fulfil his promises to all who trust in Jesus, our Redeemer! Christ is our ark of safety! "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." "The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge."

SECTION III.

NOAH AFTER THE FLOOD.

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

(Genesis ix. 8-11.)

AFTER an incessant increase of the waters of the flood during a hundred and fifty days, God in his merciful providence caused them to asswage. "The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; and the waters returned from off the earth continually and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated." (Gen. viii. 2, 3.) Thus it would be felt that the horror of the universal tempest from without had been calmed.

After about half as much more time, (that is, two months and a half,) the ark rested: its deep keel found a lodgement on the mountains of Ararat. Now, therefore, Noah would feel himself to be on firm ground once more.

Noah and his family were not, however, as yet to be set at liberty. Another two months and a half elapse ere the tops of the mountains become visible. Calculating now on the probable re-appearance of dry land pretty generally, Noah after forty days sends forth, first a raven; which returned not: then a dove, which returned to the ark, having found no rest for the sole of her foot. Then after seven days he sends forth the dove again, which returned in the evening with an olive-leaf pluckt, in her mouth. Once more, after other seven days, he sends forth the dove; which returned no more. Noah then removes the covering of the ark, and beholds the face of the ground dry. At length, after an abode in the ark of a year and seven days, he and his family go forth upon the earth.

What a scene of devastation must the new world have exhibited to Noah! Where are the fertile regions, the habitations of men, the fields and cities which he beheld but twelve months ago? They are succeeded by dreary pools and lakes, plains of slime, torrents, and volcanoes! These had probably destroyed the traces of every dwelling, and every work of man. And where are the earth's inhabitants themselves; those men of renown, the giants of former days, the sinners of the old world? All

* E

are sunk into silence and corruption: all gone to their account at the tribunal of God!-Noah and his family had their natural feelings as men: how then must they have been appalled, at the sight of this vast solitude! But, as servants of the Most High, they would adore both the justice which had doomed others, and the mercy which had spared |

them.

1. The first action of Noah, was, to Build an altar unto the Lord. "He took of every clean beast and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar." He had but a small stock of each kind, to select from: yet he freely sacrifices his best. It was a thank-offering, and a peace-offering. It was as much as to say-Thou hast been favourable unto thy servants! Lord, continue to be gracious; for we need thy blessing still! Save now, we beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity!

2. The next thing to be observed concerning this parent of the new world, is, his Acceptance at the hands of the Lord. "The Lord smelled a sweet savour:" that is, he favourably accepted this sacrifice. Noah and his family might now go forth, whether to their secular labours, or to their solemn religious services, with a comfortable assurance of God's blessing. His sacrifice was typical; shadowing forth the redemption of a perishing world, by the blood of Jesus.

3. To this, the Lord mercifully added an express Promise, assuring Noah and all his posterity, that

he would no more destroy the earth with a flood of waters but that he would continue the accustomed seasons to the end of time. "While the earth re

maineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease:" (Genesis viii. 22.) a promise, which has never failed, unto this day.

4. God gave, moreover, a beautiful token of this promise in the Rainbow.―This lovely object is often placed before our view in rainy weather. It speaks to the eye but for a few moments: yet in mild language it seems to bid us not fear, but put our trust in God. "The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. ix. 16.)

5. The next thing to be noticed is, God's declaration concerning the Corruption of human nature. The Lord most emphatically instructed the new race of mankind concerning this fundamental truth. Together with his promises he binds up this doctrine-" For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Such is the universal fact: there is no exception to it. This doctrine was stated before the flood. Had it been stated then only, it might have been imagined that it described the character of only the men of that age; whereas it is a true picture of men's hearts in all ages. The heart of man is the source of all the sins and miseries, which are to be deplored at all times, in every part of the world!

Our Lord Jesus Christ has stated the same truth in fuller terms. He declares, "From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Proofs enough soon occur, both in the case of Noah himself and in his family and descendants, that human nature was still corrupt.-Having planted a vineyard, and made wine, Noah was overtaken by the sin of drunkenness. One of his sons with an evil eye beheld the infirmity of his parent; and by his conduct on the occasion drew down a malediction on his posterity. In after times, men began to build the tower of Babel, which was intended to be a monument of their proud independency of God. The Scriptures have thus demonstrated beyond all contradiction, that "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." All are born in sin. The faults of holy men, like Noah, are impartially narrated in the Scriptures, expressly with a view to convince us that we have no perfect righteousness of our own, whereby we may be justified before God; but that all our hope must be in Christ:—and that we need daily the cleansing of the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit.

6. The history of Noah is intended to remind us of another truth, affecting the whole human race, from Adam to the last man: namely, that there is a future Day of Judgment, far more terrible in its conse

1