111 our observations on the history of these builders we shall notice,
I. Their intentions —
It does not appear that they designed to fortify themselves against another deluge ; for then they would have built on a mountain rather than a plain. — They had principally two things in view :
1. The advancement of their own honour —
[They said, " Go to, let us make ourselves a name." They thought that by raising this city they should immortalize them- selves, and be famed for their wisdom and energy to the remotest generations. And here we see the principle which actuates all the world. What is it but the desire of fame which impels the warrior to the field of battle ? What has greater in- fluence on the philosopher, or more forcibly animates him in his researches after knowledge? What is it that actuates the rich in constructing and decorating their spacious edifices, but a desire to display their taste and opulence ? Even the charitable are too often under the influence of this motive. To this, in many instances, must be ascribed the founding of colleges, or endow- ing of hospitals, or contributing to the support of established institutions. If, in any public charity, the publishing of the names of its supporters were to be discontinued, a difference would soon be found in the amount of the contributions. Would to God we could exempt the professors of religion also from this imputation ! Where the heart is really right with God, it is on its guard against this base principle ; but there are too many hypocrites, whose chief aim is to be accounted religious, and to be admired either for their talents or their virtues. There will at times be a mixture of principle in the best of men, which it is the labour of their lives to detect and rectify: and there is in all who are truly conscientious a commendable desire to approve themselves to their fellow-creatures in the discharge of their several duties. It is not in reference to either of these that we now speak. It is rather in reference to those in whom the love of fame has a predominant ascend- ancy : of them we say, as of the builders of Babel, that they are the objects of God's just and heavy displeasure a.]
2. The gratification of their own wishes —
[God had ordered that the survivors of the deluge should " increase and multiply, and replenish the earth V Of course,
a See this exemplified in Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. iv. 30, 31.) Herod (Acts xii. 22, 23.) and even the pious Hezekiah (2 Kings xx. 13 — 18.) b (Jen. ix. 1.