tower of faith on the destruction of a guilty race, and the renovation of mankind in the family of the preserved Patriarch, be it our endeavour to engrave upon the tablets of our hearts every circumstance of the solemn admonition; till beholding in the person and in the preservation of Him who was found faithful, a perfect delineation of Christ the true Noah, and of the salvation wrought by Him at his first advent, we carry our reflections onwards to the present state of our existence, to the things which shall befall us, and the earth on which we tread. And viewing, with suitable apprehension, the same scene which is now acting in the world, may we learn in time the things which belong unto our peace, and to provide against the same dreadful consummation, which will be fully and finally accomplished at Christ's second coming to judgment, at the approaching dissolution of the world by fire, and the preservation of the family of the faithful in the ark of his church.

Noah, says the Apostle, warned of GoD of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. That is, in the true spirit of faith, he acted upon the ma

nifestation of God's word unto him, as from the most convincing evidence. There were no visible appearances of nature, to warrant the belief of a flood; the sun rose and set as usual; the seasons returned at their appointed periods; and the affairs of the world went on in the same accustomed current. The subtle disputers also of those days, like the enlightened philosophers of these, were probably spending the time allotted to them for repentance and amendment, in deciding upon necessary causes and effects; or during the one hundred and twenty years, in which the Patriarch incessantly warned them of the impending desolation, and to flee from the wrath to come, instead of turning to their GOD, might be employing their infidel wit in ridiculing the poor man's credulity, and the visionary plan he had adopted, of saving himself and houshold, by building an ark with such toil and expence, to sail over the mountains. Even the few, who from the earnestness of the preacher, or some slight misgivings of conscience, could not shake off all apprehension of the dreadful consequences, should the prophecy prove true, like the wavering Christian

of the present day, might have said, Lord, I believe, and then gone their way; one to his farm, another to his merchandize or to his pleasures, waiting to see what the rest of the world would do; and composing themselves with the thought, that they should fare no worse than their neighbours.

With belief and practice thus at variance, and from an eagerness to fasten upon any shadow of consolation, every plausible objection would soon raise a doubt, or furnish demonstration. By some they would be convinced of the natural impracticability of the event. By others they might be questioned, and which, in minds thus disposed, would amount to the most satisfactory proof. Whether, allowing every thing to the power of God, it were consistent with his mercy, or reconcileable to his justice, to raise up such a goodly fabric in order to destroy it? Could any rational mind deem it credible, that a Being of infinite goodness should so signally punish a whole generation, whom He had formed for enjoyment, (and among whom, also, there must be different degrees of guilt, and some even incapable of offence) for trespassing

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a little, perhaps, beyond the bounds of moderation; or at worst, for pursuing their career of pleasure, in a few cases, to a culpable excess. Besides, with full allowance as to the corrupted state of the world, and stating the sum of its iniquity at the height of the most pious computation, was there not much to admire, much to revere in it? Were all its advances in knowledge, arts, and civilization, to be left out of the account? Were all the comforts of human invention no symptoms of improving happiness? And because of a little evil here and there, were they to be terrified with the superstitious dotage, that every vestige and form of this fair creation would be swept away into utter and endless ruin? Unwilling to deny, or borrowing a sort of security from such convincing arguments, they went on, as our Saviour tells us, eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day arrived when Noah entered into the ark, and the hour of conviction became to them the hour of destruction.

In spite of all this specious train of reasoning, (and which pretty much accords with the liberal opinions of the present day) the word of GOD

prevailed; the flood did come, as Noah had foretold; and the despised preacher of righteousness now alone found help and safety in the GOD of his salvation. His friends, his neighbours, and relations, who had either neglected, or presumptuously derided, his admonition, looked in vain to him for help! There was no hiding place, no refuge from the storm, but within the ark-and Gop had shut the door. The waters, which soon rose above the highest hills, bore all away with irresistible force; the day of acceptance was over, and the night of judgment closed in for ever on a corrupt and perverse generation! Thus Noah condemned the world, and thus, by confiding in and acting upon the promises of his GoD, he became, as the Apostle states, heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

But interesting as this dreadful narrative must appear, either as a striking monument of divine indignation, or as confirming the certainty of revelation on which our belief is founded, when from the prediction thus proclaimed, and thus fulfilled, we bring the mercy and judgments of our GOD into nearer comparison, it