VeU. 7.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 177
wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.' Look, as those eight souls that were in the ark were saved, the ark being borne up by the water ; so God hath appointed the water of baptism, and other means, to be the means of our salvation. Again, the carpenteis that made the ark had no entertainment in the ark ; for they wrought as Noah's workmen for their hire, not as the servants of providence for the ends of God. And so there may be some men that are employed and minister in holy things, that may build up an ark wherein others may enter and be safe, but after preaching to others themselves may be cast away, as the apostle seems to imply, 1 Cor. ix. 27, ' Lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.'
Now I come to the words themselves — ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not j'et seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark,' &c.
First, I shall take notice of the ground of his faith — ' He was warned of God.' In the original it is ■x^pTjfjLarLaOeU, warned by an oracle ; the word is proper to those dispensations which God used in the primitive times in the planting of the church. It is said of the wise men -^p-q/j-uTiadevre^ /car' 6W/3, Mat. ii. 12,' Being warned of God in a dream;' so of St Paul, Acts x. 22, i)(pr]/xaTLa6r] vtt' ayjiXov dytov, 'Being warned from God by a holy angel.' Now in this warning of God I shall observe several things.
First, I observe God's condescension, in that he would be pleased to give warning. He acquainted Noah with his purpose that he miglit acquaint the world. Oh, what a slow progress doth God make in his judgments I Though the pace of mercy be swift and earnest, yet judg- ment walketh with leaden feet. When God comes to refresh a sinner, he comes ' skipping over the mountains,' Cant. ii. 8, as if he never could ]>e soon enough. And the lather ' ran to meet his son,' Luke xv. 20. But yet now in the progress of his judgments God's motion is slow, and he comes on by degrees. The apostle takes notice of this, 2 Peter iii. 20, ' The long-sufiering of God waited as in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing,' God waited long, and Noah gives warn- ing ; there were one hundred and twenty years respite for repentance, and all the while Noah is building the ark, and he is preaching of righteousness to the ungodly, to see if he could move them to repentance. Nay, when the time was expired, God allows seven days more. Gen. vii. 4 ; and when those seven days were expired, the heavens did not pour out of a sudden, but the rain was increasing till it came to the height — forty days and forty nights. When God would discover his goodness and power, he did it in a small time ; he perfectly made the world in six days : but now, to show his pity and patience when he would destroy the world, he allows forty days, to see if any of them would then repent ; though they were drowned, yet they might be saved eternally hereafter. Thus still is God wont to give his people warning of their approaching dangers. Judgment seldom takes the world by surprise ; but first there is notice given. It was the law of arms which God established among the Israelites ; when they came before any city to assault it, they were first to ofier terms of peace :
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17S SERMONS UPOX HEBREWS XI. [SeII. XXXV.
Deut. XX. 10, ' When thou comest nigh unto any city to tight against it, then proclaim peace unto it ; ' so still the Lord observes the same course. God first summons a parley, and would fain capitulate with sinners ; gives warning of his purpose, that they might prevent their ruin by repentance: Jer. xviii. 11, ' Behold I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you ; return ye now every one from liis evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.' God would fain be prevented. Behold, I tell you what I am doing ; if you be wise, repent. If God threatens, it is that he may not punish ; and when he punisheth, it is that he may not punish for ever. God is still giving warning. But you will say. How doth he give warning now oracles are ceased ? Why, by the threatenings of the word ; and this should be as forcible a warning as if the Lord had given you a solemn pre- diction. Certainly, there is a great deal of keenness in Elisha's sword : 1 Kings xix. 17, ' Those that escape from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.' The prophets, they have a sword : Hos vi. 5, ' I have hewed them by the prophets : I have slain them by the words of my mouth.' It is true, we do not speak by oracle, and so sensible an in- spiration as the old prophets did ; but when the practice is threatened in scripture, and condemned by the word, it is as much as if we had a particular oracle : the constitutions of heaven will not be violated.