John Trapp on Jonah 2:1

CHAP. II.

Verſe. 1. THen Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God] i. e. Praiſed God with this Canticum euchariſticum, this gratulatory ſong as Tremellius calleth it. That he prayed in the ſhip, in the ſea, in the whales belly, we doubt not; but that he chiefly intendeth to ſhew his thankfulneſſe for the return of prayers, and the ſweet ſupport he felt in the whales belly, we do as little doubt; See ver. 2, 6, 7. yea that this was the ſubſtance (though now better methodized) of what he praied and praiſed in the bowels of the fiſh, we have cauſe to beleeve from this very verſe: and therefore alſo his deliverance is ſet down ver. 10. after his doxologie. The word here rendred pray'd ſignifieth alſo ſometimes, to give thanks, as 1 Sam 2.2. and who knowes not that thankſgiving is a ſpeciall part of prayer? This therefore: Jonah having prayed, and perceiving that he was heard, and by the goodneſſe of God preſerved ſafe in body, and ſound in mind, he growes ſtrong in faith, Rom. 4. giving glory to God: and being fully perſwaded that he ſhould yet walk before him againe in the land of the living.

out of the fiſhes belly] where though he might ſeem buried alive, and free among the dead, yet he enjoyed Gods gracious preſence, and thoſe ſtrong conſolations, that made him live in the very mouth of death, and ſay in effect as bleſſed Bradford did,Act & Mon. fol. 1476. I thank God more of this priſon and of this dark dungeon then of any parlour, yea then of any pleaſure that ever I had. For in it I find God my moſt ſweet God alwayes.