CHAPTER9TheSermon

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!noage,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,andthisthusfaressfulfugitivefindsnorefugeforhisrestlessglance.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,wasthefirstofrecordedlers!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,jonaherstohisfeet,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.