11. Builds the Ark.

BESIDES the sermons delivered from time to time by Noah to those around him, he preached one of a very extraordinary nature to all the inhabitants of the earth; for such we may properly call the ark built by him, the report of which, considering the number of years it was in building, went forth, doubtless, into all lands, and was every where the subject of conversation, long before the flood came. By faith, says the Apostle, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, prepared an ark to the saving of his

house, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith *. The assertion in this passage, that Noah by building the ark condemned the world, implies that the world were acquainted with that transaction, which, being a public and notorious testimony of his faith, will at the last day arise up in the judgment against their infidelity, and prevent their putting in the plea of ignorance. The strength of Noah's faith in the warning given him by God upon this occasion appears from the powerful opposition it had to encounter and overcome. To one of

⚫ Heb. xi, 7.

a philosophic turn of mind the difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of oceans for the purpose of deluging the earth would immediately occur. The seeming impossibility of constructing a vessel, within the given dimensions, which should be capable of containing the creatures destined for the preservation of their respective species, together with the various provisions necessary for their support, would be a formidable objection in the mechanical way. The care, the labour, the time, and the expence requisite to go through with a work of that kind, would afford no very agreeable prospect: and then the circumstance of being shut up in such a place with such

company could not but be terrifying. But, above all, it must have been a very severe trial, and much steadiness and resolution it must have required, to withstand the incessant scoffs and insults of the antediluvian free thinkers, who, without all doubt, would be frequently assembling to see how the work went on, expressing, perhaps, how very ambitious they were of having the honour to be present when the lions and tigers should be hunted into the ark, and minutely inquisitive as to the precise method in which it was proposed to navigate the vessel, thus filled, over the mountains. In some such manner as this, it is highly probable, that

modern test and touchstone of all truth, RIDICULE, was applied to Noah and his undertaking. The conduct of the patriarch, upon this occasion, shews us what ours ought to be in like circumstances.-According to all that God commanded him, so did he*. Being once well assured, upon good and sufficient evidence, what the will of God is, we should suffer no appearances of things, or opinions of men, to discourage and prevent us from accomplishing it, to the utmost of our ability. The only question to be asked is-Hath God spoken it. This being resolved in the affirma

* Gen. vi. 22.