It is here worthy of obfervation, that the common order of the world does not feem to have been overthrown at the time of which we are fpeaking, for it is very poffible, for the frame of fociety to be held together, even when the irreligion and corruption of man is extremely great. It is true, indeed, we read "that the earth was filled with violence;" for when the paffions of men are not reftrained by religion, much violence, both in their language and conduct, is apt to follow of courfe. One chief feature in their character, appears, however, to be their being quite fwallowed up by the pleafures and concerns of this life; for the scripture fpeaks of them at that time, as eating and drinking, and marrying, and being given in marriage; evidently implying, that their whole time and thoughts were engaged in thofe things, and that by the means of these they were led to forget God, and to neglect the warnings which were fent unto them.

Let us next view Noah entering into the ark, according to the commandment which God had given him: "He, and his fons, and his fons' wives, because of the waters of the flood; of beafs alfo, and of fowls, and of creeping things, there went in two and two, male and female, as God commanded Noah. And it came to pafs, after feven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth, and all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."

But while we accompany Noah into the ark, let us turn our eyes to the multitudes who remained without, of whom no doubt he took his. leave, with many painful fenfations.

What a wonderful and tremendous fcene! Oh! the lamentations and bitter cries of thoufands now perifhing by that very calamity, the kind notices of which, they had refufed to attend to, or had prefumptuously derided. Many of Noah's dear relations were included in this number. What anguifh muft he have felt for them; but in vain! they had defpifed his warning, their day of grace was paft, and he could afford them no relief.

And now the rain overflows the meadows, and the whole mnltitude, feek, no doubt, the rifing ground; but the waters increase upon them. A few, probably, reach the mountains, and they trust that, at leaft, the higheft rocks on the mountain tops fhall fave them. "But the

waters prevail exceedingly, and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beaft, and of every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth, and every man; and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark."

It is no unimportant remark, that the truth of this story, of which we have thus given the plain fcriptural account, is confirmed by a variety of

ftriking circumftances, not neceffary here to be mentioned; and alfo by the feveral traditions of various and diftant nations, differing, indeed, in their religion, but agreeing in their account of an ancient general déluge.

And should we not feel terror for ourselves, while we contemplate these effects of the divine vengeance? Who can ftand before this holy . Lord God? We fee here, that the God who threatens, will alfo execute his threatenings, and that though hand join in hand, the wicked fhall not go unpunished.

But a pleafing profpect opens itself to righteous Noah, "for God remembered Noah, and every living thing with him in the ark, and made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters were affuaged, and the ark refted on the mountains of Ararat; and in the tenth month, the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains feen." Noah now fends forth a raven, and afterwards a dove, from the window of the ark; but "the dove," as yet, "could find no reft for the fole of her foot, and returned into the ark;" and again, "after other feven days, he fends forth the dove" again. "And the dove came into him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off, so that Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth." What a pleafing confidence would he now feel of his deliverance! Whereever indeed he turned his eyes, he would fee the devaftation which fin had made; nor can

he be fuppofed to have reflected, without un-utterable anguish, on the multitudes that had perifhed in their iniquities; yet a sense of gratitude for his own wonderful efcape, feems to have overpowered him, and to have swallowed up, for the time, every other concern. He begins the new duties of the life which had been preferved to him, by an act of folemn worship to his preferver.

66 Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beaft, and offered burnt offerings on the altar."

Sacrifices, no doubt, had been originally appointed by God, for the fake of fhewing forth that great atonement, which, in due time, was to be made through the facrifice of Jefus Chrift, "that lamb of God, which taketh away the fins of the world," by whofe blood, and not by the blood of bulls and goats, the iniquities of men were to be pardoned, and the true worshippers were to be brought nigh to God.

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And the Lord faid, "I will not again curfe the ground any more for man's fake, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, neither will I again fmite any more every living thing as I have done. maineth, feed time and heat, and fummer and night fhall not cease.

While the earth reharveft, and cold and winter, and day and

"And God faid, I do fet my bow in the cloud, and it fhall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it fhall come to pass,

that when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlafting covenant between God and every living creature of all flefh that is on the earth."

Thus were the tokens of God's mercy given immediately after He had been difplaying his most awful vengeance, and if we are walking in he fteps of Noah, we may look on the rainbow, even to this day, with confidence and joy, because it is a fign of fecurity, not from a flood of waters only, but from all the effects of the wrath of God. It is fpoken of in the book of Revelations, as the peculiar emblem which furrounds our Saviour; for when he is defcribed as "fitting on his throne," it is faid, "there was a rainbow round about the throne," implying, that as God was true to his promise made to Noah, both delivering him from a flood of waters, and no more drowning the world for the fins of meh, fo alfo would be be true to that everlasting covenant, made through Jefus Chrift, who is indeed the Saviour as is promifed in the Scripture, of those who put their trust in him.

And it is faid in like manner in Ifaiah, for the comfort of each individual, who shall be found among God's faithful people; "for this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have fworn that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over the earth, fo have I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee. For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kind