CHARACTER OF NOAH.

SECTION I.

NOAH BEFORE THE FLOOD.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

(Genesis vi. 8—14.)

Make thee an ark of gopher wood. NOAH was the tenth in order, of our earthly forefathers. He was born in the year 1056 from the Creation. When four hundred and eighty years old, he was warned of God concerning the awful judgments preparing for a guilty world. One hundred and twenty years after this, and one thousand six hundred and fifty-six years from the Creation, Noah being then six hundred years old, the Flood came upon the earth, and destroyed the ungodly. Noah lived after this three hundred and fifty years more; dying at the age of nine hundred and fifty

years.

His character and conduct before, during, and after the Flood, will require a separate consideration for each period.

In contemplating the history of Noah before the Flood, it will be useful to inquire what was the ruling Principle of his life; and what the Conduct resulting from that principle.

1. The main, governing PRINCIPLE of this holy man, was Faith. He is one of the ancient Saints mentioned by St. Paul, as distinguished by their faith. All true servants of the Lord are marked by this grace. Faith, alike in the threatenings and in the promises of God, is what distinguishes a saint from an ungodly man. Through this faith it was that Noah was accepted of God: "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."-We must never extol any of the saints in such a sense, as to forget that all men are, by nature, born in sin. It is divine grace alone that makes one man to differ from another. Noah walked by faith; and thus "became heir of the righteousness which is by faith:" (Heb. xi. 7.) He obtained the pardon of sin through the merits of that Redeemer, who was yet to come, Christ Jesus. He was justified and accounted righteous before God through faith, and not for his own works and deservings. He was a child of grace: like every other saint, he was a monument of undeserved mercy!

This living principle of faith was the cause, (as already observed,) why Noah feared the threatened judgments of God, and trusted to the appointed

method of salvation.—In like manner, every man who believes the Bible dreads eternal wrath of which careless sinners think nothing. Believers also fly to Christ as their Redeemer: while unbelievers neglect his great salvation, and perish.

2. But the subject will be more fully illustrated, if we inquire particularly-What was the religious CONDUCT of Noah, resulting from this principle?

His Walking with God, is a general and comprehensive description of his whole life. He was "a just man, and perfect in his generations.” He closely copied the example of his pious ancestor, Enoch. One and the same expression is used to describe the character of both: "Noah walked with God:" (Gen. vi. 9.) We have seen what the phrase means in the instance of Enoch; and it must have the same signification in reference to Noah. It implies the following dispositions and habits-Faith in the unseen God, with a lively sense of his presence; reliance on him as a Covenant-God, and the Saviour of all that believe; a reverence for his commandments, and love for his will; delight in communion with him; and a desire to promote his glory;—these are the characteristics of those who "walk with God."

The conduct of Noah was also characterized by Family-piety. He was married; and had three sons, all of whom were married, and whose names are recorded. Before the flood, it is true, nothing is mentioned concerning them excepting their names. Yet surely if we look at the statements in Gen. vi.,

we shall be unavoidably led to regard Noah's family in a very different light from all other families of the earth. It is there related (verses 1-5.) that men who were the children of pious parents, had fallen into the sinful custom of intermarrying with the children of the ungodly. Led by passion and fancy, "they took them wives of all which they chose." And they had (as the Psalmist expresses

it) "children at their desire." These children might be comely and vigorous. In a worldly point of view, they were illustrious; for we read, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."

But they were an ungodly race. -Of Noah, on the contrary, it is said, that he was

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a just man, and perfect IN HIS GENERATIONS:" which term seems to imply, that in his familycharacter he was an exception to the corrupt mass of society in general.

But the action for which Noah is peculiarly celebrated, was, the Preparation he made for the coming Flood, by building an Ark. His faith was shown by his works. He "builded an ark to the saving of his house." It was the one, grand, conspicuous "work of faith," by which for a hundred and twenty years he was known to all the inhabitants of the old world. Doubtless his conduct, in all other particulars, corresponded with this main point in his history.

We must not omit, consequently, to notice that he was a Preacher of righteousness. Many persons shrink from becoming religious through fear of singularity and still more would they hesitate to reprove sin in others. Noah feared not the whole race of mankind. By his building of the ark, (as St. Paul says,)" he condemned THE WORLD." Many a hard, ill-natured speech must he have encountered. What a fool would multitudes deem him, for spending his property, time and labour on a building, which seemed to them of no sort of use: and as to the coming judgment, doubtless it was the standing jest of all. Even the men who worked for Noah, and received wages from him, would be continually exclaiming, "What! no flood yet!" And thus they went on to the very last: "they ate, they drank, they married and were given in marriage, until the day that the flood came, and swept them all away." Noah endured all their mockery; still pleading with them, and preaching repentance to them.

Faith is the only principle that enables a man to withstand the fiery darts of malice and contempt. Satan employs the children of disobedience, and trains them to become very skilful in handling the weapons of ridicule. Meanwhile, the despised servant of God rejoices in the secret testimony of the Lord to his piety and faithfulness. "Thee have I seen righteous in this generation!" Such was God's declaration to Noah: and if God was for him, who could be against him? Ten thousand armies