long-suffering, slow to anger, and of great kindness? Thus the shipmaster felt, and he was preserved. Well may we exclaim with the Psalmist, "Oh, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men! The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart."

[No. 16.]

THE NARRATIVE OF JONAH CONTINUED.

JONAH'S CONFESSION.

"And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah."

1st chap. Jonah, 7th verse.

THE mariners in our narrative had recourse to the expedient of drawing lots, which appears to have been common in ancient times. When the Israelites were smitten at Ai, for their trespasses, God commanded Joshua to collect the different tribes of Israel and bring them together, and take that man, and all he had, who should be found to work folly and transgress the covenant of the Lord.

Again, when Saul was desirous to pursue the Philistines by night, and God did not answer him, he called hither the people of Israel to be on one side, and himself and Jonathan on the other. And

the lot was cast, and fell upon Jonathan, and he was taken. And to come to later times, when an Apostle was to be added for the ministry of the Church, "they gave forth lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias." Likewise, after the crucifixion of our blessed Lord, his garments were parted, and lots were cast upon his vesture. So also it was in the instance before us, "They cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah." How great must his sin then have appeared! How convicted and how wretched must have been his feelings at that trying moment! Though he had concealed his error from man's knowledge, yet it was but for a time. He thought he was safe, and when he most considered that he stood firm, he fell. Thus was he a victim to his own folly. And so men now equally rely on themselves, and perhaps when too late, discover their incapacity and the frailty of their undertakings. The fear of man, which had led Jonah to disobedience in the first instance, could no longer prevail, for the mariners were alarmed at the violence of the sea, and the reason thereof they were naturally desirous to know. The fear of God now prevailed, and to obtain his mercy was their foremost care. From this we see, that a time always arrives, when men become sensible of their sin, however long they may have indulged in error. "Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach

you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil and do good;' seek peace, and ensue it." A due regard to these moral and religious duties will prevent all Christians from falling into error. If Jonah had practised these, neither his disobedience, punishment, nor confession would have happened: but he departed from good, and peace, therefore, he could not enjoy ;—and the reflection of it wrung his conscience, as we shall presently more fully observe.

Let us now consider, and may the guidance of the blessed Spirit be with us in our meditationsI. Jonah's confession of his guilt to the mariners. II. The fear resulting therefrom.

"Then said they unto him, tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us? What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? What is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew, and I fear the Lord the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land."

Such an acknowledgment was necessary, and Jonah was perfectly right in giving it. They were prominent and essential questions; and how much better is it to acknowledge guilt than to conceal it. Jonah

at last felt convinced that there was a superior power overruling his conduct, and ordering the events he experienced; and so he acknowledged the omnipotence of Jehovah. Here he confessed his country, and his sin convicted him so deeply that he was in great fear. He felt that the hand of the Lord was upon him, chastening him for a season. The occupation which was given him he had neglected to fulfil. He had brought his life to destruction, and placed the lives of his comrades in imminent danger. And what for? The foolish fear of man prevailed, and he lost his confidence in God, and so forsook the task to which he had been appointed of warning the guilty Ninevites of their precarious state. And what did such disobedience produce, but a just contempt and severe punishment from his heavenly Master? And he will soon reap the result of his open violation of God's command. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

II. The fear resulting therefrom:

"Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him,-Why hast thou done this? for the men