The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-17

Herr. again. his purpose was foiied. The power
that had sent MIN could rcscue him from the
activity, Arrived there, be, bad nj, choice but
to do what he was ordered; but he did u most
p pns 1i S1S.E.n, he /. d did moi mot . ssfs ss. m'' wh .ne , BsTi
sins were. and how they should abandon them:
he simply announced .ne, I'D ds sc,nr :; o sSs
penancs And were saved. This anr.red him The
on his mission and forced him TO fulfil IL, was
merciful in showing him the Justice aud grace
Striking as an illustration OF the vicissitudcs
and disposition OF the Hebrew race as this story
Is. II Is the only one In the o,d Isstainsnt whlGh
brew prophet to a heather people. Therein lies
the reason why the originator of Christianity
took IL as n proGnostication OF his own mission
to the world. Matt. xiii. 30-4l: Luke tx. 2O-32J
Finally, taking the broadest PHILOSOPHICAL view
cal considerations. one cannot. help acknowl-
edging that II depicts the. very object OF human
hello being in the hands OF an in.crutable Provi-
dence. led on 10 accom- piish Its designs whether
we will or not: The good and the just by thei,
the thoughtless by unwilling or unsuspicinus
acts. directly or indirectly contribute toward a
mate realization Of q state OF happiness aud
grace. the end OF which is known only to HIM
who has ordered US to live. to be.
In view Of the Significance Of the story of Jo-
nah. where does the laugh come In which some
OF It's. details seem to provoke among tho
Historically taken. 1t must be- remembered
that the time Of the prophet IL dated back 10
lighting Greece with his rhapsodies and when
Lycurgus was legislating for the spartan; Can
the theology Of the former and the social wis
dom OF the latter stand the rrnotest comparison
with those of Jonah II. as mu1ern critici.m
will have u. the story Of Jonah WAS written
down NJ n much later period than the prophet
lived. we must. rather thsn laugh at II, admire
the genius OF the author who understood 50 well
To mix In IL dement's OF belief that actually ex-
listed In those remote classical times and 70
thoroughly to Jud aise these elements.
IL my memory serves me right Andromeda.
the daughter OF Cassiopeia. wa- rescued by Per.
seus from n sea monster which Neptune had
sent 10 devour her; Hesione. the daughter OF
l.aomedon. Was delivered from n similar tate by
Hercules. The last was swallowed by the mon
stcr from whom lie rescned the beautiful
Hesione. and remained In lite belly for. three
days mill ne dug his way oul OF IL and came
into the free air haldheaded. What does the
fish story Of Jonah amount to In view 81 thee
fables A mere matirr.of.f fact narrative as the
background OF a sublime palm. tho like Of
Which the practical genius OF the Greek classics
never could conceive. and Of n moral which
history and philosophy alike concur In corrob-
Grating.
You will kindly notice that ! have avoided
TAX ling recourse To the rAtionalisttc explana.
Jonah with the shark OF the Mediterranean
called Cdrch1riLs. or his = gourd." with any OF
the large ephemeral plants that are known to
OF Nineyeh who so promptly responded TO the
call OF the prophet. All these considerations,
which nj their hest nre no more then conjec.
lures. dwindle down to nsignincance in view nj
the great literary merit OF the book. ana the
moral and historical lessons IL conveys. Both
alike. the moral lesson asa enide and The hls-
cious In the eyes Of the Jew that his venerstion
for the hook OF Jonah cannot be shaken by the
thouIhtless ridicuie NJ the fippant, or by the
pseudo learned reasoning OF the critics. high or
low. A JEW.
New YORK. Feb. 10.