Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 5 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Verſe 1. NOw the word of the Lord came] Heb. And the word] For with that particle And, the Hebrews ſometimes begin a diſcourſe, as Ezek. 1.1. Levit. 1.1. an elegancy proper to that tongue. Howbeit Hugo Cardinalis maketh this And, not an inceptive particle, but a copulative to many other things that were in the Prophets mind. Others conceive it to be continuative of ſome other hiſtory not now extant: or at leaſt connexive of this hiſtory with the courſe of his ordinary calling, and Prophetike employment among the ten tribes, to whom he propheſied together with Hoſea, 2 King. 14.25.Amos and others, but with little good ſucceſſe, in the reigne of Ieroboam the ſecond, a Prince more proſperous then pious. Ionah propheſied of his proſperity, and victories: whereof when no good uſe was made by the houſe of Iſrael; their calamity and captivity was likewiſe foretold by Hoſea, Amos, and Eſay: and hence ſome conclude, that Jonas was the firſt of all the Prophets, whoſe writings are extant: For he lived, ſay they, before the battell of Joaſh King of Iſrael with the Syrians, about the end of the life and propheſ…e of Eliſha, 2 King. 13.14, &c. and 14.25.
unto Ionah the ſonne of Amittai,] Ionah ſignifieth a Dove, but Ionah had too little of the dove in him: plenus enim fuit effraenatis mot…bus, ſaith One, as paſſionate a man of an honeſt man,Luther. D. Harris as you have lightly heard of, ſaith Another. Whether he was that mad fellow (as thoſe much more mad Captains called him, 2 King. 9.11.) that was ſent to anoint Iehu, or elſe the widow of Sarepta's ſonne, raiſed by Eliah, (as the Hebrewes will have him to be) I have not to ſay. But that he was a ſervant of the Lord, we finde, 2 King. 14.25. and a type of Chriſt, Mat. 12.40. concerning whom he propheſied,Auguſtine. non tam ſermone quam ſua quadam paſſione, far more plainely, then if he had by voice foretold his death and reſurrection. And whereas the Grandees and Potentates of the world get them a great name by the death and danger of many others; Jonas his omnibus ſuperior eſt, ſaith an Interpreter, Jonah ſurpaſſeth them all in this, that by his ſermon at Niniveh he preſerved that great city, wherein were ſo many thouſand perſons, and ſo much cattle chap. 4.11. That he was called and ſent thither by God, it appeareth by this text,Oecol. in l…c. and Oecolampadius obſerveth it. He was not, ſaith he, of them that run before they are ſent; but being ſent, he refuſed to run, becauſe of the hardneſſe of the task laid upon him as did likewiſe Moſes and Jeremy, till better tutoured. There is leſſe danger in refuſing to run when ſent, then in running unſent. But when God calleth a man to the miniſtery, let him not doubt or deſpond, though at firſt he find not ſo much incouragement. Magna ſemper fecerint, qui Deo vocante docuerunt, ſaith Luther. They have alwayes done great things that have followed Gods call, as did Jonas at Niniveh, and doth ſtill in the Church of God: for among others, Cyprian that famous Martyr confeſſeth, that he was converted from idolatry and Necromancy, by hearing the hiſtory of the Prophet Jonas read and expounded to him by Cecilius, whom he thenceſorth called novae vitae parentem, the father of his chriſtian life.
Verſe 2. Ariſe, go to Niniveh] Haec eſt vocatio Prophetae ſaith Oecolampadius: This was the Prophets call, which he ſhould have obeyed without hucking or ſhucking delayes or diſputes, conferring, or conſulting with fleſh and blood Gal. 1.16. True it is, that in humane governments, where reaſon is ſhut out, there tyranny is thruſt in. As in the Papacy (where the whore ſitteth upon them Rev. 17.1. that is, uſeth them vilely and baſely; ſitteth upon their conſciences, as Rachel did upon her fathers images) though their ſuperiours command the Friars a voyage to China or Peru, without diſpute of delay they muſt preſently ſet forward: to detract or diſobey in this caſe is held breach of vow,Spec. Europ. equall to ſacriledge: This is intollerable tyranny. But where God calleth or commandeth (as here,) to ask a reaſon, is preſumption; to oppoſe reaſon, is rebellion. Paul durſt not but be obedient to the heavenly viſion Act. 26.19.foreign. Jonah declined his Apoſtleſhip (as a Father calleth it) but it had like to have coſt him a choaking: whereof when in danger, he could confeſſe that They that obſerue lying vanityes (as he had done to his coſt) forſake their own mercy, are miſerable by their on election.John. 2.8. As for the expreſſion here uſed, Ariſe go, it is hortantis particula, & ſtudium notat: it is an encouraging and exciting particle. Up and be doing. Be fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord, Rom. 12.12. Surge, age, ſumme Pater— Said Mantuan to the Pope, exciting him to take up armes againſt the Turk. There is a curſe to him that doeth the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48.10. and a Command to do it with all our might Eccleſ. 9.10.
Nineveh that great city] Built by Ninus, and by him ſo named: as Adrianople, Conſtantinople, Charles-town &c. A great city it was indeed, never any ſo great: as conſiſting of three cities, and having more people within the walles, then are now in ſome one kingdome, ſaith an Author. It was ſixty miles about, ſaith Diodorus Siculus (Bunting ſaith Alcaire at this day is no leſſe: Paulus Venetus ſaith Quinſay in Tartary is an hundred miles in circuite, but we are not bound to beleeve him. It is enough that Cambalu the chief city there is 28. miles in compaſs) Nineveh was three dayes journy in Jonah's dayes, fortified with a wall of an 100.Turk. hiſt. fol. 75. foot high: and that alſo beautified, and beſet with 1500. towers, each of them erected to the height of 200. foot. Thus farr Diodorus: who alſo tells us that this great city received one ruine by the river Tigris, which at an innundation bra… out upon the wall, and threw down twenty furlongs thereof. See Nah. 1.9. Its la…t deſtruction was undertaken and ended by Nebuchadnezzar, as the Jewes in their Chronologie teſtify. Herodotus ſaith, by Cyaxares, not by Aſtyages, Herod in Clie.as Hierome miſtaketh him. If Sardanapalus were king of Nineveh, when Jonas cried againſt it (as Corn. à Lapide contendeth) it was much that ſuch an egregious voluptuary ſhould ſo ſoon be wrought upon, as chap. 3. But He and his people ſoon relapſed to their former impiety; and were therefore deſtroyed, as Nahum had foretold: So that it may now be ſaid of Nineveh as once it was of another great city in Strabo, magna civitas, magna ſolitudo. That great city is become a great deſert. See Zeph. 2.15, It is nothing now but a ſepulcher of it ſelf, a little town of ſmall Trade, where Neſtorius his ſectaries have taken their ſhelter, at the devotion of the Turk. It is become like that other Niniveh mentioned by Euſebius quae eſt parvum quoddam in angulo Arabico oppidum, Lib. de loc. Ebraic.which is a certain little town in a corner of Arabia.
and cry againſt it] Cry aloud with open mouth, and full throat, ſic clames, ut Stentora vincere poſſis. Iſa. 51.1.The voyce ſaid Cry: but what ſhould he cry? Cry that their wickedneſſe is come up before me (ſo ſome) but that's not all: Cry, as chap. Hben-Ezra.3.5. Yet forty dayes and Niniveh ſhall be deſtroyed, for their wickedneſſe is come &c. their iniquity will be their ruine: tell them ſo from me Eſa. 31.10.11.
their wickedneſſe is come up before me] Their pride,Am. 5.12. cruelty and other many and bony ſins, as Amos hath it. Of their idolatry we read not, and yet we doubt not: they declared their ſins as Sodom Eſ. 10.9. they ſet them upon the cliffs of the rocks Ezek. Jer. 3.4, 5.8. they did wickedly as they could, and filled not only the earth with their abominations, but the heaven alſo with the noiſe and ſtench thereof, to the annoying of Gods ſenſes, and the vexing of his ſoule; more then any filthy drunkard doth thoſe that are ſober, with his hooting and ſpewing. See Gen. 4.10, and 18, 20. Rev. 18.5. with the Notes.
Verſe 3. But Jonah roſe up to flee &c.] i. e. He made haſt (more haſt then good ſpeed) to diſobey God. Homo eſt inverſus decalogus. The naturall man ſtandeth acroſſe to the will of God: being abominable, diſobedient, and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1.16. Jonas was a ſpirituall man; and ſhould have diſcerned all things 1 Cor. 2.15. But this ſpiritual man was mad Hoſ. 9.7. (as they that are cured of a frenſy, will yet have their freakes, and frantick tricks ſometimes) he caſt off the yoke, and turned, for the time, runnagate from the Lord; who met him at half-turn, and brought him back againe, though by weeping-croſſe. Of the black-birds dung is made the lime whereby he is taken: ſo here. They that would excuſe Jonas, and ſay that he ſinned not, Dei ſcriptis injuriam faciunt, ſaith Luther, they wrong the ſcriptures. The beſt have their infirmities: as the ſnow-like ſwan hath black legs: and as no pomegranate is without ſome rotten graines. David ſaw ſuch volumes of corruptions, and ſo many Errata's in all that he did, that he cries out, Who can underſtand his errours? Cleanſe thou me from ſecret faultes, Joſeph. Antiq. lib. 9. cap. 11.Pſal. 19.12.
to flee unto Tarſhiſh] Tarſus in Cilicia, St. Paules countrey Act. 21.39. and 23.3. rather then the city Tunis in Afrike, as Vatablus will have it, or the Eaſt-Indies, as others. Tarſhiſh ſometimes ſignifieth the maine Ocean, as Pſal. 48.8. (whence ſome take it here for the ſea) but that may be by a metonymie of the adjunct: becauſe Tarſus ſtood upon the Ocean-ſhore, and was a fit haven whence to hoiſe up ſaile into ſundry countries.
from the preſence of the Lord] Ab ante Domini from the ſpeciall and ſpirituall preſence of God wherein he had hitherto ſtood and miniſtred. For from Gods generall preſence (whereby he filleth all places) and is not farr from any one of us Act. 17.27. (not ſo farr ſurely, as the bark is from the tree, the skin from the fleſh, or the fleſh from the bones) Jonas knew he could not flee. Blind Nature ſaw and could ſay.
—quaſcunque acceſſeris oras,
Sub Jove ſemper eris.—
God is a circle, ſaid Empedocles, whoſe center is every where, whoſe circumference is no where. Why the Prophet fled, many cauſes are aſſigned by Interpreters: as Amor patriae, timor humanus &c. his feare of the Ninevites, his love to his Iſraelites, his conceit that it would be to little purpoſe to preach to heathens, ſith he had prevailed ſo little at home &c. The very cauſe was that which we find chap. 4.2. I fled to Tarſhiſh: for I knew that thou art a gratious God &c. and I feared, leſt I ſhould thereupon be counted a falſe Prophet. So much there is of Self found in the beſt: who when once they are got out of Gods way, they may run they know not whither, and return they know not when.
and went down to Ioppa] Heb. Iapho; a ſea-town in the tribe of Dan. Ioſh. 19.46. diſtant about 50. miles from Geth-Hepher (Jonas his town 2 King. 14.25.) which was in the tribe of Zabulon toward the lake of Tiberias. foreignSinners are no ſmall paines-takers. There is the ſame Hebrew and Greek word for wickedneſſe and toileſomeneſſe. Would ſinners be at the ſame paines for heaven,foreign. that they are at for hell, they could not lightly miſs of it.
and he found a ſhip going to Tarſhiſh] They that have a mind to commit ſin, ſhall eaſily meet with an occaſion: the Tempter, who feeleth their pulſes and knoweth which way they beat, will ſoon fit them a penniworth: He hath a wedge of gold to ſet before Achan, a Cozbi before Zimri. Indeed it is the juſt mans happineſſe, that no evill ſhall happen to him Prov. 12.21. that is (as Mercer interpreteth it) non parabitur ei; & dabitur occaſio iniquitatis, Non cauſabi…ur, aptabitur.God ſhall cut off from him the occaſions of ſin, remove ſtumbling-blocks out of his way; either not lead him into temptation, or not leave him in it.
ſo he paid the fare thereof] Forſan ut citiùs navie ſolveret: Mercer.perhaps to make the marriners haſten the more. Jonas might better have obeyed God and gone to Nineveh on free-coſt. But wit is beſt when 'tis bought, they ſay. How many be there, who periſh at their own charge; as Phocion the Athenian payd for the poyſon that diſpatched him.
to go with them to Tarſhiſh from the preſence &c.] i. e. out of Gods bleſſing, into the worlds warme Sun. All wilfull ſinners are runnagates from the Lord; factique ſunt à corde ſuo fugitivi, ſaith Teritullian: faine they would alſo run (if they knew how, or whither) from their own conſciences. But if they belong to God, Conſcience ſhall be awakened to do its office: and they ſhall one day ſay with her, I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home againe empty, why then call ye me Naomi; call me Marah: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me Ruth 1.20, 21.
Verſe 4. But the Lord ſent out] Heb. caſt forth, ſc. out of his treaſuries Pſal. 135.7. where-hence he ſendeth at his pleaſure mighty great winds which he (the only Aeolus) holdeth in his fiſt, hideth in his repoſitories, checketh them as he ſeeth good, weighs them in his hand Iob 28.25. ſends them out as his Poſts, makes them pace orderly, appoints them their motion, whether as meſſengers of mercy Num. 11.13. Gen. 8.1. Exod. 14.21. or as executioners of juſtice Exod. 10.13. Iob 1.29. hurting mens houſes, cattle, corn, perſons: yea hurrying and hurling the wicked into hell Iob 27.21.
a great wind into the ſea] whither they that go down in ſhips ſee Gods great wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and raiſeth the ſtormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof &c. Pſa. 107.23, 24, 25. &c. Did it not ſo in a marvelous manner here in 88. and againe in that other 88. ſome few yeares ſince? Had not Jehoſaphat his ſhips broken at, Ezion-geber 1 King. 22.48.Val. Max. Chriſtian. p… 132. and Charles the fifth at Algeire by two terrible tempeſts, which deſtroyed almoſt all that goodly Fleet? The very marriners acknowledged this wind to be an effect of Gods juſtice, and therefore thought fit to implore his mercy: for
there was a mighty tempeſt in the ſea] which is troubleſome of it ſelf and never ſtill; though ſometimes it ſeems ſo: but by bluſtering and big winds is made out of meaſure troubleſome, ſuch as was that foreign Luk. 8.23.Inhorrait mar… Virg. and that Eur…clydon Act. 27.14. which Pliny calleth Navigantium, Peſtem, the marriners miſery.
ſo that the ſhip was like to be broken] Heb. thought to be broken. Gr.foreign. was in danger to be broken: the marriners made no other reckoning: they looked upon all as loſt. God reſerveth his holy hand for a dead lift uſually: and loveth to help thoſe that are forſaken of their hopes.
Verſe 5. Then the marriners were afraid, and cryed every man to his God] Forced by the preſent neceſſity, firſt theſe ſtout fellowes were ſurprized with feare: neither could they looke pale death in the face with blood in their cheeks. Death is the king of terrours Iob 18.14. Natures ſlaughter-man, Gods curſe and hels purveyour Next they cryed every man to his God. This was a leſſon of Dame Natures teaching, ſc. that there is a God, and that this God is to be called upon, and eſpecially in diſtreſſe. Thoſe fooles of the people that ſaid there was no God, could not (when hardly beſtead) but look up to heaven and cry out for help.foreign All people will walk every one in the name of his God Mic. 4.5. Theſe mariners or ſalt-men (ſo called, either becauſe they dealt in that commodity, or elſe becauſe they rowed in the ſalt ſea) had their ſeverall gods, according to their ſeverall countries, and theſe they now called upon, whom till now perhaps they little enough cared for; ſea-men aae not over-pious, for moſt part. And yet of the Turkiſh mariners I have read, that every morning they ſalute the Sun with their generall ſhouts; and a Prieſt ſaying a kind of Letany,Blunts voy. p. 76. every prayer ending with Macree Kichoon that is, be Angels preſent: the people anſwer in manner of a ſhout Homin, that is Amen. But it is remarkable, that theſe in the text, though they cryed every man to his God, yet,Serv. in Georg. lib. 1. leſt they might all miſtake the true God, they awaken Jonah to call upon his God. This uncertainty, attending idolatry, cauſed the Heathens to cloſe their petitions with that generall Dijque Deaeque omnes. But (thirdly) as they cried to their gods, ſo (according to that rule Ora & labora.)
they caſt forth the wares that were in the ſhip] Not doubting to ſacrifice their goods to the ſervice of their lives. Skin for ſkin, and all that a man hath &c. ſo Act. 27.18 19, 38. Let us loſe any thing for eternall life Luk. 16.8. and 9.25. Mat. 18.8 ſuffer any hardſhip for heaven: we cannot buy it too deare. A ſtone will fall down to come to its own place, though it break it ſelf in peeces by the way: ſo we, that we may get to our center, which is upward &c.
but Jonah was gone down into the ſides of the ſhip] Into the bottome of it, bither he had betaken himſelf before the ſtorm; not conſidering that God had long hands to pull him out of his lurking-holes, and bring him to judgement.
and he lay and was faſt aſleep] It's likely, that he had not ſlept of many nights before (through care, feare and grief, thoſe three vultures that had been gnawing upon his inwards) and therefore now ſleepes the more ſoundly. Or rather it was carnall ſecurity: his heart being hardened by the deceitfulneſſe of ſin Heb. 3.13. He had hardened his heart againſt Gods feare, and wilfully withdrawn from his obedience: hence this ſpirituall lethargy, this deep ſleep in ſin; not unlike that of the Smiths dog, whom neither the hammers above him, nor the ſparks of fire falling round about him can awake: though the water-pot and ſpeare be taken from the bolſter, the ſecure perſon ſtirrs not: though the houſe be on fire over his eares, he ſtarts not. Their ſenſeleſneſſe God will cure in his Jonas's, by ſharp afflictions. Cold diſeaſes muſt have hot and ſharp remedies. The lethargy is beſt cured by a burning ague: God will let his preſumptuous people ſee what it is to make wounds in their conſciences, to trie the preciouſneſſe of his balme: ſuch may go mourning to their graves. And though with much adoe they get aſſurance of pardon, yet their conſciences will be ſtill trembling as Davids Pſa. 51. till God ſpeake further peace, even as the water of the ſea after a ſtorm is not preſently ſtill: but moves and trembles a good while after the ſtorme is over.
Verſe 6. So the ſhip-maſ… came unto him] God might have come himſelf with his drawn ſword, (as Baanah and Rechab did upon ſleeping Iſhboſheth) and taken off his head: or have ſent an evill Angel to arouſe him in a fright: or have thrown him into the burning lake, as Agrippa did his dormouſe into the boyling caldron. But ſuch is not Gods manner of dealing with his people, though he be deeply diſpleaſed.Jer. 10.24. Correct them he will, but with judgement not in his anger, leſt they be burnt to nothing. Inſtruct them alſo he will (Corrections of inſtruction are the way of life Pro. 6.23.) by one meanes or other; as he did here Jonas by a rude mariner: and as long before he had done Abraham and Sarah by Abimelech an Heathen Prince, to ſhame them
what meaneſt thou O ſleeper] Heb.Gen. 20. what's come to thee? what a ſenſeleſſe ſtupidity hath ſeiſed thee. Are we all in danger, and doſt thou ſleep? as the Philoſopher (in danger likewiſe of ſhipwrack) ſaid to one that made light of it, Do we all ſtand upon our lives,foreign and doſt thou play the foole? The ſpirituall ſleeper, in like ſort, may he be but warme in his own feathers, regards not the danger of the houſe. He is, ſaith One, a mere mute and cipher, a nullity in the world, a ſuperfluity in the earth, Jeremies rotten girdle, good for nothing, or like the branches of a vine, Ezech. 15.3.
ariſe, call upon thy God] For our gods will do nothing for us. The gods of the heathen are ſilver and gold, the work of mens hands: they have mouthes but ſpeak not, &c. Pſal. 115.4. But if Gods Iſrael truſt in the Lord, he will be their help, and their ſhield, v. 9. Foraſmuch as there is none like unto him, Ier. 10.6. neither is their Rock as our Rock, our enemies themſelves being judges, Deut. 32.31.
if ſo be that God will think upon us,] The Chaldee hath it, will be merciful unto us: The Hebrew word ſignifieth, will clear up, and behold us with a ſerene countenance; granting us a calme, and taking care that we periſh not So ſhall we acknowledge him to be Haelohim, that God by an excellency. Q. Elizabeth (that Regina Sereniſſima) for her merciful returning home certain Italians that were taken priſoners in the 88 Invaſion, was termed Saint Elizabeth by ſome at Venice: who alſo affirmed to the Engliſh Embaſſadour there, that though they were Papiſts, yet they would never pray to any other Saint, but that Saint Elizabeth.
Verſ. 7. And they ſaid every one to his fellow] when Ionas had now prayed, and yet the tempeſt continued (for we know that God heareth not ſinners, Joh. 9.31. no not a David or a Jonah, if he regard iniquity in his heart, Pſal. 66.18. how ſhould the plaiſter prevaile whiles the weapon remains in the wound?) they reſolve to try another courſe for the ſafegard of their lives. Man is foreign, a creature that would fain live, ſaid Eſop; and what man is he that deſireth life, and loveth many dayes that he may ſee good, ſaith David, whereunto Auſtin anſwereth, Quis vitam non vult? Hom. 4.who would not be maſter of ſuch an happineſſe?
Come and let us caſt lots] And ſo put the matter into Gods hands, Pro. 16.33. He diſpoſeth of lottery, ſo it be rightly undertaken, not ſuperſtitiouſly, curiouſly, raſhly: but as truſting in God, and not tempting him.
that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is upon us] Some extraordinary cauſe they knew there was of this extraordinary tempeſt. Sinful men ſtrike not their dogs, much leſſe their children, without a cauſe. A Bee ſtings not, till provoked; neither doth God puniſh his creatures, till there be no other remedy, 2 Chron. 36.16. Good therefore is the counſel of the Prophet, Lam. 3.39, 40. Why is living man ſorrowful, a man for the puniſhment of his ſin? Let us ſearch and trie our wayes (find out the ſin that God ſtrikes at) and turn again to the Lord; turn and live.
ſo they caſt lots,] They ſhould have alſo prayed, as Act. 1. & 6. ſaying as Saul, 1 Sam. 14. Give a perfect lot: wicked men alſo are bound to pray, Pſal. 14.4. but although they do not, God can get himſelf glory by their prophane lottery; as he did by Nebuchadnezzars, Ezek. 21.20, 21.
and the lot fell upon Jonah] Secret ſins will out at length, and be brought into judgement, Eccleſ. 12.14. Saeculi laetitia eſt impunita nequitiae. Aug.Surely the bitterneſſe of death is paſt, ſaid Agag, but he found it otherwiſe.1 Sam. 15. Janah thought himſelf out of the reach of Gods rod, &c. Wicked mens faults ſhall be written in their foreheads; and they forced to anſwer for all at laſt with flames about their ears.
Verſe 8. Tell us, we pray thee, for whoſe cauſe, &c.] He confeſſed not till urged, and neceſſitated. Sinne gagges people, and prompts them to hide their faults, as Adam; or at leaſt to mince, extenuate, ſhift them upon other perſons and things, as Eve. Sinne and ſhifting came into the world together; and Satan, that old manſlayer, knowing that there is no way to purge the ſoul but upwards, holds the lips cloſe, that the heart may not disburden it ſelf, God by this means is oft put to his proof, and muſt bring the malefactour to trial; who refuſing ordinary trial, muſt therefore be preſt, Jer. 2.35.
what is thine occupation?] For that thou haſt one, we take it for granted. At Athens every man was once a year, at leaſt, to give account to the Judges by what art or trade he maintained himſelf. By Mahomets law, the Grand Signior himſelf muſt uſe ſome manual trade; Solyman the Magnificent made arrow-heads; Mahomet the great horn-rings for archers, &c. That which the mariners here enquire after is, whether Jonas his occupation be honeſt and lawful? whether he laboured the thing that was good, Eph. 4.28. For if any man over-reach or oppreſſe his brother in any matter, by the uſe of any ill arts, he ſhall be ſure to find, that the Lord is the venger of al ſuch, 1 Theſſ. 4.6. though haply they lie out of the walk of humane juſtice, or comes not under mans cognizance.
and whence commeſt thou?] Art thou not of an accurſed countrey? and is not thy people a people of Gods wrath, as England was in the time of the ſweatingſickneſſe,Lifeo… Edw. 6. by S. J. H. purſuing the Engliſh where-ever they came; which made them like tyrants both feared and avoyded of all nations? How the Jewes are at this day hated and ſhunned as an execrable people, is known to all.
what is thy countrey, and of what people art thou?] Notanda brevitas, ſaith Hierome here, Note the brevity of the…e queſtions, nothing ſhort of thoſe in Virgil ſo much admired.
—juvenes quae cauſa ſubegit
Ignotas tentare vias? quò tenditis? inquit,
Quod genus?V…rg. Aene. … unde domo? pacemne huc fertis, an arma?
Note alſo here, how theſe Pagans proceed not to execution, till they have fully inquired into the matter. This was farre better then that ugly cuſtome of ſome people in Europe, mentioned by Eneas Sylvius: that if any one amongſt them be ſuſpected of theft, or the like crime, he is preſently taken and hanged up. Then, three dayes after they examine the buſineſſe; and … the party be found guilty, they ſuffer his body there to hang till it rot down: or if otherwiſe, they bury him in the Church-yard,… Sy…. Europ. cap. 20. and keep a funeral-feaſt at the publike charge.
Verſ. 9. And he ſaid unto them, I am an Hebrew] i. e. a true Beleever, as was Heber the Patriarch, Gen. 10.21. and, after him, Abram the Hebrew, as he is called, Gen. 14.13. This name of Hebrews, as it was the firſt title given to Abraham and his ſeed, ſo it indureth one of the laſt, 2 Cor. 11.22. Philip. 3 5 Epiſtle to the Hebrews, title.
and I fear the Lord God of heaven,] That's mine occupation: I ſerve God with my ſpirit, in the Goſpel of his Sonne, as Paul hath it, Rom. 1.9. every faithful Miniſter is ſervant to the King of heaven, Act. 27.23. (this the devil could not deny, Act. 16.16, 17.) neither is he of his meaner or inferiour ſervants, of his Underling, sbut of the nobleſt employment: Miniſters are his Stewards, Embaſſadours, Paranymphs, or Spokeſmen, &c. and this is their occupation, or their work; farre beyond that of Solomons ſervants.
which hath made the ſea, and the drie land,] This troubleſome ſea that now ſo threatneth you: and that drie land which you would ſo fain recover. Theſe, with all their contents, are his creatures: neither did he make them, and then ſeave them to Fate or Fortune; as a carpenter leaves the houſe he hath built to others, or a ſhip-wright the ſhip: but he ordereth and ruleth them at his pleaſure, and will unmake all again, rather then his ſhall want help in one ſeaſon, Pſal. 124.8. and 134.3. This was part of Jonah's confeſſion, and but part of it: for he told them (no doubt) how ill he had dealt with this great and good God, running away by …ealth from his maſters ſervice, and detrecting his yoak; and that therefore he was juſtly apprehended, and adjudged to death. To this purpoſe was Jonas his confeſſion, quae ei ſalutis fuit exordium, ſaith Mercer, which was the beginning of his ſafety and ſalvation. Now his hard heart is broken, and his dumb mouth opened, not only to confeſſe his offence, but to aggravate it: in that being not only an Hebrew of the Hebrewes, a member of the true Church, but a Prophet, a Doctour in Iſrael, he ſhould deal ſo perverſely and perfidiouſly. It is a ſweet happineſſe when ſin ſwels as a toad in a mans eyes, and he can freely confeſſe it in the particulars, and with utmoſt aggravation; laying open al his tranſgreſſions in all his ſinnes, as Moſes phraſeth it, Lev. 16.21. Affliction ſanctified will bring a ſoul to this, as here it did the Prophet: like herein to that helve Eliſha caſt into the water, that fetcht up the iron that was in the bottom.
Verſe 10. Then were the men exceedingly afraid] Heb. with great fear; when once they had heard the buſineſſe, and weighed the particulars of his meſſage to Niniveh, of his miſcarriage, and of his preſent miſery, together with the danger that themſelves were in for his ſake: how much more for their own, as being conſcious to themſelves of farre more and greater ſinnes then Ionas had to anſwer for, &c. This put the Marriners into a great fright. And as all fear hath torment, they could not be at quiet, till they had further queſtioned him, ſaying;
Why haſt thou done this?] Lo, he that would not be ſubject to Gods command, is now liable to the cenſures, conviction, and condemnation of rude barbarous men: which, being humbled in the ſenſe of his ſinne, hee doth patiently endure without grudging. Danaeus his Note here is, that concerning themſelves and their own ſinnes againſt God, theſe good fellowes ſpake nothing what ever they think; but demand of the Prophet, why haſt thou done this? as if he were the onelyonly miſdoer.
becauſe he had told them] As willing now to give glory to God, and take ſhame to himſelf: this is the property of a true penitentiary. See Pſal. 52. Title (where David ſtands to do penance in a white ſheet as it were) and Auguſtines Confeſſions. Hypocrites deal with their ſouls, as ſome do with their bodies: when their beauty is decayed, they deſire to hide it from themſelves by falſe glaſſes, and from others by painting: ſo do they their ſins from themſelves by falſe gloſſes, and from others by excuſes. But as the priſoner on the rack tells all; and as things written with the juice of limmons, when held to the fire are made legible: ſo when God brings men into ſtraits, when he roaſteth them in the fire of his wrath, then if ever, they will confeſſe againſt themſelves, and ſo give glory to God, Joſh. 7.19. by putting themſelves into the hand of juſtice, in hope of mercy.
Verſe 11. Then ſaid they unto him, What ſhall we do unto thee?] q. d. Thou art a Prophet of the Lord, and knoweſt how he may be pacified. Thou art alſo the party whom He purſueth: ſay what we ſhall do to thee to ſave our ſelves from thy death, that even gapeth for us? from this Sea, which elſe will ſoon ſwallow us up? for the Sea worketh and is tempeſtuous; ſo Kimchi readeth the Text; making theſe laſt alſo to be the words of the Marriners. Thou ſeeſt that there is no hope, if thine angry God be not appeaſed. Wo unto us, who ſhall deliver us out of the hands of theſe mighty Gods? 1 Sam. 4.8. If the Sea be thus ragefull and dreadfull, as verſe 15. if it thus work and ſwell more and more, as we ſee it doth, thereby teſtifying that it can now no longer defer to execute Gods anger, tell us what we ſhall do in this caſe and ſtrait. What?
Verſe 12. And he ſaid unto them,] More by Gods inward revelation then by diſcourſe of reaſon; not as raſhly offering himſelf to death, but as freely ſubmiting to the mind of God, ſignified by the Lot that fell upon him, calling for him to puniſhment.
Take me up, and caſt me forth into the Sea,] Eximia ſides, ſaith Mercer. Before, we had his repentance, teſtified by his confeſſion with aggravation. Here we have his faith, whereby he triumpheth over death in his moſt dreadfull repreſentations, (Take me up, ſaith he, with a preſent minde and good courage) as alſo his charity, whereby he choſe rather to die, as a piacular perſon, then to cauſe the death of ſo many men for his fault. Like unto this was that of Nazianzen, who deſired, Jonah-like, to be caſt into the Sea himſelf, ſo be it all might be calme in the Publike: that of Athanaſius, who by his ſweat and tears, as by the bleeding of a chaſt vine, cured the leproſie of that tainted age: that of Ambroſe, who was farre more ſollicitous of the Churches welfare then of his own: that of Chryſoſtome, In 1 Cor. 11. foreign &c.who ſaith, That to ſeek the publick good of the Church, and to preferre the ſalvation of others, before a mans private profit, is the moſt perfect Canon of Chriſtianiſme, the very top-gallant of Religion, the higheſt point and pitch of Piety.
ſo ſhall the Sea be calme unto you,] Not elſe: for I have forfeited my life by my diſobedience: and my repentance (though true, and ſo, to ſalvation never to be repented of) comes too late, in regard of temporall puniſhments:2 Cor. 7.10. as did likewiſe that of Moſes, Deut. 3.26. and of David, 2 Sam. 12.10. ſuch is the venemous nature of ſinne in the ſaints ('tis treachery, becauſe againſt covenant) and ſuch is the diſpleaſure of God upon it, that he chaſtiſeth his here, more then any other ſinners, Lam. 4.6. Dan. 9.12. and whoever elſe ſcape, they ſhall be ſure of it, Amos 3.2. The word here rendred calme, ſignifieth ſilent; for the Sea, when troubled,foreign, eſt maris agitatio. E… ſtach. in Hom. Hiad. H. roareth hideouſly: ſo that the roaring of the devils at the painfull preconceit of their laſt doom of damnation is ſet forth by a word that is taken from the toſſing of the Sea, and the noiſe thereupon, Iam. 2.19. The devils beleeve and tremble, or ſhiver, and ſhudder, with horrible yellings.
for I know that for my ſake, this tempeſt is upon you.] If Jonah were a type of Chriſt, in that being caſt into the Sea, a calme followed: yet herein hee differed, that Chriſt ſuffered not for his own offences,1 Pet. 2.24. and 3.18. but bore our ſinnes in his own body on the tree, and died, the juſt for the unjuſt.
Verſe 13. Nevertheleſſe the men rowed,] Heb. digged: for ſo they that row ſeem to do with their oars,Virg. Aeneid. Vaſtum ſulcavimus aequor. as with ſpades. Hence alſo the Latine Poets ſay, that Boatmen cut, plow, furrow the waters. Infindunt pariter ſulcos,— The Seventy render it foreign, they did their utmoſt indeavour with violence, to bring the ſhip to ſhore, and to ſave Jonah: and not as thoſe bloody Emperours, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius, who took delight in the puniſhment of offenders, and uſed to come early in the morning into the market-place, to behold their executions. Non niſ… coactus, Ʋtinam literas neſcirem.ſaid that better Emperour, when he was to ſubſcribe a ſentence of death: and, Oh that I could not write mine own name, ſaid Another upon the like occaſion.
but they could not,] They did but ſtrive againſt the ſtream, for the Lord had otherwiſe determined it: and Voluntas Dei neceſſitas re…: who hath reſiſted his will?
for the Sea wrought and was tempeſtuous againſt them.] As verſe 11. Praeſentem que vires intentant omnia mortem.
Verſe 14. Wherefore they cried unto the Lord,] Not unto their falſe gods, but unto the true Jehovah: of whom they had learned ſomething by what they had ſeen, and heard from Jonah. Vaetorpori noſtro.
We beſeech thee, O Lord, we beſeech thee,] A moſt ardent and affectionate prayer. A naturall man may pray from the bottome of his heart, out of a deep ſenſe of his wants: but he cannot give thanks from the bottom of his heart; becauſe void of the love of God, and joy of faith. Danaeus noteth from theſe words, that Iudges ought to pray before they paſſe ſentence of death upon any.
Let us not periſh for this mans life,] which we take away, but full ſore againſt our wills. Wilfull murther was ever accounted an heinous crime among the Heathens alſo. Abels innocent blood had as many tongues as drops, to crie to heaven againſt Cain. Gen. 4.10. The voice of thy brothers bloods. And 1 King. 9.26. Surely I have ſeen yeſterday the blood of Naboth. Murder ever bleeds freſh in the eye of God: and to him, many years, yea, that eternity that is paſt, is but yeſterday. Full well then did theſe men ſo earneſtly deprecate the guilt of innocent blood, which they knew would lie and light heavie.
and lay not upon us innocent blood,] Innocent as to us; for hee hath done us no hurt, but much good by his piety and patience: whence it is that we are ſo loth to part with him, after this ſort eſpecially.
for thou, O Lord, haſt done as it pleaſeth thee.] Thou haſt appointed him to this death, and now calleſt for him, as we eaſily collect by the circumſtances; Sic quicquid ſuperi voluere, peractum est.Ovid. Metamor. l. 8.
Verſe 15. So they took up Jonah,] Not againſt his will, but in a ſort offering himſelf to condigne puniſhment. The Marriners had tried all wayes to ſave him: till they ſaw they muſt either deſtroy him, or be deſtroyed with him. So deal many with their beloved ſins,foreign, Dixit Caligula. which they are loth to mortifie, they ſee they muſt either kill or be killed, Rom. 8.13. either turn from them to God, or burn for ever in hell. Jonas his charity is exemplary, who yeelded to periſh alone, rather then to have others periſh with him, and for him: the Devil and his imps deſire to draw company the ſame way with themſelves; and ſay as that wretch of old, When I die, may the earth be all fired.
and caſt him forth into the Sea,] Thus dealeth God by his ſervant Ionah; formerly faithfull in his office, and able thereunto, and therefore ſent to Nineveh. Behold the righteous ſhall be recompenced in the earth, Prov. 11.31. here they are ſure of their payment, neither can all their good deeds bear out one prepenſed wickedneſſe,Ovid. Metam. Nec horret iratum mare. Horat. lib. epod or a leſſer fault that lies unrepented of: as were eaſie to inſtance in Moſes, Miriam, David, others: And all this proceeds from love diſpleaſed.
and the Sea ceaſed from raging.] Heb. ſtood from its wrath, or indignation. Nec maris ira manet. The Sea having found what it ſought for, and now poſſeſt of the priſoner it purſued, reſteth quiet and content: Vide hic mare & diſce ſapere, ſaith One, See the ſea here, and learn obedience to thy Creator, ſith winds, waves and all are at his beck and check. See Mat. 8.23.
Ver. 16. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly] Heb: with a great feare, They feared before. ver. 10. with a naturall feare: but now they feared Jehovah, they began to beare an awfull reſpect to the divine Majeſty, of whoſe power and goodneſſe they were by this miracle clearely convinced, and as it may ſeem, to the true faith effectually converted.
For They offered a ſacrifice to the Lord] They ſacrificed ſpirituall ſacrifices preſently, (that holocauſt of themſelves Rom. 12.1. that broken heart that lieth low and heareth all that God ſaith, giving thanks to his name Heb. 13.15.) and reſolved to cover Gods altar at Jeruſalem upon their ſafe arrivall, as the Chaldee here paraphraſeth.
and made vows] That the true God ſhould be their God (as Iacob the father of vows promiſed Gen. 28.21.) and that they would beſtow coſt on the Temple, on the poor Saints, to feed and cloath them, as Iſa. 23.18. &c.
Verſe 17. Now the Lord had prepared a great fiſh] A whale Mat. 12.40. which is a great fiſh indeed. Pliny tells of one taken that was ſix hundred foot in length and 360. in bredth,Plin. lib. 32. cap. 1. when they ſwim and ſhew themſelves above water annare inſulas putes, ſaith the ſame Authour, you would think them to be ſo many Iſlands: ſo many mountaines, ſaith Another; who alſo addeth,Lib. 9. cap. 2. that when they grow old, they grow to that bigneſſe and fatneſſe, that they keep long in a place. Inſomuch as ex collectis & condenſatis pulveribus frutices erumpere cernantur, Sphinx Phili….the duſt and filth gathered upon their backs ſeemes to be an Iſland, which whiles ſhipmen miſtake, and think to land at, they incurr a great deale of danger.
Such a great fiſh God prepared Either at firſt, when in creating of whales, creavit vaſtitates & ſtupores, as One ſaith: Or He now commanded this great fiſh to be ready to ſhip Jonas to the ſhore: and to afford him an Oratory in themeane while.
and Jonah was in the belly of the fiſh] where Interpreters note a concurrence of theſe foure miracles. 1. That he was not there conſumed, but that the concoctive faculty of the fiſhes maw was ſo long time kept from doing its office. 2. That he could in ſuch a cloſe priſon breath and live; without the common uſe of aire and light. 3. That he was not killed up with intolerable ſtench in ſo lothſome a jakes. 4. That he could there frame ſuch an excellent prayer, or rather ſong of thankſgiving: For Jonah was the true Arion whom the Poets faine to have been a minſtrell caſt into the ſea by the mariners, and ſaved by a dolphin.
three dayes and three nights] Part of them at leaſt: as Chriſt was in the grave Mat. 12.40. where, in the hiſtory of Jonas, foreign.he deſcrieth the myſtery of his own death, buriall and reſurrection: teaching us thereby to ſearch the ſcriptures, to ſearch them to the bottome: as thoſe that dig for gold, content not themſelves with the firſt or ſecond oare that offers it ſelf, but ſearch on till they have all. The Rabbines have a ſaying,Epiſt. 3. ad Voluſian. that there is a mountaine of ſenſe hangs upon every Apex of the word of God. And ſo great is the depth of the holy ſcriptures, ſaith Auguſtine, that I could profit daily in the knowledge thereof, though I ſhould ſet my ſelf to ſearch them from my childhood to decrepit old age, at beſt leiſure, with utmoſt ſtudy and a farr better wit &c.