2. The necessity of fear —
[By this also was Noah actuated; and under the influence of it he prepared the arkc. And if we believe God's threat- enings against sin and sinners, how can we but fear ? The
b Heb. xi. 7. c Heb. xi. 7.
wrath of God is not to be disregarded, as a matter of no con- cern : no, in truth, it becomes us to tremble at it, and to flee from it with all imaginable earnestness. Well would it have been for them, if the people whom he warned had feared also : but, because they would not fear, they perished. So will it be with us alsod. It shall surely be found a truth at last, that " he who, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall sud- denly be destroyed, and that without a remedy e."]
3. The benefit of obedience —
[Here you behold with your eyes what shall be again realized in the day of judgment. Behold Noah for 120 years an object of universal derision, but now, with his family, borne above the waves in perfect safety, whilst all the rest of the world, not excepting the very builders of the ark, are over- whelmed in one common destruction ! Thus let the ungodly world laugh at piety now, if they will : but such will be the issue of their contemptuous proceedings, when those who were the objects of their scorn will be honoured by their God, and be saved with an everlasting salvation. " Say ye to the right- eous, that it shall be well with him ; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings : but woe unto the wicked ! it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given himf."]
d Matt.xxiv. 37 — 39. e Prov. xxix. 1. Compare 2 Pet. ii. 5, 9.
f Isai. iii. 10, 11.