provoke his own brethren to emulation, and might save some of them :* for, if the repentance of Nineveh should turn to the reproach of Israel, might not this be employed as an argument with the latter, to rouse them from their gross stupidity, and turn them to God? Yet, in spite of all these considerations, which ought to have made Jonah's commission desirable, he refuses to accept it, and shamefully runs off from the presence of the Lord. There are times when it may be said even to God's honoured servants, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." How widely did the temper of Jonah, on this occasion, differ from that of Paul, who in the view of bonds and afflictions, could boldly say, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God!"+

like

To escape the more effectually from the service assigned him, Jonah resolves to cross the seas. Many have gone to sea to avoid punishment; and many, Jonah, to be exempted from disagreeable duties. Let us not choose our profession, nor regulate any of our affairs, in the spirit of caprice and folly, much less in the spirit of perverseness and disobedience; but yield to the calls of duty, and follow the leadings of Providence. Never enter on any enterprise, without seeking direction from above; nor move one step in any undertaking, where you cannot look for the blessing

* Romans xi. 13, 14. † Acts xx. 24.

of the Lord." In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."*

In pursuance of his design, Jonah repairs to Joppa, which was not on the coast of Zebulun but on that of Dan, and lay considerably to the south of Jonah's residence; this port being probably preferred, not because it was nearest, but because it was the principal port in Israel for foreign trade, where a passage to Tarshish was of course most likely to be obtained. Joppa, formerly called Japho, and now Jaffa, was a place of considerable note, and high antiquity. Some authors have carried the date of its erection beyond the deluge, and adorned its early history with fictions. † It is well known as the scene of several transactions recorded in scripture, and as the haven where a great part of the merchandise brought to Jerusalem was imported. At present, its harbour is mean, its inhabitants are few, and some ruinous walls and towers are the only vestiges of its ancient grandeur. Thither Jonah went down, with a view to embark for Tarshish. Where this latter place was, is very uncertain: some make it Tarsus in 'Cilicia; some, Cadiz, or Tartessus, in Spain; and some, Tunis, or Carthage, on the African coast, where the ancient Phoenicians planted colonies: while others consider Tarshish merely as a name for the sea; and, according to them, going to Tarshish means the same thing with going to sea. § Possibly the term might be applied to any foreign and distant port, and ships trading to foreign countries, which Proverbs iii. 6. †Plin. Hist. Nat. 1. 5. c. 13. Hieron. in Jonam. § This is St. Jerome's opinion. Hieron. in Jonam.

were usually the largest ships, might be called ships of Tarshish, in opposition to small coasting vessels.* It was of little moment to Jonah what port he sailed for, provided it was sufficiently remote from the land of Israel.

When men are wandering from the path of duty, God sometimes throws obstructions in their way, to shew them that they are wrong; but providence, instead of checking Jonah in his mad career, seemed to favour his purpose for, on his arrival at Joppa, he found a ship taking in goods and passengers for Tarshish, and, it would seem, just ready for sea; so that he immediately paid his fare, and went on board, congratulating himself on having met with such a favourable opportunity. We must not flatter ourselves that our designs are good, because providence appears to concur with them; for God may throw temptations in our way, to try our faith and our obedience. We ought, indeed, to observe the openings of providence, seeking to be led in a right path; but never let us set God's providence in opposition to his word, nor fancy that opportunities for sin can warrant us in committing it. It was not a kindness, but a chastisement to Jonab,

*Either the word must have been used in some such general sense, or it must have been the name of more places than one; for there were ships that sailed for Tarshish from Ezion-geber, a port in the Red Sea; 2 Chron. xx. 36. Solomon's navy of Tarshish, or foreign-bound navy, traded principally to Ophir; and Jehosaphat's ships of Tarshish were destined for the same trade; 1 Kings ix. 26-28. x. 22. xxii. 48. 2 Chron. viii. 17, 18. Yet Tarshish occurs in a list of particular countries or places, in Ezekiel xxvii. 12. Perhaps it was the name of some noted distant port, but came to be used as an appellative; in the same way as Pharus, and other ancient names.

that he was allowed to execute his purpose with so much facility. Had he been detained some time at Joppa, or compelled to wander to another port in quest of a vessel, the delay might have produced reflection, and reflection might have brought him to a sense of his folly. Things that are done rashly are often ill done, and the rapidity of Jonah's movements seems to have kept him from taking a serious view of his preposterous conduct..

As the vessel was bound to a distant port, the fare for the voyage would be something considerable, yet Jonah readily paid it in going on board. Many will expend, to please their own humour, what they would not part with for God's glory. The lusts of men are far more expensive than the service of God; and many will give large sums to gratify their pride and their passions, when nothing could persuade them to make the same sacrifice for the extension of Christ's kingdom. The prophet was not a man of that temper, yet, now that he was wandering from God, he too paid for his folly; and perhaps what he gave for his passage to Tarshish, would have more than defrayed his expenses to Nineveh.

Having paid his fare, he went down into the ship, among the seamen, and the other passengers to Tarshish, if there were any other. In fleeing from the presence of the Lord, and the company of his people, he got into society very unfit for a prophet of God: for though the ship's crew were by no means of the worst character, they were all worshippers of false gods, with whom he ought not to have associated,

except with a view to their conversion.

He would

not go to Nineveh to preach to the heathen; and now, in fleeing to Tarshish, he herds with the heathen, and becomes a witness of their idolatries, and, in some sense, a sharer in their crimes. Such as shun the path of duty, run headlong into the way of sin: such as despise the privilege of communion with God, and flee from his presence, are very likely to have fellowship with the workers of iniquity..

All should be careful in the choice of their company, but especially those who go to sea : for at sea you cannot change your company, nor avoid the society of those who would injure your souls. When seamen have it in their power to select, let them always prefer those situations and connexions which are most favour

able to their spiritual interests. Captains will find it an unspeakable advantage to have crews that fear God; and in like manner, sailors will find the same advantage in being under the care of religious captains. Even passengers, when they have oppor'tunity, should take care to choose those ships in which God is feared and worshipped, in preference to those in which his laws are disregarded, and his name is

blasphemed. There is too much danger of forgetting God at sea, under any circumstances; but the danger is doubled, when a voyage is performed with a wicked crew. Yet, brethren, if such should be your lot, do not imagine that you will be justified, or excused, in adopting the language and copying the manners of those with whom you sail, or in yielding to the temptations