arrangement. for commnnicltting blessing. In prediluvian times tho form which:the covenant asrnmcd was the promise of the woman's seed. From the Deluge 011wa1•ds it was a promise of forbearnncc-" Neither shall nil flesh be cut off any more b7 the waters o~ n flood; n_either shall there be any more a flood to destroy tho earth.' In thC' pntnarchal era it became the promise of a son "in whom nil the families of the earth ~hould be ble~sed" (eh. xii. 3; xviii. 18; xxii. 18). Under the I\'Ioauic clis- pcns11trnn the pro1rn_se of n prophet like unto Moses (Deut. xviii. 15); during the mona_rchy the I?rom1so of II king to sit upon David's throne (2 Sam. vii. 12); in !ho time of lsarnh the _prom_ise of a sn~ering servant of the Lord (Isa. xlii., !iii.); m the fnlncss of the times 1t assumed its permanent form, viz., that of the incar- nation of the Lord Jesus Christ as the "·oman's seed, ns Abraham's child, ns David's son, os Jel1ov.ih's scr,ant. V. THE SEAL OF' TIIE COVENANT. Covenant transactions under the old or Leviticnl dispensation were invariably accompanied with the offering up of sacrificial victims as a public attestation of the binding character of the arrangement. The covenant which God made with Noah had also its sacrificial seal. 1. The meritorious sa1:rijice. The propitiatory offering of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the sole ground of which he is well pleased with and mercifolly disposed towards the race of sinful man. 2. The typu:al sacrifice. The offering of Noah upon Ararat after emerging from the ark. YI. THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT. The rainbow, which was-1. A universal sign. The covenant having been made with the entire family of man, it was in a manner rcq11isite that the sign should be one which was patent to the race; not limited and local and national, like circwncision, afterwards given to the Hebrews or Abrahamidai, hut universal, ubiquitous, cosmopolitan ; and such was the rainbow. This was a first mark of kindness on the part of God towards the family which he had taken into covenant with himself. 2. An attractive sign. Such as could not £ail to arrest the gaze of those whose special interest it was to behold it. Nothing is more remarkable than the quickness with which it attracts the eye, and the pleasurable feelings which its sight enlcindles. In its selection, then, to be a sign and symbol of his covenant, instead of something in itself repulsive or even indifferent, we can detect nnotl1er proof of kindness on the part of God. 3. A seasonable sign. At the ,ery moment, as it were, when nature's elements are threatening another deluge, the signal of heaven's clemency is hung out upon the watery sky to rebuke the £ears of men. Another token of special kindness on the part of God. 4. A. suggestive sign-suggestive of the covenant of grace. Possibly this was the chief reason why the rainbow was selected as the sign of the covenant; a further display of kindness on the part of God. VII. THE PERPETUITY OJ!' THE COVENANT. 1. To eternity (ver. 16). In so far RB it was a spiritual covenant with the believing Church, it was designed to be unto, as it had actually been from, everlasting. 2. For perpetual generations (ver. 12). In so far as it was a providential covenant with the race, it was designed to continue to the end of time. Lessons :-1. The exceeding riches of Divine grace· in dealing with men by way of a covenant. 2. The exceeding faithfulness of God in adhering to his covenant, notwithstanding man's sinfulness and provocation. 3. The exceeding hopefulness of man's position in being placed beneath a covenant of mercy.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 8-17. - The new Noaclli,e covenant establislied. I. It is o. COVENANT OF r,Jf'E. It embraces all the posterity of Noah, i. e. it is-1. T!te new foundation on which humanity rests. 2. It passes through man to all flesh, to all living creaturec. 3. The sign of it, the rainbow in tlie cloud, is also the emblem of the salvatiQ11, which may be said to be typified in the deliverance of Noah and his family. 4. The bock- ground is the same element wherewith the world wae destroyed, representing the rigliteomness of God os against the sin of Jllan. On that righteousness God sets tlie ,i,gn of love, which is produced by the rays of light-the sun being the emblem of Divine goodnese - radiating from the infinite centre in the glorious Father of all CU. IX, 8-17.] THl~ BOOK OF GENESIS. 147