the pride and obstinacy of the human heart! A man, who had himself experienced the loving-kindness of the Lord in overlooking crime that was repented of, was inclined to murmur against the mercy of heaven, when that all-sufficient mercy was extended to other believing and repentant sinners. God, nevertheless, reproved him with gentleness and undeserved forbearance. (iv. 4.) Again He treated him with kindness, causing a gourd to spring up to shelter him from the heat, while watching fretfully, outside the city, the fate of its inhabitants. (iv. 6.) Some further chastisement, however, was required; and accordingly the gourd, which had yielded such grateful shelter, withered away rapidly by God's command. (iv. 7.) "And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished. in himself to die, and said," as he had said before, "It is better for me to die than to live."" (iv. 8.) Then followed another merciful remonstrance, the effect of which, though not recorded, we may infer to have been the humiliation and conversion of this disobedient man, who, for our learning, has so impartially related his own faults, and for our encouragement has so beautifully described the never-failing mercy of our compassionate God.

I would now make a few comments upon the narrative, which abounds with so many instructive lessons.

Let us observe, in the first place, a striking proof of how God can bring good from evil, and light from darkness. He, who when He has a work to perform is never at a loss for agents, made the sins and disobedience of His servant conducive to the world's instruction and His own glory; the extraordinary circumstances of Jonah's life attracting the notice of pagan worshippers, who gave God the praise; and also typifying the death, burial, and resurrection of the promised Redeemer.

On the authority of Christ Jesus, we learn that this miracle was a type of His burial and resurrection; and though we have no expressed reason for stating that it was also a type of His love, we may perceive in the proposal to be cast into the sea a striking figure of our Saviour's voluntary sacrifice. Jonah at his own desire was given to, and was accepted by God, in the stead of the lives of those who were with him in the ship; and so did the Son of God give Himself a ransom for many, by a free and voluntary offering of His own most precious blood. There is, indeed, little doubt that these kind-hearted mariners, heathens as they were, felt grateful to their deliverer, who pointed out the only mode of safety, and then, of his own accord, became the victim. Of this at least we are informed that, moved and convinced by what they saw, they feared and worshipped the name, not of their own idols, but of the Lord Jehovah. They cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we

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beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee." (i. 14.)

Now, surely their conversion, such as it was, will hereafter appear in judgment against many a professed disciple of Jesus, who not only has heard what they saw, but has even seen what many prophets and kings desired to see, and yet did not see. To you deliverance is offered, not merely, as in the case of these mariners, from temporal, but from eternal death. The hand of justice has been stayed: the sentence which was passed on Adam, and entailed on you and all mankind, has been reversed by Him who could not call you friends, but enemies, and yet did not refuse to lay down His life for your sakes-who looked and saw that there was none to help you, and found no intercessor-who embarked with you in one common nature of toil and sorrow; and this, too, though He was God over all, the express image of the Godhead, the chief among ten thousand. In this degraded state He worked out your salvation: He beheld you tossed to and fro in the miseries of a sinful world, "the floods," as Jonah said, "compassing you round about, the billows and waves passing over you :" He cast Himself as an offering into this troubled sea, and calmed the anger of your offended Maker. This, of a truth, is a mystery, which some refuse to believe-which many, alas! can receive and consider without emotion or regard. To the

carnal mind it seems incredible; for what says the apostle ? "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Cor. xii. 3.) An unconverted man, therefore, cannot apprehend or appreciate this amazing instance of God's love. It was foolishness to the Greek; it was a stumblingblock to the Jew; and it is, and ever shall be, a rock of offence, whereon the proud and self-sufficient shall make shipwreck of their faith. But to the lowly-minded and poor in spirit, who feel their utter insufficiency and natural corruption, what a fountain. of comfort does this mysterious doctrine open to their weary souls! It is like rivers of water in a dry land it is health to the body, and is as marrow to the bones.

For, consider calmly what the Lord your Righteousness hath done in your behalf. He was innocent no stain of sin was to be found upon Him ; and yet He gave Himself for guilty man: He was the King of glory; and yet He laid down His life for His rebellious subjects. Do you love Him for His goodness? are you grateful for His salvation? A proof, perchance, is wanting. There is, however, an appointed test to discover His true disciples. Are you seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Do you cultivate the same spirit of meekness, temperance, and piety, that He possessed? Are you patient under tribulation? Are you ever mindful of the heavenly presence? Are you fervently desirous of God's grace? Do you

take delight in the works of prayer and praise? In a word, do you “fear God, and keep His commandments ?"

The mariners with whom Jonah was embarked, when the raging of the sea had ceased, “feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.” (i. 16.) Precisely so are all men inclined, more or less, to call upon God for help in every time of need; since they then perceive more fully their own natural weakness, and feel that there is a Power above from whom they must implore protection and support. But (mark it well!) when the time of trouble was past, these men were grateful, and shewed their gratitude by their lives. Oh ! that you would fully lay this circumstance to heart! ―ye, who either coldly acknowledge the many favours of your God, or disobey His will by omitting well-known duties, and by violating express commands! Doubtless, you have often thought upon that awful day, when the final judgment shall begin, and when every evil thought, every idle word, every wicked action shall be brought to your remembrance, and shall be judged by Him who hateth all iniquity. But where, I ask, are the fears, which the thought of this coming judgment must have raised within your breasts? Have they vanished in mere speculations?or have they passed away, because judgment was not carried into speedy execution? And where are the vows, which no doubt you made with fervour when affliction laid her heavy hand upon you,