"The Pilgrims then began to enquire if there was no other way to the Gate ; to which they answered Yes, but there hath not any save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path, since the foundation of the World, nor shall, until the last Trumpet shall sound. The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in their mind, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them, by which they might escape the River. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth ? they said No ; yet tehy could not help them in that case ; for, said they, You shall find it deeper, or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place" *
Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, Nothing but bones. The sad effect of sadder grones: Thy mouth was open, but thou couldst not sing.
For we consider'd thee as at some six Or ten years hence, After the losse of life and sense; Flesh being turn'd to dust, and bones to sticks.
We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short. Where we did finde The shells of fledge-souls left behinde; Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.
But since our Saviour's death did put some bloud Into thy face, Thou art grown fair and full of grace. Much in request, much sought for, as a good.
1 A. S. Poake, The Heroes and Martyr* 0/ Faith, A6.
GENESIS V. 24 163
For we do now behold thee gay and glad, As at doom's-day, When souls shall wear their new aray, And all thy bones with beautie shall be clad.
Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust Half that we have Unto an honest faithfull grave, Making our pillows either down or dust.*
^ George Herbert.
The Rainbow.
165
Literature.
Bamford (A. J.), Things that are Made, 105. Banks (L. A.), The Great Promises of the Bible, 268. Davies (D.), Talks with Men, Women, and Children, v. 301 Gunsaulus (F. W.), Paths to the City of God, 112. Howatt (J. R.), The Children's Pew, 31. Joseph (M.), The Ideal in Judaism, 142. Kingsley (C), Gospel of the Pentateuch, 51.
„ National Sermxins, 423.
Morrison (G. H.), Flood-tide, I7a Parker (J.), Peoples Bible, i. 168. Smellie (A.), In the Secret Place, 272. Vaughan (C. J.), Christ the Light of the World, 133. Winterbotham (R.), Sermans in Holy Trinity Church, 76. Wiseman (N.), Children's Sermons, 158.
Christian TVorld Pulpit, xxvii. 97 (Kempe) ; xlviii. 91 (Abbott). Old and New Testament Student, z. 274 (Denio).
i66
The Rainbow.
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. — Gen. ix. 13.
The Flood was a judgment. The record of it is "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." When sin reaches a certain point, it demands the inter- position of God. It is so in individual life. " God is provoked every day." He is long-suffering and of great pity. He gives a thousand chances. He calls and calls again. He reproves gently. He rebukes sternly. He chastens tenderly. He smites severely. Every sinful career is marked by such gradations of discipline. At last the cup is full. Long trifled with, " God is not mocked " ; and he who would not have Him for his Father must at last know Him as his Judge. It is so with in- dividual lives, and it is so with the life of communities, and of the world.
But the record of judgment passes into a record of mercy. Like all God's judgments, it was tempered with mercy. Noah buUded an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar, then the Lord "smelled a sweet savour, and said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." And therefore God formed a cove- nant with Noah, making the rainbow the visible sign of it: "And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living thing of all flesh."
i68 THE RAINBOW
Still young and fine ! but what is still in view We slight as old and soil'd, though fresh and new. How bright wert thou, when Shem's admiring eye Thy burnisht, flaming Arch did first descry ! When Terah, Nahor, Haran, Ahram, Lot, The youthful world's gray fathers in one knot, Did with intentive looks watch every hour For thy new light, and trembled at each shower! When thou dost shine darkness looks white and fair, Storms turn to Musick, clouds to smiles and air, Eain gently spends his honey-drops, and pours Balm on the cleft earth, milk on grass and flowers. Bright pledge of peace and sun-shine! the sure tye Of thy Lord's hand, the object of His eye! When I behold thee, though my light be dim. Distant, and low, I can in thine see Him, Who looks upon thee from His glorious throne, And mindes the Covenant 'twixt All and One}