John Trapp on Jonah 1:8

Verſe 8. Tell us, we pray thee, for whoſe cauſe, &c.] He confeſſed not till urged, and neceſſitated. Sinne gagges people, and prompts them to hide their faults, as Adam; or at leaſt to mince, extenuate, ſhift them upon other perſons and things, as Eve. Sinne and ſhifting came into the world together; and Satan, that old manſlayer, knowing that there is no way to purge the ſoul but upwards, holds the lips cloſe, that the heart may not disburden it ſelf, God by this means is oft put to his proof, and muſt bring the malefactour to trial; who refuſing ordinary trial, muſt therefore be preſt, Jer. 2.35.

what is thine occupation?] For that thou haſt one, we take it for granted. At Athens every man was once a year, at leaſt, to give account to the Judges by what art or trade he maintained himſelf. By Mahomets law, the Grand Signior himſelf muſt uſe ſome manual trade; Solyman the Magnificent made arrow-heads; Mahomet the great horn-rings for archers, &c. That which the mariners here enquire after is, whether Jonas his occupation be honeſt and lawful? whether he laboured the thing that was good, Eph. 4.28. For if any man over-reach or oppreſſe his brother in any matter, by the uſe of any ill arts, he ſhall be ſure to find, that the Lord is the venger of al ſuch, 1 Theſſ. 4.6. though haply they lie out of the walk of humane juſtice, or comes not under mans cognizance.

and whence commeſt thou?] Art thou not of an accurſed countrey? and is not thy people a people of Gods wrath, as England was in the time of the ſweatingſickneſſe,Lifeo[illegible: 1 letter] Edw. 6. by S. J. H. purſuing the Engliſh where-ever they came; which made them like tyrants both feared and avoyded of all nations? How the Jewes are at this day hated and ſhunned as an execrable people, is known to all.

what is thy countrey, and of what people art thou?] Notanda brevitas, ſaith Hierome here, Note the brevity of the[illegible: 1 letter]e queſtions, nothing ſhort of thoſe in Virgil ſo much admired.

—juvenes quae cauſa ſubegit Ignotas tentare vias? quò tenditis? inquit, Quod genus?V[illegible: 1 letter]rg. Aene. [illegible: 2 letters] unde domo? pacemne huc fertis, an arma?

Note alſo here, how theſe Pagans proceed not to execution, till they have fully inquired into the matter. This was farre better then that ugly cuſtome of ſome people in Europe, mentioned by Eneas Sylvius: that if any one amongſt them be ſuſpected of theft, or the like crime, he is preſently taken and hanged up. Then, three dayes after they examine the buſineſſe; and [illegible: 1 word] the party be found guilty, they ſuffer his body there to hang till it rot down: or if otherwiſe, they bury him in the Church-yard, [illegible: 1 word] Sy[illegible: 1 letter]. Europ. cap. 20. and keep a funeral-feaſt at the publike charge.