and they were afraid. But there was no Godly sorrow; for as soon as ever the bitterness of death was past, so was their penitence,—a sure sign that it was not genuine. The sorrow of a true penitent is grief for having grieved God; this is the sole cause, and hence he not only confesses his sins, but forsakes them. This is the true principle of repentance towards God, whether the person be in sickness or in health, 1 Kings, viii, 47, Psalm, li, 17, cxix, 59, Ezek. xviii, 21, xxxvi, 31.

4. And the penitent is not only humble and contrite; he not only confesses and forsakes his sins; but he has recourse to the Throne of Grace for mercy and forgiveness, which he obtains through faith in the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord; and having thus entered in at the strait gate, he becomes a subject of the kingdom of heaven, Psalm, li, 1-14, xxxii, 5, Acts, ii, 38.

APPLICATION. Blessed are they who have hearkened to the voice of the Herald: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, that feel they have grieved their good, kind and gracious God; they shall be comforted. Oh, such an one! thou art not far from the kingdom of God. But what shall we say to the impenitent? 66 Turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die?" Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, &c., Isai. lv, 7. "Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin," Ezek. xviii, 30.

THE ILLUSTRIOUS ONE.

GEN. vii, 1.

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”

WHAT a pestiferous, contagious, rancorous evil is sin! What a most baneful and rapid effect it produced in the earliest ages of the world! When the Almighty had completed the work of creation, "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." But afterwards, when sin had been introduced, and when the mystery of iniquity had continued to work for a while, "God saw that

the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." In consequence of this universal degeneracy, the flood was determined upon. Thus said the Lord: "I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die."

66

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," and why? Because he "was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." In the midst of this awful moral darkness there shone one illustrious star. In this ungodly world, so deeply sunk in wickedness, idolatry and paganism, there dwelt one righteous man, in whose family alone the true worship of God was observed. And before the Almighty proceeded to his great work of judgment, provision was made for the safety of this solitary pious man and his family: the ark was directed to be made, and when it was completed, and the time of vengeance was fully come, the Lord said unto Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark, for thee have I seen righteous," &c. In considering these words, let us notice, I. The character which Noah sustained; thee have I seen righteous before me.

66

II. The time when he sustained this character,

generation."

"in this

III. The consequence of his sustaining such a character. "Come thou and all thy house into the ark."

IV. We will apply the whole.

I. The character which Noah sustained.

1. Few of the ancient worthies are more frequently or more honourably mentioned than Noah. His name is classed with those of Daniel and Job, as the most excellent of the earth, Ezek. xiv, 14; and his conduct is exhibited as a pattern of singular piety and prompt obedience, Luke, xvii, 26. To sustain the character of a righteous man in that generation would be no easy matter; it would require much meekness, patience, self-denial and prayer. Noah, however, by the grace of God was enabled to maintain such a character, to keep a conscience void of offence both toward God and toward men; for he was a man of strong faith, Heb. xi, 7. Behold the faith of Noah relative to this

When he was told of when he was told of

wonderful event, chap. vi, 12-19. the state of the earth, he believed it; the determination of God to send the flood, his faith forbade him to doubt; and when he was told of the manner in which he was to be preserved, he staggered not at the promise through unbelief; he appears to have had no doubt of the competency of the ark to answer the purpose for which it was intended.

2. The faith of Noah was a lively, active faith; it produced obedience to the Divine command. Noah was told, that in order to save himself and his family from the impending deluge, he must use the means: he must build the ark. "Immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood,” nor did he consult the ungodly world, but set about it. He said nothing about the difficulty of constructing it, nor of the expense that would be incurred, nor of the labour which he would have to bestow upon it. He expressed no fear respecting his ability to accomplish it. He raised no objection upon the probable and natural supposition, that he would meet with much persecution and opposition in the prosecution of the work here is no hesitancy, "according to all that God commanded him, so did he." 3. He was a man of deep piety. He was not only a just man, giving all their due, and perfect, never departing from the truth in principle or practice; but he "walked with God," as did Enoch. He was spiritually minded, his affections were placed upon God, and with him he held sweet communion; his rule was the will of God; his end was the glory of God.

:

4. He was a genuine philanthropist. He felt for the world, and exerted himself for the welfare of mankind. He is styled a "preacher of righteousness," 2 Pet. ii, 5. He faithfully told the ungodly world of the consequence of their sins, and warned them of their impending ruin. Had the antediluvians properly used either their eyes or their ears, they might have known what was coming upon them. That they might have space to consider and repent, the ark was one hundred and twenty years in building, in which time Noah apprized them of the threatening, and exhorted them to repent. Notwithstanding the taunts and sneers which he would undoubtedly receive from them, he persevered in his affectionate expostulations and entrea

ties; and what was the result of his labour of love, cannot be ascertained till the great and notable day of the Lord. II. The time when he sustained this character,--" in this generation."

1. This generation was completely given up to infidelity and iniquity. These fools said in their hearts, there is no God, and they acted accordingly. There was no fear of God before their eyes, and the way of peace they knew not. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and as their hearts were only evil, their conversation would be filthy, and their actions abominable.

2. In this generation it is probable that Noah would meet with opposition and insult from all quarters. These sons of Belial, instigated by the spirit which worketh in the children of disobedience," would attempt to ensnare and allure him; they would persecute and ridicule him; they would brand him with the epithets of enthusiast, fanatic and madman Thus would he have to suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, and there would be none to console him, none to say, Come, let us go to the house of the Lord;" but yet, in the midst of all these discouragements, Noah stood his ground, and maintained his character as a righteous man.

III. The consequence of his sustaining such a character : "Come thou and all thy house into the ark."

1. Imagine that you see the entry of Noah and his family into the ark, and the living creatures follow by miraculous instinct. How were they brought from various distances to the ark, and preserved there? By the power of God. He who first miraculously brought them to Adam, that he might give them their names, now brings them to Noah, that he may preserve their lives. The Lord shut them in; and while the flood was teeming upon the ungodly with dreadful impetuosity, and the fountains of the great deep causing most terrible inundation, filling them with the utmost consternation and dismay, Noah was safe in the ark, instructing his family, and communing with his God.

2. While the evil-doers were swept from the face of the earth with the besom of destruction, and their names buried in eternal oblivion, Noah came safely out of the ark, became the father of a new race, and finally died in peace.

C

IV. We will now apply the whole.

1. There is a very striking similarity between Noah's circumstances and ours. The Lord had informed Noah that he would bring a flood of waters upon the earth which should destroy all flesh, and he hath revealed unto us that he will again destroy the earth, not indeed by a flood of waters, but by flaming fire, 2 Pet. iii, 10. We are told that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, St. John, v, 28, 29; 1 Cor. xv, 52. And we are informed that there shall be a general judgment-day, Matt. xxv, 31, 32, Rev. xx, 11-14. Now the Lord told Noah, that in order to his preservation from the flood, he must build the ark; and we are told that in order to be saved from the wrath to come, we must flee to Jesus Christ, the sinner's only refuge. The Lord gave Noah instructions how he was to enter the ark, and what he was to take with him; and he has told us that we are to come to Christ by repentance and faith, and to bring nothing with us but " a broken and a contrite spirit." Noah heard, believed and obeyed-do we imitate him? Is our piety similar to that of Noah ? Do we walk with God"? Are we spiritually minded? Where are our affections? Like Noah, do we feel for our fellow sinners? Do we pray for them, and strive to persuade them ?

2. Noah was righteous in that generation of universal degeneracy, when he had every difficulty, and no encouragements. Are we as righteous in this generation, when we have but few obstacles and many advantages? It is true, in this generation there are many sinners; but then there are many saints, and many precious privileges. We have indeed line upon line, precept upon precept," till some scem as if they almost loathed the spiritual manna ; but with all these helps, are we as holy as was Noah? Let us reflect! let us consider! let us examine! let us learn wisdom and righteousness! let us bestir ourselves, and call upon the name of the Lord, and improve our graces, lest, in the great day of the Lord Jesus, not only this righteous patriarch, but the antediluvians themselves, rise up in the judgment and condemn us!

3. In consequence of sustaining such a character, Noah was preserved during the De.uge, and was afterwards highly distinguished by the favour and approbation of the