SELECT PASSAGES FROM SCRIPTURE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 108, 10 February 1853, Page 4

SELECT PASSAGES FROM SCRIPTURE.

Jonah. The Prophet Jonah was the son of Amittai, and flourished in the year B.C. 862. He was commissioned to preach to the Ninevites, and foretall their destruction on account of their great wickedness. Niuevah was "an exceeding great city of tlnee. days journey," and contained s x hundred thousand inhabitant*. The prophet was unwilling to ohey the divine command, and '.' rose up to flee from the presence of the Lord," as if it were possible lo evade the penetrating glance of Jehovah. " Whither" says the Psalmist •« shall I go from thy spirit ? or whither shall I flee from thy presence V At the port of Jopua, the prophet found a ship hy which means he hoped lo get to Tarshish ; afier paying the fare, he went on board, and laid him down to sleep. The mariners had not proceeded far when a great storm arose, " so that the ship was like to be broken," the seamen became much alarmed, and cast the cargo of the vessel into the sea; the tempest continuing in violence ihcy cast lots in order to detect if possible the author of this calamity, the lot fell upon Jonah, who, by his own wish was cast into the sea, and a calm immediately ensued. " The Lord" U is said, " had prepared a great fish lo swallow up Jonah, and he was in the belly of the fish three days, and three nights." While [n litis situation ho uttered the beautiful prayer which bears his name, at the conclusion of which, it is addtd, " And the Lord spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." Prayer of Jonah. Book of Jonah—Chapter 11, veise '2. 2. 1 cried by reason of mine affliction unto t lie Lord, and he heatd me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 3. For thou hadst cast me info the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the flools compassed me about-, all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 5. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul ■, the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. C. I went down to the bottom of the mountains ; the earth with her bars was about me for ever; yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord, my God. 7. When my soul fainted within me, 1 .emembvred the Lord ; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 8. They that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy. 9. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving •, I will ray that that 1 have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord