Thus far our attention has been almost exclusively turned to Jonah : but, that we may bring the matter home more directly to our own business and bosoms, we would suggest a reflection or two, arising out of the subject :
1. What selfishness is there in the heart of man!
[One would be ready to account this record a libel upon human nature, if we did not know assuredly that it is a true history, without any exaggeration or mistake. It appears in- credible, that such inhumanity should exist in the heart of man, as that he should wish for the destruction of a million of souls, only that his own word might be verified ; and that he should be so vexed by his disappointment, as to wish for death, and pray to God to terminate his life. Nor would one conceive it possible that a temporary inconvenience, which had in fact originated solely in his own absurd and impious conduct, should so irritate and inflame his mind, as to make him insult, to his very face, his almighty and all-gracious Reprover. But we know little of ourselves, if we do not recognize much of our own character in that of Jonah. We have had reported to us, time after time, the calamities of others, and have felt no more than if the most trifling occurrences had been related : or if we have felt at all, it has been only for a moment, and the tale has soon become as if it had passed before the flood. But, on the other hand, if any thing has arisen to thwart our own interests or inclinations, though it has been of less consequence than Jonah's gourd, we have laid it to heart, and been so irritated or grieved by it, that our very sleep has gone from us. Particu- larly if any thing has occurred that was likely to lower our reputation in the world, how keenly have we felt it, so as almost to be weary even of life ! Or if any thing wherein we pro- mised ourselves much happiness have been withdrawn from us, as wife or child, how little have we been able to say, " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord !" Alas ! we have more resembled Jonah, than Job : our every thought has been swallowed up in self: and neither God nor man have been regarded by us, any farther than they might subserve our selfish and carnal ends. Let us then in Jonah see our own character as in a glass, and let this view of it humble us in the dust.]
2. What mercy is there in the heart of God ! —
[This is the improvement which God himself makes of the subject. Jonah had complained of God for exercising mercy towards the repentant Ninevites ; and God vindicates himself against the accusations of Jonah. In doing this, he touches with exquisite tenderness the sin of Jonah ; and represents him not
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as actuated by selfishness and impiety, but as merely " having pity on the gourd." What a beautiful example does this afford us, who ought to extenuate, rather than to aggravate, the faults of our bitterest enemies ! His argument on the occasion is this : ' If you have had pity on a poor worthless gourd, for which you never laboured, and in which you have only a slight and transient interest, how much more am I justified in having pity on a million of the human race, (six-score thousand of whom have never done good or evil,) and on multitudes of cattle also, which must have been involved in any calamity in- flicted on that large city ! ' This argument is similar to one used in the Epistle to the Hebrews3, and says in effect, ' If you were right in pitying a thing of no value, how much more am I in sparing what is of more value than ten thousand worlds ! ' This argument, especially as addressed to the self-justifying Jonah, was unanswerable : and the truth contained in it is consolatory to every child of man. God is a God of infinite mercy : he may, he will, spare all who truly repent. Whatever judgments he has denounced against sin and sinners, the exe- cution of them depends solely on the sinners themselves: if they repent, sooner shall God cease to exist, than cease to exercise mercy towards them. Let this encourage transgres- sors of every class : let it encourage the abandoned to repent ; and those who profess godliness to repent also : for all need this consoling truth, that " God willeth not the death of any sinner, but rather that he turn from his wickedness and live." Know then, both from his dealings with the Ninevites, and his forbearance towards his perverse prophet, that He is abundant in goodness and truth, and that where sin has abounded, his grace shall much more abound.]