tinunlly before Goel like tho smoke of incense (Rev. viii. 4). 2. !Vilt be bcued upon the odour of the sacrifice of Christ, of which Noah's w1s the type. It was not the actual service of Noah, considerecl as an opus operatum, that producecl the feeling of complacency in Goel (Micah vi. 7), but the sacrificial work of Christ, to which the fnith of the patriarch had an outlook (Ephes. v. 2). For the sake of that offering up of himself once for nil in the encl of the world that was to be accomplished by the woman's seed, nncl which Noah's faith truly, however dimly, embraced, God accepted him and hie. That same offering is the ground or basis on which all the saints' sacrifices are accepted either on earth (1 Pet. ii. 5) or in heaven (Rev. v. 6). 3. Will express itself through the perpetuation of the worshipper's safety. (1) By averting all evil. "There shall be no more curse" (Rev. xxii. 3), as God determined in his heart (ver. 21), and afterwards expressed to Noah (eh. ix. 15), never more to curse the ground or flood the earth. (2) By securing all good, which was symbol- ised by the confirmation of the covenant of day and night. Lessons :-1. Live in a state of readiness for the glorious appearing of the Son of man (Titus i. 13). 2. Expectantly wait for thi: manifes~atio_n of the sons of God (Rom. viii. 19). 3. Learn the nature of the samt'e sernce m the heavenly world (Rev. v. 8). 4. Note the security for the perpet1Iity of heaven's blessedness- Christ's sacrifice and God's covenant. HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 13-19.-Rest and restoration. Noah (Rest) comes forth from the ark in the sahbath century of his life, the six hundred and first year. He liven after the Flood 350 years, the half week of centuries; his life represented a rest, but not tlie rest, a half sabbath, promise of the rest which remains to the people of God. I. AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH. 1. Not until God spake did Noah dare to do more tl,an lift off the covering and look. 2. At the heavenly word the family, redeemed by grace, takes possession of the redeemed habitation. II. THE REDEEMED LIFE IN ITS NEW APPOINT?.IENT. Go forth of the ark into the new world. 'l'here is the keynote of the Bible. Man redeemed is man Ii ving by every word of God. 1. By Divine commandment going into the prepared refuge. 2. By Divine commandment taking down old bounds and occupying new places. 3. Going forth into a promised land rejoicing in a pledged future. 4. Carrying with him all lower creatures into a new, progressive, God-blessed inheritance. The whole creation groaning and travailing, the whole creation participating in the Divine deliverance.-R. Vers. 20-22.-The sanctification of the earth. The sweet savour of man·s burnt offerings-(!) not the offerings of caprice, but the fulfilment of Divine commands, (2) the reciprocation of Heaven's communications-(3) ascends from the earth-built altar and fills the Lord with satisfaction. In return for that obedience and devotion the curse is removed, the earth -is sealed with the saving strength of God in a covenant of peace. I. RELIOIOUS LIFE IS ACCEPTABLE TO Goo when it i~ (1) grateful acknowledg·- ment of his mercy; (2) humble obedience to his own revealed will; (3) consecration of place, time, life, possessions to him. II. UNION and COMMUNION between God and man is the foundation on which all earthly happiness and security rest. Ill. The FORBEARANCE AND MERCY OF Goo in his relation to those whose hearts are yet full of evil is at once probation aud grace. The ground is not cursed any more fur man's sake, but, the more evidently, that which falls upon the ground may fall upon man himself. The higher revelations of God in the post-Noachic period were·certainly larger bestowments of grace, but o.t the same time they involved a larger respon3i- bility. So the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews reasons as to the punishment of those who trample underfoot the covenant of the gospel. The progressirn covenants which make up the history of God's grace recorded in the Scriptures am progres11ive separations of the evil and the good, therefore they point to th,it complete and final separation in which God's righteousness shall be eternally glorified.-R. 188 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [OH, IX, 1-7,
E.i.POSITION