sacri- fice of praise continually ; and especially for your redemption from all the penal effects of sin, through the blood and righte- ousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. See, too, that you live to God as his redeemed people, in holiness and righteousness be- fore him all the days of your life ; and that you labour, in every possible way, to commend to others the salvation which you yourselves have found ]