Exposition of Jonah, Chapter 1 · Verse 15
Ver. 15.
So they took up Jonah, and caſt him forth into the Sea, and the Sea ceaſed from her raging.
We have here.Parts. 1. the execution of Gods ſentence againſt Jonah, he was caſt into the ſea. 2. the conſequent of it, the ſea ceaſed from raging. A plain demonſtration of the caſe, That the Lord in wrath remembers mercy; and yet ſtrange withall, wrath to his ſervant, mercy to the heathen In ſome caſe the wicked may fare better then the godly; innocent heathens fare better then faulty Jonah
For the former of theſe, though the mariners were very loth to caſt Jonah into the ſea, yet now that they ſee …he will of God expreſly revealed for it, they do it though ſore againſt their wills.
M…morandum, for many reaſons they were unwilling to caſt Jonah into the ſea: He had not wronged them in the leaſt, he had paid the Fare, and committed himſelf to their Cuſtody; and truſt ought not to be deceived; he had profeſſed his faith in the true God; and ſuch ougbt not to be violated: he had confeſſed his fault, and was ſorry for it; and what would they have more? he ſubmitted to the puniſhment which was to be inflicted, though to the loſſe of his life. He propheſied, that upon his puniſhment all ſhould do well, the tempeſt ſhould ceaſe, and ſo it did.
Yet fain would they ſave him if they could poſſibly: Sulcarunt, they made furrows in the Sea, and rowed hard to bring the ſhip to dry land.
But now when they conſider on the other ſide, that God hath plainly deſigned him to drowning in the Sea (thou O Lord, haſt done as it pleaſed thee) they give over their former deliberation, and propenſion to mercy, and do what the Lord leads them to do: teaching this,
Note. Do Gods will though againſt reaſon.When we are ſure of the will of God for a matter, we muſt lay aſide all ſelf-thoughts and motions, and ſet to do what God will have us to do. So Abraham went to offer up his ſon Iſaac: ſo Chriſt offered himſelf. Not my will, but thy will be done: ſo the Martyrs left all, and endured thoſe torments in the cauſe of God: joyfully ſuffered the ſpoyling of their goods: accepted not deliverance. Father and all muſt be forſaken, or we are not fit for Chriſt. An offendor muſt be forgiven, though it go quite againſt the hair. Difficult duties muſt be done: and coſtly: and dangerous.
Reaſ. The reaſon is: God is the ſoveraigne Lord of all fleſh, us and others, and his wil is much ſuperior to all the will of men, whoſoever they be: and, he hath more reaſon for his matters then we are aware, as appears in the ſequel of Jonahs hiſtory. And whereas we think our ſelves very mercifull and pitifull in ſome caſes, Gods mercy is the trueſt mercy when all is done, as that which comprehends the ſoul as well as the body, and the publick good as well as a private intereſt; not only Jonah, but Nineve, and all Jſrael beſide.
Fearfully then do thoſe offend, who in all their Uſe 1 courſe go by their own reaſon, and carnal conſiderations: no matter what God ſaith, or would have to be done, but they will proceed as themſelves think good: not puniſh naughty children and ſervants: nor execute judgment upon Sabbath-breakers, ſwearers, drunkards, other malefactors: let them alone for pitie, we ſhall let our buſineſs, we ſhall be counted buſie-bodies, &c. So did not Jonahs Mariners, but proceed, ſaying, Thou O Lord, haſt done as it pleaſed thee. And he is noted for a fool, who is wiſe in his own eyes. And there be expreſſe commandements to the contrary,Prov. 3.5, 6, 7. Be not wiſe in thine own eyes, lean not to thine own underſtanding: and examples of reſigning up our wills to the will of God: and our prayer ſounds to that purpoſe, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Take then the word of exhortation, in thoſe matters Uſe 2 not to conſult with fleſh and blood: and ſay as Cyprian, In holy matters there is no room for deliberation Let God be true, and every man a lyar. Let God be obeyed, and every meer man neglected. God ought to be obeyed rather then you: and do you judge your ſelves, whether this be not fitting. Such a one is a friend, and ſuch a one is a friend: but God is a greater, and a better friend. Jonah was a very good man: but when he fell into the lurch with God, and God appointed him to puniſhment, out he muſt go into the Sea, even with his own approbation. So of a kind neighbour, a good Child, a profitable Servant: inflict a fitting puniſhment.
Only thus. 1. Be ſure it be the will of God,Caution. that he ſuffer; as theſe, Thou O Lord, haſt done as it pleaſed thee. A man muſt execute no judgment, but the judgment of the Lord. The judgment is not yours, but Gods. Solomon ſate on the throne of the Lord. The powers that be, are ordained of God: and ſuch bear not the ſword in vain.
2. Inflict the puniſhment, becauſe it is the will of God that he ſuffer, not to wreak thy own diſpleaſure, or paſſion of any kinde, but, the Lord hath deſigned him to puniſhment; and tell him ſo, that he may ſee where his offence lies, and with whom chiefly he hath to do; not man but God; the moſt likely way to bring him to remorſe for his offen…e, and making of peace with God, and amendment of life for the future: the chiefe matters which Chriſtians ſhould aime at in all their diſcipline.
Uſe. 3 Search out the will of God.Laſtly, let this ſtir up all of us to ſtudy what is the good and acceptable will of God concerning us: and that both for the matter to be done, and for the manner of proceeding. Read, meditate, ſearch the Scriptures, compare one place with another, any thing to be directed aright, what God would have us to do. And there is a rule, to enquire of the law at the Prieſts mouth, Mal. 2.7. for he is the meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts: and to have the book of the law ſtill by us for counſell, Deut. 17.18. and Joſh. 8. David, though he had good counſellors, yet conſulted the word, Pſal. 119.24. Thy teſtimonies are my delight, and my counſellors. He had alſo the Prophets of the Lord about him to take advice withall; Gad and Natha…. And the Jews muſt ever have their Levites to tell them Gods minde in matters: thou ſhalt not forſake the Levite all the days of thy l…fe.
It is utterly a fault in Chriſtians, that generally they go on their own head, a…d adviſe not with the word or Miniſters for managing an Office▪ for following a calling, for ordering a familie, for arbitrating of differences between man and man, or for other particulars: Whence ſo many unchriſtian proceedings animoſities, contentions, unjuſtice and cruelty: or if they hit upon the right, it is not in obedience to God, and ſo it is not thank worthy; it may be they endure the laſh of vile tongues, and can have little comfort becauſe they minded not God in the good they did. It was but habnab, and verily I ſay unto you, they have their reward: but David in ſuch contempt can comfort himſelf with this, It was before the Lord that I did this and this, 2 Sam. 6.21.and became vile in thine eyes.
For the latter: upon the caſting of Jonah into the Sea, The Sea ceaſed her raging: upon the due execution of judgment the wrath of God is pacified. Note. When Achan was ſtoned, Iſrael prevailed againſt the Canaanites as before. We noted this before: and may note farther concerning afflictions, that they are the Lords meſſengers, which when they have done their Errand, ſhall be called home again. When the raging Sea had devoured Jonah, preſently it ceaſed from raging. Note. And therefore afflictions ſometimes continue ſo long upon our backs, becauſe they cannot be ſuffered to ſpeed in the buſineſſe which the Lord ſent them upon, to wit, our humiliation and reformation.
Note farther how great and preſent the power of God is in ruling the waters of the Sea.Note. Gods power to he adored. Immediately when God hath ſatisfaction, the Sea ceaſeth from her raging. As he ſet it on raging, ſo he reſtraines it from raging any more. So he drowned the whole world with a Sea of waters: and divided the red Sea, and the River Jordan. See Pſal. 107.25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 It might be applyed to Eighty Eight: and was applyed to Theodoſius in his battell with Infidels, where the winde and Sea fought for him.
Conſider, Uſe. and adore the great God whom both the winde and Sea do obey, as thoſe in Mat. 8.27. The Sea is a rude and unwildy body, and yet findes ears to hear when the Lord hath a voice to utter. So had the …eavers which Chriſt rebuked, and other diſeaſes: with other paſſages of providence. We read of great matters attributed to the voice of God, Pſal. 29. And thoſe phraſes, Command deliverance for Jacob: Speak the word only, and my Servant ſhall be whole: Man that lives not by bread only, but by every word of God.
But farther, if this be ſo, where are they that deny a Providence, and aſcribe all to fortune, good luck, conſtellations, and co-operation of ſecond cauſes? ſuch a Generation of Atheiſts there is in the world: but let them take heed: he that had ſtood upon the Sea-ſhore, and ſeen this ſudden alteration of weather, with the concurrence of things that went along with it, would certainly confeſſe there was a moſt High God and Providence which made the change: and ſo did theſe Mariners, verſ. 16. they feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a ſacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. Take heed, and confeſſe a Providence: live by it, ſubmitt to it, do as one that acknowledgeth a Providence, and as one that would have it to thee a ſweet and gracious Providence.
But how rude are thoſe among us, who acknowledge not the power and authority of God, whom even the windes and Seas do obey? The Sea ceaſeth from raging when God would have it to be quiet: but profane perſons, as the fool, rage ſtill and are confident: neither word nor works of God can reduce them to obedience; nor Magiſtracy, nor any good means whatſoever. Others that are enemies of godly men, never ceaſe from raging, jeering, abuſing, or breathing out threats againſt them. Pharaoh will adventure into the midſt of the Sea to overtake and deſtroy Iſrael. An implacable Generation of men there are, who will never ceaſe from ſinning till they be in Hell.
But let us a little re-mind our Type.
Note. Chriſt dying, Gods wrath ceaſed.As when Jonah was caſt into the Sea, the Sea ceaſed from raging, ſo when Chriſt endured the curſed death of the Croſſe, the wrath of God toward the Elect came to an end; as was ſaid from Heaven, This is my well beloved Son, in whom my Soul reſteth. He was made a curſe for us, that we might receive the bleſſing of Abraham through faith, Gal. 3.13, 14.
This comes from the concurrence of theſe three Reaſon. 1 things. 1. The Perſon of Chriſt was of infinite worth, being God as well as man: and as God, he had power to ſtill the raging of theſe Seas which our Sins had raiſed againſt us. 2. Chriſt as a ſurety had undertaken all Reaſon. 2 the Sins of his people, and all the dangers that accrewed thereby: ſtood for a time in the ſtate of the greateſt ſinner that ever was:Eſa. 53.6. the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us Reaſon. 3 all, as on the Scape-Goat. 3. It was the agreement of the Father and Son from all eternity, that if the ſecond Perſon in Trinity would take fleſh and dye for ſinners, all the wrath ſhould ceaſe, and there ſhould be a full and finall friendſhip contracted. So by this Covenant the wrath of God ceaſed toward ſinners, for whom Chriſt dyed.
Comfort to beleevers, againſt whom Sin had ſtirred up an Ocean of wrath and miſery, Uſe. Comfort.to their Eternal condemnation; infinitely more, and worſe danger then ever Jonah and the Mariners were brought into. Chriſt hath dyed: therefore all the ſtorm is over, and they may be ſure it is over, and take comfort in the aſſurance. The Mariners were glad when the Sea ceaſed from her raging: and ſo may they be in the appeaſing of Gods wrath. The ſame debt muſt not be diſcharged both by the ſurety, end by the principal debtor. Whence it is ſaid, God is juſt to forgive us our ſins: not mercifull only, but juſt.1 Joh. 1.9.
Hear, and get a weak faith ſtrengthened. Peruſe thoſe grounds of reaſon in the reaſon of the point. Peruſe the Covenant of grace and the tenor of it, Believe and thou ſhalt be ſaved. Peruſe the promiſes, how free they are as well as univerſall, ſure and precious: Eſa. 55.1. and Rev. 21.6. And how theſe great mercies are ſealed up in the Sacrament of the Supper: a crucified Saviour is here exhibited, and all for us: therefore conclude, we ſhall eſcape. He needed not to have ſuffered as for himſelf: for, what had the righteous man done? no, To us he was given, and for us he was born.
A good feaſt is appointed for cheriſhing the Gueſts that come to it: and ſo is this. Thou comeſt with a weak faith, and in much doubting: yet come, and it ſhall be ſtrengthened. Other feaſts are not ſure to yeild a man nouriſhment: but this is. If thou beleeveſt, thou eateſt; and if thou eateſt, thou ſhalt live, even for ever, Joh. 6.54. Only come preparedly: Examine, mourn, renew repentance and covenant, hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe: Bleſſed are all ſuch, Mat. 5.6.
When the Jews was to eat his Paſcall Lambe, he muſt prepare him ſower Herbs to eat it withall, intimating to us that Godly ſorrow, which Communicants muſt bring along with them. And he that comes mournfully, is allowed to go away joyfully. He that ſowes in tears, ſhall reap in joy. Bleſſed are they that mourn: for they ſhall be comforted. And mark: ſuch are not only permitted, but commanded to rejoyce, Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, and again I ſay rejoyce, Phil. 4.4. Pſal. 32.11. rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous, be glad and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.
Where ſtill remember the main ground of your joy: the ſtorm of Gods wrath is over, ever ſince Chriſt dyed for his Choſen: by his ſtripes they are healed: therefore bid defiance to all helliſh Enemies, as Rom. 8.34.