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CHAPTER. VII.

The story of this chapter divides itself into four parts. I. The call of God to Noah to come into the ark; II. The care of God for the rest of the creatures; III. Noah's obedience to the divine call; IV. The coming of the flood, with the causes, and consequences of it.

A

ND 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.

God had told Noah before that he should come into the ark, and had given him directions so large and particular, that Noah might think he must not expect to hear from God again. But behold the goodness of God in keeping up a correspondence with his servant, for his encouragement under the difficulties of the work. Though Noah knew that when he had made the ark, he must go into it, yet

he staid for a renewed command before he went in. 'Tis good in every thing to go no further than we can see a clear warrant from God to bear us out. Observe, God doth not say, Go into the ark; but, Come into the ark;-implying that God would go with him; that he would lead him into it, accompany him in it, and in due time bring him safely out of it. The ark was a kind of prison to poor Noah,— an uncomfortable place to be in a year round; but the presence of God with him was enough to countervail that objection. Though the ark was a prison, yet the Lord, that was with Joseph in the prison, (Gen. xxxix. 21, 23,) was also with Noah in this prison with him,-not only by his common presence, as he is everywhere, but by his special presence; the presence of his love and favour; his cheering, comforting presence. The want of this presence embitters the sweetest comforts; Exod. xxxiii. 15; but the enjoyment of this presence sweetens the bitterest cross,-for in God's presence is fulness of joy. Psa. xvi. 11.

Thou and all thy house. It had been a great mercy to Noah, if he and his wife only had been secured in the ark; but how much greater was it to have all his house secured with him! Noah questionless was, as good men use to be, in care for his family; and it seems that God was in care for it too.

All thy house. Was there not one wicked Ham amongst them, and must he come into the ark too? Yes. Being one of Noah's sons, though wicked and vile in himself, yet he is secured in the ark for his good father's sake. Wicked children often fare the better for their godly parents' sake. Though the piety of one will not save another from eternal ruin, yet it may have an influence upon salvation from present judgments. The Moabites and Ammonites were once spared because they were the posterity of righteous Lot. Deut. ii. 9, 19. 'Tis good to belong to the family of a good man.

Into the ark. Noah had been very busy about this ark, no question, a great while; many a careful night and many a toilsome day it had cost him. Many a discouraging thought, perhaps, his unbelieving heart did suggest. But all was one for that. He kept his eye upon the command, and that carried him through all the difficulties of the work. And what did he get by it? Not his labour for his pains. No: when he had made the ark, he and his were secured in it; and that security was the reward of his obedience. Whatever we do in obedience to the command of God, we ourselves are likely to have the comfort of it, first or last. God has, in infinite wisdom, so ordered the matter that our duty is our privilege. He has so twisted interests with us, that

in working for him, we work for ourselves; in seeking the things of his honour and glory, we seek the things of our own peace and comfort.

The gospel call now is much like this call of God to Noah. The burden of the song is, Come, come. The Spirit saith, come; the word saith, come; ministers say, come. And whither must we come? Into the ark; and that ark is Christ. As there was then, so there is now, a deluge of wrath approaching. All these things shall be dissolved; 2 Pet. iii. 11; and all those, and those only, that are got by faith into Christ, the ark, shall be saved in the great and terrible day of the Lord. Mark xvi. 16. Is it not our wisdom then to make sure a place in this ark? to close sincerely with Jesus Christ? to accept the gospel offer of redemption and salvation by him? Behold, we are called! O! let us obey the call; because out of the ark is no salvation; in the ark, no condemnation. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Rom. viii. 1. Besides this great deluge, there are other lesser floods of wrath, which perhaps may be at the door; and when they come, Christ will be the only ark of safety. Those that are in him may promise themselves a hiding place from the storm, and a covert from the tempest; Isa. xxxii. 2; either in heaven, or under heaven; either in heaven's possession, or under heaven's protection. This call of God to

Noah looks like the call of a tender father to his children that are abroad in the fields. When he sees a storm coming, he calls them into the house. It resembles that in Isa. xxvi. 20; Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers. God hath chambers of safety to hide all his people in, in a time of common calamity.

To this gracious call a reason is annexed; for thee have I seen righteous before me: an honourable testimony from the mouth of God himself concern ing his servant Noah. There was a whole world of wicked people, the earth was filled with violence; and yet God could see one righteous Noah amongst them all; he could find out one grain of wheat in the midst of that great heap of chaff. The eye of God is upon good men. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; Psa. i. 6; and knows it, so as to approve of it; so as to reward it. God loves the saints, and therefore keeps his eye upon them. Ubi amor, ibi oculus. Many are righteous before men, that are not righteous before God, who seeth not as man seeth. 1 Sam. xvi. 7. The hypocrisy of hypocrites may deceive men, but it cannot deceive God.

In this generation; this wicked, profane generation, this generation of sinners. Noah was good when nobody else was so; kept close to God and duty when all mankind were become apostate. This