the offspring of the Infinite, capable of tracing his existence to its Source, having the power to move as he pleases, and endowed with powers inexhaust-ible, and ever- increasing development I . But if a plant is nothing to one man, what is it to the thousands of men that are found in Nineveh? You, Jonah, would have spa.red the one plant: shall not I spare the million of men? 2. What is this one plant even to the v.nconscious infanu in Nineveh P " Wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand." What is one plant to a hundred and twenty thousand unconscious infants? Ont of those infants will grow 1!8ges, poets, saints, kings and priests unto God. What men, in visiting cities, concern themselves with the babes that breathe therein? And yet the purest divinest most influential portion of the population are the babes. 'l'he great Father re"'ards the infant population. His blessed Son, when here, took babes in his arms, nnd ~aid "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." Even one babe is of more worth in the uni'verse than the whole vegetable kingdom. 3. What is one plant to even the irrational creatures in Nineveh 1 " Also much cattle." Though the cattle are below children in the scale of being, they are greater than plants. They are endowed with sensibili- ties; they have locomotive powers; and for their use the vegetable kingdom exists, God has an interest in the brute creation. "He openeth his liberal hand, and supplies the need of every living thing." He feeds the cattle on the hills, makes provision for the finny tribes of ocean, feeds the fowls of heaven, and prepares nourishment even for the world of microscopic existences. If God thus regards those creatures, with what kindness should we treat them, taking care that they suffer not, either from want of food or the cruelty of me.n I Such is a brief and imperfect sketch of the argument here employed to impress Jonah with God's compassion for Nineveh. To use the language of another, "It is very beautiful; if you linger over it, planting your feet in the steps of it, touching the several links of it as you pass along, yciu will say it is beautiful The akilfulness with which it is introduced, the forbearance with which it is conducted, the condescending regard to the prophet's infirmities, the recognition of human excellence, the delicate allusions, the precioma truths hidden in them, the accumula.tion of force as the argument goes on, the comprehensive linking of the different worlds of life to each other-plants, animals, infants, men-the easy transition from one to another, the abruptness of the close, too, indicating in its own way the completeness of the triumph,-all these proclaim the argument Divine." CoNCLUBION. What subject is more suited to cheer and sustain our hearts amid the somewhat saddening associations connected, for instance, with the closing of the year, than the truth that the great God is lovingly interested in mankind ? Every year as it passes bears away objects once most dear, the companions of our youth, and the dear friends of oar riper years. And how dark, dreary, and depressed we might feel without the assurance that amidst all these changes and bereavements the great Father liyes on, and feels the deepest and most vital interest in our weal I Though years, as they roll on, take away from us, and from our world, those whom we have known and l::lved, the great Father continues here. He has not withdrawn from the world and left it in an orphan state, dreary and desolate. He is here-here with every human being, here reasoning with the thoughtless, enlightening the ignorant, consoling the sad, strengthen- ing the weak, guiding the perplexed, restoring the lost. "God liveth ever! Wherefore, aonl, despair thon never I What though thou tread with bleeding feet A thomy J)&th of grief and gloom, Thy God will ohooee the way moat meet To lead thee h.ea.venwe.rd, to lead thee home l For this life's long night of sadneBS He will give thee peace and gladness. Soul, forget DOt m thy pains, Goel o'er all for ner reigns." D. 'l'. HOMILETICAL INDEX 'l'O
THE BOOK OF JONAH.
TIDDIB CHAPTER L PA.GIi THEHB PA.GB Looking toward the Temple 46 A City's Sin 6 Remembering the Lord 47 Fleeing from the Lord 7 The V a.nity of Idolatry 47 N o.ture and God ... 7 Piety Triumphant 47 Danger and Devotion 8 A Unique Oratory 48 A. Good Confession 9 Deliverance waiting on the Assured Self-Sacrifice 9 Hope ofit ,., 51 Effort and Prayer... 10 "De Profundis:" DistreBB and Prayer 54 Fear, Sacrifice, and Vows ... 10 Triumph, Thanksgiving ... . .. 55 A Despicable Deserter 10 The Value of Affliction (as seen in An Effective Hue o.nd Cry ... 13 Jonah's Prayer) 57 A Voluntary Surrender 15 "Lying Vanities" 57 S1'orm-stilling Extra.ordinary 18 Thankfulness 57 "The Sign of the Prophet Jonas " 21 The Prophet's Prayer 57 Jonah's Call and Flight ... 24, 37 'fhe Fugitive arrested 25 CHAPTER ID. The Fugitive convicted 27 City Preaching ... 61 The Offender sacrificed 29 National Repentllllce 61 Characteristics of Jonah 31 A King's Contrition ••• 62 Jonah God's Messenger 32 Ceremonial and Moral Repentance 62 Jonah the Fugitive 32 Hoping for Mercy ... 63 Jo □ ah reproved ..• 33 Ma.n's Repentanoe and God's 63 Jono,h detected 34 Peremptory Reiteration a.nd Prompt The Sailors' Conduot 35 Obedienoe 64 J onah'B " De Profundia " 35 A Heathen City in Se.ckoloth 67 J one.h a Prophetic Sign of Christ 36 Jona.h'e Second Call 70 The Prophet's Disobedience 38 The Repentance of Nineveh· 72 'I'he Divine Iuterpositiou ,., 89 God speaking to Me.n in Mercy, and God repenting 7-!. 77 M1,.n fleeing from God in Disobcdi- Jonah in Nineveh ... 76 enoo ... 40 The Preaching that God bids ... 76 Jone.h'sSucoeesful Ministry in Ninevcl1 70 A Rousing Voioe to Moral Sleepers ... 41 Mis~ions to the He11than ... •.. 77
OHAP'fER IL OHA.PTER IV. '' Out of the Deptl,a" -15 Repining e.t God's Mercy ... 82 Aflliolion n.nd l'rnyor ,.. 46 The Long~utferiug of GQd 82 II INDEX.
nnnn PI.GB TIIBll1I P.lGB Anger rebuked 82 Jone.h e.nd the Gourd 96 The Witbering of Earthly Ooneole.tion SS An Argument from Human Pity to Delli.re to die 84 Divine Meray ... 96 The Breadth of the Divine Pity 84 The Unconsoious Priesthood of Chil- A Misanthrope's Oase against Divine dren ... 97 Benevolenoe 85 God's Consideration for Animals 97 Divine Mercy formulating ibl own The Gourd, the Worm, end the East Apologetio 88 Wind ... 98 Jonah's Diaploasnre 91 Emblems of llfan's Eo.rthly Good, o.nd God's Romolllltr&noe with Jona.h 93 God's Disciplinary Procedure 99 Jonah's Grief 95 God reasoning with Man .. , 100