Ver. 6.-Danger and devotion. The conduct of the seamen, who themselves, when encompassed by danger and when threatened by death, both ea.lied upon their gods and besought Jonah to imitate their prayers and vows, may have been superstitious in its accessories, but it was certainly right in principle. L DANGER REMINDS us OF OUR OWN POWERLESSNESS. In the presence of the great forces of nature--the hurricane, the earthquake, the volcano-man feels his own physical feebleness and helplessness. He is mightier than all these forces in that he can think and feel, purpose and act, whilst they blindly and unconsciously work out a higher will But in his body he is incapable of resisting, of measuring himself against, these tremendous powers. II. DANGER REMTh'DS US OF THE UNCERTAINTY AND BREVITY OF HUlllAN LIFE. By some "accident" from without, or by some "disorder" within, the life of the body will certainly be brought to a close. The lightning may smite or the waves may swallow up the healthiest frame--may close the most useful and beneficent life. The treacherous sea, as in this narrative, threatens to engulf the mariner and the passenger. "To thee the love of woman has gone down, Brave hearts and true are gathered to thy br01L11t." III. DANGER DRIVES THE sIN:NEB TO SEEK Gon's MER0Y. To many the hour of peril is the only hour of prayer. Lips that have only used the name of the Eternal Majesty in ribald profanity, when white with fear utter tha.t name in earnest entreaty for pity and for deliverance. When human help is vain, then the godless call upon the great Helper, God. How worthless such prayer often is experience sadly teaches. "The river past, the saint forgot." Yet it is well that men should be awakened, however rudely, from their self-sufficiency and false security. IV. DANGER DRAWS FORTH THE CONFIDENCE AND THE PRAYERS OF TUE PIOUS. How many art the records of shipwreck which tell of the peace and trust, the fortitude and hopt, of the true Christian, when those around have abandoned themselves to despair! Ht who believes the gospel knows that God" thinks upon him," and knows that ho bo tbi1,ks upon his own for good. It =Y be that an unexpected deliverance will lo vm,ugbt; but it will be the case that, whatever the Father above may suffer to happen tu tht body, the soul shall be safe in heavenly keeping unto life eternal, OIi, I, 1-17,] THE BOOK OF JON All. 9
Ver. 9.-.A good confession. What an insight this story gives UR into the life and bnbits of travellers in ancient times I Curiosity is always entertaining; but the inquisitiveness of these seamen bound for Tarshish, as they questioned their passen)!er regarding hie occupation, his race, and his reli_'iion, is a revelation of their character, and affords an opportunity to the prophet to avow his religious faith. Jonah was not willing to obey God; yet he was not slow to confess God. There is much to aclmire in bis language. I. IT WAS AN INTELLrnENT CONFESSION. God is to many little more than a name; religion merely e. form of words. There are those who are satisfied to name the name of their hereditary deity. Jonah's acknowledgment was accompanied by statements which prove his faith to have been something more than traditional. He described the Jehov11h whom he worshipped e.s the God of heaven, the Maker of the sea. and of the land. The words remind us of the opening of the Apostles' Creed. To confess God truly 1s to recognize his attributes and his method of dealing with the sons of men. It is not enough to utter mechanically a form of words. II. IT WAB A BOLD CONFESSION. Instead of being alarmed by the dangers of the deep, the prophet seemed now to recover the self-possession which he had lost. In the presence of the angry elements and the anxious sailors, and above all in the presence of the Lord of nature and of man, Jonah confessed his God. Was there in this conduct something of the spirit embodied in the words, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" P III. IT WAB A REVERENT CONFESSION. "I fear the Lord;" i.e. revere, worship, and honour him. They who know him aright may well offer to him the veneration am\ adoration which angels delight to present. Who would not fear his great Name'? Alas I that the name of God should ever pass irreverent lips! IV. IT WAB, HOWEVER, A OONFESSION WHICH WAS L>;CONSISTENT IVITH THE PROPHET'~ CONDUCT, AND WAB THEREFORE HIS CONDEMNATION. How was it that he, who so honourably confessed his God in the tempest, had fled from that God, and disobeyed his plain commands? Could he use this language and not feel that it censured himself for so acting as he had done? It is well that we should verbally acknowledge God, that we should sincerely confess his right over us. But it may be that when we recite our Creed, and make our confession, we shall learn to think of our frequent inconsistencies with the profession which we a.vow. The knowledge of God may bring us to the knowledge of ourselves; and confession may lead to penitence, and so to reconciliation.
Ver. 12.-Self-aacrifice. Whatever difficulties the facts of this narrative may occasion in the mind of the reader, it must be admitted that it abounds with principles of the deepest interest e.nd value. How could the lesson of self-devotion, of sclf- sacrifice, be more impressively taught than in the language of Jonah recorded in this verse? 'l'he unquestionable realities of federal human life, and of substitutionary suffering e.nd sacrifice, are brought before us in a vivid and impressive form. J. DIVINE PROVIDENCE APPOINTS THAT THE WRONG-DOING OF MEN SHOULD INVO:LVE SUFFERING TO THEm FELLOW•OREATUBES. "For my sake," said Jonah, "this great tempest is upon you." No observer of human life can doubt that the greatest sufferers are not always the greatest sinners; they aro often those who arc brought into trouble, sorrow, and affliction through the conduct of those connected with them. The child suffers for the father's sins; the wife, for the husband's improvidence; the people, for their rulers' solfishness e.nd negligence. 'vVe may not be able to explain this fact, we may not be satisfied with explanations of it which other people accept; but it would show an ignorance of human life to question its reality. II. 'fm;: BAME PROVIDENCE APPOl~TS THAT SUFFEmNGS WILLINGLY UNDERGONE BY MEN SHOULD DE THE MEANS OF nENEFIT TO OTHERS, "Cast me forth," said Jonah, "into the see.; so shall the sea be calm unto you." Here ngain we are brought into contact with an undoubted fact in humnn society. The sufferings, hardships, and self-denial of po.rents a.re the means of comfort, culture, and well-being to their children. Great men benefit society by met\ns of their labours, their self-sacrifice. Few persons reap a harvest of gladness and peaco and prosperity, the seed of which 110.~ not been sown with toil and with tears. It is the highest exercise of p,,triotism 10 THE BOOK OF JONAH. [mr. I, 1-17.