Son of mnn was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (H. Martin, D.D.). 4. Its purport. "Cry against it; for its wickedness i8 come before me." " He m11s~ cry ngainst Nineveh, not whisper in the ear as if it were to one, not speak softly as to a few, but cry as unto all: this is a general proclamation. This word 'cry' is used in Scripture when men are fast asleep and lulled in their sins, and awake not with n little; so that as Elijah said to the Baalites, they were to 'Cry aloud, because Baal might be sleeping, and must be a waked;' so the minister must cry aloud, that men may be raised from their drowsiness in sin" (Abbot). "The wickedness of Nineveh'' con- sisted in pride, ambition, oppression, cruelty, sensuality. The Ninevites were very merciless, and practised most horrible cruelties on captives, even of the highest rank. This wickedness had come before God, denoting that it had become full (Gen. xv. 16), therefore intolerable. Yet to this merciless people Divine mercy was to be shown. Great cities apt to become great in sin-the power of sin becomes concentrated---one sinner encourages another-sin can be more easily hid---or, it may become very shame- less-it is the duty of God's servants to cry against the wickedness of such cities, their drunkenness, licentiousness, greed, sabbath-breaking, etc., and proclaim God's wrath agi'inst their sine. lll. THE CALL REFUSED. Jonah fulfilled the command to arise-but not to go against Nineveh. He shrinks from duty-" He should have risen to cry, but he rose to fly" (Abbot). His reasons were probably various-one is afterwards referred to by him (eh. iv. 2). Shirking duty because it is irksome and disagreeable, is too common. In ordinary life, irksome employments, when not patiently accepted, breed negligence, idleness, drunkenness, love of illicit pleasure, etc. Here is a lesson for the young-at school, or when beginning business or trade. In religious life, disagreeableness of duty is often a stumbling-block---often makes us unfaithful; we neglect to warn others because the task is disagreeable. As the remedy for this, learn to regard duty ever as the command of God, who will strengthen and carry through a.11 who trust him. "Jonah rose up to flee unto 'l'arshish from the presence of the Lord." He could hardly have believed that Tarshish was out of God's presence, but he acted as if he thought so. It was away from his immediate and manifested presence. There is a tendency in many to act as if God were in some places, not in others-as if God were in the church or religious meeting, but not in the market-place, and as if they might act there as his enemies act. Edmund Burke said the humanity of England was " a thing of points and parallels." Some break the sabbath abroad as they would not do at home. Many 11.y from the company of godly people, because not willing to think of God. Lurking unbelief in this. Omnipresence of God a lesson for both old and young. God is some- times represented by conscience. Fatal is the wish to escape from God-it would be to leave all that is bright, holy, gladdening, for ways of darkness, filth, misery. If we say to God, "Depart from us" (Job xxl. 14), he will say to us, "Depart from me" (Matt. xxv. 41). Jonah's effort to escape from God's presence seemed successful- "he found a ship going to 'l'arshisb." Providence seemed to favour him; but this was a narrow view-providence must be interpreted widely. "We cannot expect smiles oC approbation from Heaven any longer than we can say with Abraham's servant, 'I being in the way'" (Jones of Crea.ton). "So he paid the fare thereof." He had the money ready-another apparently lnvourable providence, and he paid it at once, for men do not grudge expense to carry out their own will, however reluctant often to spend it to carry out God'H. See the costliness of sin-yet the devil's taxes are usually paid cheerfully. Picture Jonah afloat in the Mediterranean-his conflicting feelings -relief, yet no relief-like a modern criminal escaping to America, with an evil con- science and dread of the telegraph-his expedition insane. "Whither can I go from thy presence?"(Ps. cxxxix.). No hiding from God (Jer. xxiii. 24; Rev. vi.16). Only hiding-place in God (Ps. xxxii. 7). The great lesson is this-indefeasible obligation of God's will, and man's alienation from it and disposition to resist it (Rom. vii.). Hence the need of watching and prayer: "Teach me to do thy will I "-W. G. B.
Vere. 4-6.-The fugitive arrested. "But the Lord sent oat a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken," etc. "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker I" God is never at a loss for means ~f conquering opposition and bringing erring men to their senses-he arrests Balaam 26 THE BOOK OF JONAH. [orr. r. 1-17.