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out success, and drew taunts instead of tears. never seems to have made a single convert in 120 The uniform tenor of his address must years. have been that of warning and condemnation. The case admitted of no other. His daily labor upon the ark carried also the strong language of reprobation, "by the which he condemned the world." It constantly proclaimed the approaching destruction of the world for their wickedness. Such an unheard of enterprise as the construction of an enormous vessel to ride the waves,-the construction of it in the midst of the dry land,-under the idea that a flood was coming upon the world; a singularity fraught with apparent folly, and calculated to excite scorn as well as wrath; could not fail to call forth the highest contempt and indignation of a world. How often was he called a madman and a fool! Those who passed by would insultingly wag their heads. Others would curse him. The children would shoot out the lip at him as he walked the streets, and load him with the epithets which they had heard their fathers use. All the wit and raillery of the age would be levelled against him. The fame of his undertaking would travel to remote nations, and from all quarters derision and reproaches would come in. All this time he had no man beyond the bounds of his own family to whom he could impart his cares or on whose bosom he could repose. He could ask no counsel. He could go no where, he could look no where, without meeting the blasting frown of a world. His character was totally ruined with every person

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on earth except his own family. He was shut out from all society except what he found at home. The question would often be asked, who made him wiser and better than all the world besides? That question, had he not been supported by faith as well as fortitude, would have crushed him. Losing sight of the divine testimony and commission, and looking only at himself, he would shrink into nothing, and say, "Who am I to be the reprover of a world ?" But faith joined to fortitude, supported him. His unconquered mind rose above the opinion of a united race. He would not think that sterling which all men approved, nor that vile which all men condemned. He rested on a higher decision.

The reproaches of the wicked would become more and more triumphant and insufferable the longer the event was delayed. To see the madman, as they would call him, foretelling destruction year after year, without any prospect of a fulfilment; to see him laboring to rear an enormous vessel for ten, twenty, forty, eighty, a hundred years, without any symptom of a deluge, though he might have expected it long before, and might have intimated that expectation; how high must their contempt and triumph have arisen! How often would they load him with the titles of false prophet, impostor, liar! How often would they tauntingly ask, Where is the destruction so long foretold? "for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning." But this heroic saint, far from being conquered by reproaches, resolved to believe and

obey God rather than man.

With astonishing fortitude he held fast his integrity for 120 years.

At length the long expected day arrived which was to show that his labors and hopes were not in vain, which was to put an eternal end to the scoffs and exultations of his enemies. The tremendous morning began to lour. The heavens gathered blackness. Angry tempests conflicted in the skies. The red lightnings curled over the world. Word was spread that Noah and his family had entered into the ark. The world began to look serious.

Presently floods of water pour from the sky. Some now begin to turn their eyes towards the ark; others stand doubting; others dare still to scoff.

The waters go on to increase. The channels of the rivers are full and overflowing. The waters begin to rise in the streets. Some flee into their houses; others, more intimidated, hasten to the hills; others are convinced, and with the paleness of death are seen wading towards the ark.

The fountains of the great deep are now broken up. The waters rise more rapidly, and begin to rush with impetuous force. With difficulty they stand against the stream. They struggle for their lives to reach the ark. Thousands come; some wading, some swimming, some sinking, some hanging to the ark with the grasp of death; all screaming for admission. But it is too late. Time was when the ark was open and they might have entered in; but that time is past. Where are now those tongues which derided the enormous vessel and the

man that made it? What now think you of him who for more than a century has borne the character of a madman? A thousand worlds for his condition now. Those nearest the ark cry and plead for admission, but in vain. The waters roar; the ark is taken up; they sink and are seen no more.

By this time every wretch on earth is convinced. Hear their cries from the tops of the houses, which are answered by lamentations from the hills. See the armies that are collected on the mountains. How like frighted sheep they crowd together! Now the waters, roaring and foaming, have reached their feet. They flee back to the highest ridge; the floods pursue them there. Some few climb the lofty oaks; the waves overtake them there. They flee to the highest branches, and for a while have time to reflect on their former madness. "How could I disbelieve the prophet of the Lord? Where is now the ark which I scorned? Whither am I going? O eternity! eternity! What a dreadful God have I despised!" On the impetuous torrent sweeps them. ken, and they rise no more. That blessed family are safe. heads of their revilers and persecutors, until they rest on Ararat.

topmost bough the Their hold is broThe ark comes by. They sail over the

The same terrors will seize an unbelieving world when the Son of man appears. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days which were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered

into the ark; and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be.

When we reflect on the wretched antediluvians, we perceive their folly in not believing God, and are ready to say with the Jews, If we had lived in their days we should not have done thus. But sinners repeat the same folly now. God has told them that he will destroy the world;-that in less than 120 years all the wicked of the present generation shall be overwhelmed in a flood of wrath. To convince them that the destruction is coming, he has set forth a spiritual ark. He has sent out preachers of righteousness to warn them. Every circumstance is the same. The destruction is as certain; it is as near; and there is no escape but in the ark. But sinners will not believe. They spend their time perhaps in scoffing at the serious apprehensions of christians, and in contemning the ark. Greater madness never existed before the flood. is coming when christians will not be deemed mad men for their concern to secure an interest in Christ; when it will appear that they did not believe and labor and bear reproaches in vain. Time is coming when they who are now as secure, as hardy, as those stupid wretches before the flood, would give ten thousand worlds for the place of the meanest christian whom they now despise. When the door of the kingdom shall be shut and there is no more entering in; when they shall stand without and say, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he shall answer, I know you not; when the sluices of vengeance shall

The time