J, 'l'IIE OUTWARD BIONB OF PENlTENOE AND CONTBJTlON ARE GOOD WHEN, AND ONLY WIIEN, THEY AR!!: THE EXPREBBlON OF GENUINE FEELING AND PURPOSE. We feel this to be the case with reference to ordinary human sorrow. The mere garb and semblance of mourning, being but conventional, is of little value. It is felt to be appropriate when the mourner can say- " I have that within which pe.eses show, These but the trappings and the signs of woe." How much more do tho religious interest and value of "sackcloth and ashes," "fasting and prayera," depend upon the sincerity of the emotions thus expressed! II. RESOLUTIONS TO REFORM AND AMEND ARE THE BEST EVIDENCE OF THE GENUINE- NEBB AND ACCEPTADLENEBS OF REPENTANCE. It is very much to the credit alike of the prophet and of those to whom he preached, that the Nioevites should have felt and expressed the absolute necessity of moral amendment in order to the enjoyment of for- giveness, favour, nod acceptance with God. 'l'here must have been something searching in Jonah's preaching, and something very responsive io the heart and conscience of the Nioevites, to have produced such a state of mind as that here indicated. It is especially observable that the citizens turned "every one from his evil way." The ways of sin are devious, numerous, and varied; siooere have turned every one to his own way; true repentance shows itself io a resolve oo the part of each individual offender to forsake his own sins. "Violence," whether proneness to national schemes for attacking other peoples, or assaults upon peaceful citizens, seems to have been the prevailing sin; for of this, it is said, the people chiefly repented. APPLICATION. The whole nature, body and soul, is implicated in sin; and the whole nature accordingly should concur in repentance. Ver. 9.-Hoping for mercy. The pathos of this question is increased as we call to mind the ignorance of the Nioevites regarding the true God. Their own religion was as likely to conceal as to make koowo the real character of the Deity. And what they had heard from Jonah was but very slender ground upon which to proceed in their approaches to Heaven. Hence the uncertainty, the commingling of fear with hope io the language they employed: "Who can tell," etc.? 1 THE NEED OF MERCY. '!'his appears from considering (1) haman sin; (2) Divine justice; and (3) the express threateniogs of the Divine Word . .All tbis was very apparent io the case of the Ninevites, and accounts for their attitude of contrition and supplication. But the same holds good of men of every nation and in every state of society. ll. THE GROUND OF HOPE, 1. With the Ninevites this could have been nothing but some instinct in their own heart. A Creator who has implanted pity in the breasts of his creatures cannot surely be destitute of that quality himselt 2. With those to whom the gospel is preached the case is otherwise; they have not to ask, "Who can tell?" for the Lord of all has made himself known to them as delighting in mercy, and has given his own Son to be the Mediator and the Pledge of mercy. III. 'l'HE OBJECT OF ENTREATY. 1. With regard to God, the aversion of his anger. Applying human language to the infinite God, the suppliants hoped for his turning and repentance. 2. With regard to themselves, the suppliants desired that they might not perish, that the doom deserved and threatened might not come apon them, that, iu a word, they might be saved. It is not easy to form any judgmeot as to the measure in which desire for spiritual blessing entered into the prayers of the men of Nineveh. But enlightened Christians are constrained to feel that the salvation which they seek is not merely release from suffering and penalty, but restoration to the favour and the obedience of God. Ver. 10.-Man's repentance and Goif,. The simplicity with which this great fact Is recorded is quite io accordance with the usual style in which the Old Testament is written. Iospired men wrote of God as they would have written of a great king. 'l'hus only, indeed, can we receive or communicate intelli,i:ible ideas regarding the Supreme. It is easy to criticize such statements as that of this text by calling them •• aothropo- pathic," but the fact is that it is uot degrading but eJ1:ahing the conception of God 1 to THE BOOK OF JONAH. [on. m. 1-10,
at.tribute to him, ~ot merely reason and will, but the capacity of the highest, purest, and tenderest emotions. I. HUMAN REPENTANOE THE OONDITION OF THE DIVINE, 1. Repentance Involves the turning with loathing from the paths of sin. Yet this is very difficult to account for. How, why, should those who have addicted themselves to sin, because of its pleasantness _or its profitableness, regard it in a quite different, a contrary light? 2, Repentance mvolves an apprehension of the majesty and justice of the moral law, Whilst men look earthward they will never repent, i.e. of sin itself; but when they direct their gaze heavenward, and perceive the splendour and beauty of an eternal, an inflexible law of right, then, by comparison with that, their own sin seems odious and degrading. II. DIVINE REPE~"TANCE IS THE RESPONSE TO THB HUMAN, 1. The repentance attributed to God does not involve any real change in the character or the purposes of God. He ever hates the sin, and pities and loves the sinner; this is so both before an~ afte~ the sinn~r's repenta!1ce· 2. Divine repentance is therefore the same principle actmg differently ID altered circumstances. If the prospect of punishment answers the same purpose as that intended by the punishment itself, there is no inconsistency in its remission; for punishment is not an end, it is only a means to goodness, to the reign of the law of righteousness. 3. Divine repentance is apparent in the forgiveness and acceptance of the contrite sinner. 4. And also in the moral influence which it exercises over the hearts of those who are reconciled. Gratitude is excited, love is awakened consecration is elicited, obedience is confirmed. '. .APPLICATION. It is to be observed that these great principles of the Divine govern- ment are exhibited in all thfir power in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the cross God summons maukina to repentance; in the cross God shows how he himself can repent.