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10 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Philosophy and Faith

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Chapter seven. In this chapter we have the performance of what was foretold in
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the foregoing chapter, both concerning the destruction of the Old world and the salvation
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of Noah, for we may be sure that no word of God shall fall
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to the ground. There we left Noah busy about his ark and full of
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care to get it finished in time, while the rest of his neighbors were
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laughing at him for his pains. Now Here we see what was the end
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thereof the end of his care and of their carelessness. And this famous period
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of the Old world gives us some idea of the state of things when the
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world that now is shall be destroyed by fire, as that was by water
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see Second Peter three, Verses six and seven. We have in this chapter
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numeral one God's gracious call to Noah to come into the ark verse one,
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and to bring the creatures that were to be preserved alive along with him Verses
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two and three. In consideration of the deluge hand verse four, numeral two.
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Noah's obedience to this heavenly vision verse five. When he was six hundred
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years old, he came with his family into the arc verse six and seven,
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and brought the creatures along with him verses eight nine, on account of
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which is repeated verses thirteen through sixteen, to which has added God's tender care
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to shut him in Numeral three. The coming of the threatened deluge verse ten.
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The causes of it verse eleven and twelve, The prevalency of it Verses
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seventeen through twenty Numeral four, The dreadful desolations that were made by it in
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the death of every living creature upon Earth except those that were in the ark
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Verses twenty one through twenty three, Numeral five. The continuance of it in
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full sea before it began to ebb. One hundred and fifty days verse twenty
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four. Noah invited into the arc b c. Twenty three forty nine,
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Verses one through four, and the Lord said, unto Noah, come thou
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and all thy house into the Ark. For THEE have I seen righteous before
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me in this generation. Of every clean beast, thou shalt take to THEE
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by sevens the male and his female, and of beasts that are not clean,
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by two the male and his female. Of fowls, also of the
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air, by sevens the male and the female. To keep seed alive upon
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the face of all the earth for yet seven days, and I will cause
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it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living
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substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
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Here is Numeral one, a gracious invitation of Noah and his family into
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a place of safety, now that the flood of waters was coming. Verse
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one, number one. The call itself is very kind, like that of
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a tender father to his children, to come indore when he sees night or
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a storm coming. Come thou and all thy house, that small family that
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thou hast into the ark. Observe Subscript one. Noah did not go into
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the ark till God bade him, though he knew it was designed for his
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place of refuge. Yet he waited for a renewed command and had it.
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It is very comfortable to follow the calls of providence and to see God going
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before us in every step we take. Subscript two. God does not bid
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him go into the ark, but come into it, implying that God would
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go with him, would lead him into it, accompany him in it,
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and in due time bring him safely out of it. Note, wherever we
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are, it is very desirable to have the presence of God with us.
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For this is all in all to the comfort of every condition. It was
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this that made Noah's Ark, which was a prison, to be to him
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not only a refuge but a palace. Subscript three. Noah had taken a
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great deal of pains to build the Ark, and now he was himself preserved
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alive in it. Note what we do in obedience to the command of God
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and in faith, we ourselves shall certainly have the comfort of first or last.
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Subscript four. Not he only, but his house also his wife and
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children are called with him into the Ark. Note it is good to belong
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to the family of a godly man. It is safe and comfortable to dwell
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under such a shadow. One of Noah's sons was Ham, who proved afterwards
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a bad man. Yet he was saved in the Ark, which intimates sub
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point one that wicked children often fare the better for the sake of their godly
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parents. Sub Point two that there is a mixture of good with bad in
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the best societies on earth, and we are not to think it strange.
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In Noah's family there was a Ham, and in Christ's family there was a
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Judas there is no perfect purity on this side heaven. Subscript five. This
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call to Noah was a type of the call which the Gospel gives to poor
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sinners. Christ is an ark already prepared in whom alone we can be safe
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when death and judgment come. Now the burden of the song is come.
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Come. The Word says come, Ministers say come. The Spirit says,
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come, Come into the ark. Number two. The reason for this invitation
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is a very honorable testimony to Noah's integrity. For THEE have I seen righteous
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before me in this generation? Observe Subscript one those are righteous, indeed,
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that are righteous before God, that have not only the form of godliness by
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which they appear righteous before men, who may easily be imposed upon, but
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the power of it by which they approve themselves to God, who searches the
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heart and cannot be deceived in men's characters. Subscript two. God takes notice
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of and is pleased with those that are righteous before him. THEE have I
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seen in a world of wicked people? God could see one righteous Noah.
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That single grain of wheat could not be lost, No, not in so
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great a heap of chaff. The Lord knows those that are his. Subscript
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three. God that is a witness to will shortly be a witness for his
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people's integrity. He that sees it will proclaim it before angels and men to
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their immortal honor. Those that obtain mercy to be righteous shall obtain witness that
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they are righteous. Subscript four. God is in a special manner pleased with
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those that are good in bad times and places. Noah was therefore illustriously righteous,
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because he was so in that wicked and adulterous generation. Subscript five.
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Those that keep themselves pure in times of common iniquity, God will keep safe
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in times of common calamor. Those that partake not with others in their sins,
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shall not partake with them in their plagues. Those that are better than
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others are, even in this life, safer than others, and it is
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better with them. Numeral two. Here are necessary orders given concerning the brute
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creatures that were to be preserved alive with Noah in the Ark Verses two and
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three. They were not capable of receiving the warning and directions themselves, as
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Man was, who herein is taught more than the beasts of the earth,
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and made wiser than the fowls of heaven. That he is endued with the
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power of foresight. Therefore man is charged with the care of them. Being
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under his dominion, they must be under his protection. And though he could
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not secure every individual, yet he must carefully preserve every species that no tribe
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know not the least considerable, might entirely perish out of the creation. Observe
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in this Number one God's care for man for his comfort and benefit. We
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do not find that Noel was solicitous of himself about this matter. But God
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consults our happiness more than we do ourselves. Though God saw that the old
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world was very provoking, and foresaw that the new one would be little better,
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yet he would preserve the brute creatures for man's use. Doth God take
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care for Oxen First Corinthians nine, verse nine, Or was it not rather
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for man's sake that this care was taken? Number two. Even the unclean
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beasts, which were least valuable and profitable, were preserved alive in the ark.
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For God's tender mercies are over all his works, and not over those
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only that are of most eminence and use. Number three. Yet more of
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the clean were preserved than of the unclean. Subscript one, because the clean
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were most for the service of man, and therefore, in favor to him,
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more of them were preserved and are still propagated. Thanks be to God.
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There are not herds of lions as there are of oxen, nor flocks
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of tigers as there are of sheep. Subscript two. Because the clean were
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for sacrifice to God, and therefore in honor to him, more of them
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were preserved, three couple for breed, and the odd seventh for sacrifice.
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Chapter eight, Verse twenty. God gives us six for one in earthly things,
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as in the distribution of the days of the week, that in spiritual
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things we should be all for him. What is devoted to God's honor and
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used in his service is particularly blessed and increased. Numeral three. Here is
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notice given of the now imminent approach of the flood. Yet seven days and
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I will cause it to reign Verse four, Number one. It shall be
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seven days yet before I do it, after the one hundred and twenty years
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had expired. God grants them a reprieve of seven days longer, both to
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show how slow he is to anger, and that punishing work is his his
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strange work, and also to give them some further space for repentance, but
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all in vain. These seven days were trifled away. After all the rest
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they continued, secure and sensual, until the day that the flood came.
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Number two. It shall be but seven days. While Noah told them of
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the judgment at a distance, they were tempted to put off their repentance,
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because the vision was for a great while to come. But now he is
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ordered to tell them that it is at the door that they have but one
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week more to turn them in, but one sabbath more to improve, to
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see if that will now at last awaken them to consider the things that belong
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to their peace, which otherwise will soon be hidden from their eyes. But
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it is common for those that have been careless of their souls during the years
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of their health, when they have looked upon death at a distance, to
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be as careless during the days, the seven days of their sickness, when
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they see it approaching their hearts, being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
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The deluge b. C. Twenty three, forty nine, Verses five through
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ten. And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. And
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Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
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And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and
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his son's wives with him into the ark. Because of the waters of the
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flood, of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and
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of fowls, and of everything that creepeth upon the earth. There went in
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two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female,
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as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days that
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the waters of the flood were upon the earth. Here is Noah's ready obedience
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to the commands that God gave him. Observe Number one. He went into
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the ark upon notice that the flood would come after seven days, though probably
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as yet there appeared no visible sign of its approach, no cloud arising that
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threatened it, nothing done towards it, but all continued serene and clear.
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For as he prepared the ark by faith in the warning given that the flood
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would come, so he went into it by faith in this warning that it
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would come quickly, though he did not see that the second causes had yet
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begun to work. In every step he took, he walked by faith and
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not by sense. During these seven days. It is likely he was settling
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himself and his family in the ark, and distributing the creatures into their several
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apartments. This was the conclusion of that visible sermon which he had long been
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preaching to his careless neighbors, and which one would think might have awakened them,
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but not obtaining that desired end, it left their blood upon their own
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heads. Number Two, he took all his family along with him, his
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wife to be his companion and comfort. Though it should seem that after this
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he had no children by her, his sons and his sons wives, that
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by them, not only his family, but the world of mankind might be
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built up. Observe, though men were to be reduced to so small a
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number, and it would be very desirable to have the world speedily repeopled.
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Yet Noah's sons were each of them to have but one wife, which strengthens
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the argument against having many wives, For from the beginning of this new world
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it was not so as at first God made so. Now he kept alive
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but one woman for one man see Matthew nineteen, Verses four and eight.
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Number three, The brute creatures readily went in with him the same hand that
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at first brought them to Adam to be named. Now brought them to Noah
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to be preserved. The ox now knew his owner, and the ass his
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protector's grib Nay, even the wildest creatures flocked to it. But man had
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become more brutish than the brutes themselves, and did not know, did not
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consider Isaiah one, verse three, Verses eleven and twelve. In the six
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hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of
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the month. The same day, were all the fountains of the great deep
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broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain was
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upon the earth forty days and forty nights. Here is numeral one, the
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date of this great event. This is carefully recorded for the greater certainty of
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the story. Number one. It was in the six hundredth year of Noah's
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life, which by computation appears to be one thousand, six hundred fifty six
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years from the creation. The years of the old world are reckoned not by
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the reigns of the giants, but the lives of the patriarchs saints are of
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more account with God than princes. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance
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Noah was now a very old man, even as men's years went. Then
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note subscript one. The longer we live in this world, the more we
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see of the miseries and calamities of it. It is therefore spoken of as
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the privilege of those that die young, that their eyes shall not see the
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evil which is coming. Second Kings twenty two, Verse twenty Subscript two.
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Sometimes God exercises his old servants with extraordinary trials of obedient patience. The oldest
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of Christ's soldiers must not promise themselves a discharge from their warfare till death discharge
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them. Still, they must gird on their harness, and not boast as
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though they had put it off. As the year of the deluge is recorded,
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so number two, we are told that it was in the second month,
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the seventeenth day of the month, which is reckoned to be about the
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beginning of November, so that Noah had had a harvest just before from which
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to victual his ark Numeral two. The second causes that concurred to this deluge
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observe number one. In the self same day that Noah was fixed in the
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ark, the inundation began Note subscript one, desolating judgments come not till God
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has provided for the security of his own people. Chapter nineteen, verse twenty
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two. I can do nothing till thou become thither. And we find Revelation
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seven, verse three that the winds are held till the servants of God are
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sealed. Subscript two. When good men are removed, judgments are not far
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off, for they are taken away from the evil to come. Isaiah fifty
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seven, verse one. When they are called into the chambers hidden in the
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grave, hidden in heaven, then God is coming out of his place to
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punish Isaiah twenty six, Verses twenty and twenty one. Number two. See
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what was done on that day, that fatal day to the world of the
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ungodly Subscript one. The fountains of the Great Deep were broken up. Perhaps
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there needed no new creation of waters what were already made to be in the
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common course of providence. Blessings to the earth were now, by an extraordinary
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act of divine power, made the ruin of it. God has laid up
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the deep in storehouses Psalm thirty three, verse seven. And now he broke
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up those stores, as their bodies have in themselves. Those humors which,
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when God pleases become the seeds and springs of mortal diseases. So the earth
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had in it bowels those waters, which, at God's command sprang up and
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flooded it. God had in the creation set bars and doors to the waters
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of the sea, that they might not return to cover the earth some one
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hundred and four verse nine, Job thirty eight, verses nine through eleven.
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And now he only removed those ancient landmarks, mounds, and fences, and
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the waters of the sea returned to cover the earth as they had done at
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first. Chapter one, verse nine. Note all the creatures are ready to
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fight against sinful man, and any of them is able to be the instrument
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of his ruin, if God do but take off the restraints by which they
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are held in. During the day of God's patience Subscript two, the windows
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of heaven were opened, and the waters which were above the firmament were poured
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out upon the world those treasures which God has reserved against the time of trouble.
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The day of battle and war Job thirty eight, Verses twenty two and
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twenty three. The rain, which ordinarily descends in drops, then came down
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in streams or spouts, as they call them in the indies, where clouds
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have been often known to burst, as they express it there when the rain
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descends in a much more violent torrent than we have ever seen. In the
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Greatest shower. We read Job twenty six, verse eight, that God binds
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up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under
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them. But now the bond was loosed, the cloud was rent, and
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such rains descended as were never known before nor since, in such abundance and
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of such continuance. The thick cloud was not, as ordinarily it is,
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wearied with waterings Job thirty seven, verse eleven. That is soon spent and
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exhausted. But still the clouds returned after the rain, and the divine power
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brought in fresh recruits. It rained without intermission or abatement, forty days and
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forty nights verse twelve. And that upon the whole earth at once, not
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as sometimes upon one city and not upon another. God made the world in
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six days, but he was forty days in destroying it, for he is
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slow to anger. But though the destruction came slowly and gradually, yet it
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came effectually. Number three. Now learn from this subscript one that all the
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creatures are at God's disposal, and that he makes what use he pleases of
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them, whether for correction or for his land, or for mercy. As
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a lie who speaks of the rain Job thirty seven, verses twelve and thirteen.
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Subscript two that God often makes that which should be for our welfare to
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become a trap Psalm sixty nine, verse twenty two. That which usually is
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a comfort and benefit to us becomes when God pleases a scourge and a plague.
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To us. Nothing is more needful nor useful than water, both the
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springs of the earth and the showers of heaven. And yet now nothing was
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more hurtful, nothing more destructive. Every creature is to us what God makes
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it. Subscript three that it is impossible to escape the righteous judgments of God
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when they come against sinners with commission, for God can arm both heaven and
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earth against them see Job twenty, verse twenty seven. God can surround men
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with the messengers of His wrath, so that if they look upwards, it
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is with horror and amazement. If they look to the earth, behold trouble
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and darkness. Isaiah eight, verses twenty one and twenty two. Who then
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is able to stand before God? When he is angry. Subscript four.
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In this destruction of the old world by water, God gave a specimen of
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the final destruction of the world that is now by fire. We find the
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apostle setting the one of these over against the other. Second Peter three,
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Verses six and seven. As there are waters under the earth, so Etna,
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Vesuvius, and other volcanoes proclaimed the world that there are subterraneous fires too,
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and fire often falls from heaven. Many desolations are made by lightning,
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so that when the time predetermined comes between these two fires, the earth and
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all the works therein shall be burnt up. As the flood was brought upon
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the old world out of the fountains of the Great Deep and through the windows
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of Heaven Verses thirteen through sixteen. In the self same day entered Noah and
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Shem and Ham and Jaypeth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife,
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and the three wives of his sons with them into the ark. They and
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every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and
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every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl
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after his kind, every bird of every sort, And they went in unto
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Noah into the Ark two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath
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of life. And they that went in went in, male and female of
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all flesh, as God God had commanded him, and the Lord shut him
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in. Here is repeated what was related before of Noah's entrance into the Ark
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with his family and creatures that were marked for preservation now Numeral one. It
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is thus repeated for the honor of Noah, whose faith and obedience Heroin shone
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so brightly, by which he obtained a good report, and who herein appeared
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so great a favorite of Heaven, and so great a blessing to this earth.
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Numeral two. Notice is here taken of the beasts going in, each
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after his kind, according to the phrase used in the History of the Creation
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chapter one, Verses twenty one through twenty five, to intimate that just as
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many kinds as were created at first were saved now and no more, and
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that this preservation was as a new creation, a life remarkably protected, is
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as it were a new life Numeral three. Though all enmities and hostilities between
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the creatures ceased for the present and ravenous creatures were not only so mild innat
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manageable as that the wolf and the lamb lay down together, but so strangely
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altered as that the lion did eat straw like an ox Isaiah eleven, verses
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six and seven. Yet when this occasion was over, the restraint was taken
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off, and they were still of the same kind as ever, for the
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Ark did not alter their constitution. Hypocrites in the church that externally conformed.
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The laws of that Ark may yet be unchanged, and then it will appear
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one time or other what kind they are. After numeral four, it is
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added, and the circumstance deserves our notice. The Lord shut him in verse
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sixteen. As Noah continued his obedience to God. So God continued his care
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of Noah. And here it appeared to be a very distinguishing care, for
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the shutting of this door set up a partition wall between him and all the
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world. Besides, God shut the door number one to secure him and keep
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him safe in the Ark. The door must be shut very close lest the
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waters should break in and sink the Ark, and very fast lest any without
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should break it down. Thus God made up Noah as he makes up his
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jewels. Malachi three, verse seventeen number two, to exclude all others and
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keep them forever out. Hitherto the door of the Ark stood open. And
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if any even during the last seven days, had repented and believed for aught,
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I know they might have been welcomed into the Ark. But now the
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door was shut, and they were cut off from all hopes of admittance.
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For God shutteth and none can open Numeral five. There is much of our
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gospel duty and privilege to be seen in Noah's preservation in the Ark. The
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apostle makes it a type of our baptism, that is, our Christianity.
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First Peter three, Verses twenty and twenty one. Observe then number one.
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It is our great duty, in obedience to the gospel call by a lively
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faith in Christ, to come into that way of salvation which God had provided
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for poor sinners. When Noah came into the Ark, he quitted his own
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house and lands. So must we quit our own righteousness and our worldly possessions
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whenever they come into competition with Christ. Noah must for a while submit to
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the confinements and inconveniences of the Ark in order to his preservation for a new
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world. So those that come into Christ to be saved by him must deny
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themselves, both in sufferings and services. Number two, those that come into
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the Ark themselves should bring as many as they can in with them, by
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good instructions, by persuasions, and by a good example. What knowest thou,
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o man, But thou mayest thus save thy wife for Corinthians seven,
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verse sixteen, as Noah did his. There is room enough in Christ for
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all comers. Number three, those that by faith come into Christ the Ark
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shall by the power of God be shut in and kept as in a stronghold,
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by the power of God. First Peter one, verse five. God
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put Adam into Paradise, but he did not shut him in, and so
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he threw himself out. But when he put Noah into the Ark, he
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shut him in. And so when he brings a soul to Christ, he
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insures its salvation. It is not in our own keeping, but in the
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mediator's hand. Number four. The door of mercy will shortly be shut against
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those that now make light of it. Now knock, and it shall be
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opened. But the time will come when it shall not. Luke eight,
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verse twenty five, Verses seventeen through twenty and the flood was forty days upon
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the earth, and the waters increased and bare up the ark, and it
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was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed and were increased greatly
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upon the earth, and the ark went upon the face of the waters,
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and the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, and all the high hills that
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were under the whole heaven were covered fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail,
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and the mountains were covered. We are here told numeral one, how long
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the flood was increasing forty days Verse seventeen. The profane world, who believed
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not that it would come, probably when it came, flattered themselves with hopes
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that would soon abate and never come to extremity. But still it increased,
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it prevailed. Note number one. When God judges, he will overcome.
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If he begin, he will make an end. His way is perfect,
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both in judgment and mercy. Number two. The gradual approaches and advances of
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God's judgments, which are designed to bring sinners to repentance, are often abused
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to the hardening of them in their presumption Numeral two, to what degree they
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increased? They rose so high that not only the low flat countries were deluged,
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but to make sure work and that none might escape. The tops of
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the highest mountains were overflowed fifteen cubits, that is seven yards and a half,
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so that in vain was salvation hoped for from hills or mountains Jeremiah three,
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verse twenty three. None of God's creatures are so high, but his
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power can overtop them, and he will make them know that wherein they deal
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proudly, he is above them. Perhaps the tops of the mountains were washed
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down by the strength of the waters, which helped much towards the prevailing of
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the waters above them. For it is said Job twelve, verse fifteen.
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He sends out the waters, and they not only overflow, but overturn the
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earth. Thus the refuge of lies was swept away, and the waters overflowed
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the hiding place of those sinners Isaiah twenty eight, verse seventeen. And in
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vain they fly to them for safety of Latians six, verse sixteen. Now
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the mountains departed and the hills were removed, and nothing stood a man instead
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but the covenant of peace Isaiah fifty four, verse ten. There is no
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place on earth so high as to set men out of the reach of God's
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judgments Jeremiah forty nine, verse sixteen. Obadiah three and four. God's hand
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will find out all his enemies Psalm twenty one, verse eight. Observe how
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exactly they are fathomed fifteen cubits, not by Noah's plummet, but by his
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knowledge. Who weighs the waters by measure? Job twenty eight, verse twenty
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five, numeral three. What became of Noah's ark when the waters thus increased?
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It was lifted up above the earth verse seventeen, and went upon the
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face of the waters verse eighteen. When all other buildings were demolished by the
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waters and buried under them, the ark alone subsisted. Observe Number one.
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The waters which broke down everything else, bore up the ark. That which
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to unbelievers is a savor of death unto death, is to the faithful a
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saver of life unto life. Number two. The more the waters in creased,
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the higher the ark was lifted up towards Heaven. Thus, sanctified afflictions
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are spiritual promotions, And as troubles abound, consolations much more abound Verses twenty
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one through twenty four. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth,
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both of fowl and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping
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thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man, all in whose nostrils
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was the breath of life. Of all that was in the dry land died,
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and every living substance was destroyed, which was upon the face of the
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ground, both man and cattle, and the creeping things, and the foul
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of the heaven. And they were destroyed from the earth. And Noah only
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remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark, and the
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waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. Here is numeral one,
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the general destruction of all flesh by the waters of the flood. Come
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and see the desolations which God makes in the earth Psalm forty six, verse
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eight. And how he lays heaps upon heaps. Never did death triumph from
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its first entrance unto this day, as it did. Then, Come and
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see Death upon his pale horse, and Hell following with him Revelation six,
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verses seven and eight. Number one. All the cattle, foul, and
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creeping things died, except the few that were in the ark. Observe how
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this is repeated all flesh died verse twenty one, all in whose nostrils was
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the breath of life, of all that was on the dry land verse twenty
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two, every living substance verse twenty three. And why so man only had
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done wickedly and justly? Is God's hand against him? But these sheep,
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what have they done? I answer? Subscript one. We are sure God
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did them no wrong. He is the sovereign lord of all life, for
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he is the sole fountain and author of it. He that made them as
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he please, might make them when he pleased. And who shall say unto
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him, what doest thou? May he not do what he will with his
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own which were created for his pleasure? Subscript two. God did admirably serve
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the purposes of his own glory by their destruction as well as by their creation.
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Here, and his holiness and justice were greatly magnified by this. It
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appears that He hates sin and is highly displeased with sinners. When even the
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inferior creatures, because they are the servants of man and part of his possession,
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and because they have been abused to be the servants of sin, are
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destroyed with him. This makes the judgment the more remarkable, the more dreadful,
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and consequently the more expressive of God's wrath and vengeance. The destruction of
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the creatures was their deliverance from the bondage of corruption, which deliverance the whole
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creation now groans after Romans eight, Verses twenty one and twenty two. It
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was likewise an instance of God's wisdom, as the creatures were made for man
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when he was made, so that they were multiplied for him when he was
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multiplied. And therefore, now that mankind was reduced to so small a number,
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it was fit that the beasts should proportionately be reduced. Otherwise they would
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have had the dominion and would have replenished the earth, and the remnant of
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mankind that was left would have been overpowered by them. See how God considered
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this in another case Exodus twenty three, verse twenty nine. Lest the beast
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of the field multiply against thee number two, all the men, women,
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and children that were in the world, except that were in the ark died
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every man verse twenty one and verse twenty three. And perhaps they were as
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many as are now upon the face of the earth, if not more.
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Now Subscript one, we may easily imagine what terror and consternation seized on them
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when they saw themselves surrounded. Our Savior tells us that till the very day
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that the flood came, they were eaten and drinking luke seventeen, Verses twenty
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six and twenty seven. They were drowned in security and sensuality. Before they
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were drowned in those waters, crying peace, peace to themselves, deaf and
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blind to all divine warnings. In this posture, death surprised them as first
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Samuel thirty, Verses sixteen and seventeen. But oh what an amazement were they
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in then? Now they see and feel that which they would not believe in
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fear, and are convinced of their folly when it is too late. Now
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they find no place for repentance, though they seek it carefully with tears.
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Subscript too, we may suppose that they tried all ways and means possible for
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their preservation, but all in vain. Some climb to the tops of trees
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or mountains and spin out their terrors there a while, but the flood reaches
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them at last, and they are forced to die. With the more deliberation,
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some, it is likely, cling to the ark and now hope that
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this may be their safety, which they had so long made their sport.
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Perhaps some get to the top of the ark and hope to shift for themselves
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there, But either they perish there for want of food, or by a
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speedier dispatch a dash of rain washes them off that deck. Others, it
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may be hoped to prevail with Noah for admission into the ark and pleaded old
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acquaintance. Have we not eaten and drunk in thy presence? Hast thou not
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taught in our streets? Yes? Might Noah say that I have many a
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time to little purpose I called, but you refused. You set at not
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all my counsel Proverbs one, verses twenty four and twenty five. And now
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it is not in my power to help you. God has shut the door,
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and I cannot open it. Thus it will be at the great day
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neither climbing high in an outward profession, nor claiming relation to good people will
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bring men to heaven Matthew seven, verse twenty two, twenty five, verse
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eight nine. Those that are not found in Christ the Ark are certainly undone,
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undone forever salvation itself cannot save them. See Isaiah ten, verse three
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subscript three. We may suppose that some of those that perished in the deluge
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had themselves assisted Noah or were employed by him in the building of the ark,
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and yet were not so wise as by repentance to secure themselves a place
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in it. Thus, wicked ministers, though they may have been instrumental to
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help others to heaven, will themselves be thrust down to hell. Let us
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now pause awhile and consider this tremendous judgment. Let our hearts meditate terror,
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the terror of this destruction. Let us see and say it is a fearful
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thing to fall into the hands of the living God, who can stand before
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him when he is angry. Let us see and say it is an evil
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thing and a bitter to depart from God. The sin of sinners will,
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without repentance, be their ruin first or last. If God be true,
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it will though hand join in hand. Yet the wicked shall not go unpunished.
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The righteous God knows how to bring a flood upon the world of the
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ungodly. Second Peter two, verse five elephas appeals to this story as a
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standing warning to a careless world. Job twenty two, verses fifteen and sixteen
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hast thou marked the old way which wicked men of trodden, who were cut
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down out of time and sent into eternity, whose foundation was overflown with the
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flood Numeral two, the special preservation of Noah and his family. Noah only
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remained alive and those that were with him in the ark Verse twenty three.
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Observe number one. Noah lives when all about him were monuments of justice,
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thousands falling on his right hand and ten thousands on his left, he was
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a monument of mercy. Only with his eyes might he behold and see the
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reward of the wicked Psalm ninety one, verses seven and eight. In the
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floods of great waters, they did not come nigh him Psalm thirty two,
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verse six. We have reason to think that while long sovereign of God waited,
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Noah not only preached to, but prayed for that wicked world, and
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would have turned away the wrath. But his prayers return into his own bosom
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and are answered only in his own escape, which is plainly referred to Ezekiel
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fourteen verse fourteen. Noah, Daniel and Job shall but deliver their own souls.
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A mark of honor shall be set on intercessors number two. He but
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lives. Noah remains alive, and this is all he is, in effect,
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buried alive, cooped up at a close place, alarmed with the terrors
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of the descending rain, the increasing flood, and the shrieks and outcries of
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his perishing neighbors. His heart overwhelmed with melancholy thoughts of the desolation made.
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But he comforts himself with this, that he is in the way of duty
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and in the way of deliverance. And we are taught Jeremiah forty five,
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Verses four and five, that when desolating judgments are abroad, we must not
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seek great nor pleasant thing to ourselves, but reckon it an unspeakable favor,
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if we have our lives given us for a prey end of Chapter seven.