And many of these men were very cruel and wicked. Being strong they oppressed the weak, and said many bad words like wicked people now-a-days. And when Enoch told them that the Lord was angry and would punish them, they despised the Prophet, and the Lord took him away without dying from before their eyes. Yet were their hearts so hard that they got worse and worse. "And 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. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." But to show them that he would still give them time to think and mend their ways, he said " My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh, yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." Now was not this very kind and tender in the great and blessed God, to have so much patience with such wicked people? There was one man who feared the Lord, and he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. His name was Noah, and he was a Prophet, a preacher of righteousness, a man of God; and the Lord told Noah what he was going to do. So Noah moved by fear prepared an ark as the Lord commanded him. But all the wicked people laughed him to scorn. Long time was he building this great ship. Year after year he went on with the building of it, and every stroke of the hammer upon it, was as a warning to the people to repent and turn to God; but they went on in their evil ways, and mocked the man of God, until the flood did at last come and sweep them all away. Many a time no doubt they asked the Prophet of what use his old wooden ship would be, and perhaps they might threaten to make a great bonfire of it. But at last the morning, the dreadful morning came. They were marrying and giving in marriage, and eating and drinking, and making merry; and the little boys and girls might be playing in the streets, not thinking of what was coming; but all on a sudden the heavens gathered blackness, and the rain began to pour down fast, and they got into their houses out of the way; but they found that it came so fast that it would soon be in their houses, and snatching up their children, they ran to the hills or mountains, or climbed up the trees. But where was Noah all this time? He was in the ark. God had told him what he was going to do, and Noah believed God, and got ready and went with his wife and sons and their wives into the ark, and God shut him in. And when it had rained for some time, the ark was floated up by the water, and they rode safe above all the houses and towns and gardens, and over all the high hills. Oh what a sad sight it would be to see the poor creatures climbing up the high hills, and when they got there to see the water still rising. And as they climbed up higher to see it still following them, till at last they all sunk in the great deep! For the water at last covered all the hills, and rose above the tops of the highest of them, so much that if four of the tallest men had stood upon one another's heads, the head of the man at the top would not have been seen! And so "All flesh died that moved upon the earth. And Noah only remained alive and they that were with him in the ark." This great flood should teach us how easily God Almighty can do what he pleases, and how foolish as well as wicked it is to resist his will. And although God has promised that he will no more drown the world with water, yet a more fearful doom awaits it. We are told by Him, and he cannot lie, that one day the Earth and all that are therein shall be burned up. O what an awful day will that be! The world in flames! Where, O where shall we be? If we love Jesus, who died for our sins, we shall be safe. THE DELUGE. THE Deluge at the Almighty's call, How dire the wreck! how loud the roar! Yet Noah, humble happy saint! And sang the grace that steer'd him through, So may I sing, in Jesus safe, While fiery storms around me fall; Conscious how high my hopes are fixed Beyond what shakes this earthly ball. THE ARK AND DOVE. "Tell me a story, please"-my little girl And so the mighty waters bare them up, Then I look'd Upon the child, to see if her young thought And the green branches waved, and the sweet buds Reposed, and Noah with glad spirit rear'd Since, many a time When to her rest, ere evening's earliest star, Mothers can tell how oft, Fast bound,-shall dare the billows of the world, |