way, and from the violence that is in their hands." The humiliation of the peopl'} more tho.n external-" Let the wicked forsake his way, o.nd the unrighteous man his thoughts" (lee.. Iv. 7)-instinctive recognition of the holiness of God-it is nnholy r.cts o.nd o.n unholy Rpirit that excite his displeasure (see Isa. !viii. 5--7). Violence specified-the rnpo.cious cruelty which characterized the people, and the cry of which had come up before God. When once conscience was rotJsed, it would condemn these acts of violence very loudly. lntere~tiog and beautiful eight-all classes hastening to put o.wo.y their evil ways, and reversing them, doing the very opposite to what they 'ho.d been wont to do. " Sinners listened to Jon o.h, And ea.eh one confessed his sina. The polluted city heard him, And quickly put off its abominations. Masters alsn heard him, And proclaimed freedom to their hondmen: •• •· At the voice of Jonah honourable women Brought down their pride in sackcloth : The repentance was indeed sincere When haughty women put on humility I • • • The gay laid restraint upon their eyes, That they might not gaze on women. Women laid aside their ornaments, That those who looked on them might not stumble." (Ephraem Syrns, translated by Burgeu.) Abiding picture of what ought to be the attitude of kings and people in times of national calamity-sin is then felt to be a curse and a poison : "Search us, 0 God, and know our hearts; try us, o.nd know our thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in us. .and leo.d us in the way everlasting." V. REASON FOB THESE STEPS, (Ver. 9.) "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and tum away from his fierce wrath, that we perish not?" Only a possibility- " Who can tell?" But in time of extreme peril a possibility ought to be acted on. "We cannot plead this on the score of justice, neither can we ply his faithfulness with any specific assurance of mercy, given to meet the necessities of our case; we have nothing to encourage us but the general character of God himself, as manifested in his dealings with men on earth. But still we have that, and the matter is not altogether hopeless. For why should God have sent his prophet to admonish us of sin, and fore- tell his impendingjudgment-a prophet too who has himself been the subject of singular mercy and forbearance? If destruction alone had been his object, would he not rather have allowed us to sleep on in our sinfulness? And why in particular should these .forty days have been made to run between our doom and our punishment? Surely this bespeaks some thought of mercy in God; it must have been meant to leave the door still open to us for forgiveness and peace" (Fairbairn). The proclamation and the reason for it were not perfect-did not go beyond the spirit of fear and trembling-but the Ninevites acted on their light. "If there be first a ready mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he ha.th not " (2 Cor. viii. 12). Who- ever faithfully follows the light he has may look for more-" to him that hath shall be given." It is interesting to think how Jonah's prophecy would affect the young, and it is the property of childhood to receive testimony with full belief in it. Possibly the emotion of the children may have helped to move the parents. Prospect of speedy death is naturally more terrible to young tho.n old. The following picture of thfl scene by Ephra.em Byrne may be quoted:- " The children inquired while weeping Of their fathers, in the midst of their tearo1 • N o.rrate to us, 0 po.rent.a, How many days yet remain From the time which that Hebrew preacher Hath determined for us? And what hour he ho.th indicated When we shall go down beluw to Sheol 'l 74 THE DOOK OF JONAH. [on. m.1-10..
And in "·hat dFLy will it be That this rnir city sh'l'oll be dt'etToyed? And further, when will the last day bo, After whieh we shall uot exist? When will the season arrive, When mortal pangs shall seize on all of us P And when, throughout the world Shall fly the tidings of our ruin ? And the passing specte.tors shall gaze upon The oity overthrown upon its masters?' "'When the parents listened to tbeso things From the mouth of their little ones, Their tears most bitt;erly Overflowed, and suffused their children, And dropped at the same time on the persolll Of the speakers and the hearers. And the fathers were not able To find utterance through sighing; For their grief had closed up The straight path of words; A.nd their speech was interrupted By the weeping of their beloved ones." Read the analogy between threatened destruction of Nineveh and destruction of sinners\ at the last day. Reasons for repentance in one case infinitely stronger in other. Natural indi.lference and unbelief of men in reference to the latter. Accumulated ·guilt of those who refuse him that speaketh from heaven. "The men of Nmeveh- will· rfse up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah: and behold, a greater than Jonah is here." ·(l} They had but one preacher, and that a stranger. (2) They beard but ·one ·message,. and it was wrath. (3) They had but a vague hope of mercy.-W. G. B. ' • Ver. 10.-God repenting. ".And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that be bad said that ·be would do· unto• them; and he did it not."' Merciful character of God vindicated. "He retaineth not anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy; " " I said, I will confess my transgression unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin; " "If we ·confess our sins,_ he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all lllirighteousn:ess.',. I. Tn: CAUSE oP TBE en.ANGE. "God saw their ,,orks, that they turned from their· evil way." He not only heard their professions, but saw from their acts tbat these· were real ; they believed God-believed that on account of their sins his "fierce anger.,. rested on them, and they showed their faith by their works; and the particular ·kind of works was their turning from their evil way-not resorting to matters •of will:. worship, such as self-mutilation or making children pass through the fire, not stretch-- ing forth hands or making many prayerd, but abandoning the sin that had offended, God; not giving money to build or ornament temples or buy God's favour, but· tearing· .the idol from their hearts--turning from their evil way. 'l'he real test of repentance 1is giving up sin-favourite sin, pleasant sin-sins of sensuality and indulgence and