The fast of Nineveh
But it is not only from the people of God that we learn, when his anger is moved, to seek him by fasting and prayer, but even from the Heathen. When Jonah had declared, Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be destroyed, the people of Nineveh proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least. For the king of Nineveh arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed, nor drink water. (Not that the beast had sinned or could repent, but that by their example man might be admonished, considering that for his sin the anger of God was hanging over all creatures.) Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And their labor was not in vain. The fierce anger of God was turned away from them. God saw their works (the fruits of that repentance and faith which he had wrought in them by his prophet), and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do to them, and he did it not. Jonah 3:4, etc.
1771 text
8. But it is not only from the people of God that we learn, when his anger is moved, to seek him by fasting and prayer; but even from the Heathens. When Jonah had declared, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed, the people of Nineveh proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them unto the least. For the king of Nineveh arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing. Let them not feed, nor drink water. (Not that the beast had sinned, or could repent: but that by their example man might be admonished, considering that for his sin, the anger of God was hanging over all creatures.) Who can tell, if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?――And their labour was not in vain. The fierce anger of God was turned away from them. God saw their works, (the fruits of that repentance and faith, which he had wrought in them by his prophet;) and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them: and he did it not, Jon. 3, 4, &c.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 27 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:16-18.
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