English
FatherMapplerose,andinamildvoiceofunassumingauthorityorderedthescatteredpeopletocondense.“Starboardgangway,there!
sideawaytolarboard-larboardgangwaytostarboard!Midships!midships!”
Therewasalowrumblingofheavysea-bootsamongthebenches,andastillslightershufflingofwomen’sshoes,andallwasquietagain,andeveryeyeonthepreacher.
Hepausedalittle;thenkneelinginthepulpit’sbows,foldedhislargebrownhandsacrosshischest,upliftedhisclosedeyes,andofferedaprayersodeeplydevoutthatheseemedkneelingandprayingatthebottomofthesea.
Thisended,inprolongedsolemntones,likethecontinualtollingofabellinashipthatisfounderingatseainafog-insuchtoneshecommencedreadingthefollowinghymn;butchanginghismannertowardstheconcludingstanzas,burstforthwithapealingexultationandjoy-
Theribsandterrorsinthewhale,Archedovermeadismalgloom,WhileallGod’ssun-litwavesrolledby,Andliftmedeepeningdowntodoom.
Isawtheopeningmawofhell,Withendlesspainsandsorrowsthere;Whichnonebuttheythatfeelcantell-Oh,Iwasplungingtodespair.
Inblackdistress,IcalledmyGod,WhenIcouldscarcebelievehimmine,Hebowedhiseartomycomplaints-Nomorethewhaledidmeconfine.
Withspeedheflewtomyrelief,Asonaradiantdolphinborne;Awful,yetbright,aslightningshoneThefaceofmyDelivererGod.
MysongforevershallrecordThatterrible,thatjoyfulhour;IgivetheglorytomyGod,Hisallthemercyandthepower.
Nearlyalljoinedinsingingthishymn,whichswelledhighabovethehowlingofthestorm.
Abriefpauseensued;thepreacherslowlyturnedovertheleavesoftheBible,andatlast,foldinghishanddownupontheproperpage,said:“Belovedshipmates,clinchthelastverseofthefirstchapterofJonah-‘AndGodhadpreparedagreatfishtoswallowupJonah.’”
“Shipmates,thisbook,containingonlyfourchapters-fouryarns-isoneofthesmalleststrandsinthemightycableoftheScriptures.
YetwhatdepthsofthesoulJonah’sdeepsealinesound!
whatapregnantlessontousisthisprophet!
Whatanoblethingisthatcanticleinthefish’sbelly!Howbillow-likeandboisterouslygrand!
Wefeelthefloodssurgingoverus,wesoundwithhimtothekelpybottomofthewaters;sea-weedandalltheslimeoftheseaisaboutus!
ButwhatisthislessonthatthebookofJonahteaches?
Shipmates,itisatwo-strandedlesson;alessontousallassinfulmen,andalessontomeasapilotofthelivingGod.
Assinfulmen,itisalessontousall,becauseitisastoryofthesin,hard-heartedness,suddenlyawakenedfears,theswiftpunishment,repentance,prayers,andfinallythedeliveranceandjoyofJonah.
Aswithallsinnersamongmen,thesinofthissonofAmittaiwasinhiswilfuldisobedienceofthecommandofGod-nevermindnowwhatthatcommandwas,orhowconveyed-whichhefoundahardcommand.
ButallthethingsthatGodwouldhaveusdoarehardforustodo-rememberthat-andhence,heoftenercommandsusthanendeavorstopersuade.
AndifweobeyGod,wemustdisobeyourselves;anditisinthisdisobeyingourselves,whereinthehardnessofobeyingGodconsists.
“Withthissinofdisobedienceinhim,JonahstillfurtherfloutsatGod,byseekingtofleefromHim.
Hethinksthatashipmadebymen,willcarryhimintocountrieswhereGoddoesnotreignbutonlytheCaptainsofthisearth.
HeskulksaboutthewharvesofJoppa,andseeksashipthat’sboundforTarshish.
Therelurks,perhaps,ahithertounheededmeaninghere.
ByallaccountsTarshishcouldhavebeennoothercitythanthemodernCadiz.That’stheopinionoflearnedmen.AndwhereisCadiz,shipmates?
CadizisinSpain;asfarbywater,fromJoppa,asJonahcouldpossiblyhavesailedinthoseancientdays,whentheAtlanticwasanalmostunknownsea.
BecauseJoppa,themodernJaffa,shipmates,isonthemosteasterlycoastoftheMediterranean,theSyrian;andTarshishorCadizmorethantwothousandmilestothewestwardfromthat,justoutsidetheStraitsofGibraltar.
Seeyenotthen,shipmates,thatJonahsoughttofleeworldwidefromGod?Miserableman!Oh!
mostcontemptibleandworthyofallscorn;withslouchedhatandguiltyeye,skulkingfromhisGod;prowlingamongtheshippinglikeavileburglarhasteningtocrosstheseas.
Sodisordered,self-condemninginhislook,thathadtherebeenpolicemeninthosedays,Jonah,onthemeresuspicionofsomethingwrong,hadbeenarrestederehetouchedadeck.Howplainlyhe’safugitive!
nobaggage,notahat-box,valise,orcarpet-bag,-nofriendsaccompanyhimtothewharfwiththeiradieux.
Atlast,aftermuchdodgingsearch,hefindstheTarshishshipreceivingthelastitemsofhercargo;andashestepsonboardtoseeitsCaptaininthecabin,allthesailorsforthemomentdesistfromhoistinginthegoods,tomarkthestranger’sevileye.
Jonahseesthis;butinvainhetriestolookalleaseandconfidence;invainessayshiswretchedsmile.
Strongintuitionsofthemanassurethemarinershecanbenoinnocent.
Intheirgamesomebutstillseriousway,onewhisperstotheother-“Jack,he’srobbedawidow;”or,“Joe,doyoumarkhim;he’sabigamist;”or,“Harrylad,Iguesshe’stheadultererthatbrokejailinoldGomorrah,orbelike,oneofthemissingmurderersfromSodom.”
Anotherrunstoreadthebillthat’sstuckagainstthespileuponthewharftowhichtheshipismoored,offeringfivehundredgoldcoinsfortheapprenhensionofaparricide,andcontainingadescriptionofhisperson.
Hereads,andlooksfromJonahtothebill;whileallhissympatheticshipmatesnowcrowdroundJonah,preparedtolaytheirhandsuponhim.FrightenedJonahtrembles.
andsummoningallhisboldnesstohisface,onlylookssomuchthemoreacoward.
Hewillnotconfesshimselfsuspected;butthatitselfisstrongsuspicion.
Sohemakesthebestofit;andwhenthesailorsfindhimnottobethemanthatisadvertised,theylethimpass,andhedescendsintothecabin.
”’Who’sthere?’criestheCaptainathisbusydesk,hurriedlymakingouthispapersfortheCustoms-‘Who’sthere?’Oh!
howthatharmlessquestionmanglesJonah!
Fortheinstanthealmostturnstofleeagain.Butherallies.
‘IseekapassageinthisshiptoTarshish;howsoonsailye,sir?’
ThusfarthebusyCaptainhadnotlookeduptoJonah,thoughthemannowstandsbeforehim;butnosoonerdoeshehearthathollowvoice,thanhedartsascrutinizingglance.
‘Wesailwiththenextcomingtide,’atlastheslowlyanswered,stillintentlyeyeinghim.‘Nosooner,sir?’
-‘Soonenoughforanyhonestmanthatgoesapassenger.’Ha!Jonah,that’sanotherstab.
ButheswiftlycallsawaytheCaptainfromthatscent.
‘I’llsailwithye,’-hesays,-‘thepassagemoneyhowmuchisthat?-I’llpaynow.’
Foritisparticularlywritten,shipmates,asifitwereathingnottobeoverlookedinthishistory,‘thathepaidthefarethereof’erethecraftdidsail.
Andtakenwiththecontext,thisisfullofmeaning.
“NowJonah’sCaptain,shipmates,wasonewhosediscernmentdetectscrimeinany,butwhosecupidityexposesitonlyinthepenniless.
Inthisworld,shipmates,sinthatpaysitswaycantravelfreelyandwithoutapassport;whereasVirtue,ifapauper,isstoppedatallfrontiers.
SoJonah’sCaptainpreparestotestthelengthofJonah’spurse,erehejudgehimopenly.
Hechargeshimthricetheusualsum;andit’sassentedto.
ThentheCaptainknowsthatJonahisafugitive;butatthesametimeresolvestohelpaflightthatpavesitsrearwithgold.
YetwhenJonahfairlytakesouthispurse,prudentsuspicionsstillmolesttheCaptain.
Heringseverycointofindacounterfeit.
Notaforger,anyway,hemutters;andJonahisputdownforhispassage.
‘Pointoutmystate-room,Sir,’saysJonahnow,‘I’mtravel-weary;Ineedsleep.’
‘Thoulookestlikeit,’saystheCaptain,‘there’sthyroom.’
Jonahenters,andwouldlockthedoor,butthelockcontainsnokey.
Hearinghimfoolishlyfumblingthere,theCaptainlaughslowlytohimself,andmutterssomethingaboutthedoorsofconvicts’cellsbeingneverallowedtobelockedwithin.
Alldressedanddustyasheis,Jonahthrowshimselfintohisberth,andfindsthelittlestate-roomceilingalmostrestingonhisforehead.Theairisclose,andJonahgasps.
Then,inthatcontractedhole,sunk,too,beneaththeship’swater-line,Jonahfeelstheheraldingpresentimentofthatstiflinghour,whenthewhaleshallholdhiminthesmallestofhisbowels’wards.
“Screwedatitsaxisagainsttheside,aswinginglampslightlyoscillatesinJonah’sroom;andtheship,heelingovertowardsthewharfwiththeweightofthelastbalesreceived,thelamp,flameandall,thoughinslightmotion,stillmaintainsapermanentobliquitywithreferencetotheroom;though,intruth,infalliblystraightitself,itbutmadeobviousthefalse,lyinglevelsamongwhichithung.
ThelampalarmsandfrightensJonah;aslyinginhisberthhistormentedeyesrollroundtheplace,andthisthusfarsuccessfulfugitivefindsnorefugeforhisrestlessglance.
Butthatcontradictioninthelampmoreandmoreappalshim.
Thefloor,theceiling,andtheside,areallawry.‘Oh!somyconsciencehangsinme!’
hegroans,‘straightupwards,soitburns;butthechambersofmysoulareallincrookedness!’
“Likeonewhoafteranightofdrunkenrevelryhiestohisbed,stillreeling,butwithconscienceyetprickinghim,astheplungingsoftheRomanrace-horsebutsomuchthemorestrikehissteeltagsintohim;asonewhointhatmiserableplightstillturnsandturnsingiddyanguish,prayingGodforannihilationuntilthefitbepassed;andatlastamidthewhirlofwoehefeels,adeepstuporstealsoverhim,asoverthemanwhobleedstodeath,forconscienceisthewound,andthere’snaughttostaunchit;so,aftersorewrestlinginhisberth,Jonah’sprodigyofponderousmiserydragshimdrowningdowntosleep.
“Andnowthetimeoftidehascome;theshipcastsoffhercables;andfromthedesertedwharftheuncheeredshipforTarshish,allcareening,glidestosea.
Thatship,myfriends,wasthefirstofrecordedsmugglers!thecontrabandwasJonah.
Butthesearebels;hewillnotbarethewickedburden.
Adreadfulstormcomeson,theshipisliketobreak.
Butnowwhentheboatswaincallsallhandstolightenher;whenboxes,bales,andjarsareclatteringoverboard;whenthewindisshrieking,andthemenareyelling,andeveryplankthunderswithtramplingfeetrightoverJonah’shead;inallthisragingtumult,Jonahsleepshishideoussleep.
Heseesnoblackskyandragingsea,feelsnotthereelingtimbers,andlittlehearsheorheedshethefarrushofthemightywhale,whichevennowwithopenmouthiscleavingtheseasafterhim.
Aye,shipmates,Jonahwasgonedownintothesidesoftheship-aberthinthecabinasIhavetakenit,andwasfastasleep.
Butthefrightenedmastercomestohim,andshrieksinhisdeadear,‘Whatmeanestthou,O,sleeper!arise!’
Startledfromhislethargybythatdirefulcry,Jonahstaggerstohisfeet,andstumblingtothedeck,graspsashroud,tolookoutuponthesea.
Butatthatmomentheissprunguponbyapantherbillowleapingoverthebulwarks.
Waveafterwavethusleapsintotheship,andfindingnospeedyventrunsroaringforeandaft,tillthemarinerscomenightodrowningwhileyetafloat.
Andever,asthewhitemoonshowsheraffrightedfacefromthesteepgulliesintheblacknessoverhead,aghastJonahseestherearingbowspritpointinghighupward,butsoonbeatdownwardagaintowardsthetormenteddeep.
“Terrorsuponterrorsrunshoutingthroughhissoul.
Inallhiscringingattitudes,theGod-fugitiveisnowtooplainlyknown.
Thesailorsmarkhim;moreandmorecertaingrowtheirsuspicionsofhim,andatlast,fullytotestthetruth,byreferringthewholemattertohighHeaven,theyall-outwardtocastinglots,toseeforwhosecausethisgreattempestwasuponthem.
ThelotisJonah’s;thatdiscovered,thenhowfuriouslytheymobhimwiththeirquestions.‘Whatisthineoccupation?Whencecomestthou?Thycountry?Whatpeople?
Butmarknow,myshipmates,thebehaviorofpoorJonah.
Theeagermarinersbutaskhimwhoheis,andwherefrom;whereas,theynotonlyreceiveananswertothosequestions,butlikewiseanotheranswertoaquestionnotputbythem,buttheunsolicitedanswerisforcedfromJonahbythehardhandofGodthatisuponhim.
”’IamaHebrew,’hecries-andthen-‘IfeartheLordtheGodofHeavenwhohathmadetheseaandthedryland!’Fearhim,OJonah?
Aye,wellmightestthoufeartheLordGodthen!
Straightway,henowgoesontomakeafullconfession;whereuponthemarinersbecamemoreandmoreappalled,butstillarepitiful.
ForwhenJonah,notyetsupplicatingGodformercy,sincehebuttoowellknewthedarknessofhisdeserts,-whenwretchedJonahcriesouttothemtotakehimandcasthimforthintothesea,forheknewthatforhissakethisgreattempestwasuponthem;theymercifullyturnfromhim,andseekbyothermeanstosavetheship.
Butallinvain;theindignantgalehowlslouder;then,withonehandraisedinvokinglytoGod,withtheothertheynotunreluctantlylayholdofJonah.
“AndnowbeholdJonahtakenupasananchoranddroppedintothesea;wheninstantlyanoilycalmnessfloatsoutfromtheeast,andtheseaisasJonahcarriesdownthegalewithhim,leavingsmoothwaterbehind.
Hegoesdowninthewhirlingheartofsuchamasterlesscommotionthathescarceheedsthemomentwhenhedropsseethingintotheyawningjawsawaitinghim;andthewhaleshoots-toallhisivoryteeth,likesomanywhitebolts,uponhisprison.
ThenJonahprayeduntotheLordoutofthefish’sbelly.
Butobservehisprayer,andlearnaweightylesson.
Forsinfulasheis,Jonahdoesnotweepandwailfordirectdeliverance.
Hefeelsthathisdreadfulpunishmentisjust.
HeleavesallhisdeliverancetoGod,contentinghimselfwiththis,thatspiteofallhispainsandpangs,hewillstilllooktowardsHisholytemple.
Andhere,shipmates,istrueandfaithfulrepentance;notclamorousforpardon,butgratefulforpunishment.
AndhowpleasingtoGodwasthisconductinJonah,isshownintheeventualdeliveranceofhimfromtheseaandthewhale.
Shipmates,IdonotplaceJonahbeforeyoutobecopiedforhissinbutIdoplacehimbeforeyouasamodelforrepentance.
Sinnot;butifyoudo,takeheedtorepentofitlikeJonah.”
Whilehewasspeakingthesewords,thehowlingoftheshrieking,slantingstormwithoutseemedtoaddnewpowertothepreacher,who,whendescribingJonah’ssea-storm,seemedtossedbyastormhimself.
Hisdeepchestheavedaswithaground-swell;histossedarmsseemedthewarringelementsatwork;andthethundersthatrolledawayfromoffhisswarthybrow,andthelightleapingfromhiseye,madeallhissimplehearerslookonhimwithaquickfearthatwasstrangetothem.
Therenowcamealullinhislook,ashesilentlyturnedovertheleavesoftheBookoncemore;and,atlast,standingmotionless,withclosedeyes,forthemoment,seemedcommuningwithGodandhimself.
Butagainheleanedovertowardsthepeople,andbowinghisheadlowly,withanaspectofthedeepestyetmanliesthumility,hespakethesewords:
“Shipmates,Godhaslaidbutonehanduponyou;bothhishandspressuponme.
IhavereadyebywhatmurkylightmaybeminethelessonthatJonahteachestoallsinners;andthereforetoye,andstillmoretome,forIamagreatersinnerthanye.
AndnowhowgladlywouldIcomedownfromthismast-headandsitonthehatchestherewhereyousit,andlistenasyoulisten,whilesomeoneofyoureadsmethatotherandmoreawfullessonwhichJonahteachestome,asapilotofthelivingGod.
Howbeingananointedpilot-prophet,orspeakeroftruethingsandbiddenbytheLordtosoundthoseunwelcometruthsintheearsofawickedNineveh,Jonah,appalledatthehostilityheshouldraise,fledfromhismission,andsoughttoescapehisdutyandhisGodbytakingshipatJoppa.
ButGodiseverywhere;Tarshishheneverreached.
Aswehaveseen,Godcameuponhiminthewhale,andswallowedhimdowntolivinggulfsofdoom,andwithswiftslantingstorehimalong‘intothemidstoftheseas,’wheretheeddyingdepthssuckedhimtenthousandfathomsdown,and‘theweedswerewrappedabouthishead,’andallthewateryworldofwoebowledoverhim.
Yeteventhenbeyondthereachofanyplummet-‘outofthebellyofhell’-whenthewhalegroundedupontheocean’sutmostbones,eventhen,Godheardtheengulphed,repentingprophetwhenhecried.
ThenGodspakeuntothefish;andfromtheshudderingcoldandblacknessofthesea,thewhalecamebreechinguptowardsthewarmandpleasantsun,andallthedelightsofairandearth;and‘vomitedoutJonahuponthedryland;’whenthewordoftheLordcameasecondtime;andJonah,bruisedandbeaten-hisears,liketwosea-shells,stillmultitudinouslymurmuringoftheocean-JonahdidtheAlmighty’sbidding.
Andwhatwasthat,shipmates?
TopreachtheTruthtothefaceofFalsehood!Thatwasit!
“This,shipmates,thisisthatotherlesson;andwoetothatpilotofthelivingGodwhoslightsit.
WoetohimwhomthisworldcharmsfromGospelduty!
WoetohimwhoseekstopouroiluponthewaterswhenGodhasbrewedthemintoagale!
Woetohimwhoseekstopleaseratherthantoappal!
Woetohimwhosegoodnameismoretohimthangoodness!
Woetohimwho,inthisworld,courtsnotdishonor!
Woetohimwhowouldnotbetrue,eventhoughtobefalseweresalvation!
Yea,woetohimwhoasthegreatPilotPaulhasit,whilepreachingtoothersishimselfacastaway!
Hedroopedandfellawayfromhimselfforamoment;thenliftinghisfacetothemagain,showedadeepjoyinhiseyes,ashecriedoutwithaheavenlyenthusiasm,-“Butoh!shipmates!
onthestarboardhandofeverywoe,thereisasuredelight;andhigherthetopofthatdelight,thanthebottomofthewoeisdeep.
Isnotthemain-truckhigherthanthekelsonislow?
Delightistohim-afar,farupward,andinwarddelight-whoagainsttheproudgodsandcommodoresofthisearth,everstandsforthhisowninexorableself.
Delightistohimwhosestrongarmsyetsupporthim,whentheshipofthisbasetreacherousworldhasgonedownbeneathhim.
Delightistohim,whogivesnoquarterinthetruth,andkills,burns,anddestroysallsinthoughhepluckitoutfromundertherobesofSenatorsandJudges.
Delight,-top-gallantdelightistohim,whoacknowledgesnolaworlord,buttheLordhisGod,andisonlyapatriottoheaven.
Delightistohim,whomallthewavesofthebillowsoftheseasoftheboisterousmobcannevershakefromthissureKeeloftheAges.
Andeternaldelightanddeliciousnesswillbehis,whocomingtolayhimdown,cansaywithhisfinalbreath-OFather!
-chieflyknowntomebyThyrod-mortalorimmortal,hereIdie.
IhavestriventobeThine,morethantobethisworld’s,ormineown.
Yetthisisnothing:IleaveeternitytoThee;forwhatismanthatheshouldliveoutthelifetimeofhisGod?”
Hesaidnomore,butslowlywavingabenediction,coveredhisfacewithhishands,andsoremainedkneeling,tillallthepeoplehaddeparted,andhewasleftaloneintheplace.
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