Exposition of Jonah, Chapter 1 · Verse 11, 12
Ver. 11.12. Then ſaid they unto him, What ſhall we do unto thee, that the Sea may be calm unto us? (for the Sea wrought and was Tempeſtuous.) And he ſaid unto them, Take me up and caſt me forth into the Sea; ſo ſhall the Sea be calm unto you; for I know, that for my ſake this great Tempeſt is upon you.
Parts.Two things here meet us. 1. How the Mariners adviſe with Jonah, what is to be done in this extremity, ver. 11.2. What courſe Jonah adviſeth them to take for avoiding the danger, ver. 12. He gives faithful counſel, though it be againſt himſelf as we alſo ought to do.
For the former of theſe; The Mariners had conſulted with God before,Conſult with God, and the godly… inquiring his mind by caſting of lots; and now they conſult with Jonah, whom they perceive to be the ſervant of God, though at this time a bad ſervant; wonderful pity and charity, and diſcretion in both! Oh for care and Conſcience in Chriſtians, to take up this example of honeſt heathens!
What made theſe men ſo gentle.But whence this their gentleneſs in treating with Jonah? Anſw.
1. No queſtion but it was of Gods over-awing and over-ruling their ſpirits, that they ſhould not miſchief no hurt his ſervant Jonah. He that reſtrained Eſau and Laban from ſpeaking or doing evil to Jacob, did reſtrain theſe men alſo. Moral Vertues are of Gods implanting in the heart Prudence, Meekneſs, Quietneſs of ſpirit, judiciouſneſs in proceedings; and, even fierce ſpirits uſe to be tamed by ſtorms and other hideous worke of God.
2. They take notice of the God of the Hebrews, who had made himſelf of a long time famous in all thoſe adjoyning Countries; how he is now purſuing his fugitive ſervant, and do…h not ſpare him, but ſend wind and tempeſt after him. It is time to be moved with fear, and take a wiſe courſe for eſcaping his wrath.Heb. 11 7. Noah moved with fear, prepared an Ark for ſaving himſelf and his Family.
3. As they were moved with Reverence toward the Maſter, ſo with ſome Reverence toward the Servant, who had told them the plain truth; how he was a Prophet and miniſtred unto the Lord, but at this time had baſely declined the ſervice impoſed; ſo in Gen. 20 7. Abimelech muſt reſtore Abraham his Wife; why? For he is a Prophet, and he ſhall pray for thee. Reſpect is to be had to every one according to his Place and Degree, moſt to Gods Meſſengers.
Note hence,Note. Treat gen…ly with off…nders with what Gentleneſs and Humanity we ought to treat with our Chriſtian Brethren, even when they acknowledge themſelves offenders; as theſe with Jonah. Titus 3.2. ſpeak evil of no man, no brawlers, but gen la, ſhewing all meekneſs unto all men. 2 Tim. 2.24. The ſervant of the Lord muſt not strive, but be gentle unto all men; not only to the good and kind, but to the froward and faulty.
1. That in the quietneſs of our ſpirits we may the better Reaſon. 1 find out the way wherein God would have us to go, which is not diſcerned in Paſſion; He that is of an …asty ſpirit exalteth folly; and, He is as a City without Walls an… Gates.
2. That a due mean may be obſerved in the puniſhment that is to be inflicted. We ought not to fly upon offenders raſhly and furiouſly, but with deliberation; and it may be with prayer that we may be moderate, and that the puniſhment may be ſanctified.
3. The Delinquents have precious and Immortal ſouls which ſhould be tenderly regarded, inſtructed, wrought to Repentance, fitted to receive the intended puniſhment, and ſo ſaved; not die before they be fit to die if it be poſſible.
Oh the price of ſouls, not to be redeemed but by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt!
Uſe 1 Put on gentleneſs.Now be perſwaded to this Humanity and Gentleneſs. A man may learn good of any whoever they be; of the Crane and Swallow, to know and improve the ſeaſons of grace; of the Mariners, not to be raſh or harſh to offenders; yea, of the Devil himſelf, who beſtirs him the more becauſe he hath but a ſhort time, and he trembles at the judgment to come, which ſundry of ours do not.
Ob. Sol.Say ſome, This man deſerves exemplary puniſhment; it is a plain caſe, there is no doubt to be made. To whom I anſwer, Jonahs caſe was plain enough, not only by the tokens of Gods wrath, but by his own confeſſion; he told them how he had fled from the preſence of the Lord, and he had deſerved the worſt puniſhment that could be inflicted; to be thrown overboard, or to have his brains beat out with a Batt. But it will be far more fair and clear, proceeding, when himſelf ſhall preſently pronounce the ſentence, Take me, and caſt me forth into the Sea.
Ob. Sol.Others may ſay, Theſe are Rake-hells, not awhit like unto the good man Jonah; he was a Prophet, and worthy of all reſpect; but theſe &c! To whom I ſay,
1. Jonah at this time might ſeem to theſe Infidels to be as very a Rake-hell as any went upon the ground. What knew they whether he were a Prophet, or no? or what was a Prophet to them? A grievous ſinner he was, even by his own confeſſion.
2. The worſe any Delinquent is, the more tenderly he ought to be handled, pitied, inſtructed, beſought with tears, prayed for, that he may not deſperately caſt away his ſoul; but when he loſeth a natural Life, he may find an Eternal.
A great ſin therefore it is, and heavily to be admired, that Chriſtians are grown ſo harſh toward faulty perſons, Uſe 2 whether Children, Servants, or others. Some there be that toſs, and fling, and pull and lay about them like Bedlams in their fury, and if it were not for the Gallows, would lay them dead in the place. Did theſe Mariners ſo to Jonah? or doth God ſo deal by thee? or if Chriſt had been no more meek and patient, where had thy ſalvation layen? Remember the Apoſtles obteſtation, 2 Co…. 10 1. I beſeech you by the meekn…ſs and gentleneſs of Christ; and remember Chriſts invitation to be like-minded, Mat. 11.29. learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye ſhall find reſt to your ſouls.
Only one caution; we muſt not ſo be meek and gentle,Caution. So be gentle, as to uſe due ſeverity. as altogether to neglect the puniſhing of offending Brethren Magiſtrates bear not the Sword in vain; and Houſholders have Authority given them over naughty Children and Servants, not only to chide and reprove them, but inflict corporal puniſhment upon them. It was El es ſin and down-fall, that he reſtrained not his vile Sons; and the overthrow of Laiſh, that there was no Officer to make them aſhamed.
On the other ſide, the execution of judgment hath appeaſed the wrath of God, as we ſee in the example of Phineas; and of caſting Jonah into the Sea, with thoſe examples,Joſ. 7.12. 2 Sam. 21.1. Iſr…el could not ſtand before the men of Ai till Achan was ſtoned to death; The Famine ceaſed not till the bloody houſe of Saul was puniſhed for ſlaying the Gibeonites: And becauſe Ahab let go a man worthy to die, his life muſt go for his life. Execute judgment in the gate, and I will let you dwell in this place; we fare the better becauſe ſome juſtice is done upon offenders, and ſhould fare better, if more were done
For the latter, Ver. 12. Take me, and caſt me forth in to the Sea.H…w Jonah would be caſt into the Sea.
Underſtand this aright; Jonah ſpeaks not this as a deſperate man who regards not his life, or cares not what becomes of him; much leſs, as one that chuſeth death rather then life, or one that would countenance the horr…ble ſin of ſelf murder, expreſly forbidden in the Commandement, Thou ſhalt not kill; but thus, ſeeing Gods Huy and Cry after him by a ſtorm, and deſigning o… him to puniſhment by lot, he begins now to appear in his own c…lours; a godly and a worthy man, and one that truly repents of his great ſin in flying to Tarſus▪ and reliquiſhing his Lords work; with two graces that now put themſelves forth.
1. He is an Example of Charity to our Neighbour. Rather then thoſe in the ſhip ſhould periſh for his ſake, he is contented to loſe his own life as he had deſerved. He was but one, and they many; and why ſhould many be caſt away for one mans fault? Only he will not deſperately leap into the Sea, but let them caſt him forth, and he will be contented. Call me forth, namely as a ſacrifice to God which ſhall redeem the lives of you all.
2. He is an example of patience in undergoing the puniſhment which his ſin had deſerved. He ſees that he is found out by God, and that all the Company takes notice of him as a grand Delinquent, who deſerves the ſevereſt puniſhment: Therefore quietly and patiently he ſubmits to the execution of the Sentence, which the Lord by lot hath paſt on him. Learn Chriſtians, in all tokens of Gods diſpleaſure patiently to abide his will; ſo did David, Pſal. 3….9. I was dumb, and not opened my mouth, becauſe thou didſt it; and Chriſt when his hour was come, was as a ſheep before the ſhearer, not opening his mouth.
Note. But I obſerve more in this voice of Jonah; Caſt me forth. Methinks he now begins to be an evident Type and Figure of Chriſt,Chriſt willingly dyed for his. as Chriſt himſelf gives the Parallel, Mat. 12.39, 40. As Jonah Voluntary delivered himſelf to death for ſaving the Mariners and Paſſengers from drowning; ſo Chriſt of his own accord gave himſelf to the death for ſaving the ſouls of ſinners whoſe perſons and cauſes he had undertaken. I lay down my life for the ſheep; no man taketh it away, but I lay it down of my ſelf, Joh. 10.18.
Accordingly he went forth when they came to apprehend him, c. 18.4, 5, 6, 7. and he forbad Peter in his defence to ſtrike with the ſword, ver. 11. More, we read of an earneſt deſire to eat the laſt Paſſeover with his Diſciples, Luke 22.15. More, how am I ſtraightned till this my ſuffering be accompl…ſhed? c. 12. 50. More, he delighted to ſuffer the good pleaſure of his Father, Pſal. 40.8. with Heb. 10.5, 6, 7.
Only he put not himſelf unto Death,Yet by the hand of men. but yielded himſelf into the hands of others to do it; as here, Jonah into the hand of the Mariners. And this was done by the determinate counſel of his Father, Act. 2.23. and 4, 27, 28. So the Paſſion of Chriſt was every way a free-will offering, and thereby acceptable to God, and accepted in behalf of others whom he meant to redeem; for their ſake he ſanctified himſelf, that is, freely ſet himſelf apart to work out their Redemption; as Sampſon to deliver Iſrael from the Philiſtines.
Which yields inſtruction unto thankfulneſs, Uſe. Magnifie Chriſt in life and death.that we magnifie Jeſus Chriſt who thus freely offered himſelf to the death, that we might live by him. We are the Paſſengers who have eſcaped the ſhipwrack of our ſouls; and Chriſt is the only One, by whom we have eſcaped: Meditate and ſtrive to be really thankful. And take theſe Motives:
1. A greater then Jonah is here; a glorious Perſon who is God as well as man; of an infinite worth muſt ſuch a Perſon needs be; and by the infinite worth of the Perſon there is an infinite worth in his ſufferings. Chriſt is as much above Jonah in value and Dignity, as Jonah was above the meaneſt Skipper. Such a Saviour and Redeemer we needed, and found; and could find in none but Chriſt: Not all the Angels of Heaven, nor men on Earth, that could have ſaved us from this ſhipwrack.
2. Conſider throughly the greatneſs of the ſtorm, which thy ſin had raiſed againſt thee; not a Tempeſt of wind and ſea, but of the infinite and everlaſting wrath of the great God; Who knows the power of his wrath? None but Chriſt,Pſal 90.11. and the damned, and ſouls in deſertion. Now the greater our danger is, and rightly apprehended, the more we hold our ſelves bound to thankfulneſs; but rightly apprehended it cannot be without deep and earneſt Meditation. Think a little in what a woful caſe theſe Mariners were during the Tempeſt; then compare the infinite waath of the great God, which burns to the nethermoſt hell; and all by reaſon of thoſe pleaſant and profitable ſins thou ſo much doateſt upon.
3. Conſider the ſweet and comfortable calm which Jeſus Chriſt hath brought by his ſuffering; even all the benefits of juſtification by faith, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ſin pardoned, perſon accepted, ſoul ſaved, prayer heard, affliction ſanctified, & every mercy received in mercy. And now Satan is diſappointed and diſabled in the main: Poſſibly he may raiſe great tempeſts againſt the Saints; that is, perſecutions ſmaller or greater, as againſt Job and his Children, and Cattel; but in the point of ſalvation he can do us no hurt at all; yea, all ſhall fall out for good in the end, chap. 8.28.
Chriſtians, ſtir up your ſelves to a due thankfulneſ…; we may hear ſhortly how theſe Mariners upon deliverance offered a ſacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows, ver. 16. If they for a temporal, what ſhould we for a ſpiritual and eternal deliverance? As the mercy is greater, ſo muſt the thankfulneſs be.
1. We ſhould offer our ſacrifice to the Lord, even ſpiritual ſacrifice, acceptable to God by Jeſus Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. I mean praiſe and thankſgiving, alms, works of Righteouſneſs in our common Calling; prayer, all holy ſervices of Religion, and ſuffering if we be called thereunto, as Phil. 2.17. If I be offered upon the ſac…e and ſervice of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
2. We ſhould make vows, and pay them to the Lord our God, Pſal. 76.11. and do it without any farther delay, Eccleſ. 5.4. When thou voweſt a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; Eſpecially the vows that were made in affliction, Pſal. 66.13, 14. I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth had ſpoken when I was in trouble. Moſt of all, thoſe that were made in affliction of ſpirit, in converſion, or afterward in going to a Sacrament, Pſal. 116.13, 14. I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now, in the preſence of all his people.