provoked by divine anger, and cast lots to know who was the cause thereof.

On whom the lot fell.

The lot fell on Jonah, who confessed his disobedience, and was at once cast alive into the sea.

What befel

him there.

There he was swallowed up by a whale, and miraculously preserved alive for three days, when he was cast upon dry land.

The Hebrew word dag, translated by a whale, means not only a fish, but also a ship. Thus the Hindoos call Noah MACH'ODAR NATHA, which means: The sovereign prince in the belly of the fish, or in other words, in the cavity of the ark.

happened.

What next He was then commanded a second time to go to Nineveh, and instantly went through the great city, crying aloud: "Yet 40 days, and Nineveh shall be destroyed."

The people believe him.

The inhabitants not only believed the prophet, but proclaimed a solemn fast; in consequence of which, God deferred the judgment denounced against them.

How Jonah resented this.

Jonah was greatly annoyed

that his denunciation was not to be verified; but God reproved him for his selfish anger.

was reproved.

How Jonah He went to rest himself in an alcove, completely sheltered from the hot sun by a luxuriant gourd-plant.

What befel this plant.

At night, a worm gnawed the stalk at the root, so that the plant withered; and next day Jonah was exposed to the biting east wind and the burning sun.

his anger.

How he expressed Greatly annoyed at this, he pettishly exclaimed: "Why has this gourd perished? It is better to die than to live thus !"

proved him.

How God re- God then said to him: "Thou wouldst have me spare the gourd, yet destroy a great city. The gourd grew up in a night, and perished in a night; but Nineveh has many thousands of inhabitants."

The gourd referred to is that called Ricinus, or Palma Christi. It is not unlike a lily, but

grows into the form of a tree, each branch of which has one and only one large leaf, with six or seven foldings in it. It grows very rapidly indeed, and like all quick-growing plants, perishes as fast.

2.-SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS.

Book of Jonah ; by whom written.

It is not known who is the author of the Book of Jonah. It seems to have been compiled during the decline of the Jews, but before their captivity.

That it was compiled during the decline of the nation, is inferred from its numerous Chaldaisms. What it teaches. The narrative serves to teach four things: (1) That a prophet cannot fly from the Holy Spirit; (2) That God pities the heathen, and considers their welfare; (3) That God would rather forgive than punish; and (4) That a prophet is not to be blamed in every case, if his predictions be not fulfilled.

Jonah a type. JONAH was a TYPE of JESUS CHRIST.

Our Lord refers to this type, saying: "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. xii. 40.)

The parallels between Noah, Jonah, and our Saviour, may be thus briefly sketched:

NOAH

In the water is preserved by divine power in an ark part of a first year, all a second year, and the beginning of a third year.

JONAH
In the water is pre-
served by divine
power in a whale
part of a first day,
all a second day,
and the beginning
of a third day.

JESUS

In the earth is preserved by divine power in a tomb part of a first day, all a second day, and the beginning of a third day.

Pul was succeeded by his son Sardanapalus, the last of the old Assyrian kings, whose character is the most infamous in history. He clothed himself in female attire, painted his face, dressed his hair as a woman, and used to sit all day with women spinning or working with the needle. (B.C. 752.)

Having disgusted his subjects by his effeminacy, a rebellion was formed against him; and Sardanapa'lus, fearing to fall into the hands of the rebels, shut himself up in his palace with all his treasures, women, wives, and servants; then having set fire to the building, all was destroyed.

This happened B.C. 748, soon after the foundation of Rome. The old Assyrian empire was then united to Media, and the new Assyrian empire commenced. The city of Nineveh continued till B.C. 625, when it was utterly destroyed by the Chaldæans, and never afterwards recovered its former splendour.

On the ruins of the old Assyrian empire, a new one was formed, beginning with Tiglathpile'ser, or rather Tiglath-pul-assur, and continuing through the reigns of his four successors, all of whom are most intimately connected with Jewish history.

Section III.

HOSEA THE PROPHET.

B.C. 777 to 725.

Hosea, who he was.

Hosea was one of the 12 minor prophets; he resided in Samaria, and began to prophesy unto Israel some 60 years before the captivity which he predicted.

died.

How he It is not known how he died, though some suppose he died in captivity at an extreme old age.

Style of His style is very curt and obscure; full of sudden transitions, and crowded with metaphors.

Subject of his prophecies.

His prophecies for the most part refer to the captivity of the 10 tribes and their future restoration.

The sins he rebuked.

He employed all his force, like Amos, to inveigh against the idolatry, oppression, injustice, and effeminacy of his countrymen.