mercy of the waves! and which contained the hope of all future generations of the human race, and of the animal creation; with all necessary accommodations and provisions for more than a

year.

We are now arrived at that memorable revolution, of which there are so many striking marks in the external appearance of the globe; and of which there are such frequent and distinct intimations, in the traditional monuments and records of all the learned nations of antiquity; and of which we have such circumstantial and ample detail in the Scriptures.

The windows of heaven are opened, the rain descends in torrents, the barriers that confined the ocean to his appointed bed are removed, and the waters from beneath rise to meet the waters from above, and join their streams to avenge the cause of a holy and righteous Judge. The voice of mirth is heard no more, and all "the daughters of music are brought low." The wa

The discovery of the bodies of Elephants and Rhinocera in great masses, in Siberia, mixed with marine substances, has given rise to an opinion, that there was an irruption of waters from the southern ocean; no animals, or other substances belonging to the northern regions, having been found in southern latitudes.

ters prevailed until all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. Those who had rejected and despised the means of escape, when they had them in their power, perish in the sight of a place of security, which they cannot reach. Compare with these the feelings of Noah and his little family, within the ark. They enjoy a refuge provided by their Almighty Protector. What gratitude must arise to Him, what fervent love among themselves! What holy composure and rest in God! What sweet and satisfying meditations on his mercy, as well as awful reflections on the justice and severity of Jehovah!

"And all flesh died that moved upon the face of the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man; and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

"And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged." He who makes sphere to balance sphere, in the, great system of nature, can make one element check and control the rage of another, in the subordinate economy of our little globe.

The floods prevailed 150 days, and after the end of them, the waters were abated.

The creation and the flood seemed almost to meet in the person of Methuselah, the son of Enoch; for he was cotemporary with Adam, for more than two centuries; and within a few days after his death, Noah was commanded to prepare for going into the ark. And in the history of Noah, the old and the new world, were connected together, notwithstanding the vast chasm of the deluge.

Noah came out of the ark, and all that were with him, after they had been confined there the space of one year and eleven days.

He gave proof of his gratitude for his preservation and deliverance: for his first concern was to sacrifice unto the Lord. The acceptableness of this act of devotion is thus testified: "And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite every living thing as I have done." The effect produced by the sun when in opposition to a watery cloud, was to be an assurance to them, that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. The bow was now to have a use and meaning unknown before; for the Lord

said: "I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth."

e This extinction of life by water, was designed to lessen the quantity of vice and profaneness, and to preserve and advance religion and virtue in the earth; the great end for which the earth and man in it, were created. This end it was adapted to obtain in the then present state of things, and in all future generations. In the present state of things, it prevented a total corruption; for if the whole tainted part had not been cut off, a single family, if not drawn in, might have been destroyed; and the divine purposes from the beginning of the world, have been de feated.

But, by reserving a select family for the continuation of the human species, a method was devised for the establishment of religion and virtue, in the new world. Noah was not, like Adam, a new, inexperienced being, ignorant of every thing but what he received from revelation. Noah, besides the benefit of revelation and intercourse with heaven, had the whole compass of antediluvian knowledge from the creation in his

own possession. He was a man of eminent abilities, and the most steady integrity. Adam was easily seduced, but Noah, in the midst of a universal degeneracy, firmly adhered to truth and religion. A man of such temper and understanding, would not fail to communicate all he knew, to his posterity, nor to inculcate it strongly upon their hearts.

Noah's family, Shem, Ham and Japheth, with their wives, were eye witnesses of the dreadful inundation, and had the most affecting proof of their own deliverance. They resided full twelve months in the ark; and it is easy to conceive how they would be affected in so moving a situation. They knew this shocking catastrophe was not a fortuitous accident, but occasioned by the wickedness of the world; therefore all the terrors of the deluge, must give them the most sensible perception of the malignant nature of iniquity, that it is highly offensive to God, and dreadfully pernicious to sinners. They must be convinced of the uncontrolable power and dominion of the Most High; the impossibility of escaping his vengeance; what a fearful thing it is to fall into his hands; and how much they were obliged, both in interest and in duty, to reverence and obey Him.