God lias determined to punish the world with an everlasting destruction —
[His word bears frequent and most undeniable testimony to this solemn truth'1 ]
But he has prepared a Saviour for those who repent and turn unto him —
[ 1 1 imiaii sagacity never could have devised a way of saving sinners consistently with the honour of God's perfections. But God has sent and qualified his only-begotten Son, that, through him, all who believe might be justified from all things. And though salvation through the death of Christ be " to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness," yet to them that are called to partake of it, it has invariably proved the power of God and the wisdom of Gode.]
Ever since the method of salvation has been an- nounced to the world, God has been inviting sinners to embrace it —
[The first plank of this ark was laid, if we may so speak, when God promised to Adam a " Seed, who should bruise the serpent's head." From that day, it has been erecting visibly in the world, in order that, while men were warned of their danger, they might see their remedy : and now, for nearly six thousand years, has God exercised forbearance towards an impenitent and unbelieving world.]
By "baptism" we embark, as it were, on board this divinely-constructed vessel —
[When we are baptized into the faith of Christ, we profess our persuasion that " there is salvation in no other," and our desire " to be found in him," not having our own righteousness, but that which is of God by faith in himf. Thus we come to be in him, as a branch in the vine, as a man-slayer in a city of refuge, as Noah in the ark. Not that this benefit is annexed to the mere outward form of baptism, but to that baptism which is accompanied with " the answer of a good conscience towards Gods."]
Being then in Christ, we are saved " by his resur- rection11"—
[It should seem, that Noah's enclosure in the ark for so long a period was a kind of sepulture ; and his elevation on the
a Matt. xxiv. 37—39. 2 Pet. ii. 5, 9. Ps. xi. 6. and ix. 17. « 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. f Acts iv. 12. Phil. hi. 9
s See the words following the text. h ver. 21.
2404.] noah's ark A TYPE OF CHRIST. 241
waters, till he afterwards came forth from the ark, was a kind of resurrection, when he took possession of a new world. Thus, according to St. Paul, " we are buried with Christ by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life : for if we have been planted in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection1." This appears to be intended by St. Peter in the text, and to be, on the whole, the most natural, as well as most beautiful, con- struction of it : as Noah entered into the ark, and was saved by its elevation above the water-floods, so we, by baptism, enter into Christ, and are, by his resurrection, saved from sin and Satan, death and hell ; yea, like Noah too, we are brought safely to the possession of a new and heavenly world k.]
Infer —
1. How deeply should we reverence the ordinances of God !
[What is said of baptism is true, in a measure, of every other ordinance : yet how shamefully is both that, and every other ordinance, profaned amongst us ! Let us remember, that all the institutions of God are intended to help forward our salvation : but, if trifled with, they will fearfully aggravate our condemnation.]
2. How careful should we be to obtain " the answer of a good conscience !"
[In the Apostles' days, as well as in ours, they, who applied for baptism, were interrogated with respect to their faith and practice; nor could the mere ablution of the body profit them, if they had not a correspondent purity of soul. Thus it is with us : we shall in vain receive the rite of baptism, or partake of the Lord's supper, if we cannot declare, as in the presence of God, that it is our desire and endeavour to be holy as God is holy. Let us then not lay an undue stress upon outward observances of any kind ; but rather seek a conformity to the Divine image ; for it will surely be found true at the last, that " the pure in heart shall see God," but that " without holiness no man shall see the Lord."~\