knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them."

The mariners were justly afraid from the state of the waters, and the disobedience of their passenger the prophet. Their appeal to Jonah was startling, "Why hast thou done this?" He felt his guilt, and they were aware of it. Jonah embarked very quietly, and began to sail very smoothly; but as to think of the hereafter, he did not; for he slumbered into nature's peaceful oblivion. Oh, that every Christian believer would ask himself this question, when pursuing any wickedness, or acting contrary to his duty. When partaking of the pleasures of the world, and seeking for earthly possessions, and forgetting the Christian calling, such a question would stir up a confession, and probably a repentance. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If this question was always before us, how often would it prevent us from entering into the way of evil men. How often would it deter us from making the impulse of the moment our excuse for doing what is wrong, and act as a check-string upon us.

shall be cut off from the earth,

gressors shall be rooted out of it.

"For the wicked

and the trans

But the path of

the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

"Eternal Spirit! we confess

And sing the wonders of thy grace ;
Thy pow'r conveys thy blessings down
From God the Father and the Son.

Enlighten'd by thine heav'nly ray,
Our shades and darkness turn to day;
Thine inward teachings make us know
Our danger and our refuge too.

Thy pow'r and glory work within,
And break the chains of reigning sin;
Do our imperious lusts subdue,

And form our wretched hearts anew.

The troubled conscience knows thy voice;
Thy cheering words awake our joys;
Thy words allay the stormy wind,
And calm the surges of the mind.”

Ꮮ

No. 17.]

THE NARRATIVE OF JONAH CONTINUED.

JONAH'S ADVICE-HIS FURTHER CHASTISEMENT.

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not; for the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we 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. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

1st chap. Jonah, 11-17 verses.

"YET a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me ; Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am thither ye cannot come." God had been with Jonah, but the prophet now appears to be left to himself in the midst of his trouble, though only what he merited. He found it impossible to contend with the strength of the Almighty, and therefore became reconciled to a watery grave, and ready for the fruits of his late sin. Need I endeavour, my friends, to describe the distressed state of the prophet; but for a warning it may prove useful. However much men triumph in their sin, afterwards they will receive the due award, Let us now consider 1st, The advice of Jonah to the mariners. 2nd, Their reluctant execution of the same. 3rd, The extent of Jonah's punishment.

The mariners' distress was great, and they were anxious to alleviate their perilous situation, and demanded of Jonah the best manner for doing so. And he said unto them, Take me up and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you : for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon This prophet is considered in many ways to be a type of Christ, and here is one appearance of it. Caiaphas prophesying the death of our Saviour, said to the chief priests, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man

you.

should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. In like manner was Jonah, by submitting to a watery grave, to be the means of saving a whole vessel and its crew. Notwithstanding his command, the men could not bring the ship to land, for the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them. Here is a striking instance of the insufficiency of man; though the sailors rowed as fast as they could, still there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord. Man can never equal the strength of the Almighty. He who bid the waters swell can alone calm the tempest. Their endeavours were fruitless. How many, alas! in the present day are striving to excel in greatness by their own works, and must come short eventually, of the praise which cometh from God only. How many are striving for worldly advancement by their own industry, without praying for the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Like the men in the boat, they strive earnestly to reach the haven of everlasting bliss by their own way: and by adopting methods of their own invention, instead of striving to enter in at that gate which the Lord himself hath made, and the paths to it He walked in himself, leaving us an example to follow his steps. And every attempt they make will most assuredly be thwarted; every way we take will become more difficult, like the sea