John Trapp on Jonah 2:8

Verſe 8. They that obſerve lying vanities] That liſten to ſenſe and reaſon in matters of God, and make proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof, as Ionah had done to his coſt, till, having payed for his learning, he deſcried them all to bee but lying vanities, or moſt vain vanities, emptie Nothings.

forſake their own mercy.] Are miſerable by their own election, becauſe ſinners (in a ſpeciall manner) againſt their own ſouls, as were Corab and his complices, Num. 16.38. as was Pope Silveſter, who gave his ſoul to the Devil for ſeven years enjoyment of the Popedome: and as are all thoſe wilfull wicked perſons, that refuſing to be reformed, and hating to be healed, chuſe to ſpend the ſpan of this life after the wayes of their own hearts, though they thereby periſh for ever. Theſe are thoſe fools of the people, that preferre an apple before Paradiſe, a meſſe of pottage before the inheritance of heaven, their ſwine before their Saviour, turning their backs upon thoſe bleſſed and bleeding embracements of his, and cruelly cutting the throats of their own poor ſouls, by an impenitent continuance in ſinne: ſo loſing, for a few bitter-ſweet pleaſures, or paltry profits in this vale of tears, for an inch of time, that fulneſſe of felicity at Gods right hand, thorough all eternity. It is written of them who tame the Tyger, that when they have taken away the young one, knowing that preſently they ſhall be purſued by the old Tygreſſe, they ſet looking-glaſſes in the way by which they flee: whereunto when ſhe cometh and ſeeth ſome repreſentation of her ſelf, ſhe lingreth about them a good ſpace, deceived by the ſhadow, and detained in a vain hope to recover the young againe: Mean-while the hunter moſt ſpeedily poſteth away with his prey. Semblably dealeth Satan with the men of this world (ſaith mine Authour) He caſts before them the deceitfull luſts of profit, pleaſure, and preferment (the worldlings Trinity) thoſe lying vanities, being none other then ſhadows and ſemblances of good: yet are men ſo delighted with theſe, that they dote about them, having no care to purſue the enemy, for recovery of that image of God, the Divine nature, that Satan hath beguiled them of. He ſetteth them to the tree of knowledge, that they may not taſte of the tree of life. He putteth out their eyes with the duſt of covetouſneſſe, and ſhutteth their ears againſt the inſtructions of life, leſt at any time they ſhould ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and ſhould underſtand with their hearts, and ſhould be converted, and God ſhould heal them, Mat. 13.15. In all which there is not any thing more to be lamented then this, that people ſhould love to have it ſo, Jer. 6.31. be active in their own utter undoing, Hoſ. 13.9. wittingly and willingly forſake God the fountain of living waters (their own mercies, as he is here called, and elſewhere, Pſal. 144.2.) and hew themſelves out ciſternes, broken ciſternes that can hold no water, Jer. 2.13.