HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 9-22.-Riglieeousness and .Pea.ce. The description of Noah is very similar to that of Enoch, just and perfect m his generation, that is, blameless in his walk before men, which is saying much of one who lived in a time of universal corruption. And he walked with God, i. e. devout and religious, and, from the analogy of the preceding use of the words, we may say, a prophet. He preached righteousness both with lip and life. To this good and great prophet the announcement is made of the coming judgment. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant." The earth is filled with violence through men, and therefore with man must be destroyed. With the message of judgment there is also the message of mercy, as at the first. THE ARK, AN EMBLEM OF SALVATION BY GRACE, AS AFTERWARDS (cf. 1 Pet. iii. 19-22). The offer of salvation was a trial of-faith. God did not himself provide the ark ; it was made by the hands of men, of earthly materials, with ordinary earthly measurements and appointments, and prepared as for an ordinary occasion. There was nothing in the visible ark to stumble faith; but, as it was connected with a positive commandment and prophElcy, it was a demand on the simple faith of the true child of God, which is of the nature of obedience. We cannot doubt that this Divine message to Noah was the Bible of that time. It appealed to faith as the word of God. And, as in all times, with the written or spoken word there was the unwritten law, the lex non scripta; for we are told that" Noah did according to all that God commanded him, so did he." In this primitive dispensation notice these things :-1. The righteousness of God is the foundation. 2. The accordance of the world with God's heart, as at once commanding righteousness and hating violence, is the condition of its preservation. 3. The mercy of God is connected with his special revelations in and by the men who have found grace in his sight. 4. The provisions of redemption are embodied in an ark, which is the symbol of Divine ordinances and the associated life of believers. 5. The salvation of man is the real end and aim of all judgments. 6. With the redeemed human race there is a redeemed earth-creatures kept alive in the ark to commence, with the family of God, a new life. 7. While we must not push the symbology of the Flood too far, still it is impossible to overlook the figure which the Apostle Peter saw in the ark floating on the waters-the Church of Christ as washed by the Holy Ghost in those waters, which represent not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of o good conscience toward God.-R.
Ver. 14.-T!ie way of safety. Prediction of deluge and way of escape were alike trials of faith ; beyond reach of foresight; rejected or neglected by the world. Key to the typical meaning, 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21. Baptism the initial seal of the Christia11 covenant. Text therefore sets forth salvation through Christ. l. "Make thee an ark." "Why? BECAUSE SENTENCE OF DEATH BESTS Ul'0N ALL MEN (Rom. v. 12). As in the destruction of first-born (Exod. xi. 5). No exceptions. Covenant people saved only by the blood; so here (cf. Job ix. 30), Men, even now, are slow to believe this. Maxima of society contradict it. From childhood trained to live as if no danger, as if many things more important than salvation. And when preacher proclaims (Acts ii. 40), men listen and approve and go on as before. Yet this is the first ste:e towards salvation, the first work of the Holy Spirit-to convince careless (Matt. xvi. 26) nnd well-living people that they cannot save themselves. Until this is done Christ has no nttrnctiveness (Isa. liii. 2). Who would shut himself up in the nrk if no deluge coming? Who would trust it if another way would afford safety ? II. 11 Make thee on nrk." IT 1s Goo's APPOINTED WAY OIi' SAFETY. 11 Tho Lord hath made known his salvation." As surely as the deluge is nccording to his word so surely is the wriy of deliverance (aom, V, 20). aut mark tho way. C,rn you t;IUI. 0U:NE1il8, 1 114 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [cir, v11. 1-10,
that which Se('ms so frail? At the root of sin lies unbelief of Gocl.'11 truth. Thie caused the fall.. Go_d says, Will you -~~ust 1ne? One will say, I live a good life; is not that the mam_ thmg? (cf. 1 Cor. m. 11), Another, I pray that God would love me, and be reconc1}ed to me. Does he not love thee? (Titus iii. 4). Is ho not longing for the<:? (Isa. 1. 18). And is nc,t this unbelief of what God says? 'l.'hou needeAt mdeed to pray that the Holy Spirit should open thine eyes to what God hna done. But that thy prayer may be answered there must be the will to be taught (Ps. lmv. 8). III. "Make thee an ark." THE TEST OIi' ll'AITR. There is a faith which does nothing, which merely accepts a doctrine. Such was not that of Noah. His life's work was to act on what be believed. The object of our fnith is Jesus Christ the pen;onal, living, lovi?~ Sanour; not merely the doctr~e that he _died and roso again. "Make thee an ark' 1s more than knowledge that he 1s the Delivorer. It is taking refuge in him, and walking in his steps.-M.
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