III. PROGENITORS OF THE PROMISED BEED. This was the chief distinction of those i;aintly men, and tho r<'al reason why their names and ages have been eo carefully preserred to the Church of God. They were all links in the chnin leading on to the woman'1, seed. So to speak, they were the ten first heralds sent out to proclnim the appr0ach 0£ .t:he king; the ten fi_rst shadows or adumbrations of the great Prophet, Priest, and Krng to whom the faith of the Church was looking forward. True, it is not mnc-h tl,at we know about them beyond their names, and certainly there is consider- :' b le rag:ueness and uncertainty about their import; but still, accepting those menn- J11gs wl11ch have the greatest probability in their favour, it is interestino- to note how they all indicate points of character or features of history which ~et in Christ. Adam we know was a prophecy of Christ, the second Adam, in more than his name ( 1 Cor. :~x. 45 ). Abel, the first martyr, prefigured him in dying by a brother's hand. Seth, the Substituted. One, was a _shadow of him ~ho took our room and stead (Rom. Y. 8); Enos, the Frail OnP,, of him who, as to his human nature, was as "a tender l'lant, and a root out of a dry ground" (Isa. liiL 2); Cainan, Possession, of him who was the gift of God (2 Cor. ix. 15). :Mahalaleel, Praise of God, of him who "was not ashamed to call us brethren, Sa};ng, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee" (Heh. ii. 11, 12); Jared, Descent, of him who came down from heaven (John vi. 38); Enoch, the dedicated nnd instructed child who walked with God, and was translated that he should not see death, of him who for his people "sanctified himself" (John xvii. 19), "in whom were hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. ii. 3), who with _regard to hi~ Father could say, "I do always those things that please him" (John viii. 29), and who, after accomplishing his Divine mission on the earth, was received up into glory (Acts i. 11); Methuselo.h, Man of the Dart, of him of whom the royal psalmist sang, "Thine o.rrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies " (Ps. xiv. 5); Lamech, Strong Youth, of the strong One whom David saw in vision raised up for Israel's help (Ps. l.xxxix.. 19); Noah, Rest, of him in whose sacrifice God smelled a sweet savour of rest (Ephes. v. 2). Lessons .~1. As descendants of Adam, let us remember we are sinners, and, repent- ing, believe the gospel; let us measure our daye, and, observing their shortness, apply our hearts unto wisdom; let us think of our mortality, and prepare for the narrow house appointed for all the living. 2. As members of the Church of Christ, have we the marks that distinguished these antediluvian saints? 3, As the spiritual posterity of Jesus Christ, do we reflect him as his progenitors foreshadowed him? Vers. 22-24.-Enoch. I. The CHABA.CTEB of his piety, 1. Walking with God, 2. Witnessing for God. II. The EXCELLENCE of his piety. 1. It began in early boyhood. 2. It flourished in evil times. 3. It grew in spite of scanty privileges. 4. It continued to the close of life. III. The BEWA.BD of Enoch's piety. He was trnnslated that he should not see death. 1. A visible proof of immortality. 2. A solemn confirmation of the gospel. 3. A striking prophecy of Christ's ascension.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 24.-Walking with God. Whole chapter a reproof of the restless ambitions of men. Of these long lives the only record is a name, and the fact, "he died." Moral of the whole," Dust thou art" (cf. 1 Cor. xv. 50). Yet a link between life here and life above. Enoch translated (Heh. xi. 5). The living man passed into the presence of God. How, we need not care t? know. _But we know why. He "walked with God." Who would not covet this? Yet 1t may be ours. What then was that life? Of its outward form we know nothing. But same expression (eh. vi. 9) tells us that Noah's was euch. Also Abraham's, "_the frie!ld of God" (c)1. xvii. 1); and St. Paul's (Phil. i. 21); and St. John (1 John 1. 3) claims" fellows1np with the Father" not for himself only (cf. John xiv. 23). I. ESSENTUL FEATURES OF A. WALK WITB Goo. Not a life of austerity or of con- templation, removed from iDterests or careM of world. Noah's was not; nor Abra- TIIE BOOK OF GENEfHS. 10!