The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 75

of old, and for such reasons BB we have named, it was still, as at fir3t, a city !!I'eat t0 God" (Raleigh). The message is somewhat different Crom before: "Preach the pr.each- ing niterally, • cry the cry :;J that I bid thee." Thie may either mean, " the cry that I will bid thee at the time,' or" the cry that I already bade thee." Either Jonah was to go, like an admiral, with sealed orders to be opened at a certain place; or he was to eay what be bad been ordered to say before, but had shrunk from saying. The latter view is probably correct-a further triBl of Jonah's sincerity and submissiveness-in the very matter which had dissatisfied him before, he was called to place himself in God's hands, and to engage to do precisely as God would direct. In all cases, true preaching is " the preaching that I bid thee." It is a simple message from God; it becomes elTectuaA when it is given as such. All very well to be able to reconcile it with reason and com- mend it to the conscience, and to set it forth with the enrichments of learning and the embellishments of art; but there is danger lest its true simple nature be thereby disguised; nothing should be allowed which prevents it from being presented as a 'simple message from· God: "the preaching that I bid thee." "How often did our Lord disclaim the authorship of all that he said, and assign it continually to the Father1 • Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but bis that sent me; the words that l speak unto you, I t1peak not of myself' (John vii. 16). Himself personally cognizant of all· truth, he acts as the Church's Teacher under the responsibility and within the exact limits of his office. Officially ordained the Father's Ambassador, he confines himself to a declaration of the Father's words. . . . Exactly as the Father had said unto him, so he speaks" (Martin). Ill. THE OBEDIENCE OF THE PROPHET. "So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord." "How different every way from what he was when he fled to Tarshish I We see him no more consulting with flesh and blood, but yield- ing prompt obedience to the heavenly call. No more running away, bnt asking,' Lord. what wilt thhu have me to do? Here am I; send me.' The Lord saith, • Go to Nineveh;' he instantly goes without gainsaying or resistance" (Jones). "In the present case, Jonah would resume his commission with a new obedience; with a meekness, a faith, a courage, to all of which his punishment and pardon ha.d been the signal means of disciplining him. He would resume his work and mission with another spirit-(1) as a sinful man, whose sin had been eminently forgiven; (2) as a prayerful man, whose prayer had been eminently answered; (3) as an afflicted man, whose affiiction had been eminently blessed" (Martin). "The Word says, • Arise;' and Jonah arose; the ·word says, 'Go,' and Jonah went. It is beautiful. It is grand. We must not indeed exaggerate. For we know that there is something dark and bitter in this man still, which will break out again. • But meantime, and in this act of obedience, so far as we see it, there is• a grandeur like that of an angel-a bimplicity like that of a child,. (Raleigh). IV. THE :MESSAGE DELIVERED. "And Jonah began to enter into the city, a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Jonah in Nineveh-what a contrast to Gath-hepher, J oppa, or even Jerusalem I What temples! what tombs I what monuments I-what new impressions of its vastness and power! Perhaps new impressions of its horrible treatment of those who opposed themselves to it. It was no uncommon sight to witness a row of prisoners, each impaled alive on an iron spike; or men of i:nark flayed alive; or captives, with hooks in nose, dragged by halters, ·carrying the bleeding heads of their kings or nobles. Anyhow, pictures of such things abounded. They made no undue impression on Jonah. "Strong in faith," he went boldly forward and delivered the message. "He cried, and said "-lifted up hie voice like a trumpet-under the windows of the rich, in the resorts of the poor- before the proud military array-before nobles and judges nod all. His message was more specific and startling than before. Stern, but faithful and honest preaching; no flattery; no shrinking from exposure of the true mind of God. They might do with him as they pleased; he had not a single friend in that vast multitude-no protection but God'a-'-neverthe\ess, he would proclaim the messa~e. As John Knox said long afterwards, "I am in the place where I am commanded of God to speak the truth; and the truth I will speak, impugn it whoso list.'' Contrast the feeling of Jonah now and when he fled to go to 'l'arshish. His soul tumultuous and agitated then, iu peace and serenity now, "He that saveth bis life shall lose it, anJ. he that loseth his  7-2 THE DOOK OF JON AII, [err. m.1-10.