on Friday afternoon, and he remained in the fish till some time on Sunday morning, we can see how that would make, according to the Jewish way of reckoning, three days and three nights. From three o'clock on Friday afternoon to six o'clock in the evening would make a part of the Friday, or the first day and night. From six o'clock on Friday evening to six o'clock on Saturday evening would make the whole of the Saturday, or second day and night; while from six o'clock on Saturday evening to any time on Sunday morning would make part of the Sunday, or the third day and night. And so we see that as the Jews counted time, Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights, and this was just the length of time during which our Saviour lay buried in the grave. And so the comparison here is complete. Jonah and Jesus were alike in the length of time they were buried. We have spoken of three points of contrast between Jonah and Jesus, or three things in which Jonah was very unlike Jesus. He was an unwilling preacher a successful preacher-a selfish preacher. We have also spoken of two points of comparison between Jonah and Jesus, or two. things in which they were like each other:-They were both ready to die for others; and they were both buried for the same length of time. And when we think of the wonderful love of Jesus in being willing to lie down in the grave for us, it should lead us to love him with all our hearts, and make us willing to go anywhere, and do anything to show our love for him. Let me close with two illustrations. One shows what effect the thought of God's love had on a little child; the other shows what effect it had upon a minister of the gospel:— A Christian mother had been talking one day to her little boy, three years old, about the love of God in sending his Son into the world to die for us. It seemed to touch the little fellow's heart very much. By and by, while still thinking of what his mother had taught him; she saw him all alone by himself, kissing his little hand and waving it up towards the sky. "What are you doing, Birdie?" asked his mother. "I 'tans up and tisses Dod," was his sweet reply. It was a childlike, but beautiful illustration of the text,-“We love him because he first loved us." So the thought of Christ's love should lead us all to love him. The other story may be called "The Minister in the Robber's Vault." The incident I am about to tell, occurred many years ago in Edinburgh, during the time when the cholera was prevailing there fearfully. A minister of the gospel had been out nearly all day visiting the sick and dying, and burying the dead. He went home feeling weary and worn. When he went to bed he could not sleep, for thinking of the many sad and sorrowful scenes he had witnessed during the day. He lay tossing in his bed till midnight. Then there came a loud ring at his door-bell. The servant went to the door, and came back to say that a man there was very anxious to see him. He dressed himself and went down. He held up the light to get a good view of the man; but it was not encouraging. His face was covered with a thick, shaggy-beard, and he looked very much like a robber. "What do you want with me?" asked the minister. "I want you to come and visit a dying man who wishes very much to see you." The minister hesitated about going. The man saw it, and said,— "Don't be afraid, sir. Leave your watch and money behind, you'll be safe." He resolved to go. But before starting he went back to his room, and kneeling down in prayer, asked God to take care of him, and keep him from harm. Then he went with the strange man. He led him a long way througǹ the town. At last they came to a lonely place in the outskirts. Here the man stopped, took out a jack-knife and scraped away some dirt from the ground. Presently he opened a trap-door which led into a deep, dark vault. The minister felt afraid at the idea of going down into such a place as that. "Don't be afraid, sir," said the man. Then he let himself down by a rope. On reaching the bottom, he lighted a candle, and setting a ladder up to the mouth of the vault, asked the minister to come down Again he lifted up his heart in silent prayer to God for his protection, and went down the ladder. As he reached the bottom he felt like Daniel in the den of lions. Gazing round in the dim light he saw a number of savage looking men lying about in different positions. That gloomy vault was the retreat of a band of robbers. The man led the minister to the further end of the vault. There, on a bed of straw, lay a man dying of cholera. Sitting down on a stool by his side, he said to the dying man: "Did you wish to see me, my friend?" "I did," he replied, in a clear, decided voice. |