Gen. vi. 22. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
NEVER, from the foundation of the world to this hour, if we except the sacrifice which Christ made of himself upon the cross for the sins of men, was there such a demonstration of God's hatred of sin, as that which was given at the universal deluge. All flesh having corrupted their way, God determined to ex- ecute vengeance upon all, and to destroy from the face of the earth every living thing. There was, how- ever, one favoured servant, whom, together with his family, he was pleased to exempt from the general judgment. Noah was a righteous man, and obtained favour in his sight; and, by means prescribed to him by God himself, he was preserved. Let us consider,
I. The obedience rendered by him —
It is not easy to form a just estimate of this —
[Let us contemplate the circumstances in ivhich he was placed. He was appointed " a preacher of righteousness," unto all who came within the reach of his ministrations : and he was commanded to declare that God would overwhelm the whole world with a deluge. Of such a judgment there was no appearance whatever for the space of 120 years, during the whole of which period he proclaimed its approach. If at the beginning of his ministrations any were impressed with fear, they soon were led to deride the menace ; and to con- clude, from the delay, that the threatened calamity should never come upon them.
Let us next notice the means he teas directed to use for the preservation of God's chosen remnant. He was to build a vessel of stupendous magnitude, capable of holding two of every sort of animals that, breathed, and of containing also provision for them. The expense and labour employed in constructing this ark must have been immense : and the ridicule which it must have excited, year after year, must have been almost beyond endurance.
Let us, lastly, observe his perseverance in the use of those means, till he had, completed the tvork assigned him. Nothing could induce him to desist from his work, till it was perfected in every part. Then he, with his whole family, entered into