that the Lord commanded him"-the day of wrath arrived; the obedient family were shut in, and the waters increased upon the earth. "Sole, mid the storms, above the drear abyss, Mid rolling thunders, and the whirl of winds, Of billows lash'd to rage, from hearts within Rose the loud hymn to Heaven's all-ruling Lord."* And fervent indeed must have been the tribute of gratitude that ascended to the Father of mercy, as, amid a world's destruction, the ark, bearing its freight of rescued souls, floated over the dark waste of waters. As in Adam and Eve we saw an example of the disruption of the ties ordained in the primary constitution of a family, the confusion of its relations, and the disturbance of its peace by disobedience to the Divine command; in that of Noah we may see how the principles essential to its life and happiness were preserved from the contamination of universal corruption, and may observe the restoration of that peace, so far as it can be restored in this mortal state, by self-denying and persistent obedience. Thus must the world-old truth, that evil produces its natural fruits, while the tendency of virtue is to elevate and bless, be illustrated in the daily experience of life. May we emulate the righteous patriarch, whose soul was still cleaving to good in the midst of a perverse generation! No more floods are to desolate the earth; but the waters of peril and sorrow are often rising around us, and we are only safe when borne above them in the ark of salvation. The waters were abated, and returned from off the face of the earth. The saved family went forth from the ark, "and Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast and * From "The Deluge" of Gabriello Chiabrera. C of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar." This passage strikingly shows the religious principle as the spring of his actions. His first act, on his deliverance from danger, was thus to express his gratitude to the Power who had preserved him so wondrously. The sole inheritor and lord of this lower world ventured not to take possession of the rich domain lying at his feet, before he had paid his vows of fealty to the Sovereign from whom he received all. His children joined in the service of praise and thanksgiving. The only surviving family of the whole human race was thus assembled and consecrated to God; and God established his covenant with them, and placed his bow in the cloud for a token, and bestowed on them his blessing,—saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." The gift of every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, and the fishes of the sea, and the green herb, and every moving thing, was formally made over to them; and the smile of Divine favour, brighter than the sun, beaming once more in a cloudless heaven, shone upon this new beginning of the race. Happy, had the religious principles instilled and cultivated by Noah, with such careful training, produced congenial fruits in all the members of his family! But the blight of Adam's sin was not yet removed; the root of wickedness not yet destroyed; the curse not yet taken away. The pious father had been seen righteous before the Lord in an evil generation; two virtuous sons were the joy of his heart, but in Ham prevailed the spirit of unkindness and mockery; and the prophetic curse pronounced on his son was visited upon his descendants. Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years, and died at the age of nine hundred and fifty. He saw the generations of his sons, and the division of the land after their families, and the working of the blessing he had received-the blessing continued from father to son, unto thousands of those who love God, and keep his commandments. |