high thoughts of the rectitude and purity of human nature, let us carefully examine this testimony of an infallible Eye-witness, to what man is when left to himself.

But let us not overlook the long-suffering goodness of God. Had such a race been cut off without a moment's warning, who could have replied against a righteous God? but instead of that, they are again fairly warned :—a respite is given them of a hundred and twenty years. During this period, Noah, an eminent servant of God, who had maintained his fidelity amidst the general defection, and who was marked out by special grace for the Divine protection, amidst the general desolation, while by faith in the Divine declaration, and in obedience to the Divine commands, he prepared the appointed means for the safety of his house, continued solemnly to warn that untoward generation of the ruin that awaited them, and implored them to seek deliverance and mercy by humble penitence and prayer. But, alas! it appears that he preached without success: many perhaps of the ungodly race assisted in preparing the ark according to divine appointment, and were well acquainted with its intention and design; but, it should seem, not one sought salvation in it: they despised the threatening of God, abused his longsuffering goodness, and continued senseless and unconcerned in their sensual pursuits, until the period of warning had expired, and judgment, awful, threatened, yet long-delayed judgment, burst upon

the world of the ungodly. Let us take warning. We too are sinners against God; awful judgments are threatened against the guilty world still: "Behold, the Lord cometh to execute judgment upon all the ungodly,"--and shall we be involved in the common calamity? A refuge is provided: Christ Jesus is a shadow from the storm. The freest invitations, the tenderest expostulations, continually meet our ears, and address themselves to our hearts: "Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth;" "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out;" "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die ?"-Oh let us not hesitate, or linger, or trifle with so much danger and so much mercy: let us, without delay, and without reservation, flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us in the gospel; for how can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.

§ 4. The Deluge.-Gen. vii. viii. 1-14.

B. C. 2348.

The period of the Divine forbearance at length expired; the ark, for the salvation of righteous, faithful Noah, and his little band, was completed; and they were commanded to enter, accompanied by such a proportion of animals of every kind, as to Infinite Wisdom seemed good for the purpose of keeping up the species; suitable food also was laid up both for man and beast. What a series of miracles must have been wrought on behalf of this