death are unavoidable.

him, and prosper." don the only felicity. irreparable.

"None can harden themselves against Even to neglect, or forsake him is to aban

To continue in sin, is ruin inevitable, and

Will you run the hazard of delaying to be reconciled to God? By wilful delay "the heart becomes hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." The "Spirit of God is grieved, and quenched; the measure of wrath, and the amount of guilt are continually augmented, conversion more difficult, heaven more inacessible, and God less willing to extend favor, or encourage the sinner to return: and the awful, hopeless season hastens on when God will say, "Because I called, and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no man regarded. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. Therefore I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." Is not the hazard of delay fearful? Is it not presumptuous, and

foolish?

SERMON VII.

NOAH'S CHARACTER AND FAITH, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

HEBREWS, XI. 7.-By faith, Noah, being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

THE history of our race records many dispensations of God's
moral government which awfully display his resistless power, and
fearful vengeance. Among these the deluge stands pre-eminent.
By a flood of waters God destroyed an ungodly world, who by
filling up the measure of their sins had exhausted the divine for-
bearance. "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 the Lord said I will de-
stroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth: both
man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air;
for it repenteth me that I have made them." The execution of
this purpose was complete. The memorial of it is written indel-
ibly on the page of sacred history, and constitutes a part of the
traditionary tales of all nations. The earth in every region ex-
hibits unquestionable evidences of the occurrence of a scene of
such awful grandeur, and desolating fury. Its credibility is em-
barrassed by no serious objection. Its accomplishment was easy
to divine power. It was an appropriate, and enduring testimony
against the excessive, and universal depravity of man.
It was
an ever memorable example of the holy vengeance of God.
Amidst this almost universal ruin we meet with a strange, and
singular exception which strongly illustrates the divine mercy,
and holiness. Noah, and his family found favor with God, and
by means which divine wisdom prescribed, sailed safely on the
illimitable flood, outrode the desolating tempest, and became the

progenitors of a new, and widely spread population. The reasons of this strongly marked distinction well deserve special notice, and merit our serious, and practical regard. God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. He delights in the exercise of mercy. He warns before he strikes. He is a refuge for those who fear him, and saves all who credit his truth, and

hope in his mercy. They who escape owe it to his gracious favor. They who perish are lost by contempt of his warnings, and refusal of his grace. The facts to which our text refers illustrate these remarks. "By faith Noah being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Let us

1st. Consider the character of Noah in general as recorded. 2d. The distinguishing, and genuine nature of his faith and 3d. The important consequences which resulted from it.

Let us 1st. consider the character of Noah in general as recorded.

"He was a just man,-perfect in his generations: and walked with God." As the illustration of the other parts of this subject will bring the character of Noah under special consideration, I will make here only three general remarks.

1st. Noah was a man of integrity—that is, of sincerity, and completeness of religious character. He recognised all the duties which God requires-" doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God." He rendered to his fellowmen their dues with impartiality, and fairness; and doing to others as they were bound to do to him, he was meek, and forgiving, compassionate, and kind.

2d. The eminence, constancy, and practical operation of his religion were singular, and distinguishing. "He was perfect in his generations." Perfect in purpose, and effort; and, though not sinless, he had respect unto all God's commandments, and shone as a light in the world. His attainments were high; and he abounded in those fruits of righteousness which honor God, and edify men. His religion was not a fitful, and occasional thing, but constant, and progressive " as the morning light which shineth

more, and more unto the perfect day." He was emulous to be, and, in some good measure, was in fact "blameless, and harmless, a son of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked, and faithless generation."

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3d. His eminently religious character was sustained by habitual regard to, and communion with God. He walked with God" as his most loved friend, his counsellor, his guide, and his trust. In his teachings he sought wisdom; in his promised grace he found strength, and pious courage. In the bosom of his God he sought repose from care, and sorrow and by habitual communion with God he was strengthend with might in the inner man; and thus "strong in faith he gave glory to God."

Let us consider 2dly. The distinguishing, and genuine nature of Noah's faith.

The Apostle has defined faith to be, "The substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. This definition is illustrated by the various examples which are here adduced. Faith is a belief which is sustained by sufficient reasons: has respect to important realities: and operates in practical results. Noah's faith had for its foundation a revelation from God: It had respect to things not seen as yet: and it was operative in God's prescribed way.

It had for its foundation a revelation from God.

This is the only legitimate ground on which a religious faith can rest. It makes known God's character, will, and purposes: and our dangers, and reasons of hope, our duties, privileges, and true felicity. This revelation God alone is competent to make. What he is what he has determined to do: and what he would have us to do, he only can declare. On these subjects human wisdom cannot decide. The philosopher may speculate, the visionary may indulge his fancies: and the enthusiast his waking dreams: presumptuous worldly wisdom may lay plans for God, and fondly cherish the splendid figments of its own creation. It is all in vain. Until God speaks all is loose conjecture, and faith, and hope, and fear have no definite, and well ascertained objects. But, "the counsel of the Lord standeth sure," "the

thoughts of his heart to all generations.". He can declare the truth: He will declare the truth only: He will reveal all needful truth. For each of these reasons God's word is a stable ground for faith. He can declare the truth. His understanding is infinite. He perfectly knows all things, even the deep things of God: The constitution of his own nature: the objects of his counsels, and all the results of his purposes, and operations. Known unto God are all these, and all other things. On what is past no shade of oblivion rests: futurity is obscured by no vail. His mind with full, and uninterrupted comprehension embraces universal existence, with all its attributes, relations, circumstances, developments, and destinies. God can declare the truth. It is equally certain that he will declare the truth only. The infinite knowledge, veracity, holiness, and independence of his nature forbid all suspicion that he would or could deceive. A God of truth, and without iniquity, just, and right is he. He will reveal all needful truth. All his works are perfect. Correspondent to the responsibilities under which he holds man will be the means of knowledge, the motives, and helps to obedience which will be given. Where the inquiry is honestly made, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" The unerring answer will ever be found. The matters of faith have at different times been revealed with different degrees of fulness, and clearness, but always in such measure, and manner as the duties, and exigencies of the time required. It is ever true that "if any man lack wisdom, and ask of God, it will be given him;" and "if any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God." Moreover the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, nor doth he hide from them the things which he will do; or at least, in the event they shall be fully satisfied in perceiving his wisdom, and justice. To Abraham his servant and friend, he revealed his purposes respecting Sodom, that all might be done which could be done by intercession, and warning: that God's mercy, and justice might be undeniable, and manifest, and that the righteous might be delivered. To Noah, long before its execution, he made known his purpose to destroy the world by a flood: com