and down the City when he came there and might spend much of his strength by travelling and crying all along Learn we Ministers and people to settle to difficult costly and dangerous duties Are they not Gods Commandments did not he say Arise and cry To the third point The wickedness of a people doth go Doctr. 3 up and call for vengeance upon them Wickedness calls for vengeance so did the blood of Abel against Cain Gen. 4 10. So did the filthiness of the Sodomites against that City Chap. 18.21 So the cry of Servants wages detained â—ames 5.4 And here the Robbery and Oppression of the Assyrians who had made slaughter of many Nations and spoiled others to enrich themselves together with the cries of Widows and Fatherless Children and their Pride Idleness Filthiness Inchantments other sins which were now grown so great that the Earth was no longer able to hold the cry but the Air and Heaven too did ring of their sinfulness and now it was high time for God to take vengeance The Lord sees when the iniquity of a man or people is ripe and then proceeds to judgment as of the Amorites It is not yet full but when it is I will 〈◊〉 root them out Gen. 15.16 Every single sin comes up before God and provokes wrath Psal 7.11 but wickedness much more He is angry with the wicked every day but defers to do execution till the measure of sin be filled up and then he can forbear no longer Use 1 Admire the patience and long-suffering of the Almighty though he be wearied daily with the cries of mens sins yet he bears all yea though they be sins of whole Towns whole Nations or the whole world He is not slack of his coming but patient to us-ward and waits for our Repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 No mans patience can be so exercised as Gods is yea we see too often how even a godly man hath some adoo to keep patience on such and such provocations Oh the goodness and long-suffering of our God to whom our wickedness goeth up continually The Lord the Lord merciful and gracious slow to wrath abundant in goodness and truth Use 2 Admire also the worth and power of Christs mediation which cries down the cry of our sins and keeps off the vengeance which thereby we had deserved The blood of Christ speaks better things then the blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 mercy and not judgment and this secures both the persons and duties of Believers though they deserve a fulness of wrath yet by the mediation all will be well with them Use 3 This shews people the sinfulness and danger of their estate even when they are most secure All the while their wickedness gets up before God and would draw down vengeance upon then when they are most jolly and brave in their worldly enjoyments yet their extreme danger continues sin hath not lost his voice of crying as here against the Ninevites yea it cries more because of more light and more means of grace so the men of Nineve shall rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it Take heed of sin if not for the foulness which should Use 4 be yet for the fearful after-claps and for the measure of your sins lest that be filled up and then the Vials of wrath be emptied upon you Know the Lord can overthrow England as well as Nineve and we have had warning not only for forty years but forty and forty and more then that it is now above a hundred years that the Gospel hath been preached among us with liberty and encouragement and ye know we have sins enough to hasten the overthrow Oaths and other abominations Consider and beware if there were no more mischief in sin but the losing of the Gospel it were bad enough an intolerable loss to have the Candlestick removed out of his place or to have your Jonahs sent from Israel to Nineve or the righteous taken from the evil to come Ver. 3. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa and he found a ship going to Tarshish so he payed the Fare thereof and went down into it to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Here the Prophet declines the Lords message of going to Nineve by going a quite contrary way Why Jonah fled to Tarshish His ground he tells us in Chap. 4.2 Namely a carnal fear lest he should be ashamed and accounted a false Prophet if within forty dayes Nineve were not overthrown A great matter with the proud nature of man which cannot endure the least disparagement Other reasons Jonah might have for not going to Nineve So peter Act. 1â— 1. The strangeness of the thing No Prophet had ever been sent to the Gentiles before Jonah All of them were sent to the house of Judah or of Israel and should Jonah be the first man that should be sent to the sinners the Gentiles God goes beside his ordinary method and Jonah thinks strange of it 2. What hope could there be of doing good among the Heathen seeing he had so little good among Gods own people should Ninevites be converted and Israel not converted how can things go quite in a new Road which was never heard of 3. Might not Jonah fear what would become of him among a Company of Infidels who were also rich and proud and knew not God he one and they many he a poor man and they the Potentates of the world What should one Lamb do among a thousand Wolves 4. For the Errand which Jonah was to deliver what likelihood that Nineve should be overthrown within forty days seeing no enemy appeared before it and it had now flourished twelve hundred years in great prosperity what wise man would go and publish impossibilities No sound reason at all Yet all this is but carnal fear and Jonah sinned greatly in flying to Tarsus 1. He left the Command and calling of the great God of Heaven which is the only rule of all our obedience 2. He left the Land of Israel wherein his main business lay for all his life-time 3 He thought poorly of God as if he could not meet with him at Tarsus as well as Samaria 4. He shewed little pity to thousands of souls that might receive benefit by his preaching All shewing the great corruption of mans nature even after grace received and how watchful we need to be and keep close to our rule and to the calling wherewith we are called not regarding the crooked rules of humane reason and wisdom which Jonah too much followed He rose up to flee to Tarsus The chief City of Cilicia Expos 1. St. Pauls Country a Citizen of no mean City Act. 21.39 Some say Jonah went to be a Merchant there another while But it is not good to fasten more sins to the good man then we are sure of It is most likely that as a man
suffer for the truth and way of God cannot entertain Ministers cannot build and endow Hospitals repair Bridges do other works of bounty as our fore-fathers were wont to do Shall he therefore be wholly excused of offering to the Lord No the poorest and meanest Christian that is out of a gracious heart is able to pray praise God live holily deal righteously converse to the Edification one of another Calves of the lips spiritual sacrifice a body prepared and fitted to do service and a mind with meditations and affections Use 2 Offer these and it shall suffice The Jew that was not able to bring a Bullock must bring a pair of â—urtle-doves or two young Pigeons so the Christian let him do his best and it will go for currant Only with this Caution he that is able to offer a great sacrifice shall not be excused by a less Cursed be the deceiver who hath a male in his flock and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.14 or offers the torn the lame or the sick shells of outward service or old age that is now able to do nothing for God or meerly good meaning without doing what might and ought to be done as some do flatter themselves all such are deceivers and draw a curse upon themselves instead of a blessing These Mariners offered what they could but so do not these For the third they made vows Not only in the present did these Mariners worship the Lord but meant to worship him for time to come and thereunto bound themselves by vows 2 King 5 17. so Naaman the Syrian Hereafter I will serve no God but the God of Israel Note This is the right use of afflictions and of escaping out of them not only be Religious for a time but for ever Many can seem to be Religiously affected while they are under Gods rods or when they are newly got out of his hands but in a little space grow as bad as ever it may be more hardened as iron that hath been heated and cold again Take heed of dodging with the God of Heaven Use He looks for plain and honest dealing of those he delivers or to whom he vouchsafes mercy It is a condition upon deliverance from enemies To serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life Luke 1.74 75. The mercy lasteth alway and so must the duty and no reason can be alledged for ceasing from that duty Go then and learn what means to hear for the time to come to pray continually Esa 42 23. to receive Sacraments often even untill Christ come They made vows What we read not nor matters it Vows of Christians what they are But to our purpose 1. The main matter of Christian Vows is that we bind our selves to the Lord in a Covenant that shall never be broken as Presper said Seipsum voveas seipsum reddat he that will vow to the Lord let him devote himself and render himself to his Majesty and David said Ps 119.106 I have sworn that I will keep thy Commandments not Counsels but Precepts are the grounds and bounds of a Christians vows Therefore not Monkish nor any other will-worship 2. The entrance into a lawful vow is at our Baptism where we promised to be the Lords to believe to obey to renounce all his and our enemies implyed in that phrase Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost that is dedicated devoted set apart for his service and glory relinquishing all others as a good Wife to cleave to her Husband alone 3. The vow of Baptism is renewed many times afterward either at a Sacrament of the Lords Supper or in the time of danger and it ought to be Religiously remembred and observed as Psal 66.13 14. I will pay that my vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble Whether these Mariners kept their vows we know not but are sure that we ought to keep ours Use Remember and make Conscience of performing these vows be as faithful in keeping them as thou seemdst Religious in making them Remember the fears and pains and cares of those sad hours and what religious affections were then stirring mind all those passages and now reduce all into act Now is the time now and ever Take heed it will be no safe mocking of God Gal. 6.7 Be not deceived God is not mocked All the mocking would return upon thine own soul to thy eternal damnation Where for better performance remember that clause not to put off the paying of vows Eccl. 5.4 When thou hast vowed a vow to God defer not to pay This delay is it which marres abundance of good purposes and resolutions while we think there is time enough the motion dies and no good effect follows A deceitful heart a subtle Devil a flattering or encumbring world vain or wicked Companions draw quite another way Ver. 17. 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 Our Saviour calls it a Whale Mat. 12.40 Jonah was so long in the belly of the Whale Whales and other great fishes Possibly it is the Leviathan described in Job 41. Or it may be the Crocodile Histories tell of fishes of incredible bigness and our people have seen the Grampos the Sturgeon the Man-fish the Mermaide and other and Navigators have seen the Sea-Horse the Sea-Bull and other strange Monsters and of strange greatness All made by God and are at his beck and serve to set forth his praise see Psal 104.24 25 26. At the Text it is said that God prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah Here is in wrath mercy Though God will have his servant cast into the Sea yet he will not have him drowned in the Sea No he loves him better then so and hath more work for him to do which though he declined at first yet afterward he shall be willing to do Note how the providence of God reacheth to the bottom of the Sea and swayeth among the fishes Note God rules ever fishes He that sent a wind and thereby a storm and afterward caused the Sea to cease from her raging now sets a fish in readiness to take Jonah to custody and then restore him to land again So he sent the fish to Peters hook Mat. 17.27 and a multitude of fishes to the Apostles nets Luke 5.4 9. and John 21.3 8. Now bless the Lord O my soul Psal 103.12 in all places of his dominions Use 1 Sea Land Fire Air Clouds all made by him and disposed of by him and all for the good of his Chosen as those wondred at the huge draught of fishes and saith the Text they knew it was the Lord none but the Lord could gather those fishes together And it follows Christ gathered them together therefore Christ is God and accordingly he is to be feared loved honored
of Nineve and he arose from his Throne and laid his Robe from him and covered him with Sackcloth and sate in ashes And he caused it to be proclaimed c. Here we have the Ninevites repenting at the preaching of Jonah which is first set down in geneal ver 5. and then declared in particulars in the rest of the Verses In general their repentance is set down two wayes 1. By the cause that moved them They believed God 2. By the adjunct signs of it which are three Fasting Sackcloth and Ashes Note Divers examples of repentance Note out of the whole how many examples of repentance we have in this Book we saw the Mariners repenting and turning to God and we saw Jonah repenting with abundant testifications of the truth of it But these were private acts of piety which went little farther then the men themselves At the Text we have a publick example of King Lords and Commons all humbled and reformed And this example might go far and near to do much good among the Nations that were subject to the large Empire of the Assyrians People generally think it concerns them to do as their Rulers and Commanders do Use Oh that all these examples might perswade our people to an effectual imitation Wherefore are they recorded but for our instruction to do the like and fare well as they did especially the example of the Ninevites both because Chrâ—st proposeth it for our imitation and because he saith they shall be our Judges at the last day unless we repent The men of Nineve repented at the preaching of Jonah and shall rise in judgment with this generation Mat. 12â— and condemn it namely for not repenting But most of all this example concerns those that are Rulers in Church and State that they publickly repent and testifie their repentance as they wish well to the people committed to their charge Not only publish Decrees for humiliation but themselves joyn in the duties of humiliation and more turn from their own evil ways and cause others to turn from theirs Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves and others from all your transgression Note more Note Most good doâ—â— where least lâ—kely how Jonah reapes most fruit of his labours where he least expected He had preached long to the ten Tribes and we read of no such repenting which without doubt could not chuse but grieve and trouble the good man But now where he was averse to preaching to a people he finds a great crop of Penitents so the first shall be last and the last shall be first the least likely are soonest converted Publicans and Harlots go before the Pharisees into the Kingdom of Heaven Now such examples do hearten us along to preach the Gospel notwithstanding all discouragements Use We sow our seed in the morning and withhold not our hand in the evening because we know not which shall prosper this or that and the worst that are may be gained to God as soon as any it may be sooner Esa 49.4 5. and Though people be not gathered yet shall we be glorious in the eye of God and our reward is with him They believed God Note Penitents look to God in preaching They saw and heard Jonah but they looked higher to his and their great Master A true Penitent looks up to God in the ministery of man When the Theâ—alonians were converted they received Pauls preaching Not as the word of man but as it was in truth the word of God 1 Epist 2.1.3 So the Convert in 1 Cor. 14.25 when the secrets of his heart were made manifest in preaching he fell down before the Preachers and said God is in you of a truth Use No wonder then that so few are converted now-a-days for we cannot get our people to see farther then us the Ministers and why should they much regard weak men like to themselves or what have they to do so to controul them for their sins Certainly we shall never do good to any purpose till we can perswade you to hear as from God and that is but fitting as our Saviour hath said He that heareth you heareth me Luke 10 16. and before the Text Jonah preached the preaching which the Lord bad him to deliver They beliâ—ved God That is They believed the threatning which God had denounced against them by Jonah By Jonah they understood what manner of God the God of Jonah was not as the idol-gods of the Gentiles which did neither good nor hurt but strong and just and true in his threatnings and the believing of this was tâ—e beginning of their repentance They did not only believe Jonaâ— but the God of Jonah so Israel at the red sea seeing their own escape and drowning the Egyptians They believed the Lord and his servant Moses Doctr. Believing of threats works repentance Exod. 14.31 To believe the threats and thunderings of Gods judgements against sin is a good means to work sinners to repentance Such faith is the first bending or â—nclining of the soul toward salvation The people were awakened by John Baptists ministery telling of the Axe laid to the root of the trees J. Martyr to come forth and ask what they should do to be saved Mat. 3.7 18. and Luke 3.10 12 14. So the Goaler by the terrors set on him Act. 16.30 And those that were pricked at the heart chap. 2.37 Why this is the power and efficacy of the word Reas where it is admitted into the heart It is quick and powerful Heb. 4.12 and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart The same voice of God that commanded the wind and sea and fish in Jonahs case commands also the guilty consciences of sinners to stoop to the word and yield to his directions Threats come and shake the soul to pieces then come promises and heal the wounds which the threats had made and rules of life to order the Convert according to the mind and pleasure of God This is the Divine Nature of the word our profession is rightly called Divinity because there goes with it the Majesty and Authority of God And it serves to condemn those nice and delicate hearers Use 1 of the word who must not be troubled or disquieted in the least with the denunciation of Gods judgements against them for their sins but say in effect Esa 30.10 Prophesie unto us smooth things Prophesie deceits Yet the Lord sent Jonah with an harsh message to Nineve and the Prophets came with many thundering peaâ—es against the drunkards of Ephraim and other sinners yea our Saviour doubled and trebled his woes against the secure in his time Mat. 11. and 23. And for them that believe not these threats both Christ the Prophets and Apostles have opened the sad case of all such First Esaiah complains Lord Chap. 53
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
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
escape Be wise then and never go about to cover sin in an undue Use 2 way and manner Mark two things Away to hide sin Esa 30.1 1. Wo to them that cover with a covering but not of my Spirit that they may adde sin to sin namely by denying what they have done by excusing defending or putting it off to others or by close conveyance so did Adam in the Thicket and with his Fig-leaves A detestable sin as Job 31.33 If I covered my transgression as Adam by hiding my iniquity in my bosome 2. Blessed is the man whose sin is covered Psal 32.1 namely by justification under the mantle of Christs Righteousness when a soul takes warning and flees unto him for shelter and so the evil passeth away So the godly is said to hide himself from the Plague he fore-sees namely under the wings of the Almighty not from God but with God Psal 91.1 and Prov. 22.3 Ver. 8.9 10. 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 Then were the men exceedingly afraid and said unto him Why hast thou done this for the men knew that he had fled from the presence of the Lord because he had told them Parts In these three Verses we have three things to be considered and improved 1. The humanity of these Mariners toward guilty Jonah ver 8.2 The Confession of Jonah upon the examination of the Mariners ver 9.3 The Mariners reverent respect of God and chiding of Jonah ver 10. For the first of these though the Mariners saw Jonah was taken tardy by a token from God himself yet they do not rashly fall foul upon him to rail at him or throw him overboard as some now-a-days would do but first they question him in many things that they may find out the truth to the bottom and so proceed judiciously in what is to be done as the God of Heaven shall will and declare to be his mind Mot. Be gentle to all even offenders Hearken Christians and learn humanity of these Heathens Be not rash and head-long toward any whom ye conceive to be offenders Though ye think ye have reason on your side yet take heed and question the matter a little farther Conjectures and probabilities there be and it is very likely there is a fault made but conjectures are uncertain and sometimes deceive and though a thing be likely to be true yet it may prove otherwise If it be true it is well done to enquire and find out the whole truth If false we avoid he sin and danger of rash judgment namely to be judged of the Lord. However deliberation will do well Which serves greatly to reprove those that are rash in punishing Use Reproof to the rash or harsh or in passing their Verdict upon persons accused either through an hasty spirit which Salomon saith exalteth folly or through intemperate zeal which exceeds the bounds of discretion Zealous we ought to be and it is good to be alway zealously affected but first be sure it be in a good matter Gal. 4.18 And offenders ought to be reproved or punished according to the merit of their cause but first be sure both of the fact and of the manner of doing and in what degree of wickedness the offence standeth Jonah shall be punished sufficiently but first he shall be questioned in many things what who whence what occupation and of what Country And we all know how passion is apt to exceed the measure of Reason and Equity Fiâ— upon rash and harsh Christians Especially toward strangers who in their suspicions or upon odd informations shew no moderation to accused Brethren but break out suddainly both to condemn and execute all in a fury and not only Brethren but Strangers who should be more pitied In some there is an enmity to Forraigners and if they offend them never so little they use them Rigorously Unjustly Tyrannically Yet these Mariners used Jonah courteously and gently though unknown to every of them and now designed by God as guilty unto punishment A shame to violent and unreasonable Christians who profess acquaintance with God Mostly where the life is questioned But the greatest sin is to be rash and violent in the matter of Life and Death Judges Jury-men Witnesses Officers of every sort should be very tender in this case and not rush head-long toward a sentence Consider the matter consult and give sentence Judg. 19.30 consider of it take advice and speak your mind when God was going to destroy Sodom he told Abraham he would first go down and see whether they had done altogether according to the cry of their sins Now be followers of God as dear Children saith the Apostle as otherwise so in this For the second I observe a two-fold confession that Jonah makes Gâ—n 18.11 Eph 5.1 1. Of his Faith ver 9. I am an Hebrew and fear the Lord the God of heaven 2. Of his Fault ver 10. He told them how he had fled from the presence of the Lord. For the Confession of Faith which Jonah makes it is like that of Paul in the like danger of ship-wrack Act. 27.23 This night there stood by me the Angel of God whose I am and whom I serve The Note to be observed is this It is the property of a good heart to own God however Note Own God however things go 1. In the midst of all his guiltiness though he hath sinned greatly as here Jonah he had not carried himself as one that feared the God of Heaven but the contray and now he might well be ashamed to say he feared the Goâ— of heaven But a believing heart knows no sin breaks off the relation between him and his God Though it make a great gash yet the wound is not mortal and all the breach will shortly be made up again as between God and Jonah Renewing of Repentance makes all well again 2. In the visible tokens of Gods displeasure for sin which at this time lay heavy upon Jonah and upon Heman Psal 88.1 A Believer hath got his Lesson by heart Hab. 3.2 that in wrath the Lord remembers mercy and that his anger is but as the waters of Noah soon passing away Esa 54.7 8 9. And he concludes here is a dark hour but the Sun will break forth again Sorrow may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning why because of the Covenant and Promises made to Believers and will hold at the lowest 3. In grievous Scourges which the hand of God hath laid upon him as here this destroying Tempest upon Jonah whose stiff and disobedient spirit was hereby broken that now he began to relent and yield to his great
God nor Hell nor Curse of the â—aw nor Pestilence nor any of the Judgments which befall others and may befall them they know not how soon Such should consider that as stout men as they have feared exceedingly in seeing the fearful signs of Gods displeasure for sin witness these Mariners stout and sturdy men as that kind useth to be but in this grâ—at Tempest ye see how they buckle Dan 5.6 and ye read in Daniel How at the sight of the hand writing Belshazzars countenance was changed and his thoughts troublod him so that the joynts of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another And all the Sons of Pride the Lord knows to abase c. 4. 37. Consider as stout as thou art upon a great fit of sickness or some other stinging cross thou mayest be brought to fear exceedingly in spite of thy heart as Pashur in Captivity Jer. 20 4. He became a terror to himself and to all his Friends even he that was so lusty to put Jeremy into the stocks An hard-hearted sinner thou art but hast not the strength of Steel or of Stones Beware when Conscience once awakes and sin is set in order before thee Psal 50.21 all thy hardiness will prove but as Stubble when it is put to the Fire And think of the terrors of the day of Judgment a day of darkness and of gloominess when men shall be at their wits ends even the greatest of sinners Rev. 6.16 Better to take thy part of fear here where it may be improved to Conversion Hereafter there will be nothing but torment in thy fear as 1 John 4.18 fear hath torment Then comes the great mischief which never was feared but now shall be felt for ever and ever Lastly for these mens chiding of Jonah Note Why hast thou done this and before ver 6. What meanest thou O sleeper arise and call upon thy God Most justly do they fall under the lashes of mens tongues who slip their necks from the obedience they owe to God Not only Ministers fall foul upon them but rude and barbarous men Jeerers Mockers Slanderers injurious men wrongly perhaps Use but it is just with God whose yoke formerly by you was rejected If ye had kept in with him better ye might better have escaped their Viperous and base tongues Ye wonder at mens unreasonableness but look upward and there ye will find some just occasion given who had Shimei to Curse Ver. 11.12 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 Parts Two things here meet us 1. How the Mariners advise with Jonah what is to be done in this extremity ver 11.2 What course Jonah adviseth them to take for avoiding the danger ver 12. He gives faithful counsel though it be against himself as we also ought to do For the former of these The Mariners had consulted with God before Consult with God and the godlyâ— inquiring his mind by casting of lots and now they consult with Jonah whom they perceive to be the servant of God though at this time a bad servant wonderful pity and charity and discretion in both Oh for care and Conscience in Christians to take up this example of honest heathens What made these men so gentle But whence this their gentleness in treating with Jonah Answ 1. No question but it was of Gods over-awing and over-ruling their spirits that they should not mischief no hurt his servant Jonah He that restrained Esau and Laban from speaking or doing evil to Jacob did restrain these men also Moral Vertues are of Gods implanting in the heart Prudence Meekness Quietness of spirit judiciousness in proceedings and even fierce spirits use to be tamed by storms and other hideous worke of God 2. They take notice of the God of the Hebrews who had made himself of a long time famous in all those adjoyning Countries how he is now pursuing his fugitive servant and doâ—h not spare him but send wind and tempest after him It is time to be moved with fear and take a wise course for escaping his wrath Heb. 11 7. Noah moved with fear prepared an Ark for saving himself and his Family 3. As they were moved with Reverence toward the Master so with some Reverence toward the Servant who had told them the plain truth how he was a Prophet and ministred unto the Lord but at this time had basely declined the service imposed so in Gen. 20 7. Abimelech must restore Abraham his Wife why For he is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee Respect is to be had to every one according to his Place and Degree most to Gods Messengers Note hence Note Treat genâ—ly with offâ—nders with what Gentleness and Humanity we ought to treat with our Christian Brethren even when they acknowledge themselves offenders as these with Jonah Titus 3.2 speak evil of no man no brawlers but gen la shewing all meekness unto all men 2 Tim. 2.24 The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men not only to the good and kind but to the froward and faulty 1. That in the quietness of our spirits we may the better Reason 1 find out the way wherein God would have us to go which is not discerned in Passion He that is of an â—asty spirit exalteth folly and He is as a City without Walls anâ— Gates 2. That a due mean may be observed in the punishment that is to be inflicted We ought not to fly upon offenders rashly and furiously but with deliberation and it may be with prayer that we may be moderate and that the punishment may be sanctified 3. The Delinquents have precious and Immortal souls which should be tenderly regarded instructed wrought to Repentance fitted to receive the intended punishment and so saved not die before they be fit to die if it be possible Oh the price of souls not to be redeemed but by the blood of Jesus Christ Use 1 Put on gentleness Now be perswaded to this Humanity and Gentleness A man may learn good of any whoever they be of the Crane and Swallow to know and improve the seasons of grace of the Mariners not to be rash or harsh to offenders yea of the Devil himself who bestirs him the more because he hath but a short time and he trembles at the judgment to come which sundry of ours do not Ob. Sol. Say some This man deserves exemplary punishment it is a plain case there is no doubt to be made To whom I answer Jonahs case was plain enough not only by the tokens of Gods wrath but by his own confession he told them how he had fled from the presence of
obeyed in all our course of life Both Creation and gubernation are ascribed to him therefore he is God He made us Use 2 and he feeds us therefore he is God Ps 135.6 Again it is comfort to the good Subjects of his dominion that he hath to do and doth what he will both in Heaven and Earth and in all deep places When we travel in waters or occupy businesses in that Element there he sits and overrules all In the great and threatning waves of affliction he orders the Event for good to the faithful Psal 32.6 Surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him Mat. 8.26 14 31. Rev. 20.13 Esa 43.2 When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee For the Disciples he rebuked the wind and sea and there was a great calm And he took up sinking Peter into the ship and one day the sea shall give up her dead There is comfort also in the preparations and provisions that the Lord makes for us both by sea and landâ— He that prepared a great fish for Jonah prepares for us a multitude of fishes both small and great precious for their usefulness and pleasant by their variety Food Physick Oil Bone abundance of uses for the enriching of a Nation whereunto adde that God first taught the art of making ships for Navigation so Noah by his instruction Heb. 11.7 prepared an Ark for saving himself and his Use 3 Family And if it be so believe in God for supply of all your wants In all straights say as Abraham God will provide He that appointed Jonah to be cast into the sea prepared a fish to save him from drowning He that sent a Famine upon Canaan sent Joseph before into Egypt for a Caterer for us also he will provide what is wanting and shall be expedient Believe it and beware of the chiding Why did ye fear because ye brought no bread Jonah was in the belly of the fist three days and three nights Miraculous preservation of Jonah Here is miracle upon miracle A storm raised a calm restored a fish prepared for safety a man kept alive in his belly so long and no longer and then set on dry land again wonders that the fish was so ready for him that he escaped crushing between his teeth which stood in great rows as Sawes to knap him asunder that the digestive force of the fishes stomack was so long restrained that he was not choaked wiâ—h waters and weeds that came about him that he was tost from one side of the fish to another that all this while he had no way of free breathing yet there he was and there he prayed and thence he was delivered Admirable preservation Note the wonderful power of God Note And of others who in the midst of dangers can preserve his people even where no hope of safety appears Jonah in the Whales belly Israel amidst the red sea and in Jordane with bread from heaven water out of a rock one sute of Apparel to serve a man for forty years together The three Jews to breathe and live in an hot fiery furnace and come forth again Daniel to escape well enough in the den of Lions Noah in a world of waters and among all sorts of beasts all came to him and the wildest were made tame so to live with the rest Fables will an Atheist say who can believe Against Atheists or how can these things be Answ 1. Ask sense and experienâ—e how lives the Child in the womb for some moneths together where he neither breathes nor takes nourishment by the mouth yet a continual business as appears in the Birth of Children John 20.29 2. He must needs be a gross Atheist who will believe no more then he sees Blessed is he that hath not seen and yet hath believed Spiritual matters are as much above sense for perceiving as they are for worth The soul is far better then the body yet not seen as the body is and God who is infinitely better then both 3. Jesus Christ who is the true and faithful witness hath given testimony to this History of Jonah and his Whale that he was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish And whosoever shall infringe the truth of Christ in his assertions shall never find him a Saviour A Revenger he shall find him but not a Saviour The wrath of God abideth on him 4. Poets and Heathens have a fable of Ariou Methimnaeus carryed by Dolphins along the sea into his own Countrey no doubt but some glimmering of this History of Jonah Gualter or rather a fable invented by the Devil to obscure this History that it should not be credited as to render the Apostles suspicious he cryed out Act. 16.17 These are the servants of the most High God who shew unto us the way of salvation Use Expect deliverance when least likely Now remember this against times and cases of very great danger God is the same and his power is the same and his love and his care and his truth and all his Attributes and if thou be the same with Jonah in faith and holinesse thou shalt find the same protection and deliverance so far as shall be good for thee I am the Lord I change not Object There is the scruple may some say I am no whit like Jonah that God should so take care of me Sol. Answ 1. The least degree of true faith and holiness is accepted with God and shall keep the head above water Peter was a man of little faith and yet by his little faith he was able to walk upon the sea and if he had held fast his confidence as he began he should not have sunk in the least nor cryed out for help as he did 2. Though Jonah was a very good man yet at this time he was very faulty and in wrath cast forth into the sea Hab 3.2 Only the Lord in wrath remembers mercy toward him and so he will toward thee The gifts and calling of God are without repentance no unbelief of ours can make the faith of God of none effect nor break off the tie between him and a believing soul Oh but my case is very grievous Object A devouring evil lies upon me Answ Thy case is not worse then Jonahs case was Sol. he was devoured by a Whale and this devourer was the means of his preservation Judg. 14.14 Out of the eater came meat and out of the strong came sweetness Thou sayest I see no likely means of my deliverance no more did Jonah and yet he is delivered even in a way quite contrary God saves by means without means above means or against means Oh but mine is a tedious affliction Ob. Sol. it hath lain long upon me and now what hope remains Answ 1. Jonah was in the Whales belly three days and three nights no doubt but that he had sad thoughts
danger whereinto he was brought the fishes belly the belly of hell the deep the midst of the seas bottoms of mountains weeds floods and billows 2. By the anguish or straights arising out of the danger I cryed to the Lord I said I am cast out of thy sight my soul fainted within me 3 By the hope he nourished all the while I will look again toward thy holy Temple I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto theâ— into thine holy Temple 4. By the good speed he found at last The Lord spoke unto the fish and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land We must begin with Jonahs prayer and the Audience he found with God ver 1.2 In the first Chapter ver 9. he professed to fear the Lord the God of heaven which made the sea and the dry land and now to the same God as the only true God he addresseth his prayer not to Neptune as Heathens were wont to pray nor yet to true Saints who had traded much in waters as Noah was saved in the general flood of waters or Moses who was drawn out of the waters while an infant and led Israel through the red sea and through Jordan or Elias who parted the waters this way and that way whereby one would think they should have compassion on them that are in danger by water according to the carnal reason of Idolaters in other things No Jonah prayes only to the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land God alone is an All-sufficient God and he alone ought to be called upon Prayer is one part of divine worship whereof it is said Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him alone shalt thou serve Mat. 4.10 And it stands with reason we must pray to none but one in whom we believe but we believe in God only therefore to God only must we pray Rom. 10.14 how shall they call on him in whom they believe not Use Mark this against the Papists and maintain the truth against them Note Pray earnestly Jonah prayed and cryed to the Lord This crying notes his fervency in prayer and it is twice set down I cryed I cryed to the same purpose Christians ought to be both frequent and fervent in prayer Rom. 12.11 12. fervent in spirit serving the Lord and continuing instant in prayer If one prayer will not fetch a mercy try what another will do and let the second be more earnest then the former and the third more earnest then that Paul besought the Lord thrice and obtained grace sufficient Jonah at last got out of the Whales belly Use It is not every sluggish and short-breathed prayer that will obtain a mercy Therefore continue instant in prayer Col. 4.2 But I aim at another point from the consideration of Jonahs prayer as being now in a distressed condition No doubt but in all this time three days and three nights he prayed often and earnestly for the pardon of his great sin for deliverance out of the Whales belly and for the employment he had refused of going and preaching to Nineve Oh that God would trust and enable him to do that seruice he would do it with all his heart if he might be put upon it again Let the point be this Doctr. In distress pray Gods children in their greatest and deepest afflictions should keep their hearts in a praying frame to obtain grace and mercy to help in time of need we read a prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Psal 102 1. and 130.1 Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee O Lord. For reasons thus 1. There is a Commandment to Reason 1 call upon God in the day of trouble Psal 50.15 Not only in prosperity but adversity not only if it be likely we shall get out of trouble but against all likelihood not only if means be present but if no means appear likely to be had 2. There cannot be such a case of sin unworthiness Reason 2 and misery but the mediation of Christ can help at a dead lift Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will do it for you The Father can deny nothing to the Son nor to such as plead in his Sons merits 3. The spirit of grace and supplication is given them Reason 3 on purpose that they should alway pray Luke 18.1 Rom. 8.26 and not wax weary he helps their infirmities not knowing what to pray as they ought the bears up their spirit to hope to the end he raiseth sighs and groans which cannot be uttered 4. No affliction whatsoever can break asunder the Reason 4 tie between God and a Believer Jonah at this time wanted neither sin nor sorrow nor fear nor care what would become of him yet mark the word of appropriation he prayed to the â—ord his God 5. The covenant and promises are made so as to serve our turn in the worst condition that is either of sin or sorrow Of sins he hath said I will blot out thine iniquities I will scatter them as a mist I will forgive their sin and remember it no more Of sorrow he hath said I will be with thee in six troubles and in seven I will be with thee when thou passest through the fire and through the water and in a word I will not leave thee nor forsake thee 6. The greater a trouble or danger is the more we need to flee to God and keep close to him and hide with him as he that is cast upon a rock at sea the more the waves beat upon him the more careful he is to keep to his rock see Psal 61.1 2 3. so we We are weak but he is a strong God we are helpless but he is a friend good enough Use 1 A fault to faint in prayer All to reprove our foolishness who in great afflictions suffer our selves to be so afraid with amazements that we neglect the duty of prayer The heart is even bound up and so straightned with fear care and sorrow that we cannot lift up a prayer to the God of our life and mercy yet Jonah prayed out of the Whales belly and amidst all those incumbrances Moses cryed to the Lord at the red sea when the people so murmured and were discontented Daniel prayed in the den of Lions where every moment he was ready to be devoured David prayed in caves woods mountains in all his flight before Saul and Absalom He longed to come to the Temple and pray but could pray out of a Temple as well as in it and Jonah here in great distresse looked toward the Temple v. 4. no whit like those who can never pray but when they stumble into a Church or when they are in some hope to receive what they crave Ob. Oh but my case is higher then worldly afflictions I have many and great sins upon me and much guiltiness which puts me out of heart Sol. Answ
that that I have voâ—ed He had vowed it seems in the Whales belly that if he might be delivered he would do the message at Nineve whatever it cost him and now he doth the message indeed Though the danger were the same by displeasing a mighty people though God were very merciful and likely to spare Nineve Note Do as well as vow though thereby he should be accounted a false Prophet Yet up he ariseth and hies him to Nineve Thus he pays what he had vowed Remember and do thou likewise it is written for thy instruction and imitation In Baptism thou renouncedst the Devil the World and the Flesh and wast devoted to the service of the true God who is Father Son and Holy Ghost Now at years of discretion do as thou hast said pay that that thou hast vowed especially one that hath been dangerously sick and now recovered or in other great affliction remember the vows which thy lips then uttered as Psal 66.13 14. I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble Shew whether thou hast indeed profited in the School of affliction whether as Christ thou hast learned obedience by the things thou sufferedst or as David It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Do the duty though it be difficult costly or dangerous as this to Jonah Godly sorrow useth to work abundance of gracious effects 2 Cor. 7.11 Carefulness Fear vehement Desire Zeal c. Doctr. Penitents work for God And note how it is said here Jonah did according to the word of the Lord. A truly-penitent Christian sets himself to work for God according to his word However he have declined the service and turned aside to crooked wayes yet upon his better bethinking himself especially upon his smart in one kind or other he gets up and falls to his work again so Jonah David Peter other Saints whose falls were great but so was their amendment too and the obedience they performed afterward Why 1. He hears and acknowledges the voice of God commanding Reason 1 his obedience as here Arise and go to Nineve When young Samuel once knew the voice of the Lord he presently said Speak Lord for thy servant heareth and he did all the message to the uttermost So did Paul at his conversion Lord 1 Sam 3.10 12. what wilt thou have me to do where think why should not a Convert obey the word of God as well as a Whale or a wind should man be more sensless then they Reason 2 2. There is a principle of grace and obedience in the heart of the truly-penitent as for example Jonah was a godly man before this time though now he failed foully and fearfully therefore is awakened to his work and sets presently to do it In every true Christian there abides a seed of God 1 John 3.9 which will not suffer him to sin as the wicked doth And such will say We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth and We cannot but speak the things we have heard and seen 3. The word of the Lord carries Authority with it that the good soul holds it self bound to observe and do it Though others are fast and loose ye such will hold it as David My heart standeth in awe of thy word And it hath the nature of a rule to do as the word directeth so much and no more and in such manner as it requires Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them And so there is this force both in the commanding word of God and the forbidding word and threatning and promising and comforting in all there is an eternal obligation and equity and a believer will have a faithful respect to all as is injoyned Deut. 12.32 What thing soever I command you observe and do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it It follows hence that numbers among us never yet Use 1 truly repented of their sins why to this day they set not to do Gods business according to his word some being grosly disobedient others partial in their obedience others slight others unsetled and unconstant others timerous and loth to appear where difficulty or danger appears Numbers flee from God with Jonah but few travel for God with Jonah yet will make themselves believe they have repented which is impossible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for true repentance is ever a fruitful and effectual repentance remember the fruits meet for repentance Mat. 3.8 and works meet for repentance Act. 21.20 And if others will not yet let true Christians justifie Use 2 and clear their repentance to be sound and sincere by falling upon the work which the Lord hath for them to do as ye have failed with Jonah so be quickned and active with Jonah Every one knows his fleeing and wherein he hath been faulty Now let every one be humbled for his failings and return unto God in the same way he went from him How to set to do Gods work Our Text imports three things which may set a collapsed Christian upon his legs again 1. Rowse up thy self out of that sluggishness which hath crept insensibly upon thee Arise and go to Nineve Up Sampson the Phlistines be upon thee Say not Yet a little sleep Augustine yet a little slumber yet a little folding of the hands to sleep This little and little will make a great deal at the last Thy case is bad enough already and such delay would make it far worse He that is not fit for God and duty to day will be less fit to morrow There is more need by double diligence â—o redeem the time that is lost and fetch after the work that should have been done 2. Take heed of carnal reasonings which swayed with Jonah to flee to Tarsus namely the great mercy of God to repenting sinners What of that ought not Jonah to have tryed therefore to bring the Ninevites to repentance If Christ be revealed in thee yet beware of consulting with flesh and bloud Gal. 1.16 and take heed of presuming on mercy as mercy is not to be straightned so neither is it to be enlarged beyond the bounds prescribed of God nor perverted to wrong ends but whereas he is very gracious he should be feared the more even vessels of mercy are not allowed to turn grace into lasciviousness Psâ—l 130.4 Jude 4. 1 Pet. 4.17 Consider what that means Judgment begins at the house of God and the righteous shall scarce be saved 3. Cast not difficulties and dangers that would follow upon doing of duty Jonah hath now unlearned that lesson and puts on to his work whatever comes of it Prov. 26.13 The fool or wicked man saith there is a Lyon in the way I shall be destroyed or damnified if I do this and this duty I know not what mischief will come of it But
1 Cor. 15 55. or separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ Again O death where is thy sting O grave wheâ—e is thy victory Which is seen sometimes of them that said heretofore There is but a step between me and death between me and hell All which makes against the vain confidence of idle Use 1 Christians who presume to know Gods mercy toward them without any doubting A thing which divers godly and serious men have not yet obtained and sometimes fear they shall never obtain Here we will examine a little the fears of the one Godly mens fears are hopeful and the hopes of the other For the fears of the godly 1. The Lord orders all their fears and tenderness of spirit to their greatest good as here the fear of these Ninevites first they are affrighted with the horror of a suddain overthrow and this fear works them to repentance that they shall escape the denounced overthrow So still generally it is the Lords method in bringing souls home to himself first out of security to convince them of a bad estate and so let them repent and seek after God let them be sick and see their need of a Physician let them be pricked at heart and ask what they must do to be saved and Did ye see him whom my soul loveth can ye give me any sure mark of my being in Christ can this or that stand with the truth of grace I am afraid I am not right in the main I doubt that all this while I do but deceive my own soul Of which tenderness the Lord makes this use to bring forth judgement to victory He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax his power is manifested in his peoples weakness and his grace shall be sufficient for them 2. The fears of godly men put them into cares about the means of grace and about such a course of religiousness as they may make their calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 So pray and so read and so hear and so receive Sacraments and walk so strictly and orderly as God may please to shew them his salvation Psal 50.23 Timor facit consiliatives Fear makes men Clients so to secure their Estates by repairing to their learned Counsel so here for the estate of the soul And a discreet man newly recovered out of great sickness narrowly observes his diet and so gets more health perhaps then a stronger man so here and this is the phrase of working out salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 3. This kind of fear hath the promise of blessedness Prov 28 14. Blessed is the man that feareth alway namely with a Childlike and holy fear fear to offend care to please and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. The tenderness of such is the heart of flesh Ezek. 11.19 which the Lord by Covenant said he would give his people and he will be their God and they shall be his people he will forgive their sins and remember their iniquity no more and will so put his fear into them that they shall never depart from him But if carnal persons have any fears concerning their spiritual estate it never works in such a manner all passeth away in flashes Be rid of them as soon as ye can and be merry while ye may away with this melancholy and be jovial For the hopes of idle and vain Christans Wicked mens hopes are fearful who doubt not a whit of Gods love to them I say thus 1. They are disgraced by the subject that is the persons in whom they are loose and vain persons None but the godly have the right hope which will last in a sad houre Pro. 14.32 the righteous hath hope in his death Such at worst are prisoners of hope Zech 9.12 Ever since they were converted they have been in an hopeful condition For others their hope shall perish it shall be as the spiders web or as the giving up of the ghost Profane persons and hypocrites never went upon a good foundation and so all their building lies in the dust 2. True hope is grounded in faith and in reconcilation with God thereby We hope well because we know whom we beleeve and he is the hope of Israel Jer. 17 13. the Saviour thereof in the time of need So we are saved by hope Rom. 8.24 But this is skipped over by these persons A general hope of mercy shall serve the turne 3. True hope ariseth out of regeneration and dwells in the new creature 1 Pet. 1.3 God begets us again to a lively hope But numbers have all their hope from the first birth beleeve in God ever since they can remember never do bred since they were born Pitie he should live who doubts of his salvation which is too fine and easie to be good Jonahs gourd sprung up in a night and withered in a night The like we may say of these Mushromes 4. True hope yeelds the benefit of strong consolation in foul weather that lies upon the soul Heb. 6.18 19. it is an anchor sure and stedfast By hope we have seen him to live who was about to dye David had fainted but that hope held him up by the chinne Ps 27.13 I had fainted but that I hoped to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living But the heart of an hypocrite 1 Sam. 25. when brought into great danger dyes in him as Nabals The house built on the sand when the windes and stormes came fell quickly and great was the fall thereof 5. True hope fs cleanly wherever it comes both as to the heart and life 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as God is pure It is of the same nature with the mother Acts 15.9 26 18. which is Faith and purifies the heart Hope is neither sloven nor slut but so is the hope of many expect much at the hands of God but live in their sins which is against all reason as if a man should stand for prefermeâ—t yet lives so as to be uncapable Use 2 Christians be perswaded so to order your course as ye may grow up to some comfortable assurance of Gods love to your soules that though ye get not the full assurance of faith yet ye may have much assurance or if not much yet some assurance Do all that may help your faith against your feares and that your hope in God may be cherished which ye will find to be very good when you come to lie on your death-bed or be cast into great affliction to say 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed c. There be some that should think of the great change by conversion Some have not yet repented nor made their peace with God and may well think that it is they who must repent and not God Repentance notes a change in the creature Jan. 1 17. not the Creator With
thee in measure yet I will not leave thee wholly unpunished Reasons why God so pardons the penitent are plain Reas 1 1. Because he is very merciful and abundantly gracious Exod. 34.7 The Lord the Lord merciful and gracious forgiving iniquity Reas 2 transgression and sin 2. By Jesus Christ a ransome is found for the penitent justice satisfied wrath appeased fauour procured heaven opened 3. Promises are made every-where Reas 3 in Scripture for this kind of sinners and shall be made good to the full 4. The work of repentance which Reas 4 is begun in them is a change wrought by Gods own Spirit and therefore shall be honoured with the best fruits So here is more encouragement to repent Ye see your Use 1 remedy if judgements be to be prevented More encouragement to repent or to be removed be humbled before your God and it may be done Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites namely to repent and be pardoned As he so they and as they so we All is for our instruction that repenting as they did we may escape as they did And let none think to hold God to it that though he repent not yet he shall do well enough Verily verily said our Saviour except ye repent ye shall all perish Luke 13.5 So when a tender heart casteth doubts that his sins shall not be pardoned nor indeed can be set it flie to this remedy Grieve for thy sins and confess them and crave pardon for them in the Name and for the merit of Jesus Christ afterward doubt not but a pardon will be had and in time will be sealed up to thy foul 1 John â— 1. He is our Advocate with the Father and the propitiation for our sins He sits in his Pardon-office in heaven and in time will issue forth a pardon for thee Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel are the two main graces of the Gospel Use 2 Lastly let God be glorified in this Attribute of turning wrath away from penitent sinnerâ— So doth the Church Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage the retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy He will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea Subjects use to magnifie a loving Prince who remits the penal laws and grants pardon to offenders So doth our God and so ought we to honour him Consider this is his end in granting forgiveness of sins Psal 130.4 That he may be feared And this was the first and chief mercy which David commemorated in his thanksgiving Ps 105.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities As also Paul Eph. 1.6 7. That we should be to the praise of the glory of his grace CHAP. IV. Ver. 1.2 3. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry And he prayed unto the Lord and said I pray thee O Lord was not this my saying when I was yet in my Country therefore I fled unto Tarshish for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful slow to anger of great kindness and repentest thee of the evil Therefore now O Lord Take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to dye then to live THis Chapter sets forth the Events of Gods sparing of Nineve Summe of the Chapter The Events are of two sorts a froward servant and a gentle Master In Jonah we see the example of a froward and waspish Saint who too much cleaves to his own reason without due respect had to the will of God or to the good of sinners For a good man he is as cholerick a man as lightly we shall read of And we have his fellows if not in goodness yet in testiness and peevishness Take heed and do not imitate 1. We see how ill he takes the sparing of Nineve Parts ver 1. he is displeased and angry 2. We hear him justifying his former flying ver 2. 3. We read a strange prayer he makes ver 3. Take my life from me 4. We may hear more pevishness ver 9. I do well to be angry even unto death For the first of these What is was that displeased Jonah we may not conceive Jonah displeased or angry at the repentance of the Ninevites this being quite contrary to the truth of grace which was in Jonah Grace never opposeth grace in another but first desires it and then rejoyceth in it But it displeased him exceedingly that is that the Lord did not the evil which he said he would do to Nineve And why so because now he should be accounted a false Prophets and God who said Nineve should be overthrown should be blasphemed as variable and not true of his word as not only the heathens round about but even the Israelites themselves would be ready to jeer at his coming home among them A goodly messenger and message and hereafter we will not regard thee a whit It displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry Some say he was offended at the calling of the Gentiles as those in Act. 11. and 22. and that by the spirit of prophesie he foresaw the rejection of the Jews into whose room the Gentiles were to succeed But this is too far fetched nor agrees with the Text and Argument here brought nor with the goodness of an holy heart such as Jonahs was It is best to understand it as before Note The godly have and confess their infirmities And we may observe A godly man hath many and great infirmities but withall confesseth them though to the shame of his own face as doth Jonah here Formerly from the same ground we concluded the Divinity of the Scriptures and now the sincerity of the Saints Paul for them all I do not the good I would and I do the evil I would not O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me Use Remember this ye Saints and enure your selves to the duties of humiliation and mortification and where just occasion is be not ashamed to confess and give glory to God Jâ—s 7 19. Let God be true and every man a lyar To me belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face with a lowly deportment suitable to those humble conceits and speeches you use concerning your selves Lessons to be learned from Jonah Then for mortification learn by these failings of Jonah 1. Not to be wedded to thine own will so as to set it before or above the will of God as did he Self denial is the first lesson that a Christian should take forth and make use of it all along in his course Be not wise in thine own eyes Lean not to thine own understanding Go not by thine own shallow reason but which way the revealed will of God shall lead thee Jonah had Gods mind fully revealed to him in this point
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