HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY Fine money Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, by CROCKER & BREWSTER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. BOSTON: Printed by James B. Dow, 122 Washington St. PREFACE. Ir is the design of the author, in this book, to make the history of Jonah the ground-work of a series of illustrations and practical remarks, growing out of the incidents which it records. In doing this, the explanation of not a few difficult topics in the religious instruction of children and youth, is attempted, by that slow and patient analysis so necessary in communicating truth to their minds. Among these topics are, the omniscience of God,-prophecy,-sacrifices,―objections to the Bible,—miracles,-limits of human reason,-God's repenting, and being angry, and others of a similar nature. In addition to this, the author has endeavored to render the difficult parts of this portion of scripture intelligible to the youthful mind, and, throughout the whole, to interweave with the narrative such practical views of duty as will tend, under the blessing of God, to promote early and active piety in the youthful heart. He has aimed to call into exercise the reflecting and reasoning powers of the young reader, in a style of as great plainness and simplicity as the nature of the subject would permit. Are not some such books needed in the department of religious education?-Entertainment is important, and even fiction, to some extent, allowable, in order to interest youth, and induce habits of attention in reading. But books of this description already abound. Whether one of a more serious cast, having, indeed, much that is interesting in its narrative, but demanding, also, a good share of sober and close thinking, will be appreciated by the religious public,--it is for that public to decide. In conclusion, the author begs leave to suggest, whether, in such Sunday Schools, as would admit of the arrangement, the chapters might not be read in succession, as lectures on this portion of the sacred scriptures, so aptly styled by the excellent commentator, Henry, milk for babes. THE HISTORY OF JONAH. CHAPTER I. Omniscience of God. Meaning of the word prophet. Schools of the prophets among the Jews. ALMOST every child has heard about Jonah, and the great fish that swallowed him up ;which we read of in the Bible. I am going to write the history of Jonah, and I shall try to do it in such a way, that my young readers may understand it, and learn something good from it. All the histories in the Bible were written to teach us good things; and to show us how we must love and obey God, that we may go to heaven when we die; and be happy there for ever. It was God who told good men, how to write the Bible. We should remember this, when we hear, or read, the histories in the Bible. We should be very attentive to what God teaches us. We should think about it often, and not forget it. We should pray to God, to help us to understand it, and to get good from it, that we may love and obey Him more than we ever yet have done. Will you try to feel, and to do so, my dear children, while I tell you the history of Jonah ? But before I begin, I must explain the meaning of one word to you, which perhaps, you do not exactly understand; and you will soon see the reason of my doing this. This word is the word, prophet. You have been taught, that God knows everything. We know many things that have happened, but God knows all things that have ever happened, among all the men who have lived, and in all parts of the world. He knows everything that every man, woman and child, has thought, felt, said and done. He knows all things that now are happening, and all things that all the people in the world, are now thinking, feeling, saying and doing. God, also knows all things that will ever happen, and all things that all the people who live now, or who are to live thousands of years to come, will think, feel, say, and do. |