one thousand years at the time of Noah's birth, it was probably then very full of inhabitants, for as the life of the fame man lafted often for eight or nine hundred years, many generations may be supposed to have flourished together. Adam himself was alive at the fame time with Noah's father, and he died only a fhort time before the birth of Noah, fo that our firft forefather must have seen a very numerous, and (what was extremely diftreffing) a very depraved pofterity. He must have beheld his children's children corrupting one another, and making a rapid progrefs in iniquity. It pleafed God, however, to preferve a chofen feed in the family of Seth, from whom alfo the Saviour was to come, of which line of defcendants it is faid, that " a bleffing was in it."

But did this peculiar feed all walk uprightly in the fight of God? Ah! how difficult it is to live unfpotted from the world! Even these were infected with the general corruption; and it seems as if the want of feparation between the profeffors of religion, and the open finners, had haftened the deftruction of the earth; for we read that "the fons of God," (by which those who seemed to be of the true religion are very naturally fuppofed by many to have been intended) "faw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took to them wives of all which they chose." A general carele ffnefs about the religious characler of thofe with whom the profeffors of religion intermarried, arifing from an unrestrained

affection for their perfons, appears to be given as a reafon why matters fo foon came to that dreadful pafs in which we are now to defcribe them. The few who retained the knowledge of God, probably difcovered little zeal, and were fcarcely to be diftinguifhed from others, or at leaft men were ftrangely drawn afide into worldly compliances.

But while fin was thus advancing with rapid ftrides, did not God notice, or behold it? Yes; he often made himself known in those days by figns and judgments; "My Spirit," he alfo fays, "fhall not always ftrive with man." It appears then, that the Spirit of God ftrives even with the most profligate finners; and, in another place, the "patience of God" is reprefented as "well nigh wearied out in the days of Noah." Yet behold his long-fuffering! Still he allows men a refpite of an hundred and twenty years, during which period he waits upon them with offers of mercy. He warns before he ftrikes, and thus proves that he "willeth not the death of the finner," and that his deftruction is of himfelf.

It is now faid, that "God faw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Is not this defcription too ftrong? Ought not fome further evidence of it be given? My answer is, "God faw it." The men themselves, no doubt, did not fee it, and if we could fuppofe them to have

had hiftorians of their own, thefe, no doubt, would not have mentioned it, but God's teftimony is better than that of a thoufand witneffes.

Such then being the ftate of mankind, whe can wonder to hear the determination of a holy God to destroy the earth with its inhabitants, and to leave a monument of his awful juftice for the warning and inftruction of every age that was to follow.

But are none exempted from this general charge of iniquity? Yes, here is an individual felected for our notice. It is faid that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." The most honorable teftimony is given of him in fcripture; he is faid to have been "a juft man, and perfect in his generations;" which does not mean that he was without fault, for we read in another place of his being actually overtaken by fin, but it means that he was a fincere or complete and confiftent character, uncorrupted by the wickednefs that prevailed in his own time. It is also faid in another place, that "he walked with God," he was mindful of him, accustomed to pray to him, regarding God in all he did; he was alfo zealous in his caufe, for he was "a preacher," as well as an example "of righteoufnefs;" and while the "long-fuffering of God" waited on the finners around him, Noah was raifed up for the fpecial purpose of inftructing and rebuking them, and warning them of their approaching deftruction.

But while we admire his undaunted courage,

let us afk ourselves whether we are equally courageous in the fame caufe, and while we com-1 mend Noah for renouncing and reproving the works of darkness, though licenfed by general custom, whether we equally renounce and reprove the evils which are now commonly practifed. If the fashion of the times will justify us, furely it might have justified Noah alfo.

But let us next speak of the period of the deluge, and of the favor fhewn to this eminent perfon. God condefcended to reveal to him the tremendous purpose of deftroying all flesh by a flood of water; "faying unto Noah, the end of all flesh is before me;" yet he enters into cove nant with him, to fave him and his little family from the general ruin.

The method of deliverance, with all the circumftances of it, was of divine appointment. The Lord himfelf directed Noah to prepare an ark of immenfe fize, which might contain his houfehold, and a small remnant of all other creatures, for the prefervation of their different fpecies. In this building the various animals, with fufficient provifion for their fupport, were to ride in fafety, while one common defolation fwept away the inhabitants of the earth, with all its furniture.

Behold then the faith and obedience of Noah, for which he is mentioned as a bright example to all fucceeding ages! An infpired writer has told us, that "he believed God." "By faith, Noah being warned of God, of things not feen

as yet, prepared an ark to the faving of his houfe, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteoufnefs which is by faith."

Methinks I fee him with ftedfaft countenance and determined ftep, proceeding amidst the profane ridicule of furrounding multitudes; to prepare materials for the ark, and to engage work. men in this ftrange and arduous employment, while at the fame time he reproves that wicked generation, warns them of their danger, and denounces, if they repent not, the approaching judgments of God upon them. Inftead of refpecting his faith, they smile at his credulity, and fcornfully turn away from this venerable man ́ of God. Year after year, however, he pursues his work. Year after year they taunt him with his folly, and amufe themfelves with overlooking the vaft building as it proceeds. "Surely," fay they, "he is a man of a strange fancy, or of a gloomy imagination, or of a difturbed brain; he is forward, troublesome and cenforious, always reprefenting our conduct in the most wicked and abominable light." The world, they infift, is not fo wicked as he pretends. Fathers and children join in deriding him. High and low, rich and poor, men and maidens, equally forgetful of God, and worldly and unbelieving, comfort, each other that they are in the right, and that fuch a goodly multitude as they feem to make, cannot be altogether wicked, and expofed to one general judgment.