and when temporary sorrow came to warn you of eternal woe? Have they, too, vanished when prosperity reappeared? When sickness overwhelmed,

when the dread of approaching death forced you to think upon your latter end, when any awakening circumstances occurred,-did no vows, I ask again, ascend to heaven? Were there no promises of an amended life? Doubtless, like the thankful mariners, you made vows unto the Lord. But have you, like them, sacrificed unto Him? Have you given Him the offering which He never will despise, the offering of a broken and contrite heart? Happy, thrice happy are they who can appeal to God (as Peter did), and say: "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that we love thee." (John xxi. 17.)

Another obvious reflection upon this history is, the folly of opposing the directions which God has given. Jonah was sent by one particular way; but because he disliked the errand, he endeavoured to go by another, and so to flee from the presence of God. Now, the folly and sin of such an attempt we all are ready to acknowledge; for, who is able to contend with Him, whose kingdom, and power, and glory are for ever? Jonah disobeyed a Divine command ; and in doing so he doubtless deceived himself with the hope that an all-seeing eye would not discern his perverseness, nor an almighty hand arrest him in his flight. But, if he strangely deceived himself with so foolish an imagination, do not thousands daily practise the same self-deceit ? Are not all our

Lord's directions so many express orders? and (to take an instance) has He not directed us that, "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"? (Titus ii. 12, 13.) What, then, can be said of those who act a contrary part? They are walking in their own devices, and not in the paths which God has ordained. And is this folly less than the folly of Jonah? Vain, indeed, and wretched is the sinner, who dares to contend with the Almighty; all things being "naked and opened unto the eyes of Him, with whom we have to do." (Heb. iv. 13.)

There are several other important circumstances in the history of Jonah. Therefore, in the earnest hope that what I have said may suggest matter for private reflection upon this portion of Holy Scripture, let me briefly point out the insensibility or hardness of heart which he displayed while disobeying God, his irreligious behaviour even after his miraculous deliverance, and his inordinate love for this world and its transitory comforts.

His supineness in the midst of danger, which was occasioned by his own guilt, forcibly illustrates the truth of St. Paul's admonition to the Hebrews: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day, lest any of you be hardened through

the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. iii. 12, 13.) What a serious warning ought this precept and illustration to give to all, lest our consciences, being seared with sin as with a hot iron, should (as the same apostle expresses it) be made "past feeling!" Thus was it with Jonah, who was fast asleep and indifferent to everything around him, while even pagans were engaged in prayer. And thus shall it also be with us, if God is wilfully disobeyed, or the motions of His good Spirit wilfully overlooked.

Further, does not Jonah's relapse after deliverance clearly show the uses and necessity of affliction ? When mercies do not subdue the stubborn heart of man, God in tender compassion permits sorrow to assail us.

And ought we to murmur? Ought we not rather to rejoice, and to bless the hand which so kindly chastens? A prosperous voyage might have hardened Jonah in his disobedience, since a mighty deliverance could not inspire him with love. God, therefore, well-nigh overwhelmed him in the deep, and afterwise deprived him of the gourd, whose shade had rendered him exceeding glad. These troubles finally brought him to a godly sorrow.

We ought also to learn from the history of this man, who even prophesied in God's name, and did many wonderful things, that we may be eminently favoured in religious advantages; that we may even rank high among the professed disciples of Christ, knowing and acknowledging His existence and power, and nevertheless may not possess a pure and

saving faith. That Jonah's faith was very imperfect, even when he was the avowed messenger of heaven, there can be little doubt, since his faith did not work by love, as appears from his conduct towards the Ninevites; and affliction was afterwards necessary to wean him from this world, to humble him before God, and to teach him the breadth, and height, and depth of God's unspeakable mercy and forbearance. Let us learn, then, from this simple history to receive, not merely with submission, but with joy, every cup of affliction which our merciful Father offers us to drink; for, we may be assured, it is sent to remove that hardness of heart which sin ever will produce, to check us in our mad career, and to bring us to a right faith in Him who is the only Saviour of mankind.

The last topic which I shall bring before you is one replete with interest. Hitherto we have been chiefly occupied in marking the depravity and ingratitude of man: what a contrast have we before us in the goodness and forbearance of God, who reasoned with the rebellious prophet, and spared both him and the city which He had denounced, because of their repentance and belief! Read and carefully consider the history of God's forbearance to Jonah. Meditate again and again upon God's tenderness to the inhabitants of Nineveh; and, coming boldly to the throne of grace, cry aloud for mercy. If you refuse, or even delay, it shall be more tolerable at the last for guilty Sodom than for

you.

If you hearken not to these warnings, must not those very heathens, who repented at the preaching of a single day, witness your bitter condemnation, while they with joy shall enter into glory?

But I would much rather beseech you by the mercies of your God, than try to move you by His terrors. He is willing to save to the uttermost all who seek Him faithfully; and they who come to Him shall in no wise be cast out. Are you weary of your sins? He is ready to bear the burden. Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness? He is the bread of life; and in Him are fountains of living water. Will you refuse to come to Him for safety? Will you say, "We will not yet hearken to His voice and follow"? Your Saviour, according to His promise, is present to receive your homage. Will you continue to be careless ? Let but that secret monitor, your conscience, speak; and pray for the spirit of obedience and repentance. Do you hesitate to prefer bliss to sorrow, heaven to earth, peace above to everlasting pain in hell? Oh! to hesitate is to yield to your ever-watchful enemy, who gladly would urge dangerous delay: to procrastinate is to fall; because, in so doing, you rely upon a time, which never may be yours. "Procrastination is the thief of time." Yesterday is not yours, for it is gone; to-morrow is not yours, for you may never reach it: the present time alone is all that you can command, and consequently is the very season when you should believe, and, with help from