V. WITII ALL HIS BIN, JONAH WAS A SERVANT OF THE LORD. The" root of tho matter" was in him. We have gleams in this dark narrative of the better naturo within him. Pleasant to believe that his later life (of which we have no record) was calm 'll'ith a patience and beautiful with a charity unknown before; that II at the even- time there was light." Here, through all time, he is seen as the great missionary-pro- phet, and as, of all the prophets, the great Christ-type. Ou earth be bad much to learn- much concernini his own folly, impatience, sin; much of God's wisdom, forbearance, perfection. And '110w, clear from sin, is he not learning the lesson still? For to know God is the blessed lesson of eternity. And its song (as was Jonah's here) is," Salva• tion is of the Lord." In that song may we join at length and for ever, with him and all "the goodly fellowship of the prophets" 1-G. T. C. Vers. 1, 2.-Jonah God's messenger. In these words we have important instruotion L'l to God's messengers. I. THEIR CONTINUITY. The first word of this book is the Hebrew conjunction "and : 1' "And tbe word of the Lord came unto Jonah." Thus begin other books of the Old Testament. How significant! The Divine messages stand not alone; they are con- nected with those sent before. So with the Divine messengers. Did the word of the Lord come to Abraham, Moses, Elijah? And also to Jonah! He shows poorly in comparison with them, yet he too was in "the goodly fellowship of the prophets." ,ve may have slight gifts and narrow opportunities, still we may be God's messengers and in the line of tbe greatest of the past. Each humblest Christian worker can say, "To me also is this grace given." II. THE DIFFICULTIES OF Gon's MESSENGERS. Jonah had many. This was a novel work to which be was bidden. A great work-one man to warn the millions of Nineveh. A work he could devolve on no other, and in which he wae to have no human helper. He had to say a "bard saying." Not a sermon concerning Nineveh-that he could have preached at home; nor to Nineveh; but with fearless cry against it--the city of violence, of -manifold vengeance-clamouring wickedness. But hie great difficulty was within him, in an unwilling mind that soon revealed itself in rebellious life. We too have difficulties as God's messengers. In the way we have to go, the people we have to address, their callous unconcern in the message we have to bear-" warning every man." But our greatest difficulty is within. To be promptly obedient. Not to hesitate, delay, a.rgne against. Oh, to watch against the reluctant will I There is the fontal evil. No audible voice, such as may have come to the prophets, do we need to-day. The Spirit of Obrist is with us, speaking in Scripture-illumined conscience, and in the fresh strong convictions of the soul. Let us bear and promptly heed them, willing to bear or do all to which he calls. III. TnE PRIVILEGE OF Goo's MESSENGERS. With all his faults Jonah is clothed with honour. He carried God's messages to men; he wae "Jonah the prophet." We too may bear his messages, and by every right word and true deed are doing it. How privileged thus are we! Then let us "arise, go." Let nothing hinder, remembering whose servants we are. "Arise, go " to 1ottage, school-class, bed of the afflicted, to warn, entreat--in all bearing God's messages; to business, to do it as in Christ's very presence; to scenes of rest, by purity and cheerfulness to witness for God the All-holy, the All-happy One; to trials, temptations, to be in Christ's strength stronger than all of them. "Arise, go to" all the work given you to do, and go to finish it: to sorrows, that through them you may reach the realms of rest; to death, through it to arrive at the land of life; through all to him our Master and Lord. " Where he is there we shall be also."-G. T. C.
Ver. 3.-Jonah tl,efugitive. I. THE MOTIVES THAT IMPELLED HIM TO FLIGHT. We cannot know all that prevailed with him. If we knew just where the call found him, and "tbe spirit of bis mind," then we might be less surprised at his flight. Had he been "restraining prayer"? yielding to self-indulgence? or falling to the idolatry of his own judgment-confident that he knew his own powers, what he could best do, where beet labour? not in all things seeking that higher wisdom which is ?Ur only safe e.nd unerring guidance? Anyway, such a man as Jonah falls only by little and little. There are many steps to reach a spiritual catastrophe. 4et us be warpeJ, tlicQ, OD, I, 1-17.) 'l'HE BOOK OF JONAH. 33