Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-07-22

preachers message Their we're re
nearsing to one another the things
which he said.
And that they believed his message
was certain, for they confessed one TO
another that there were no gods O.
the people OF Nineveh like uato the
great God who had spoken the wsrds
OF Judgment against their city. And
believing this. all the gross and gar.
geous worship OF the many gods Of
Nineveh was stopped. and instead
there was turning in thought to the
great unknown Gcd who was able %
destroy and was ALE to make aIi.e
They knew this last must be true
indeed, for had not the great God
snatched this strange preacher from
the very jaws of death aud preserved
his life when the sea had opened +,
swallow him up. forever?
Jonah was not insensible So tSs
change which had come over the civ.
but instead of softening Sds h. art
towards the people who gave such evil
dent signs or repentance. 4. had the
4 contrary effect. In the seething heat
OF his bitter bigotTy all impulses OF
mercy and love were burned Cd. so
| that with increasing vehemerce he
preached the certain destruction OF
the city. And with increasing terror
the people sought after this Sreat
God. saying over and over 10 each
| other:
Who can tell If God will tu:, and
repent. and turn away from hi. nsrce
anger. that We perish not"
4 N h,t
days drew near very great cry went
Up from the city to the God OF
heaven that he would spare them.
Jonah, hearing the cry. and behold
Ing the great distress OF the people
was moved with still deeper resent.
ment How could God hear such
people? Would God spare? Impop
sible! Were these people not outside
the covenant blessing of God? What
| right had they to claim or expect
mercy from the God OF Abraham.
Isaac and Jacob? And how could God
snow kindness to Israel and spare so
powerful an enemy? Had not God
said that the coast of Israel uns TO
be restored and how could thia bs
brought about IL Nineveh were spared!
yea exclaimed Jonah. bitterly.
How can God shew mercy to Nine
veh to the hurt OF his chosen people7
And yet-and yet" He did not fin.
Ism the sentence. save with a half sob,
half angry cry. but it was plain that
the prophet feared that God would
show mercy instead OF executing juds.
ment as he had declared he would.
III Nineveh is spared. what will
ever my nation say OF me? Can they
not well say that have proved false
to them? Surely there will be naught
| but condemnation that / should have
gone and preached to those who are
our enemies and saved them from de-
| struction. Oh woe is me: woe Is
me! Better that had died than To
have come thither."
Thus, in bitterness OF heart. Jonah
waited, but notwithstanding his disap-
pointment he obediently went hither
and thither delivering his message.
and hoping against hope that God
would yet punish the great city for all
its wickedness.
So the days were fulfilled when the
city was TO be destroyed
From his vantage point on the east
side of the city Jonah watched and
waited. Would God send fire from
heaven TO burn IL up as he did Sodom
and Gomorrah. or would the ground
! open and swallow Il up? All through
! the night he watched and waited. no
sleep coming to his anxious eyes and
| troubled heart and with the first
CLEAN OF the morning light he was
straining his eyes towards the city.
Yea. it is just as feared. Why
should ], Jew, live longe: when
mercy is thus shown TO these mlsera.
bic. despised Gentiles? Oh, Lord" he
cried. lifting his eyes toward heaven,
take my life"
Ald as he waited thus with his face
above. saying:
"Doest thou we'll To be angry"
Jonah made no reply, but sank upon
the ground, and as the sun came I'D
he became conscious of the shade of
the gourd which God had caused TO
grow UP during the night and which
gave him cooling protection x,i
through the day
But that night God sent worm
Which cut the vine OF and caused II
TO wither. so that the next morning
the full rays Of the hot eastern sun
beat relentlessly upon the head OF
Jonah. so that he cried In his misery
| and anguish:
1T is better FOR me tn die than to
live
And the voice OF God sounded out Of
tho heaven saying:
"DOest thou we'll to be angry for the
/ gOurd?"
Yet, I do well to be angry even
unto DEATH" impauently cried the
| prophet.
Again came the voice from heaven
| saving.