SERMON XVII.

Matt. xxiv. 37, 38, 39.-" But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be."

THE history of the world's first days, here referred to, may be divided into three successive eras,-each distinguished by peculiar dealings on the part of God, and by the conduct of the church and world respectively. Thus, in the first of these eras,-the period referred to in the beginning of Genesis, the 6th chapter, the division between the world and the church, hitherto well defined, becomes less marked ;-the godly and the apostate seed are mixed up together,— issuing in a general corruption;-and God, for his part, is described as repenting that he had made man, grieved, and resolved to destroy him.

The next period comprises the 120 years which the long-suffering of God allotted as a time of waiting, to see if men would understand, and seek after God, and of a final striving with their consciences by his Spirit. Such is the line the Almighty takes up during those years, he strives and waits. The church is seen (reduced now to a very small remnant) walking with God, -preaching righteousness,—just and perfect, in contrast to the degeneracy around, and preparing an ark against the threatened judgment. The world, on the other hand, is utterly corrupt, and become abominable;-depravity, violence, unbelief, and indifference to divine threatenings, are its characteristics.

The third era is the last week before the flood,— the latter days of the old world,-which I propose to consider in detail, in reference to the conduct of God, -the church, and the world, during its continuance. For long past as those days are, they will be re-produced in the latter times; and the dealings of God, when the time arrives for a judgment, as sudden, and

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more terrible than that of the flood, are here delineated. Hence we learn what they may be expected to be. While in the character and behaviour of the church and world then, we find a faithful picture of what it will be in the last times." As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

In the first place, then, to begin with the CHURCH. Its character, as developed in Noah, during 120 years, is one of bright contrast to the world;-believing unto righteousness, the heart right with God,-bearing testimony for him,-practising, as well as professing godliness. The church, during the period we have under consideration, is seen entering the ark. It is the last week of the 120 years. The building which has long been preparing, is finished, and stored with provisions; Noah receives his orders to go in, and with him are seen to enter pairs of each species of animals, -the timid and the savage,- --those who fear man, and those whom man fears, crowd in together. In the self-same day, the whole of the inhabitants, in all their variety, are consigned to the ark, and when the cargo is thus safely housed, the Lord shut them in.

This is the special feature in the church's condition at that time, a state of security. It is in the ark. Apparently they are prisoners, who are voluntarily immured in this vast vessel, who, under some strange delusion as it appears, some notion they are possessed with of danger to be apprehended, have shut themselves up in this gloomy abode,-exiled themselves from the green earth and cheerful sky, while as yet all things continue the same, with no appearance of change. Prisoners indeed, they are, but prisoners of hope. The real prisoners are outside, at large in the world, seemingly enjoying liberty, in contrast with those who are shut in to so narrow a prison,-yet, in reality, shut up without escape ;- now barred within the four corners of the earth. The church is in its stronghold;—it has retreated there for shelter, and the shelter is a sure one, for it is pitched, and thus is so well covered and protected, that the flood cannot penetrate it,the storm shall not be felt.

Just such a stronghold the church has now. Against

the destruction by which the world that then was perished, it was provided by Noah, under divine direction, for the saving of his house. Against the second destruction of the world, an ark is prepared by God himself." A man is the hiding place from the wind, the covert from the tempest." A body was prepared for Jehovah's fellow. God sent forth his Son,—manifested him, that all might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before them. To him, accordingly, in all ages, sinners are fleeing for deliverance. He has spread the covering of his righteousness over every one drawn and united by faith to him.

Our ark, like Noah's, is pitched within and without; -the word means atonement,-that which propitiates, renders merciful by covering sins. On all sides our ark is thus pitched, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." His righteousness is unto all and upon all them that believe. Shut up in the ark, "their life is hid with Christ in God." They have entered into its chambers,-God has shut them in ;its pitched doors about them having blood sprinkled on them. And there they rest, hidden in Christ, till the indignation be overpast. They rest there, for "there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." They are safe, because they are in Christ, and he is able to keep that which is committed to him. Moved with fear," they did not indeed prepare an ark for themselves, or build a house on the sand (the only foundation they could lay), that would rock and fall as soon as the wind blew ;-but they repaired to one already framed, while the door was open, and they were invited to go in.

Observe, again, God can do nothing till he has thus placed his church in safety;-an ark must be got ready, and his people must be there, hidden and shut in, before he can come out of his place. "As soon as Noah entered the ark the flood came." Till Lot has made good his escape to Zoar, the Lord, though in haste to make away with Sodom, can do nothing. The men who sigh and cry for the abominations of Jerusalem must be marked, before the ministers of vengeance begin

their bloody work. Before each coming indignation, God sends forth his word-" Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.'

Who, then, are these within the stronghold,-these much cared for, much valued ones, whose security God will see to himself, that they take no harm? First, they are those who are not sleeping as do others,— who have fled to the refuge set before them. Moved with fear, they have taken the precautions of faith;betaken themselves, while the ark stood open, to its inviting shelter;-gladly counting their gain for loss; -all loss if they win Christ, and be found in him,not having on their own righteousness, but covered above and around, girt about with his.

Secondly. They are those who have stood on the Lord's side, well aware that no man can serve two masters; who have not stood halting between two opinions, but have chosen the better part. They are preachers of righteousness, quite as much by the silent eloquence of their example, as by their words, showing how much they had the fear of God before their eyes, and dared not defile themselves with worldly lusts;— living in an evil world, but having not defiled their garments. They are those who were witnesses for God, his messengers to the world, who were persuaded themselves of the reality of his coming, and show it by their concern for the masses who are living as if no such day were approaching;-inviting others to share with them the security of the ark, to shelter themselves under the blood of the everlasting

covenant.

For these there was security when the flood came; and such shall be safe in the future day of the Lord. By such tests we may know if we are in the ark ourselves; for there is a state of safety which my soul enjoys when I have pressed after an interest in Christ, --when I have striven to get into the light, and at the cross thrown my sins on him to carry away. There is again a feeling of safety, which, though of the true and right kind, I may not be able to realize, in simply,

yet heartily looking at the cross as a sinner. There, indeed, I obtain peace with God. By that resolved act of faith, looking to him, I gain the shelter and security of the ark.

Still, while I am thus actually in a state of salvation, I may not enjoy the feeling of it. This, there are special rules laid down for getting. There is a specimen of these in the Epistle to the Philippians, iv. 4,the Apostle told us what the people of God must be. Let them rejoice in the Lord alway. Let their moderation (self-control) be known unto all men; let them be without carefulness, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, making their requests known unto God; and, he adds, if they thus behave themselves, while they attend to these rules,— maintain this temper of joy and dependence on God, and a restraint on themselves, the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. To such, God will fulfil his promise of granting his peace; but neglect on their part must lead to withdrawal and loss of it. The more awake, lively, diligent, and earnest they are, the fuller enjoyment will they have of the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

In the second place, let us turn from the church to the world, see how it occupied this brief interval,— these seven days,-the last, during which the longsuffering of God is waiting. Alas! "They are eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark;"-engaged, it seems, just with the ordinary and lawful occupations of life,-pursuing their usual avocations. For what, then, are they to be blamed and condemned? That they knew not, until the flood came,-implying for one thing, carnal security and indifference. They were strangers to the fear, under the influence of which, Noah entered the ark; they too, like him, were warned, and might have seen, as he did, the flood coming; but "they knew not." Noah, wary and cautious, going to work so labouriously, preparing the ark, appears to them mad, a worthy object for jest and scorn. As to the ark itself, we can imagine them regarding it, first