John Trapp on Jonah 1:7

Verſ. 7. And they ſaid every one to his fellow] when Ionas had now prayed, and yet the tempeſt continued (for we know that God heareth not ſinners, Joh. 9.31. no not a David or a Jonah, if he regard iniquity in his heart, Pſal. 66.18. how ſhould the plaiſter prevaile whiles the weapon remains in the wound?) they reſolve to try another courſe for the ſafegard of their lives. Man is [non-Latin text not transcribed], a creature that would fain live, ſaid Eſop; and what man is he that deſireth life, and loveth many dayes that he may ſee good, ſaith David, whereunto Auſtin anſwereth, Quis vitam non vult? Hom. 4. who would not be maſter of ſuch an happineſſe?

Come and let us caſt lots] And ſo put the matter into Gods hands, Pro. 16.33. He diſpoſeth of lottery, ſo it be rightly undertaken, not ſuperſtitiouſly, curiouſly, raſhly: but as truſting in God, and not tempting him.

that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is upon us] Some extraordinary cauſe they knew there was of this extraordinary tempeſt. Sinful men ſtrike not their dogs, much leſſe their children, without a cauſe. A Bee ſtings not, till provoked; neither doth God puniſh his creatures, till there be no other remedy, 2 Chron. 36.16. Good therefore is the counſel of the Prophet, Lam. 3.39, 40. Why is living man ſorrowful, a man for the puniſhment of his ſin? Let us ſearch and trie our wayes (find out the ſin that God ſtrikes at) and turn again to the Lord; turn and live.

ſo they caſt lots,] They ſhould have alſo prayed, as Act. 1. & 6. ſaying as Saul, 1 Sam. 14. Give a perfect lot: wicked men alſo are bound to pray, Pſal. 14.4. but although they do not, God can get himſelf glory by their prophane lottery; as he did by Nebuchadnezzars, Ezek. 21.20, 21.

and the lot fell upon Jonah] Secret ſins will out at length, and be brought into judgement, Eccleſ. 12.14. Saeculi laetitia eſt impunita nequitiae. Aug. Surely the bitterneſſe of death is paſt, ſaid Agag, but he found it otherwiſe.1 Sam. 15. Janah thought himſelf out of the reach of Gods rod, &c. Wicked mens faults ſhall be written in their foreheads; and they forced to anſwer for all at laſt with flames about their ears.