John Trapp on Jonah 1:14

Verſe 14. Wherefore they cried unto the Lord,] Not unto their falſe gods, but unto the true Jehovah: of whom they had learned ſomething by what they had ſeen, and heard from Jonah. Vaetorpori noſtro.

We beſeech thee, O Lord, we beſeech thee,] A moſt ardent and affectionate prayer. A naturall man may pray from the bottome of his heart, out of a deep ſenſe of his wants: but he cannot give thanks from the bottom of his heart; becauſe void of the love of God, and joy of faith. Danaeus noteth from theſe words, that Iudges ought to pray before they paſſe ſentence of death upon any.

Let us not periſh for this mans life,] which we take away, but full ſore againſt our wills. Wilfull murther was ever accounted an heinous crime among the Heathens alſo. Abels innocent blood had as many tongues as drops, to crie to heaven againſt Cain. Gen. 4.10. The voice of thy brothers bloods. And 1 King. 9.26. Surely I have ſeen yeſterday the blood of Naboth. Murder ever bleeds freſh in the eye of God: and to him, many years, yea, that eternity that is paſt, is but yeſterday. Full well then did theſe men ſo earneſtly deprecate the guilt of innocent blood, which they knew would lie and light heavie.

and lay not upon us innocent blood,] Innocent as to us; for hee hath done us no hurt, but much good by his piety and patience: whence it is that we are ſo loth to part with him, after this ſort eſpecially.

for thou, O Lord, haſt done as it pleaſeth thee.] Thou haſt appointed him to this death, and now calleſt for him, as we eaſily collect by the circumſtances; Sic quicquid ſuperi voluere, peractum est.Ovid. Metamor. l. 8.