doest thou well to be angry because thy wishes are not all fulfilled? Doest thou well to be angry, because thou meetest with some crosses and disappointments? Doest thou well to be angry at trials and hardships, when thou knowest that God does all things well, and can make all things work together for thy good?

As Jonah made no answer to the reproof that was given him, we may hope that he felt its justice; that grace for a time prevailed against corruption, or that he was so far humbled as to hold his peace, and check his anger and discontentment. When God judges he will overcome: and all that contend with him shall sooner or later see their error, and confess their madness, to the praise of his glory.

It is good for us, my friends, to be often inquiring if we do well; according to the words of God to Jonah. Self-examination is of high importance, to awaken us out of security, and excite us to duty. Doest thou well, O Christian, to be cleaving unto the world, and neg lecting communion with God? Doest thou well, to let thine affections grovel on the paltry enjoyments of time, when such glorious objects demand thy supreme regard? Doest thou well, to be slothful in seeking thy God, and careless in preparing for thine eternal inheritance?

Gospel-hearer, ask thyself in like manner, if thou doest well to remain at a distance from this gracious God, to refuse the offers of his gospel, and despise the wonders of his love? Doest thou well, to defer thy preparations for eternity, and to go on thoughtlessly in

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unbelief and sin? Doest thou well, to put away from thyself the words of eternal life, and expose thyself to the fierce wrath of a righteous God? Oh no! thou doest foolishly; thou doest madly. What folly can be equal to that which ruins the soul for ever? What madness is like that which forsakes the Fountain of living waters, and separates us for ever from the Source of happiness? O think, wretched sinner, what a kind, what a gracious God, thou art rejecting! abundant is his goodness, that some have complained that he is too kind and too compassionate. But, let our souls rejoice at this unspeakable mercy, with which Jonah quarrelled; and let the thoughts of God's rich love draw our hearts unto him as our redeeming God, subdue all our entity, and melt our souls into contrition, gratitude, and love. Yes; blessed be his name! he is "a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil : and in this endearing description of his character our tongues shall triumph, our hearts shall be glad. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindess and tender mercies."*

*Psalm ciii, 1-4.

LECTURE X.

JONAH REPROVED AND GOD'S MERCY VINDICATED.

Chap. IV. 5-]1.

Ver. 5, 6. "So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to 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."

In reading the histories of saints in scripture, a bought may sometimes steal into our minds, that the ives of weak believers should have been consigned to oblivion, and none but the most perfect examples recorded; or at least, that a vail should have been cast over the infirmities of the godly, and only their praiseworthy actions exhibited. But a little reflection may suffice to teach us, that the divine Author of these arratives has adopted a plan the most worthy of himself, and the most profitable to his church. These aithful memoirs, setting forth the frailties and sins of believers, as well as their piety and goodness, not only

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furnish a striking evidence of the truth of the sacred volume, but are like charts to mark out those shoals and rocks, on which we are in danger of striking, and which we must steer clear of; and at the same time, they illustrate the kindness and forbearance of God towards his unworthy children, and thus serve to encourage weak believers, who might be ready to sink in despair, did they not find, that the people of God in all ages have been encompassed with infirmities. In this point of view, the history of Jonah is of great value. He was one of the feeblest of God's ancient servants; yet the Lord loved and honoured him, notwithstanding his numerous failings.

We have seen much of his weakness, and of God's long-suffering, in the foregoing Lectures; but no where do we find them more conspicuous than in the closing part of his book, which now demands our attention.

It is observable, that in his history, as in that of Solomon, there is no account of his repentance; his sun appears to set under a dark cloud: yet doubtless he was restored through the riches of divine grace; and as Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, as a token of his sincere contrition, so Jonah furnished a similar proof of his repentance, by writing this undis guised memorial of his folly; giving glory to God and taking shame to himself, and exhibiting his own case for the instruction of the church in every succeeding age.

We found in the last Lecture, that God expostulated with Jonah on the absurdity and wickedness of his passionate complaints, and that Jonah made no reply,

being perhaps convinced, in some measure, of the frowardness of his temper. Yet here we perceive, that his spirits were not so far composed as to enable him to resume his labours in Nineveh, for directing the people in the ways of God, which they now seemed to choose: on the contrary, he cannot bring his mind to acquiesce in the preservation of the city, but entertains an idea, that God may yet save his credit as a prophet, according to his perverse view of the matter, by visiting this large metropolis with some tremendous judgment. In this hope, if hope it may be called, he retires out of the city, to a spot on the east side of it, perhaps some rising ground, from whence he could have a full view of the town; and there be resolves to abide, till he should see what would be its fate, whether God would save or destroy it.

If the forty days were not yet expired, there might be some propriety in retiring from Nineveh, to impress the inhabitants the more with the thoughts of their guilt and danger; as Lot withdrew from Sodom when it was ready to be overthrown. Some of the Ninevites might still need to be excited to repentance; and Jonah's quitting the town, as sailors escape from a sinking vessel, might serve to alarm, and convince, and humble them. Yet, though we may suppose that Jonah's dissatisfaction began before the expiration of the forty days, upon his seeing evident tokens of the repentance of the Ninevites, and of God's design to spare them, it would seem from the close of the last chapter, that the days were fulfilled; or at least, we