oease, nnd in the truth of the gospel men would be united ae one family, 11 under• etanding ono anoUrnr'e epeech."-R Vor. 1.-Unity of [<11T1,guage. 1. The original birthright of the human race. 2. The )oat inheritllnce of sinful men. 3. The ultimate goal of the Christian dispensa- tion. 4. The recovered heritage of redeemed humanity.-W. Ver. 2.-Note-1. The benefit of a wandering condition. It sometimes prevents the rise of sinful thoughts nnd wicked deeds. So long as the primitive nomads '(,Vere trnvelling from station to station they did not think of either rebellion or ambi- tion. So Israel followed God fully in the wilderness. 2. The danger of a settled state. Established in the fat plain of Sl,inar, they wanted a city and a tower. So Israel in Canaan waxed fat and kicked, So Moab, having been at ease from hi~ youth, retained his scent unchanged. So comfortable surroundings often lead men from God.-W. Ver. 3.-Ancient brickmakers. I. IN SHINAR. Examples of (1) ingenuity, (2) earnestness, (3) perseverance, (4) unity in sin. II. IN EGYPT (Exod. v. 7). Illustrations of (1) the bondage, (2) the degradation, (3) the misery, (4) hopelessness, of sin.-W. Ver. 4.-The tower of Babel. I. .A. MONUMENT OF MAN's-1. Sinful ambition. 2. Laborious ingenuity. 3. Demonstrated feebleness. 4. Stupendous folly. II. A MEMORIAL OF GoD's-1. Overruling providence. 2. Resistless power. 3. Retributive juatice. 4. Beneficent purpose.-W. Ver. 4.-God' s city or man's city. "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and n tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." In the world after tLe Flood we trace the outlines of the gospel dispensation. To Noah was revealed" good will toward men ; " the acceptance of sacrifice ; faith us the condition and channel of blessing; nnd work, to sprend the knowledge of and trust in his name, i. e. whnt he is pleased to reveal concerning himself. But" the carnal mind" was there resisting the Spirit. Noah and his seed were to replenish the earth (eh. ix. 1; cf. Mark xvi. 15). They were promised snfety from beasts, of whom, if separated, they might be afro.id (eh. ix. 2; cf. Matt. x. 29, 31; Luke :x:. 19). Here was a trial of faith and obedience (cf. Exod. xxxiv. 24). But men had not faith, would not trust, would not go forth at his word. Their calling was to seek God's city (Heb. xi. 10-16), to Jive as citizens of it (Phil. iii. 20). They chose n city for themselves ; earthly security, comforts, luxuries. Called to glorify God's name, their thought was to ma'lte a name for themselves. Self was the moving power. The name of God is the trust of his people (Ps. x.x. 7 ; Prov. xviii. 10) ; a centre of unity to all his children in every place. They tru,sted in themselves; would be like God to them- selves. The tower, the work of their own hands, was to be their centre of unity; and the nnme of it came to be Babel, i. e. confusion (cf. Mntt. xv. 13). Love draws mankind together. Self-seeking tends to separation. God bade them spread that they might be united in faith and in ,vork. They chose their own way of union, and it led to dispersion with no bond of unity. I. WE ARE CALLED TO BUILD THE CITY OF GoD (Heh. xii. 22). To prepare the way for Rev. xxi. 3. The gifts of Christ are made effectual by the work of men. That city, built of living atones (1 Pet. ii. 5), cemented not with slime, but by unity of fnith (Ephes. iv. 3). And a tower, a centre of unity, the "good confession" (Rom. xiv. 11 ; Phil. ii. 11). And to obtain a nnme, to be confessed by the Lord before tho angels, to be acknowledged us his" brethren," and stamped with the "new name." And a promise given, as if pointing to Bnbel: "Your labour is not iu vain in the Lord." II. MANY HAVE NO MIND 'I'O BUILD. They Jove ease and have no earnestness, triflers with time, or direct their earnestness to earthly prizes-a name among men. III. EVEN BELIEVERS ARE OFTEN THUS HINDERED. There may be spiritual selllsh- ness along with really spiritual aims. The multitude of cares may distract the soul. Temptations may wear the garb of zeal, or of charity, or of prudence. W ntch 8.Ild pray. God's faithfulness will not £nil (1 Cor. x. 13).-M. 170 THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
,·er. 5.-Tlie ct'.ties of men and, the city qf God (Gen. xi. 6; Heh. xi. 16). I, THElR DtTILDERS. Of the first, men-mostly wicked men; of the secor,d, the Architect of the universe. II. THEIR ORIGIN. Of the first, (Enoch, ·eh. iv. 17; and Be.be!, eh xi. 5), hoetiiity to God ; of the second, love t-0 rnnn. Ill. THEIR DESIGN. 0£ the first, to be a bond of union among sinners• of the Bccond. to be a residence for God's children. ' IV. THEIR AI'I'EARANCE. Of the first, that of slime, mud, bricks, or at best stones; of the second, that of gold and pearls. ' V. THEIR DURATION. 0£ the first, it is written that with all the other works of man, they shall be burnt up; of tl1e second, that it shall be everlasting.-W.
Yer. 6.-Vain imaginings-1. Commonly spring from misused blessings. A united people, ,dth a common language, and enjoying a n1easure of success in their buildings, the Babelites became vain in their imaginings. So do wicked meh gener- ally misinterpret the Divine beneficence and leniency which suffers them to proc.eed a cc-rtain leng·th with their ~-ickedness (cf. Rom. i. 21; 2 Tim. iii. 9): 2. Are never unobsen·ed by him against whom they are directed (Deut. x:xxi. 21; 1 Chron. xxviii. 9). 3. Are doomed to certain and complete frustration (Pe. ii. 1; Luke i. 51 • 2 Cor. x. 5).-W '
Yer. 7.-Babel and Zion. 1. Confusion, division. dispersion. 2. Gathering the dispersed, nniting the divided, restoring order to the confused.-,v.
§ 6. THE GENEII.ATIONS 011' SHEM (CH. XI. 10-26).