CHAPTER 9 The Sermon

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,aslightningshone

ThefaceofmyDelivererGod.

"Mysongforevershallrecord

Thatterrible,thatjoyfulhour;

IgivetheglorytomyGod,

Hisallthemercyandthepower."

Nearlyalljoinedinsingingthishymn,whichswelledhighabovethehowlingofthestorm.Abriefpauseensued;thepreacherslowlyturnedovertheleavesoftheBible,andatlast,foldinghishanddownupontheproperpage,said:"Belovedshipmates,clinchthelastverseofthefirstchapterofJonah—'AndGodhadpreparedagreatfishtoswallowupJonah.'

"Shipmates,thisbook,containingonlyfourchapters—fouryarns—isoneofthesmalleststrandsinthemightycableoftheScriptures.YetwhatdepthsofthesouldoesJonah'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.HethinksthatashipmadebymenwillcarryhimintocountrieswhereGoddoesnotreign,butonlytheCaptainsofthisearth.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,thatJonahsoughttofleeworld-widefromGod?Miserableman!Oh!mostcontemptibleandworthyofallscorn;withslouchedhatandguiltyeye,skulkingfromhisGod;prowlingamongtheshippinglikeavileburglarhasteningtocrosstheseas.Sodisordered,self-condemningishislook,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,offeringfivehundredgoldcoinsfortheapprehensionofaparricide,andcontainingadescriptionofhisperson.Hereads,andlooksfromJonahtothebill;whileallhissympatheticshipmatesnowcrowdroundJonah,preparedtolaytheirhandsuponhim.FrightedJonahtrembles,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,sinthatpaysitswaycantravelfreely,andwithoutapassport;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,astheplungingsoftheRomanracehorsebutsomuchthemorestrikehissteeltagsintohim;asonewhointhatmiserableplightstillturnsandturnsingiddyanguish,prayingGodforannihilationuntilthefitbepassed;andatlastamidthewhirlofwoehefeels,adeepstuporstealsoverhim,asoverthemanwhobleedstodeath,forconscienceisthewound,andthere'snaughttostaunchit;so,aftersorewrestlingsinhisberth,Jonah'sprodigyofponderousmiserydragshimdrowningdowntosleep.

"Andnowthetimeoftidehascome;theshipcastsoffhercables;andfromthedesertedwharftheuncheeredshipforTarshish,allcareening,glidestosea.Thatship,myfriends,wasthefirstofrecordedsmugglers!thecontrabandwasJonah.Butthesearebels;hewillnotbearthewickedburden.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,theyfalltocastinglots,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,andtheseaisstill,asJonahcarriesdownthegalewithhim,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,orspeakeroftruethings,andbiddenbytheLordtosoundthoseunwelcometruthsintheearsofawickedNineveh,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,woetohimwho,asthegreatPilotPaulhasit,whilepreachingtoothersishimselfacastaway!"

Hedroppedandfellawayfromhimselfforamoment;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.