is some respite granted and matters may be so handled as to escape the great ship-wrack of souls Oh for care and wisdom that our precious souls may not be cast away This is the only safety that is worth having commonly called Salvation And those that mind this as they ought shall never be accounted carnal but spiritual holy wise unto Salvation They are of an heavenly extract and gone beyond all Naturalists Mariners and all Nominal Christians whatsoever Jonah saved his soul and all his Fellow-passengers saved their Lives and them only so far as is revealed Ver. 7. And they said every one to his Fellow Come and let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is come upon us So they cast lots and the lot fell upon Jonah Parts Hereof are two parts 1. The Mariners enquire of the cause of this great Tempest let us cast lots and they did cast lots 2. The success of their Consultation the lot fell upon Jonah Search out the cause of afflictions For the former we learn of the Mariners in every great affliction to search and find out the cause that so we may be humbled and reformed and the evil may cease we may be sure that sin is the cause and so should fall foul upon that And if there be a special token of Gods displeasure we should pray with Job Shew me for what thou contendest with me The Tribes in their quarrel with filthy Benjamin never thrived till they fasted and mourned before the Lord nor shall we in like cases For the lots which these Mariners used to find the cause of their distresse and danger thus Augustine saith What a lot is A lot is such a thing as in the doubts of men doth shew the will of God Or A lot is an Ordinance of God whereby we put that unto God which men could not decide It is commonly by Divines referred to the third Commandement as part of Gods Name which must not be taken in vain We know a man by his Name and by a lot we come to know the mind and will of God in a matter which we cannot know by our selves nor by others Of a lot I deliver these particulars Particulars that the nature of the Ordinance may be the more manifest 1. The matter of casting lots must be a weighty and grave matter which is well worth the finding and well becomes the Majesty of the great God to be employed about not in every triflle as in drawing of Cuts So here a great tempest was upon the Mariners and thereby great danger a great offence had caused it they knew not what the offence was they desired deliverance life and all was in question and now they go to casting of lots not as knowing it to be an Ordinance of God but only led by the dim Light of Nature which suggsted this might be a way to find out the truth as in the event it proved So in an Oath which is the end of Controversies 2. This weighty matter must be such as none but God doth know and can determine and herein differs from an Oath that he who swears knows the thing he affirms or denies to be a very truth and calls God to witness of it but in a lot none knows but God alone as here who among them should be the cause of this tempest the Mariners knew nothing of it till the lot fell upon Jonah and Jonah must tell what he had done So in other instances of Scripture v. c. about Achan and Jonathan 3. We read how all the determination of lots is from God Prov. 26.33 The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. God is not wanting to his own Ordinance but when he is sought by his people he will be found of them this also appears by the same instances and other of the like nature 4. We read what is the end of casting lots to wit quietly to determine businesses which could not be otherwise decided without strife of several parties Prov. 18.18 The lot causeth contentions to cease and parteth between the mighty as if it be in deliberation which of these Nobles shall be sent Ambassadour to such a Prince which of these Warriors shall be put upon such a skâ—rmish to lead on the men sundry would have the honour to do the service therefore now comes the lot and quiets all parties 5. There are three sorts of lots according to the threefold use of them two of them lawful the third unlawful wicked divelish Take heed and east lots as Christians 1. Sortes Divisionis when Houses or Lands or other Goods are to be divided between man and man about which otherwise contention would arise so Joshua by lot divided the Land of Canaan among the Tribes of Israel so Merchants sometimes divide their parcels of Wares and Neighbours divide their Acres of Ground Lot-Acres as Salomon said The lot causeth contentions to cease 2. Sortes Consultationis when we advise together what is fit to be done but in Conclusion cannot agree because things stand in the Equality of Reason Here it is referred to God by lot and so all parties are contented So the Church of Jerusalem by lot chose Matthias to be an Apostle Act. 1.26 So these Mariners by lot would know who brought this great Tempest upon them in their Voyage Though there might be superstition in their doing it yet the thing for substance was good and lawful 3. Sortes Divinationis when wicked men inquire into fortunate and infortunate dayes for a journey that is to be taken or a business that is to be done if they draw a white lot it will be lucky if black unlucky Est 3.7 so Haman cast lots for the destruction of the Jews and how cross the lucky dayes fell out to him appears by the Feast of Purim even the blackest dayes that ever Haman and his Complices met withall A sinful abuse of Gods Ordinance Abuse as it is also to turn lots into sports or to fore-tell things for gain as do the Gipsies and those that ascribe the issue of lots to Fortune The Goddess of Fools Te facimas fortuna deam coeloque locamus whereas indeed the whole disposition of it is of the Lord and these three cases evidently shew the truth of the things so ordered Jonathan Achan and Jonah Application of this Doctrine take thus 1. Note and admire the Providence of God who ordereth Use 1 these most fortuitous and contingent things to the right both for truth and equity Oh what a wonderful and glorious Lord God do we serve how ought we to adore his Omnipresence Wisdom and over-ruling Providence how should we come before him in fear and walk humbly with him in all our course both for dependance and obedience 2. If it be so then in casting lots the parties interessed Use 2 should lift up a prayer and intreat the Lord in mercy to manifest
Sun-shine which faints him up and makes him even weary of his life So with us Note Loss of good smart of evil God sometimes not only takes away our natural comfort and worldly accommodations but sends upon us smart and grievous afflictions droughts scorching weather distempers in the Air thereby distempers in the body fiery and acute Diseases as Agues Fevers Inflammations Leprosie Calenture c. which are one of the threats for disobedience Deut. 28.21 Or if it be not so bad yet the hot season shall make us faint and weary of our lives as here Jonah But why did not Jonah return into Nineve and get Quest 1 shelter there or remove into some Village near hand where he might be protected from this hot weather Answ 1. Because he was of a stout and sturdy spirit Answ and would not seem in the least to be beholden to the Ninevites or any of their Neighbours 2. Because he expected every day the ruine of Nineve which he would be glad to see with all his heart for his Credit fake which he took to be much engaged in the business And what should he do in a ruinous house which was likely in short time to come tumbling upon his head Quest 2 Another question may be why the Lord doth thus follow him with more and greater afflictions Answ Answ Because he had a mind to break and subdue this sturdy humor in Jonah which the meer loss of the gourd could not do as ver 9. he was angry for the gourd and fears not to tell God that he doth well to be angry even unto death So there needs a farther and stronger Purge to carry away this extreamly peccant humor as with us also whom lighter afflictions do little prevail withall Uses 1 Take we hence these instructions 1. To justifie God in all his sharp dealings with us when not only he takes away our Children Wealth Corn Cattel comforts of this life but sends Famine Sword Pestilence new Diseases Pox Agues other evils Say Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works We are apt to sit in judgment upon his doings and charge him foolishly as too severe but should rather clear him and lay the blame where it ought to be laid Psal 51.4 That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest Uses 2 2. To lay all the blame of our sufferings upon our selves as Pharaoh at last was taught to do The Lord is righteous but I and my people have sinned And when we finde our selves apt to mutter against God for feverity we should take our selves in the manner and say Why do we complain when the cause is in our selves Wherefore doth a living man complain Lam. 3.39 40. a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord. And if we had our due we should be utterly consumed yea cast into hell long before this time as in the same place It is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not 3. To mortifie those wretched corruptions which God Uses 3 would have to be weakned as here this stoutness of Jonah and to break off those sins which most agree with our crooked nature and odd occasions of offending A sharp winter useth to kill the weeds and vermine and cherish the Corn that is bidden So let it be with our failings in one kind or other Jonah fainted and wished in himself to dye He that will wish himself dead so often as he hath sore occasion shall have more occasions then one so to wish Note Idle wishes Jonah had prayed this before ver 3. I beseech thee take away my life from me And now seeing God pleased not thus to gratifie him he falls to wishing which is a lighter kind of desire And whereas at first he only thus wished in himself afterward he uttered his mind saying It is better for me to dye then to live as ver 3. So David in Psal 39.3 My heart was not within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue Take heed Christians Use and smother these hot and unquiet affections at the first arising mark them consure them suppress them use means to subdue and vanquish them as for instance Get abundance of faith and patience which may keep you from this fainting and wishing so did the Apostles and Martyrs and other holy men in great and lingring afflictions 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a woman worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal And consider it is not a manly thing to desire death so often as strong afflictions shall urge and we saw on ver 3. how we may desire death and how not Whether it be better to dye then to live But let us a little examine the truth of this saying of Jonah It is better for me to dye then to live Is it indeed better to dye then to live Answ 1. Within the limits formerly mentioned it is better namely when God calls us away or the like Eccl. 7.1 The day of death is better the day of ones birth 2. Without such cautions it is not better and mark it is neither better for godly men nor for others 1. Godly men may do much good in the Church while they live which if they were dead they could not do as for example while Paul continued among his Converts he abode with them for their furtherance and joy of faith Phil. 1.25 and this consideration put him into a straight Phil 1.23 whither he should be dissolved which was far better for him in his own particular or live yet longer A godly Minister while alive may be a means of converting confirming or recovering many So a godly parent or master Yea in respect of a mans own self he may get the more hold of Gods love and do more good to put upon his accounts in that day and see his charge of Children well bred up and entred into the world with counsel to them where they erre or to neighbours between whom peace is to be made and divers good offices 2. Wicked men of all other should not desire to dye whatever their suffering be in the world because their peace is not yet made with God they are not yet in Christ they have not yet repented nor ordered their way so as to be fit to dye And if they dye before they he fit they have infinitely worse sufferings remaining for them It is for such to fear death and get it put off as long
who strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel Christians bring your anger to these rules Use or know ye do not well to be angry I confess it is hard to do but say withall it may be done therefore Watch Pray strive against all excess and irregularity in your anger And the better to express it suppress all the causes of disorderly anger as Pride Envy Self love Covetousness Curiosity Credulity and all the bellows that use to blow up anger into a flame and combustion Stop the cause and the effect will cease For Motives consider how the Lord here chides Jonah for his excess Doest thou well to be angry consider how it is forbidden in Scripture Eph. 5.31 Put away all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger The same again Col. 3.8 Consider how much sin this anger breedeth Jam. 1.20 It works not the righteousness of God Consider the danger that comes of unadvised anger Mat. 5.22 a man shall be culpable of judgment Consider thy own infirmities and how thy self would not be handled angrily Consider the Lord here useth Jonah withall the gentleness and moderation that can be and we ought to be followers of God as dear Children Eph. 5.1 Note For the latter note the wonderful strength of corruption though it be in part subdued by grace Though Jonah was a good man and but now reproved of God for his anger yet still he goes on in his way-wardness and nothing will content him but to see the ruine of Nineve Horrible stubbornness which even makes him worthy to perish instead of the City Use Hear ye that have the truth of grace and bend all your forces to the mortifying of Lusts more and more Fear by Jonahs example to be obstinate or stiff in any of your resolutions especially when the word gives some inkling to the contrary Natural corruption is a sturdy old man which will hardly be subdued He went out of the City and sate on the East-side of it One would have thought rather he should have stayed in the City to have given them more instructions now that they were upon the point of conversion If he had met with such a crop of Converts in Israel he would have been glad of the occasion and stayed among them with all his heart But thus it is Note Blind passions and Corrupt affections hinder us from doing the good which we might and ought to do Many a man might be very profitable in his place were it not for his carnal conceits and foolish reasonings He hath fair opportunity by the Office he is in or by his relation to beat down sin but build up grace to reform abuses of the Sabbath to do good service in his generation but by his self-conceitedness he sits still and doth no good at all Use Take heed and mortifie the remainders of thy corruption There be Canaanites yet abiding in the land take them in hand and subdue them more and more It was the fault of Israel that they sate still and rooted not out the Remnant of the Nations and therefore they proved pricks in their sides and thorns in their eyes to vex and trouble them from time to time so it is still Christians suffer by their corruptions because they take not pains to root them out And we see the contray how when Paul prayed thrice against the thorne in the flesh 2 Cor. 12.7.9 he found a grace sufficient for him He sate in the shadow of his Booth till he might see what would become of the City Calvin Jonah was too literal a Teacher and did not reach the whole mind of God who however he denounced destruction against Nineve yet still left place for repentance that if they humbled themselves they should be spared which Jonah understood well in preaching to Israel but here in his prejudicate opinions he cannot remember and so is justly kept doubtful of the Event with enduring of scorching heat and the losse of his Gourd Note Our corrupt humors do many times keep us in the dark that we cannot see duty or comfort as we ought and should do Every man is tempted when he is drawn aside with his own lust and enticed Jam 1.14 Use Take heed and subdue these odd humors and pray for the Spirit of truth who will both teach thee all saving truth and bring all to thy remembrance Had Jonah remembred the tenor of his former preaching he had not expected Nineves destruction so pertinaciously Ver. 6.7 And the Lord God prepared a Gourd and made it come up over Jonah that it might be a shadow over his head to deliver him from his grief So Jonah was exceeding glad of the Gourd But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day and it smote the Gourd that it withered Here the Lord seeks to correct Jonahs Errour by a real instruction namely of a gourd which Argument being comfortable to him Jonah would have spared but Nineve was far better then a gourd and therefore the Lord most righteously will have it to be spared The Simile is in five Verses the Application in the last For the former we have 1. Gods providence in ordering of such an help for Jonah against the heat of the Country he prepared a guard 2. Jonahs comforting with such a help he was exceeding glad of the gourd 3. The withering of it which was a great grief to him Of the gourd no such grow in these Northern Countries A gourd what Dioscorides but in the Eastern Countries a gourd is a shrub with broad black and smooth leaves and hath a Pod with seeds which resemble some creature of that Climate Such a shurb the Lord now provides for Jonah that he may be sheltered from the scorching of the Sun But here is something extraordinary in it namely that so tall and useful a creature should start up in a night and that it should grow just to Jonahs Booth and so strengthen the weak shelter he had provided for himself So it is a kind of miracle and miracles have seldom been done for a particular mans use and benefit though a dear Servant and Child of God The greater mercy is this to Jonah Observe here the providence of God reacheth to the Note 1 smallest things that are even to plants and Worms We have seen it formerly in the matter of Tempest Sea and Whale which are eminent works of God and now we see it in a base shrub which God prepares for Jonah and in a silly worm which he prepares to wither the shrub So of little sparrow and hairs of the head Mat. 10.29 30. All are numbred and not one falls to the ground without the will of our heavenly Father who also telleth the number of the Stars And upon Egypt he sent the Flies Lice Frogs Locusts other Plagues and took them away when he pleased Now bless the Lord who humbles himself to behold things Use 1 on earth Psal 147 5. Psal 113.6 We may well admire
it be with the loss of their Souls and yet when they have it it is in much danger to be stollen or mastered by Fire or forfeited or to be cast away with ones own hands and Oh that I had never know peny of this ill-gotten Goods Mat. 16.26 what profit what recompence beside those cases of meeting a murderous Theef Take my Goods and save my Life And mark how expresly the way of worldlings is called folly Psal 49.13 This their way is their folly with Jer. 17.11 He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a fool Use 2 Take heed Christians and adventure not Souls for Goods It were no reasonable exchange 1. Mark these Heathens if they prefer their Lives before their Goods let not Christians who know better and higher things cast away their precious and Immortal Souls for a little Commodity no not if it were never so great Certainly there is no proportion between a Soul and the whole world 2. We read of some Philosophers that they cast away their wealth and worldly business that they might the better attend the getting of Learning and Wisdom so did Crates and Thales by buying up the Vineyards in the Country when he fore-saw a Scarcity by Philosophy and made good advantage of it shewed how easily a Philosopher might get wealth if he minded it And if such mind it not why should Christians mind it so much What then may some say Object Answ would you have me cast my wealth into the River I see no such need Sir Answ 1. There is need to make restitution of Goods that have been ill-gotten as did Zacheus 2 There is need to be free for pious and charitable uses according to ability 1 Cor. 16.2 as God hath prospered a man 3. There is need while we hold these temporals to hold them with a moderate mind and affection not to mind Earthly things but to have the conversation in Heaven Phil. 3.19 20. not to set the affections on things below but things above Col. 3.1 2. and our rule is not to Treasure in Earth but in Heaven Mat. 6.20 and when we have any riches to refer them to the right ends they were given for as is said Honour God with thy substance Prov. 3.9 And still they should be used as encouragements in his service Ver. 15. 4. There is need above all our getting to labour for the better and enduring substance Heb. 10.34 to be rich in faith and good works to get saving wisdom which is better then Rubies and Diamonds to have a stock of prayer going in Heaven without all question great is the gain of godliness 1 Tim. 6.6 though worldlings esteem it not Where note these two Loves do much hinder and waste one another If a man earnestly and as he ought shall mind the spiritual wealth it will in great part take him off from his mudling in the world Is he not in the prosecution of better things A Prince that seeks a Kingdom will purchase no Cottage On the other side he that eagerly pursues the world shall either neglect Religion altogether or pursue it very indifferently worldly-mindedness hath been the maâ—ring of many an hopeful Professor Demas embraced the world 2 Tim. 4.10 and left the Apostle To the fourth point We are apt to be very secure even Doctr. 4 in the greatest danger 1. Good men as Jonah In great danger apt to be secure who was very shortly to be cast into the Sea and yet fast asleep in the side of the Ship and David who after his sin with Batsheba lay securely for awhile without renewing peace with God till the Sword was threatned to come against his house and never go from it Only with this difference the security of a godly man is neither total nor final At the worst he hath some motions of God in his heart and at last he runs to him with full speed Cant. 5.2 I sleep but my heart waketh And oil is ready in his Lamp to go forth and meet the Bridegroom 2. Carnal and worldly men These say Peace and Safety when suddain destruction comes upon them unawares 1 Thes 5.3 And the man with gall of bitterness saith he shal have peace when the smoak of Gods wrath is arising against him Deut. 29. So said they of the old world till the flood came and drowned them all and the men of Sodom till the fire fell from Heaven and consumed them Every natural man sleeps the sleep of death and he never awakes till he be dropping into Hell Use 1 Whereby note a cursed and dangerous effect of sin as it brings a man into extreme danger of losing God and all happiness A fruit of sin and of falling into the everlasting torments of Hell so it is ready to make and keep him secure and altogether insensible of his danger till he know not what to do wâ—th himself Esa 6.10 He hath a gross heart eyes to see and not perceive ears to hear and not understand and he hath an impenitent heart Rom. 2.5 whom all the goodness and patience of God cannot lead to repentance so little cause there is to be in love with sin as many are or to refuse the Exhortations of zealous Ministers Use 2 2. Note and admire the wonderful mercy of God who watcheth over us for good The mercy of God and in due time awakenes us out of our deep and deadly sleep by giving faith and repentance O the rich and invaluable grace of Conversion how are we bound unto God that now we stand up from the dead Eph. 5.14 and live for ever We were asleep sometimes yea dead in sins and trespasses but now Christ hath given us the light of Life It is onely of his discriminating grace for which we must ever remember to be thankful 3. Awake unto duty Christian watchfulness is a duty Use 3 often commanded in Scripture Be sober be vigilant watch 1 Pet. 5.1 for ye know not the hour when the Son of man cometh Mat. 25.13 and saith Christ what I say unto you I say unto all watch Mar. 13.37 For Motives consider how it is made a Note of wisdom to watch till the Bridegrome comes as did the wise Virgins How the wise as well as the foolish are apt to slumber and sleep How the Bridegrome comes in a time when he is least expected at mid-night Ver. 5.6.10.12.13.14.19 How the wise Virgins enter with him into the glorious Bride-Chamber How others are excluded though they knock and call for admission And how hereupon our Saviour inferreth the Exhortation Watch therefore together with another Parable to the same purpose There will be a day of reckoning with the Servants about their Talents and Employments therefore watch and do duty Ver. 6. So the Ship-Master came to him and said unto him What meanest thou O sleeper
his good pleasure toward them In no point may the Name of God be taken in vain so not in this And as every creature must be sanctified by the word and prayer so must this Remember and fear the judgment of God upon them that take his Name in vain If any object that the occasion and Company will not bear prayer I answer at least let there be an Ejaculation 3. If it be so be thankful for any good that is received by lot looking up to the hand of God who hath cast it upon thee and not upon another The whole disposing of it was of the Lord therefore let him have all the glory It was not Luck and Fortune but God must be acknowledged Especially when the Lord himself is the lot and portion of thy soul as David said Thou art the lot of mine inheritance remember much and often to bless the Lord as he did Psal 16.5 6 7 8. Use 4 4 When lots cross a man let him learn to be as Jonah patient and contented Say it is the Lord that hath thus disposed of the business 1 Sam. 3.18 it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good should I desire any thing which the Lord sees not good for me or when he hath declared his mind should I wriggle or murmure or carry my self otherwise then becomes the Child of God I will not do it Come and let us cast Lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is come upon us Note In great afflâ—ctions we look at great sins It is the Nature of man to think there is some great sin where they see a great judgment of God Who did sin this man or his Parents that he was born blind And those that suffered those great Evils were accounted greater sinners then all the Galileans or all that were in Jerusalem Luke 13.1 2 4. Where Christ assures us of the contrary I tell you nay â—ohn 9.2 but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish v. 5. And if these Mariners had been asked whether each of them had not deserved this horrible Tempest to die by it they would have shrunk at it and not have confessed And every one would save one therefore they put off the danger to others Otherwise there needed no lots to be cast but every one confess his guiltiness be humbled reformed and give satisfaction to his god who was offended Use 1 Take heed of this spice of Nature and of the Pharisees Talk not of great sinners and little sinners nor censure them that suffer great Evils as if they were the greatest Offenders Possibly they may be great Offenders but what is that to thee Thy rule is not to judge that thou be not judged and judge nothing before the time and Mat. 7.1 1 Cor. 4 5. Rom. 14.4 who art thou that judgest another mans servant and The greater sinner the man is the more he needs thy pity and prayers not thy censure and disdain 2. In a common danger let every one recount his own Use 2 guiltiness and do what lies upon him to do for delivering his own soul Remember who said Except ye repent Luke 13.3 ye shall all perish whether ye escape the danger or no ye may escape temporally and perish eternally These Mariners did all escape the temporal evil better then Jonah but without hearty and fruitful repentance they escaped not the eternal vengeance of their sins Jonah upon his humiliation and amendment might escape better then they all 3. This Example tells us that the sin of a godly man Use 3 may become grievous and provoking more then the sins of many others as Jonah to hazard the casting away of many that were in the ship What the Child of God do so and so what one that hath received so much light so many Teachings of the Spirit so many checks of Conscience so many opportunities of glorifying God and of giving good example to others he to flee from God and cast off duty Take heed ye that fear God and keep even reckonings with him Be humbled for what is past and watch better hereafter And the Lot fell upon Jonah Wicked men sometimes in this life are discovered Note and brought to their deserved punishment God hath means and ways enough to it sometimes by lot as here to Jonah sometimes by the Birds of heaven Eccles 10.20 as the Cranes revealed the murderers of the Poet â—â—icus sometimes by the Confession and horror of the guilty persons sometimes by blood â—ssuing afresh out of a slain body sometimes a Friend hath blabbed forth a bloody business before he was aware sometime a Confederate hath turned Enemy and told all the truth Divers ways the Lord hath to bring to light the hidden things of darkness at farthest in the day of judgment Eccles 12.14 1 Cor. 4.5 Reason 1 The Reason is 1. God is Omnipresent and Omniscient and is able to discover the greatest secrets as here in ordering these lots he observed every motion of Jonah to Joppa and to the ship yea the very first motion of his heart in departing from the living God All is naked to Reason 2 the eyes of him with whom we have to do 2. God makes these discoveries for his own glory and for bringing about his own most holy ends as here he meant to have his work done by Jonah in the message that was to be delivered at Nineve And he was glorified in the eyes of these Mariners by this discovery of Jonah ver 10. Jonah made the Lord known to them and ver 14 they said Thou Lord hast done as it pleased thee and ver 16. The men feared the Lord exceedingly and possibly some of them were truly Converted Quest But are lots a lawful way to discover Malefactors when they are to be punished with Death for Felony or Treason Answ Ans It were very dangerous without Gods command in this case to put any to the casting of lots for his life except it be certain that divers well deserve to die but the Prince of his grace intends to spare some by decimating the Army or others that have made a Mutiny Use 1 But if the point in hand stand true it appears vain to sin in hope of secrecy This induceth some to horrible wickednesses The Thief and the Adulterer and other wicked ones hate the light as Death it self and chuse Darkness for acting their Villanies but all in vain as to God whose eyes are in every place Prov. 15 3. beholding the evil and the good Yea the Hypocrisie of idle Professors is fully discerned by him and in this life sometimes they are uncased for Hypocrites as they ever were falling into some scandalous course or from the main truths of the Gospel But at the last day all secrets will be fully discovered and punished Though they dig deep into Hell to hide their counsels and escape the hand of man yet the hand of God they shall not
Master And this is the fruit of Gods fatherly chastisement to the faithful that they learn his statutes and when they are corrected they are instructed out of his Law Psal 94.12 This is all the fruit Esa 27.9 Jonah now will go and do his Errand But this is wanting in the wicked still stubborn 4. Among a Company of wicked men it may be enemies of God and Religion Jonah here is amidst a number of Infidels and see what a profession he makes of his faith the true God is avowed and they led to the acknowledgement of him and afterward they offer sacrifice to him 1 Pet. 3.15 1 Tim. 6.12 13. This also is our duty Give a reason of the hope that is in thee witness a good Confession And this among other Articles I believe in the God of Heaven that made the Sea and dry Land Remember Christians Use and own God openly and against all discouragements or amidst all tokens of wrath fear him as Jonah here professeth and remember what are the effects of fearing God and that fear is put for the whole worship of God Mal. 3.16 they that feared the Lord spake often one to another which may well be because no part of his worship may be void of an holy fear and reverence toward the God of Heaven serve the Lord with fear Psal 2.11 Heb. 12 28. and rejoyce with trembling serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear pray with an awful regard of his great Majesty tremble at his word Phil. 2.12 And all must work out their salvation with fear and trembling Now from Jonahs Confession of his fault before the Mariners we learn It must be the humility and modesty of Christians Note Confess faults one to another to confess their faults one to another so is the Commandment Jam. 5.16 confess you faults one to another and pray one for another Not only confess to God as in the serious exercises of Repentance but to men whom it concerns to know what evil we have done as here it behoved Jonah to declare what fault he had committed which caused this Tempest God hath pointed him out for a Malefactor and he must acknowledge wherein So this Confession must be twofold 1. Publick if the offence hath been publick and scandalous when the whole Congregation hath been offended the whole Congregation must receive satifaction namely by an open testifying of shame and sorrow So the incestuous Corinthian had punishment inflicted on him by many 2 Cor. 2.6 so should our scandalous members be served that by the shame they may be brought to repentance and their souls saved that the Venom of the bad example may be stopt and go no farther that the mouths of Idolaters may be stopt and they not occasioned to blaspheme that others may fear and not do the like that the Plaister may be as wide as the wound that the love of the Congregation may be gained to the offendor and their prayers and a Brotherly converse together 2. Private if the offence hath been private It shall suffice in such a case that the party offending acknowledge the fault he hath made and the party offended ought to accept of his confession Luke 17.3 4. Take heed to your selves if thy Brother trespass against thee rebuke him if he repent forgive him And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day come again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him So in the fift Petition of the Lords Prayer Forgive us as we forgive and our Saviours Exposition Mat. 6.14 15. If ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Object It were a shame to come to Confession Answ 1. It is a Duty 2. There is a Prophesie that Converts in the New Testament should be ashamed and confounded for their sins Ezek. 16.61 and 20.43 3. This prophesie is fulfilled in Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed 4. There ought to be that humility and modesty in true Christians as to take their shame and blame home to them saying Dan. 9.7 8. To us belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face 5. We have an example of Gods own directing of Delinquents to Confession before the party offended Job 42.7 8 â— Jobs friends had gone awry in rebuking him and therefore they must go and humble themselves before him gain his prayers for them and so be fully reconciled to God and him Hear Christians Use and learn of Jonah to confess your faults one to another Though it be against the Haire and against thy Credit yet be contented Go in Gods way and that is the course to set all at rights as here Jonah though for a while cast into the Sea yet after a while he recovered well enough Numbers learn by the failings of godly men to offend and go astray as they did but learn thou to confess and mourn and amend as they did there they are set for an example and not in the other Non cadendi exemplum c. That we should not lust after evil things as they lusted 1 Cor. 10.6 And that we should take off the offence that hath been given to Children Servants Neighbours Ministers It was a rare example of the worthy Knight Sir A. Cope in prayers with the Family to confess his own personal sins and failings A matter of shame but withall may work much upon the hearers to be like-minded and follow the good example every one in his own private Devotions For the third Then were they exceedingly afraid They were afraid before because of the Tempest and of their danger thereby but now they fear none because they know more fully how the case standeth they know the true God distinctly they know him the cause of this tempest and danger they see an offender discovered in an extraordinary manner they see he is a just God and bears not with sin in his own servant and will see more of him shortly when he sends a calm at Jonahs casting forth and they escape through his mercy Note Stand in awe of Gods judgments The more discoveries we have of God in his Mercy and Justice the more we should be stricken with fear toward him fear to offend him care to please him be the better for his tempests and terrible works among us and by his cords of Love and Bounty be held the closer to him in Duty Job 37 23 24 Touching the Almighty we cannot find him out he is excellent in power and in judgment and in plenty of justice he will not afflict Men do therefore fear him be respecteth not any that are wise of heart see also Jer. 5.21 22 23 24. Use Then worse then Barbarians are those Christians who in all the terrible storms and shakings of the times live securely and fear nothing
thou well to be angry If a man would Rhetorically defend Jonah in his anger there might be many specious colours for it Or if we would a little admit his excuses something might be said for him with some handsomeness Rom. 3. But let God be true and every man a lyar We know the judgement of God is according to truth and equity And a man shall never proceed safely and comfortably unless he can satisfie his conscience by the word upon a just examination Doest thou well to be angry God could provide for his own glory without Jonahs care yea and for Jonahs reputation And if God were so merciful as Jonah said why should he not shew it to repenting Nineve Or must God at Jonahs pleasure bacome severe and terrible must he be cruel that Jonah might not seem a lyar must more regard he had of Jonahs Credit then of Gods most holy Nature and glory Lastly it seems scarce to be endured that Gods doings should be so censured and misliked by a poor weak mortal sinner One of us would scarce abide it Yet God abides it day by day God can scarce do any thing either for afflicting us or out of the ordinary rode but we are apt to mutter and complain suppose about the confusions of the times c. In general we confess he is righteous in his judgements Jer. 12.1 yet in particulars we will needs plead with him and talk with him of his judgements why and wherefore Take heed and submit better But the main point is this Doctr. Say Do I well to be angry A Christian when he finds anger stirring should say Do I well to be angry Anger is a natural affection and very good use may be made of it Without some anger there will be no zeal for God nor against sin And he must needs be blockish and senseless who will not be angry when he ought There is a quietness which is sinful and dishonours God exceedingly and drowns souls in security But otherwise we should look well to our anger suppose in case of Gods doings against us or mans or any cross accident A beloved Child is taken away by death I suffer great loss by my Neighbour or the like my affections now are all in a hurry But Do I well to be angry Eph. 4.26 my rule is to be angry and not sin the affection is good but the distemper is evil What is it where am I whether do I swerve from my rule or no I am apt to offend one way or other therefore I must weigh well how I mannage my anger But how shall a man know whether he do well to be angry Quest Answ Signs of allowed anger Answ 1. If there be just cause for thy anger thou doest well to be angry suppose at thine own sin or the sin of another especially to see the wickedness of the world and how corruptly things are carried among men In these caâ—es godly men have shewed great anger and were never disliked for it Moses was very angry at their murmurings and idolatries and Christ at the profanation of the Temple Exod. 16.20.32 22. John â— 17 1 Cor. 11. And in such cases we ought to judge our selves that we may not be judged of the Lord to rate our selves for our â—illiness and revenge on our selves and undoe what we have done to the best we can there is just cause for it because we were so foolâ—sh and ignorant Psal 73.22 and as a beast before God Godly sorrow ever works indignation for errors committed 2 Cor. 7.11 But there will never be just cause to be offended or angry with Gods doings against us or against our opinion as Jonah was in this place All reason requires that here we be dumb and complain not and rest in this There is more reason for it then we are aware 2. Thou shalt not do well to be angry unless the cause be weâ—ghty and of some importance as well as just A Christian must not spend his powder upon trifles as the fashion of some is It would argue neither love nor wisdom Not love for that covereth a multitude of sins and is not easily provoked 1 Pet. 4.8 1 Cor. 13.4 5 7. Jam 3.17 Not wisdom for the wisdom which is from above is first pure then peaceable True love and wisdom reserves it self for weighty matters where God requires more of our anger and severity then of our mildness 3. Thou shalt not do well to be angry if thou exceed the due measure of this affection more then the cause requires There is a mean to be observed and certain bounds beyond which we shall not do well Even lawful anger if immoderate degenerates into fleshly anger it may be into fury more fit for a Beast or an Heathen then for a Christian Our rule is to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful and we see how his mercy goes Hab. 3.2 in wrath he remembers mercy Esa 27.7 8. Imitate God in punishing a Child a Servant an evil doer God corrects in measure and so must we 4. Thou shalt not do well to be angry if thou keep wrath over long as it seems Jonah did Eph. 4.26 ver 9. I do well is be angry even unto death Our rule is not to let the Sun go down upon our wrath As we must not be quickly angry so when we are angry we must be quickly pleased again Else our anger may be turned into malice And the Devil will watch the occasion to work us to farther ungodliness as there ver 27. neither give place to the Devil With a malicious man the Devil lies down at night and goes to bed with him Pure Wine is corrupted if it stand too long upon the Lees. 5. Thou shalt not do well to be angry if thou grow into hatred of the sinners person for right anger is bended at the sin rather then the person as Mark 3.5 He looked about on them with anger and grieved for the hardness of their hearts Impenitency is the principal object of our grief and anger And there are certain rules that we must neither approve the sin for the offenders sake nor hate the offender for the sins sake Only in his great wickedness he must be either shunned and avoided or else reproved 6. Thou shalt not do well to be angry unless thou quarrel with thine own sins as well as the sins of others and unless thou be angry in Gods cause as well as thine own in both which numbers of people bewray much corruption So did not Moses Num. 12.3 the meekest man on earth in his own cause when spoken against by Aaron and Miriam but in point of idolatry nothing but killing and slaying And for our own sins we see what our Saviour saith of Mâ—tes and Beames in the eye Mat. 7 1 2 3 4 5. Certainly every man hath most business to do at home And those shall ever go for hypocrites
and adore this glorious Lord God his understanding is infinite his Power Presence Wisdom Mercy care of his people preservation of the creatures even the meanest Jonah was much bound to be thankful that when the Ninevites yielded him no entertainment and he provided a simple one for himself the Lord prepared this gourd for him Which is also our case not seldom Use 2 Learn also in the smallest turns of providence to look upward and ascribe all to the right causes Whether it be for mercy as this gourd or for affliction as the worm it is all of God he prepared the one and the other and so he doth still It is not luck or meer chance or second causes but God provides and orders all these supplies with all the events and all the crosses It is the Lord be patient 1 Sam 3.18 Job 1 21. or be thankful The Lord gave and the Lord took away blessed be the Name of the Lord. It is not our own how or sword but the right hand of out God If it be a little drug or potion that doth me good an obscure friend a small accident a little help to stand me in stead it comes of God and he shall have the glory of the thing Dan. 11.34 They shall be holpen with a little help This would be of singular use in our whole course to live as Christians to acknowledge a dependance on heaven to see by faith the Soveraign Lord of the world to breed contentment in that little which is allotted to us to make us thankful for small favours shewed or patient when a small matter falls out and crosseth us The Lord prepares the gourd and the worm not only the Whale but the Worm We are apt in great matters to think God hath an hand but in small matters we scarce look so high take heed and look upward even in small matters Observe again how powerful the providence of God is Note 2 in these small matters 1. In erecting a gourd it came up in a night in the common course of Nature it should have been growing up a quarter of a year together to a just tallness and bigness but God makes it shoot up in a night The Lord sometimes on a suddain shews light and comfort to his people when and where they least expect it at the Red sea out of a Rock in the midst of Jordan He stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to send his people home to their own land He delivered them from Haman in a way which they least thought on 2. In taking the gourd away he prepared a worm which smote it and it withered He could have blasted it without a worm but pleased to use such a vile creature for our instruction Small things can cross us when God bids them Grashoppers Amos 7.1 Flies and Lice pestered Pharaoh exceedingly A small cut in the flesh hath gangrened and killed Little David slew the mighty Goliah Learn to see a powerful God in a weak creature Use 1 Cor. 1 27 21. Weak things of the world to confound the mighty By the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe To uphold a weak Christian against Principalities and powers 2 Cor. 12.9 My strength is made perfect in weakness Water in Baptism to set forth Christs blood and cleansing from sin Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper to set forth the body and blood of Christ and to nourish the believing soul to life eternal So of old the sword of the Lord and of Gideon his Barly-cake overthrew the Tents of the Midâ—anites Lamps and Pitchers confounded their mighty host Trumpets of Rams-horns demolished the walls of Jericho Moses his Rod divided the Sea All pointing at the wonderful power of God working by such silly means Where glorious means are used we are apt to doat on the means but where the means are so simple we are forced to look up unto God Note 3 Observe yet more God provides for his ill deserving servants God provides well for ill deservers as here for cholerick Jonah he lives whereas he desired to dye and beside hath a gourd prepared which affords him much comfort Though we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.13 Gods Children sometimes deserve full ill at his hands and are ready to draw down wrath upon themselves but in mercy he forbears and continues a gracious providence toward them Use Mark these footsteps of his goings with you and strive to be thankful In our passions sometimes we make faults enough and forfeitures and open a sluce to let in judgements but the Lord stops the Damme and we are not drowned Admire his goodness and be enlarged unto thankfulness He doth good to them that deserve it not yea to them that deserve ill at his hands more to them that are drawing mischief upon themselves Note Small matters sometimes very comfortable Come we now to see how Jonah comforteth himself with his gourd he was exceeding glad of the gourd Small matters sometimes are very comfortable to us a Cup of cold water water out of a Rock Manna out of a congeled dew Naamans washing seven times in Jordan A few Figs and Raisins to the fainting Amalekite A bunch of Figs to Hezekiahs Bile Barly-loaves to thousands of people And to an hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet Whereby we see what poor and weak creatures we are Use 1 and what a silly life the life of Nature is sustained and cherished by those small matters And if so be humble meek thankful heavenly-minded affected earnestly toward a spiritual and eternal life It is time to get Christ to be our life who said I am the way the truth and the life John 14.6 to get the Spirit of life to enter into the way of life to nourish an hope of life everlasting Life of the soul is infinitely better then the life of the body and so are all the means that maintain it Outward things commonly are prized according to their worth and what they will yield and so should the means of grace be mightily prized The wise-men were very glad of the Star that led them to Christ Mat. 2.10 teaching us to prize gracious means which first lead us to Christ and afterward confirm us in him And we learn in small matters to take notice of a great Use 2 love which affordeth them and much comfort by them Mercies commonly are best seen in the want but it were better to esteem them by the use and benefit of them it would argue more ingenuity it may be the truth of grace It were base not to discern the benefit of our Limbs and parts but only by the Tooth-ach loss of a Joynt breaking of Bones or the like Nature can do this but grace looks higher to a great God in a small favour Oh it is no small love nor small purchase nor small pledge Sleep digestion of Meat Sun-shine Seasons of the Year are ordinary
and come of course and they are small to see to and of daily use but should not therefore be the less prized nor improved for God Inest sun gracia parvis For the latter the withering of the gourd to the great grief of Jonah God hath wayes and means to blast our greatest comforts as here Note God can soon blast our comforts the gourd whereof Jonah was so exceeding glad a worm was bespoken to smite and wither it So we read of blasting and meldew Locusts Caterpillars Canker-worms Palmer-worms Grashoppers other Destroyers of Gods providing whereby an hopeful crop in the Spring comes to very little in the harvest all of the Lords doing Hag. 1.6 9 10 11. Psal 107.33 34. Uses 1 And it teacheth us 1. Whither to look in all calamities of the year as for example the worm which God prepares the East-wind Red wind Black wind other evils that come and blast our hopes They come not without the Lords sending therefore this is his Controversie therefore for sin therefore be humbled make peace get into his favour walk more carefully for time to come Excellent instructions for all of us Do we not all live of the field and who must prosper the fruits of the field harvest or vintage but only God and if it be not prosperous who is it that blasted it the common saying is My Garden or Field was likely to yield a good Crop but a scurvy worm came and destroyed all I shall scarce be able to pay my Rent or maintain my Charge Nay but O man who prepared that worm or sent that East-wind or other spoiler Affliction springeth not out of the dust there is an higher cause look thither and see what is to be done in a Religious way 2. To check and moderate our joy in these earthly things while they last with us as knowing they may be soon blasted and taken away The Grass withereth and the Flower of the Field fadeth away Even so iâ— the glory of the world 1 Cor. 7.30 Therefore rejoyce as not rejoycing Comfort may be taken but take it in a moderate manner Some are taxed Jude 12. that they fed themselves without fear and they are a great generation now-a-days of men that are wholly in their natural enjoyments It is noted for part of Jobs piety that he was jealous over his Childrens Feasting and it would be piety in others to be jealous over themselves 3. To improve the comfort we have by the creatures Use 3 to the glory of God who gave and preserved them 1 Cor. 10.31 Drut 28.47 48. and must bless them to us Whether ye eat or drink or whatever ye do do all to the glory of God In his hands our breath is and all our times and all our comfortable enjoyments It were good to keep in with him that these mercies may be continued as also blessed to us The chief Motive is to have comfortable Communion with our good God but it is one Motive to have an holy and wholsome use of the creatures While the Rent or Service is duly paid the Tenant enjoyes all quietly 4. To foresee changes that may quickly come upon Use 4 our natural contentments Jonah should have thought it is a pretty accommodation to have such a gourd but may not a worm soon smite it and cause it to wither Certain it is that God never lets us a long Lease of these temporals but we shall have and hold them at his pleasure A great change there will be at the last and we should ever wait for it but before that time there may be many changes Job 14.14 and it will be our wisdom to make account of them It will be far easier to say The evil that I feared is come upon me He was wise and holy who said All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change shall come 5. In all such changes that happen we should be patient and submit to the will of God as dumb Psal 39 9. and not open Use 5 the mouth This was one of Jonahs faults that when his gourd withered he was angry and said he did well to be angry to the death Take heed by much wrigling we may make our burthen heavier then it would have been But by patience an evil becomes much lighter which could not be prevented nor afterward shaken off 6. Above all blasts take heed of a blast upon thy soul Use 6 and upon the Ordinances and left that voice come forth Never fruit grow on the tree more Mat. 21. Ezâ—k 24.13 Rev. â—â— 11 or that Thou wouldest not be cleansed thou shalt not be cleansed or that Be filthy still be unrighâ—eous still These are heavy judgments of God and lie upon the spirits of many for their unthankfulness and unfruitfulness under the means of grace They are worse then Famine War or any temporal judgements as the foul is more excellent then the body Yet inflicted on many because they have long sate under the dews of heaven and are still a barren heath nigh unto a Curse whose end is to be burned Heb. 6.8 Take heed Christians lest God in wrath blow upon these Ordinances and for your sluggishness make them altogether ineffectual This is come upon some already no whit moved by all the good instructions and exhortations they have heard in the ministery And some have lost the fine and ripe parts which sometimes they had and are become very sots Others are quite fallen away either to Profaness or Heresie as the Dog to the Vomit or the Sow that was washed to wallow in the mire or as the Salt which hath lost his favour and good for nothing but the Dunghil There be some sorts of men specially that should beware of these spiritual blasts 1. Young people who are newly looking into the world 2. Those that come out of dark Countries to a place of light and warmth by good preaching 3. Those that had their Consciences rowsed by a fit of sickness and took up good resolutions Beware lest for negligence the Lord swear in his wrath that ye shall not enter into his rest Psal 95.11 Ver. 8.9 And it came to pass when the Sun did rise that God prepared a vehement East-winde and the Sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted and wished in himself to dye and said It is better for me to dye then to live And God said to Jonah Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd And he said I do well to be angry even unto death Two things are proposed in these two Verses Parts 1. A farther tryal of Jonahs patience which is found to be small 2. A new chiding him for his anger about the gourd together with his stout reply ver 9. For the former God is pleased farther to try the patience of Jonah by adding a new affliction he not only blasts his gourd and takes that away but increaseth the vehemency of the