Jonah

Fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice was the solemn token of acceptance heretofore, fire from Heaven is the token still, even an holy ardor wrought in us by the Spirit. 2. In point of assistance prayer is a work too hard for us, we can [illegible] of our selves, but we cann…

This may appear by what follows; which is part of a paper, dispersed abroad in Great Britain and Ireland, from London, in the year 1712, being the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, and very extensively complied with, entitled, A serious Call from the City to the Country, to join…

What that rendering means, I do not know. And at Jonah 1:9, a Hebrew phrase — "I am a Hebrew" — the LXX (Septuagint) renders as "I am a servant of the Lord," where they add "of the Lord" on their own, in order to give some color to their error. There is therefore no reason why t…

For when sinners, burdened with the sense of their sins and of divine wrath, strive to flee to divine mercy, they do not at once feel themselves embraced with favor and grace, but rather feel themselves sent far away by God as unworthy — lest, by Satan's craftiness — who most ea…

So (Acts 1:24-26), (Numbers 26:55), (Leviticus 16:8) for matters of God. So (Joshua 14) for the matters of life: yes, the Gentiles themselves knew it to be the very oracle of God (Jonah 1:7). Now such oracles of God, must not be used for recreation: seeing they are his name, and…

If any reply, that God has changed his counsel sometime, as when he pardoned the Ninevites, Abimelech, or Pharaoh: the answer is easy. For when the Lord sent Jonah to the Ninevites, he manifests not that which he had decreed in his secret counsel, but meant to touch their hearts…

And thus with this buckler, he repulses all the difficulties which easily arise, as often as the promises of God do surmount our reach. I grant he sometimes threatens with condition, as he threatened Abimelec (Genesis 12:17), and Pharaoh (Genesis 20:3), and the Ninevites (Jonah…

Therefore in this denunciation there must be a condition supplied; for otherwise Hezekiah could never have moved the Lord, nor annulled his irrevocable decree neither by his prayers nor tears. But the Lord threatened him as he did Abimelech king of Gerar for taking Sarah, Abram'…

And (Numbers 11:31) there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea. (Jonah 1:4) The Lord sent out a great wind into the sea. The Heathens (who divided the world among sundry gods) gave the winds to Aeolus, whom they supposed to have them all shut up and l…

What! sleep in a storm! when winds are blowing, and waves roaring, sea entering, and ship sinking! What do you mean, O sleeper! could the heathen ship-master say, in such a case, to Jonah (Jonah 1:5-6), when he lay fast asleep in the sides of the ship: Arise, call upon your God;…

God is praised twenty five times for his mercies, but the conclusion of all is, Praise the God of Heaven, for his mercies endure for ever; his mercies, as he is the God of heaven, they are the glorious mercies indeed. When the Scripture would set forth the excellency of a thing,…

The first cry of the Newborn Christian (says one) gives Hell an alarm, and awakens the rage, both of Devils and Men against him. Hence Paul and Barnabas acquainted those new Converts, Acts 14:22. That through much tribulation, they must enter into the Kingdom of God: And we find…

IN Storms and Distresses at Sea, the Richest Commodities are cast over-board; they stand not upon it, when Life and all is in jeopardy and hazard. Jonah 1. 5. The Mariners cast forth the Wares that were in the Ship into the Sea, to lighten it.

The rude mariners were sensible of a divine power which was to be called upon, and consulted with in case of extremity; and that the way of commerce was by worship. (Jonah 1:5) when the storm arose, they called every man upon his God. 2. Though heathens were sensible of the bein…

There was such a disease introduced into the world by the [reconstructed: fall], that most of the remedies which men choose, do but show the strength and [reconstructed: malignity] of the disease; they choose out false ways of coming to God, and returning to him (Micah 4:5): All…

Trust as it implies recourse to God in our necessaries, is necessarily required in the fundamental article of the covenant, in the choice of God for your God. Nature teaches men in their distress to run to their gods; (Jonah 1:5) The mariners cried every man to his god, it immed…

Go to the gods whom you have chosen, let them deliver you in the day of tribulation. When you trust God, the honor of his Godhead lies at stake; by trust you own him for a God (Jonah 1:5). Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man upon his God.

As in Prayer, though spiritual gifts be requisite to make it acceptable; yet the duty of Prayer lies upon all men, by that Commandment which forbids Atheism; it is the fool that says in his heart, There is no God; of whom it is said, they call not upon the Lord (Psalm 14:1, 4),…

When he slew them then they sought him, and returned and inquired early after God. The heathen mariners call every man upon his God when in a storm; when they fear drowning, then they fall to praying (Jonah 1:5). Mariners are for the most part none of the devoutest, not much add…

Oh we level not, we hit not, we apply not the word so home, so particularly as the occasions, conditions, corruptions of men require; and therefore it prevails not with that power, finds not that success which otherwise it might. Common reproofs are like the confused [illegible]…

Oh, therefore call for the sight of sin, and sorrow for sin, for conviction, and humiliation, as you love your lives and souls call for these. You know what they said to [reconstructed: Jonah] (Jonah 1:6), when the sea was fierce, and the winds high, and the storm great, every m…

If the Romans did severely punish a young man who was seen sporting in a window with a Crown of Roses on his headin time of public Calamity: of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy, who strengthen themselves in wickedness, and laugh in the very face of Gods jud…

When our Savior Christ wrapped up the Pharisees all in one speech, it is said, that they heard the parable and knew that he meant them (Matthew 21:45). Overly discourses that they are sinners and great sinners in other countries, and you should do well to look to your ways and t…

The function of a minister is to quicken such as are dead in sin: to raise up and restore such as are [reconstructed: fallen] back again; to comfort those that are troubled in conscience; to strengthen the weak; to encourage the fainthearted; to confound the obstinate; to stand…

And when the lot fell upon him, he was not cast into the sea by the lot, but by his own advice and counsel. Again, the casting of Ionas into the sea, did not befall him by lot, but by his own voluntary resignation of himself, into the hands of God; willingly undergoing it, as a…

But in nothing is this more evident, than in the ancient casting of lots, a thing as casual and accidental as can be imagined, huddled in the cap at a venture; yet God overrules them to the declaring of his purpose, freeing truth from doubts, and manifestation of his power (Prov…

Jeremiah 2:2: 'Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the Lord.' Jonah 1:2: 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it.' Isaiah 61:1-2: 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me, to preach good tidings to the meek —…

Answer: 1. When they are in the greatest extremity. When Jonah was in the belly of hell, then (Jonah 2:5): You have brought up my life from corruption. When there is but a hair's breadth between the godly and death, then God ushers in deliverance.

Every creature in its kind, obeys God's laws. First, animate creatures obey him; God spoke to the fish, and it set Jonah ashore (Jonah 2:10). Second, inanimate creatures: the wind and the sea obey him (Mark 4:41).

1. God hereby quickens grace; perhaps grace lay dormant (Song of Solomon 5:2), it was as fire in the embers, and God withdraws comfort to invigorate and exercise grace. Faith is a star that sometimes shines brightest in the dark night of desertion (Jonah 2:4). 2. When God hides…

1. Repentance causes a change in the mind. Whereas before a man did think well of sin, and say in defense of it, as Jonah, "I did well to be angry" (Jonah 2:9) — so, "I did well to swear, and break the Sabbath." When once a man becomes a penitent, his judgment is changed; he now…

Yet so, as for anything they can see of him, God is departed clean from them; answers them neither by prayer, nor by word, nor by conference; they cannot get one good look from him. Such was Jonah's case: 'I am cast out of your sight' (Jonah 2:4) — that is, he could not get a si…

Let Satan plead his own cause; do not you do it for him. Hereby also you forsake your own mercies (as it is said of Jonah 2:8), give up your own right, and are so far befooled as to plead against your own title, your own interest in the best things you can have interest in — God…

If you have empaneled a jury and grand inquest to search, and their first verdict condemns you, yet do as wise judges often do — send them back to consider it again; they may find it the next time. Jonah looked once toward the temple and found no comfort (Jonah 2:4), for he said…

So the church — Lamentations 3:44: 'You cover yourself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.' Jonah 2:4: 'Then I said, I am cast out of your sight.' And may you not be mistaken in this matter as well as they?

2. There was a stated holiness in the time of the Law in some places. And thus some have observed, that we find but three places that were holy in this respect, the land of Canaan, called the holy land (Zechariah 2:12), the city of Jerusalem, called the holy city (Matthew 5:4 an…

The mind being turned off from its proper object with a dislike of it, applies itself by its thoughts and imaginations to the pleasures and advantages of sin, seeking in vain to recover the rest and satisfaction which they have forsaken in God himself. They follow after lying va…

And this guards against both the failings before mentioned, to wit, against anxiety on the one hand, [reconstructed: and] presumption on the other; against anxiety and fainting, when as there is not only a proposing of our desire, but a waiting for, and expectation of a hearing…

The scourged apostles rejoice (Acts 5:41). Drowned Jonah looks to the holy temple (Jonah 2:4). 2. Christ's affections were rational; reason starts up before fear: reason and affection did not outrun one another.

What does he in this doleful plight? Why he will look towards God's holy Temple, Alas poor Jonah knew not now which way the Temple stood, he had but a short prospect in that dark and narrow prison; yes, faith can set Jonah upon one of the mountains of Israel, that from there he…

Any who believes that the wind blows where it lists, and that the influences of the Spirit are various as touching their degrees may see the truth of this. 2. The children of God appear dead, cold, and unbelievingly to complain in the beginning of praying, and of a Psalm, as is…

Cries of faith out of the bowels of a sea of wrath! Jonah 2:2: Out of the belly of Hell I cried, says Jonah; and waves of wrath, all the waves, all the waves of your wrath are gone over me, says David (Psalms 45:8): Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time,…

Children that are quarrelling or falling out, when the father or mother comes, all is hush and silent. 3. It comforts and revives us in the midst of our faintings and discouragements because of the evils of the present world (Jonah 2:7): When my soul fainted within me, I remembe…

(Luke 18:1) He spoke a parable to them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. And (Jonah 2:7) "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came in to you, into your holy temple." Keep up the suit; it will come to a hearing one day…

Hope belongs to love; and the affections of pursuit and love make absence tedious, when afflicted in the interim; but faith and dependence upon God should keep us waiting, and patience should enable us to tarry his leisure. (Jonah 2:4) I said I am cast out of your sight, yet I w…

Thus it was with David (Psalm 31:22), "I said in my haste, I am cut off from before your eyes." And the Prophet (Jonah 2:4), "I said, I am cast out of your sight." And the Church (Lamentations 3:18), "I said, mine hope and my strength is perished from the Lord."

I cried to you, O Lord! and said, you are my refuge, and my portion in the land of the living. You are just ready to draw up desperate conclusions, but yet you resolve as he (Jonah 2:4), I will look once more toward your holy Temple. You doubt that it is in vain, yet you cannot…

It's that praise which the saints give as the proper due of the Lord (Psalm 103): Praise the Lord, O my soul, who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases. And Jonah leaves this cure upon record after he was landed by the [illegible] (Jonah 2:6), Yet have you brought…

Comfort is fair to look on, but grace has the fruitful womb; now, the only way to exercise grace, and make it more vigorous and lively, is sometimes to walk in darkness and have no light (Isaiah 50:10). Faith is a star that shines brightest in the night of desertion; I said I am…

Disobedience is a sin against nature; every creature in its kind obeys God. Animate creatures obey him; God spoke to the fish to set Jonah ashore, and it did it presently (Jonah 2:10). What are the birds' thankful hymns (as Ambrose calls them) but tributes of obedience?

And such as in this regard say, I thank God, I was plagued and pained, but now nothing ails me, I have peace, I am rich, I have need of nothing (Revelation 3:17), I am all whole, must be in a dangerous case. Indeed the complaining of want of justification and of the righteousnes…

2. If sense of sin be taken for the unbelieving feeling of, and judging myself cast out of his sight and condemned, whereas yet I am in Christ, and it is God who justifies me, who is he shall condemn (Romans 8:33-34). We shall agree with Antinomians, this is indeed the hasty sen…

(2.) It is easier to believe general truths, than to believe particular truths, in which ourselves and our own actings are interested — so spiritual and wily a snare is unbelief, that when we think we are unbelievingly fearing our own treachery, we are indeed charging treachery…

Proof 14. The fourteenth proof urges that those who, when the Gospel and its spiritual light come to them, refuse to believe and are drawn away by other things, are said to love darkness rather than light (John 3:19), to follow lying vanities and forsake their own mercies (Jonah…

2. Renounce all trust in broken cisterns, and seek to him alone for supply. As long as you look elsewhere, he will not hear you; we are told in (Jonah 2:6): They that embrace lying vanities, forsake their own mercies. And accordingly we are acquainted how it shall be, when God c…

David who was modeled after God's heart, how melodiously did he warble out God's praises? therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel, 1 Samuel 23. 1. Take a Christian at the worst, yet he is thankful: The Prophet Jonah, who was homo, a man of a waspish spirit; the sea did n…

The soul in desertion, is within an inch of despair; in affliction the world is against a man, in temptation Satan is against a man, in desertion God is against a man. Alstead calls desertion an agony of conscience; this made the Prophet Jonah call the whale's belly the belly of…

Oh, sir, said she, I am faint; there is scarce life left in me. But he answered, that one once said, "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple." (Jonah 2:7). Fear not, but stand upon your feet, and tell me why you are…

Yet still he recovers again, and the soul that is truly broken for sin, is upheld; as Jonah said, I am cast out of your presence, I am even sinking, yet will I look towards your holy temple; So however the soul may be overwhelmed in a drunken fit of pride, or impatience; yet aft…

No, Job, you are the friend of God: see how his faith comes above the water (verse 25): I know that my friend by blood, or my Redeemer lives, etc. 3. She waits on in hope, and took not the first nor second answer: hope is long-breathed, and at midnight [reconstructed: prophesies…

5. God can speak to Mother-nothing, as if Nothing had ears and reason and could hear (Romans 4:17): He calls things that are not, as though they were — He did but nod upon Nothing, and out of Nothing there appeared before him the great Host of heaven and earth, and all things in…

The reasons for crying are: 1. Want cannot blush; the pinching necessity of the saints is not tied to the law of modesty: hunger cannot be ashamed (Psalm 55:2). I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise, says David, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:14): Like a crane, or a swallow, so did…

Now that first day being the beginning of the three weeks, and the Angel coming at the end of the three weeks, it is likely he continued his extraordinary prayers so long. David indefinitely says, that he cried till he was weary, till his throat was dry, till his eyes failed (Ge…

But this cannot be the cause why God should alter his decree, because his knowledge is perfect; he sees all things in one entire prospect before him. Objection. But is not God said to repent? — there seems to be a change in his decree (Jonah 3:10): "The Lord repented of the evil…

The distribution of them is made in a proverbial speech, from the least to the greatest, used in a peculiar manner by this Prophet, Chap. 6. 13. Chap. 8. 10. Chap. 31. 32. Chap. 42. 1. Chap. 44. 12. It is only once more used in the Old Testament, and not elsewhere (Jonah 3:5). A…

(1) There are some of them wherein there is necessarily included a respect to some antecedent moral rule, which puts an express condition into the declarations, although it be not expressed, and is always in like cases to be understood. Thus God commands the Prophet to declare,…

As it is profaneness to call that common which God has sanctified and made holy; so it is tyrannical superstition and presumption to make that holy which God has made common. Occasional days of humiliation and thanksgiving, when God by his Providence calls thereunto, there is Sc…

For the number of forty days, curiosity may make itself work enough; but it is dangerous to make conclusions where no certainty appears. However this is not amiss, that forty days were the usual time allotted for repentance: as to the Ninevites (Jonah 3:4), so the prophet Ezekie…

The like has been the practice of the prophets. Jonah preaches, yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed: but withal he adds, It may be the Lord will repent, and turn from his fierce wrath (Jonah 3:9). Peter says to Simon Magus, You are in the gall of bitterness: but withal…

First, he waits all the day long (Isaiah 65:2): I have stretched out my hand all the day long, to a disobedient and gainsaying people. Secondly, forty days together, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be destroyed (Jonah 3:4). Thirdly, all the year long, as the husbandman does; I…

I reply, Believers often with dry eyes groan before the Lord without hypocrisy, and confess their fault to obtain pardon; but in more aggravated offenses they must be in no ordinary degree stupid and hardened, whose hearts are not pained by grief and sorrow, and who do not feel…

The greatest and vilest, most blind, dead, hard-hearted sinner living, is a subject capable of saving light and grace. Seeing therefore there is such necessity of obtaining the kingdom of God, and so short a time, and such difficulty, and yet such a possibility, it may well indu…

Some take it as a voluntary act of Job, and that he did it electively, when he was in that condition, he went out and chose to sit among the ashes; and so his sitting among the ashes was a note of his humiliation and abasement; as often in Scripture, to sit down in ashes, is as…

See this testy spirit in Jonah, who, though he were a holy, yet it seems by his history, he was a very passionate man: First, he is angry that God would spare Nineveh, after he had prophesied ruin and destruction to it: He grows into a pet, even with the mercy of God, as if he c…

(2 Corinthians 4:17) For this light affliction, that is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2. When the qualification of the person is not clear, we must not absolutely promise ourselves the effect (Jonah 3:9). Who can tell whether Go…

There is at least a who can tell? and that should stimulate you; while there is a possibility, hope is not cut off. You find a heathen king could so argue (Jonah 3:9): Who can tell if God will turn and repent? &c. And the Prophet urges this on God's professing people as an encou…

So Cain when he had laid that desperate conclusion, my sin is greater than can be forgiven, he flies into the land of Nod, drowns himself in sensual delights, but forsakes the Lord. The hope of good is the lodestone of a man's labor, it carries on our course with speed and resol…

Thus the Prophet Joel pressed the Israelites to [reconstructed: turn] to God for the removal of a judgment, and the pardon of their sins, upon this very possibility, 'Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord, who knows if he will return and leave a blessing b…

Oh then pray for us, that God will make his work prosper in our hands. 1. That God will direct them what to preach, that he will cut out their work for them (Jonah 3:2): Go preach the preaching that I bid you. It is a great matter to preach suitable truths; these are acceptable…

Say to the King and the Queen, humble your selves. The King of Niniveh and his Nobles changed their robes for sackcloth, Jonah 3. 6. Great mens sins do more hurt than others: the sins of leaders are leading sins; therefore they of all others had need to repent.

When God is going to destroy a Nation, the penitent sinner staies his hand, as the Angel did Abraham's, (Genesis 22:12). 'The Ninivites Repentance, caused God to repent, Jonah 3. 10. God saw that they turned from their evil waies, and God repented, &c.

In your distress by reason of sin, you resolved to go to God for help against it; and what was it that drew out this resolution? Was it not an apprehension that Christ was such a fountain for sin, and at least a resolve that the thing is not impossible; thus therefore he argued…

You do not yet see the Lord refreshing you, but it may be otherwise. The people of Nineveh said, Who knows but God may repent, this upheld their hearts, and made them seek to the Lord in the use of the means, and the Lord had mercy on them (Jonah 3:9). If you belong to the Lord,…

The cause continues, guilt and strength of sin, and therefore this effect continues. Fourthly, it is such a sorrow as makes way for gladness, for so it is here said, the Lord gives beauty for these ashes, and hence it is no desperate hellish sorrow, but usually mixed with sense…

That was the valley where Achan was stoned to death (Joshua 7:24, 27) — it signifies trouble; so that even the valley of trouble, when God speaks trouble to his children, he gives them hope of deliverance from their very troubles; so that when a man's heart is cast down, and God…

It convinces such a soul, that yet nevertheless there is pardon to be found with God, and there is plenteous redemption wrought by Christ: and there are many gracious promises revealed in the word, and faith convinces us of the truth and goodness of them, could we but get our pa…

The spiritual blessing for which the church fasted when they sent forth apostles and ordained elders, was extraordinary (Acts 13:3 and 14:23). The judgment which was denounced against Nineveh (for preventing whereof they fasted) and which was inflicted on Israel in Joel's time (…

Esther and her company fasted, when she had heard news of the intended destruction of the Jews (Esther 4:16). The people of Nineveh, which were not Jews, but foreigners in regard of the Covenant, when the Prophet came, and denounced destruction to them for their sins, they gave…

3. Protestants teach unanimously, that it is incumbent on Kings to find out, receive, embrace and promote the Truth of the Gospel, and the Worship of God appointed therein, confirming, protecting and defending of it, by their Regal Power and Authority: as also that in their so d…

Yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a while. A temporary faith is like Jonah's gourd, which came up in a night and withered (Jonah 4:10). 3. A miraculous faith, which was granted to the apostles, to work miracles for the confirmation of the gospel: this Judas had, he…

I think sometimes what a blessed time it will be never to have a sinful thought more; though we must not pray, Your kingdom come, out of discontent, because we would be rid of the troubles and crosses of this life. This was Jonah's fault, he would die in a pet, because God took…

Some care not what they say in their passion, they will censure, slander, wish evil to others; how can Christ be in the heart when the Devil has taken possession of the tongue? Passion disturbs reason, it is brevis insania, a short frenzy; Jonah in a passion flies out against Go…

A proud sinner stands upon his own defense, and is ready to accuse God of unrighteousness, which is as if we should tax the sun with darkness: this is far from submission to God's will. God smote Jonah's gourd, and he stands upon his own vindication (Jonah 4:9): I do well to be…

But if he be compelled to strike, and justice must be exercised, the Scriptures represent a reluctation in his bowels (Lamentations 3:33): he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; in the original, from his heart; but is like a father, with a rod in his hand…

O this is a vile temper, cursed fruit springing from an evil root; a very carnal, ignorant, proud heart; or at least from a very distempered if renewed heart. So it was with Jonah when God smote his gourd, Indeed, says he, I do well to be angry even to death (Jonah 4:9). Poor ma…

He makes a whale to attend Jonah dropping into the sea, to be an instrument both to punish and preserve him. And which is more wonderful, the multitude of the very cattle is brought among others as a reason of a people's preservation from destruction (Jonah 4:11): the multitude…

Is Jonah so transported with his Gourd? God will prepare a Worm to smite it, Jonah 4. 6, 7. How many Husbands, Wives and Children has Providence smitten upon this very account?

You have been tempting, you are come now from murders, and thefts, and adulteries, and blasphemies, from provoking men to all these wickednesses. As that question (Jonah 4:4) was a chiding of Jonah, Do you do well to be angry? So, from where do you come?

Generally, her sad condition is expressed in these words, The Sun has looked upon me. The Sun in these countries had great heat, as we may see in Jonah 4:8, where the beating of the Sun upon him did sorely vex him; Jacob also says, it burned him in the daytime (Genesis 31:40). T…

3. His influences are in things small, as in the falling of a Sparrow to the earth; not one hair of the head but it is numbered by him (Luke 21:18; Matthew 10:29, 30, 31). Not a gourd groweth, nor a worm eats it, but at his command (Jonah 4:6, 7; Amos 4:7, 8, 9; Joel 1:1, 2, 3,…

Do I well to be angry for a gourd? That came up in a night, and perished in a night (Jonah 4:9). Should I be touched to the quick by such a sudden and transient provocation?

2. Murmuring and repining against the Lord, that's another snare. (Jonah 4:9) I do well to be angry, even to death; when he was crossed. Discontent at God's providence gratifies Satan exceedingly; when we will justify ourselves, and think it a kind of zeal to be angry, and pet a…

The law does not only forbid acts, but thoughts and desires; therefore is it lawful to long for death? Answer. Yes; but yet we are not anxiously to long after it, till the time come; not to grow weary of life, out of desperation and tiresomeness of the cross, as Jonah did (Jonah…

2. We must carefully look to the grounds of these wishes and desires. Carnal wishes for death arise either (1.) out of violent anger and a pet against providence, as Jonah 4:8: the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said it is bet…

(Joel 2:13) "Turn to the Lord your God for he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil." (Jonah 4:2) "I knew that you were a gracious God, slow to anger and of great kindness" — and in various other places. What does the Spirit o…

Psalm 37:1. Do not fret yourself because of evil doers. We should not vex and fret, but we are apt to do so; to murmur and repine against God, and that for small matters, as Jonah for a gourd, I do well to be angry (Jonah 4:9). So strangely are men transported!

Chide a man for being angry when he is angry, and what will you get by it, but only some of his foam cast upon you? Let God himself expostulate with an impatient Jonah, while he is in his fit of impatience: Do you do well to be angry? and he will tell him snappishly to his face,…

4. Desires of grace in many are very inconstant, and fleeting like the morning dew that quickly passes away. Or like Jonah's gourd, that springs up in a night and withers in a night, they have no root in the heart, and therefore quickly perish; now then if a man may desire grace…

So it is with a distempered heart, though otherwise gracious, if yet it judges of them according to the relish of carnal reason, or the present apprehensions, their inordinate passions would put upon them; Jonah in a feverish fit of a passionate distemper, he strikes he cares no…

Discontent is a dogged, sullen humor; because we have not what we desire, God shall not have a good word or look from us; as the bird in the cage, because she is pent up, and cannot fly in the open air, therefore beats herself against the cage, and is ready to kill herself. Thus…

Let him pattern his work as he pleases; it suffices that God has done it. It was an unmeek spirit in the prophet to struggle with God (Jonah 4:9): I do well to be angry, even to death. Second, flexibility to God's word; when we are willing to let the word bear sway in our souls,…

Nay, in many of the Regenerate there is more corruption than grace, so much smoke that you can scarce discern any fire, so much distrust, that you can hardly see any Faith, so much passion, that you can hardly see any meekness. Jonah a peevish Prophet, he quarrels with God; nay,…

'Tis a sad thing that a man should be so bewitched by lust, that if it ask to part with, not only half the Kingdom, but the whole Kingdom of heaven, he must part with it, to gratify that lust. 4 That sin which men use arguments to defend, is the beloved sin; he that has a jewel…

The like deceit are we subject to in prayer also. Witness Jonah's example (Jonah 4:2), of whom it is said, that he then prayed, when indeed he did nothing but quarrel with God. Read the words of that his prayer, and you shall find nothing prayer-like in them.

I verily thought with my self, that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazars. Paul sinned & he had his doubts before conversion, even as after conversion; yet this sin troubled him not, he thought he was bound to do many things, &c. so may your conscienc…

Psalm 130:7. With the Lord there is mercy. And so Jeremiah 3:12; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Luke 6:36. Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. The Scripture speaks of this as most natural to him (2 Corinthians 1:3); he is called the Father of mercies.

Psalm 103:8: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. And the same you find (Psalm 145:8; Jonah 4:2; Joel 2:13). Sometimes indeed you find a severer attribute added to these, as that he will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7).

Sanctified souls have their passions and lusts which are too little mortified, even as sweet-briar, and holy-thistles have their prickles, as well as the worthless bramble. Jonah was a good man, yet his soul was sadly distempered by adverse providences (Jonah 4:9): 'Yes,' said h…

2. When objects of life work upon life, they cannot deceive, especially all the senses, hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling, smelling: the excellency and sweetness of Christ, going along with the word, cannot be delusion; a man may imagine that he sees and hears, and yet his sense…

Jerome then was injurious to his providence, and cast a blemish on his absolute perfection, while he thought to have cleared his Majesty, from being defiled with the knowledge and care of the smallest reptiles and vermin every moment; and Saint Augustine is express to the contra…

Q. 5. Does the providence of God extend itself to every small thing? A. The least grass of the field, hair of our heads, or worm of the earth, is not exempted from his knowledge and care (Job 39; Psalm 104:21; Psalm 145:15; Jonah 4:7; Matthew 6:26, 27, 28, 29; Matthew 10:29, 30)…

Q. 5. Does the providence of God extend itself to every small thing? A. The least grass of the field, hair of our heads, or worm of the earth, is not exempted from his knowledge and care (Job 39; Psalm 104:21 & 145:15; Jonah 4:7; Matthew 6:26, 27, 28, 29 & 10:29, 30). CHAP. 7. O…