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racle preserved some of every species, which is, at least, as easy as to suppose a new creation of this part of the animal world.

If we contemplate the history of the deluge, merely as it relates to the inhabitants of the old world, it affords a striking example of Goo's vengeance against incorrigible sinners; but if we regard it, as the Scrip. tures teach us to do*, as a warning to ourselves, it will surely be a check upon immorality and impiety, for none among us can be certain that the end of the world is not at hand. The day of judgment will come as suddenly as the flood did: but supposing that many ages should revolve before this a ful period takes place, yet in respect to every individual on earth, it is certainly near: a few short years will, in a natural way determine our fate to all eternity; and even these may be shortened by some sudden and unexpected visitation. Let us then shun the example of a corrupt generation, and imitate that of Noah, who feared GOD, and sought the righteousness which is by faith; that we like him may be heirs of salvation.

SECTION IX.

NOAH, &C. BY GOD'S COMMAND, COME OUT OF THE

ARK.

From Genesis, Chap. viii,

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged.

The fountains also of the deep, and the windows of

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heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.

And the waters returned from off the earth continually, and after the end of the hundred and fifty days, the waters were abated.

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeeth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ara

rat.

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And the waters decreased continually, until the tenth month in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

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And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made;

And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up upon the earth.

Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground.

But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark: for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her unto him into the ark.

And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came in unto him in the evening.

And lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove, which returned not again unto him any

more.

And it came to pass in the sixth hundredth and first in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth, and Noah re

moved the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold the face of the ground was dry.

And God spake unto Noah, saying,

Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both of fowl and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful and multiply upon

the earth.

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepethupon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Noah and his family must undoubtedly have had an entire dependance on the promises of GoD, or they could not have supported their long confinement. It is agreeable to what we read of God's general dealings with the patriarchs, to suppose, that they were encouraged to this confidence by a visible token of the DIVINE PRESENCE at least they must have had an inward assurance that GOD remembered them.

A miraculous power must also have been exerted to prevent the ill consequences, which would have arisen from such a number of different animals being shut up together, in so small a space, without the benefit of fresh air, for such a length of time.

As GOD vouchsafed to inform mankind by what means He occasioned the deluge, He likewise condescended to acquaint them how it was assuaged.

The word here translated wind is, in the Hebrew language,

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language, the same that is translated spirit, in the ac count of the creation; we may therefore understand, that the immediate power of GoD produced a motion in the air, which acted upon the waters as at the first division of them, and that out of regard to the welfare of Noah, and those who were with him, both the in crease and return of the waters were gradual, which prevented the ark from being tossed about so as to endanger. their safety. At length the ark rested, but Noah and his family seem to have had no impatience to be set at liberty; for we do not find, that they even took a survey of the earth, till a considerable time after the resting of the ark: when Noah opened the window and sent forth the raven.

It is strongly implied, that Noah regularly observed the Sabbath? for we find, that he repeatedly sent forth the dove on the seventh day, as if in expectation of some extraordinary blessing on that day. At length "she returned, bearing in her mouth an olive branch, as a divine signal of of peace and favour. On the succeeding Sabbath she returned not, but impelled by that instinctive power, which guides the feathered race, found an habitation for herself among the new sprung branches.

Noah acting, as we may suppose, by divine direction, removed the covering of the ark, and had the happiness once more to behold dry land. Still he did not attempt to leave the ark, but waited for GOD's com'mand, which being given, he instantly obeyed, and left his confinement, followed by his family and every liv. ing creature he had taken in with him, excepting the dove, which, as the harbinger of peace, was made the first inhabitant of the renovated world.

What transports of delight must have filled the hearts of this small remnant of human-kind, when they

came

came out of the ark, and beheld again the beauties of nature! and how greatly must the different animals have enjoyed their restoration to the fields and pastures, and other accommodations suited to their respective natures!

It is not unusual with scoffers to make the history of the deluge a subject for ridicule. In order to guard our minds from their objections, we should remember that it is a very great absurdity to attempt to explain. miraculous events by natural causes; because on such occasions the usual operations of nature are suspended or diverted from their course. The belief of the omni-potence of GoD reconciles all difficulties; and on pro per reflection it will appear as credible, that GOD should destroy and renew the world, as that he should at first create it. Let us, then, turn a deaf ear to those idle speculatists; who call in question what is recorded in the Book of Truth, and corroborated by the concur rent testimony of the most antient traditions. And let us learn, from the relation of GoD's goodness in preserving man and other living creatures, to rely on his mercy in the midst of the greatest dangers that befal

us,

SECTION X.

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.

From Genesis, Chap. viii, and ix.

AND Noah builded an altar unto the LORD, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings upon the altar.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour, and said, 1 will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; neither will I smite any more every thing fiving, as I have done.

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