the ark, having first assigned to every living creature its place: and then "God shut him in :" and on that very day the rain descended, and the flood commenced, which speedily reached above the highest mountains, and destroyed every living creature from the face of the earth.]

Verily this obedience was of a most exalted character

[It shewed how firmly he believed the divine testimony, whilst yet there was not only no symptom of any such calamity, but no conceivable mode by which the threatened judgment could be inflicted. It shewed how much he stood in awe of God; and how determined he was, whilst yet the means of safety were within his reach, to avail himself of the opportunity that was afforded him, lest he also should be involved in the general ruin. It shewed, too, how boldly he faced reproach, when cast upon him for executing the divine commands. Had such a conduct been called for during the space of a few days only, we should have been the less asto

nished at it: but when it continued without intermission or abatement for the space of 120 years, we cannot but reckon it amongst the sublimest acts of obedience ever rendered unto God by fallen man.]

But in perfect accordance with this, is,

II. The obedience required of us

1. The danger to which we are exposed is similar—

[God has declared that he will call the whole world into judgment; and that in that day "the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." We see not, indeed, any preparation for such a judgment; and are ready to think that it never can be executed. But God has denounced it against the whole world; and executed it shall be, whether men will believe it or not. Multitudes who assisted in building the ark, would not believe the declarations of God, till the threatened judgments were inflicted: and so it is with

Multitudes laugh at the threatenings of God; and will continue to do so, till their day of grace shall have passed, and the wrath of God shall fall upon them to the uttermost.]

2. The means provided for our escape are similar—

[God has provided an ark for us-even his only dear Son; an ark, into which all who believe shall be admitted, but which will speedily be closed against the unbelieving world. Many think it altogether absurd to imagine that such an ark is provided for us: they would prefer one of their own

a Ps. ix. 17.

constructing, and for which their own good works shall afford the materials. To enter into Christ by faith, and to look for salvation through faith in him, is in their eyes an unsuitable device and it is derided accordingly, as an indication of weakness and folly. But this, after all, will be found "the wisdom of God," yea, and "the power of God unto salvation also to all them that embrace it.]

3. The distinction that will be made between the believing and unbelieving world will also be similar—

[Of those who believed the testimony of Noah, not one perished: of those that disbelieved it, not one was saved. And so it will be at the last day. Those who are "found in Christ," will be monuments of God's sparing mercy; whilst those who have neglected and despised him, will be monuments of his righteous indignation for ever and ever.]

To dilate more, either on the original fact, or on its typical adaptation to our circumstances, will not be necessary: the whole taken together in one combined view will be found, I apprehend, more instructive. LEARN then, from the whole,

1. The office of faith

[It was to his faith that Noah's conduct on this occasion must be ascribed. He did not reason on the subject that was revealed to him. He did not say, How can such a deluge be produced? or, How can it be supposed that a merciful God should exercise such severity? or, How can it be hoped, that, if all the rest of the world be destroyed, any vessel that I can build will preserve me? It is probable that others argued thus: but he believed, and acted upon, the divine testimony. Now it is precisely in that way that we must exercise faith in the divine records. We are not to argue, How can it be, that any should be punished with endless torments in hell? or, that so great a part of mankind should be doomed to that fate? or, that a simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be sufficient to deliver those, who without such faith must inevitably perish? We are to give credit to the divine testimony; and to assure ourselves, that whatever God has spoken shall surely come to pass; that "he who believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; and that he who believeth not, shall be damned."] 2. The necessity of fear

[By this also was Noah actuated; and under the influence of it he prepared the ark". And if we believe God's threatenings against sin and sinners, how can we but fear? The c Heb. xi. 7.

b Heb. xi. 7.

wrath of God is not to be disregarded, as a matter of no concern: no, in truth, it becomes us to tremble at it, and to flee from it with all imaginable earnestness. Well would it have

been for them, if the people whom he warned had feared also: but, because they would not fear, they perished. So will it be with us also. It shall surely be found a truth at last, that "he who, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without a remedy."]

3. The benefit of obedience

[Here you behold with your eyes what shall be again realized in the day of judgment. Behold Noah for 120 years an object of universal derision, but now, with his family, borne above the waves in perfect safety, whilst all the rest of the world, not excepting the very builders of the ark, are overwhelmed in one common destruction! Thus let the ungodly world laugh at piety now, if they will: but such will be the issue of their contemptuous proceedings, when those who were the objects of their scorn will be honoured by their God, and be saved with an everlasting salvation. "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings: but woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him."]

d Matt. xxiv. 37-39.

e Prov. xxix. 1. Compare 2 Pet. ii. 5, 9. f Isai. iii. 10, 11.

Gen. vii. 1.

XVI.

PRESERVATION OF NOAH.

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou, and all thy house, into the ark.

THE Church of God has frequently been at so low an ebb, that its existence cannot now be traced. There have been times, even since the promulgation of Christianity, when the righteous have been but few they appear to us indeed much fewer than they really were: and, if we had authentic records respecting them, as we have concerning the Jews, it is probable that we should find several thousand worshippers of Jehovah for one whose name has been transmitted to us. But in the patriarchal ages we are

a 1 Kings xix. 14, 18.

certain that the knowledge of God was very limited: yea, so universal was the degeneracy of man before the flood, that piety was confined to one single family: nor were all of them truly religious, though for their parents' sake they were all made partakers of the same deliverance. The history before us presents to our view a most distressing scene; a world of sinners doomed to destruction; and the only righteous family in the world selected out of them, to be monuments of God's sparing mercy. The account given of Noah in the text will lead us to shew,

I. The provision made for his security

Righteousness is universally an object of God's regard and though it is not meritorious in his sight so as to justify men before him, yet is it so pleasing and acceptable to him, that he will on account of it bestow many temporal blessings, and in the eternal world will confer a more exalted state of glory. On account of his eminent piety, God distinguished Noah, and instructed him to make an ark for the saving of himself and his household.

This ark was typical of the Church of Christ. St. Peter compares it with baptism, by which we are initiated into the Church; and tells us, that as Noah was saved by his admission into the one, so are we by our introduction into the other".

To mark the resemblance between the type and antitype, we may observe that the ark was,

1. Divinely appointed

[As the Tabernacle in the time of Moses, so the Ark in Noah's time, was made according to a pattern devised by God himself.

Noah never could have thought of constructing such a vessel himself: the suggestion originated with God: the model for it was given by God: nor was even the smallest part of it left to be formed after man's device.

And who among the sons of men ever conceived the idea of saving man through the incarnation and death of God's onlybegotten Son? Who could ever have imagined that Jehovah's

b Ezek. ix. 4. with 1 Tim. iv. 8. See the words following the text.

d 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21.

Fellow should become a man; that He should submit to this degradation, yea, moreover should endure the accursed death of the cross, for the purpose of reconciling us to his offended. Father, and of "gathering together into one body all things both in heaven and on earth?" Who, I ask, would have ever thought of forming a church in such a way, and of saving man by such means? The whole plan bears the stamp and character of a divine origin, according to what is said by the Apostle, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."]

2. Wisely framed—

[The ark, it must be confessed, did not accord with those principles of navigation which obtain amongst us: it was defective in some of the most essential points: it had no mast, no sails, no rudder. But it was so constructed as to convince all who were saved in it, that their salvation was of God alone, and that to him alone was all the glory due. At the same time it was so formed, that every creature in it found ample accommodation.

The Church too is constituted far otherwise than human wisdom would have framed it. Man would have left room for the display of his own skill, and for the establishment of his own righteousness. He would not have chosen to stand indebted wholly to the righteousness of another: that is too offensive to his natural pride: it is "to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness." To have no sails or rudder left for him to manage, would be disgusting; because it would necessitate him to feel his entire dependence on God, and to acknowledge, that "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercyh." Yet in all these things God's wisdom is displayed. This way of salvation is justly called, "the wisdom of God, and the power of God." It cuts off all possible occasion for boasting, and compels us to say, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise." At the same time it is the most suitable that can possibly be imagined. While the moral and discreet are constrained to seek refuge in Christ, the vilest prodigal is not left to despair of mercy: he may enter in at the same door with others, and participate the salvation which God has provided for him.]

3. Richly furnished

f Eph. ii. 8. Touro, it should seem, refers rather to the sentiment

expressed, than to míoris, which is of the feminine gender.

g 1 Cor. i. 23.

k Rom. iii. 27.

h Rom. ix. 16.

i 1 Cor. i. 24.