[Jonah executed the prophetic office among the ten tribes'^; but we know nothing of his spirit, except from the book which bears his name. And here we see, that he did not enter on his office without great reluctance, fleeing from God, in order to avoid an embassy, which he was afraid would be attended with personal danger or disgrace. When he was in the midst of the storm, which endangered the vessel wherein he was sailing, he, a professor of the true religion, he, a pro- phet of Jehovah, he, who was the occasion of the storm, was sleeping, while the heathen sailors were crying to their gods ; and he was reproached for his supineness by the very heathens themselves^. After God himself had interposed to mark him as the occasion of the storm, so that he could conceal his guilt no longer, he confessed his wickedness, and acknowledged to the crew, that the only way of saving the ship, was, to cast him overboard. This done, a fish was prepared to swallow him ; and constrained to deliver him safely upon dry land. After this, we might hope, he had attained a better spirit ; but alas ! though compelled to deliver his message, he preferred his own honour before the salvation of a million souls ; instead of once interceding for them, he waited with anxious expectation to see his word fulfilled, and even quarrelled with God for ex- tending his mercy to them ^
How different was the conduct of our adorable Jesus ! He willingly left the bosom of his Father, to become a messenger to our guilty worlds. So iar from wishing to avoid disgrace or danger, he gladly submitted to the accursed death of the cross, and '^ gave his own life a ransom for many.'''' Instead of sleeping while others prayed, he continued whole nights in prayer for those, who were insensible of their danger ; and, instead of grieving at the salvation of those who received him, he wept over the impenitence of those who rejected him^\ All concern for himself was lost in his concern for others. And his restoration to life, which was effected hy his own almighty potuer, was made the means of more abundant and effectual exertions on behalf of those to whom he was sent. And the more his efforts were crowned with success, the more did he glorify God on the behalf of those who obtained mercy.]
3. In the success with which he executed it —
[Jonah prevailed to the outward reformation and temporal
preservation, of one single city But Jesus does, and
will, prevail to the spiritual renovation, and everlasting salvation
of a whole world How exalted is he in this view, and
how worthy of our highest praise !] .
d 2 Kings xiv. 25. « Jonah i. 5, G. f Jonah iv. 2 — 5.
s Ps. xl. 7—9. '' Luke xix. 41.