EXPLANATIONS. Enoch-dedicated'; his name indicates his peculiar character for sanctity. What a contrast to the sixth of Cain's descendants-Lamech. in descent, &c.-he was born in the line of the children of God." He foretold the final judgment of God upon the wicked. Jude, verses 14,15. walked, &c.-denoting his behaviour, manner of life, and conversation. This observation implies that religion was on the decline among the sons of Seth. Methuselah-he died in the same year as the flood. Lamech-he died five years before Methuselah; he is the first man on record who died a natural death before his father. Noah-the tenth in descent from Adam. His name means rest,' or 'comfort.' shall comfort, &c.—a prophetic allusion to Noah's instrumentality in re-peopling a desolate world. Shem-means name,' or 'reputation,' a designation fully sustained by his Abrahamic descendants, among whom 6 appeared" the plant of renown." Ham-the youngest of the three; his name which means 'hot,' indicates probably a scornful, reckless, and fiery disposition. Japheth- extension,' or 'persuasion'; the name Japetus, long continued famous among the Greeks, and was also well known to the Romans. wickedness increased, &c.-violence was added to gross sensuality; they did evil deliberately and intentionally. in his generations-in a corrupt age of the world, when every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil. walked with God-as Enoch had done before him. an ark-a large vessel like the hulk of a ship, fitted for floating or sailing on the waters. The length, &c.-if the cubit be taken at eighteen inches the ark would be nearly as long as St. Paul's Cathedral, and nearly half the size of that immense building. According to Dr. Hales it would be of above 42,000 tons burden, and would hold as much as eighteen large ships of war. This was more than sufficient for all it had to contain. covenant-solemn engagement. The original implies a cutting off, because solemn agreements were often ranfied by a sacrifice; the parties walking between the divided victim. The covenant here spoken of refers to the promise, see promised,' Les. 4. all food, &c.-food adapted for himself and his family, and for all the different animals in the ark according to their respective instincts and appetites. warned, &c.-hence, in the New Testament, he is called "a preacher of righteousness." great deep-the vast collection of waters which God divided from the land on the third day of the creation. above, &c.-the rise of the waters would be thirty feet in each hour, if we suppose them to have risen at an equal rate during the whole forty days. QUESTIONS. What is said of Enoch? What was Methuselah's age? What did God communicate to Noah? What directions did he give him concerning the ark? What is the meaning of covenant? What creatures were to be taken into the For what purpose? [ark? Who warned the people, and what is he consequently called? Why might the people have believed him? By what means did God bring a flood upon Who were saved? [the earth? How long were the waters upon the earth? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. The translation of Enoch besides being a reward for his active religious life, was, to the antediluvians, who were then rapidly declining from the knowledge of God a miraculous attestation of the doctrine of a future state. Enoch prophesied of the second coming of Christ, it is natural therefore to believe that he must have known of his first coming. The sentence passed upon Adam," Unto dust shalt thou return," is the general law of Providence; from this law Enoch was exempt. The tendency of sin to increase in violence; the certain punishment of the wicked, as shown in the history of the flood; and the security of God's faithful followers, as in the case of Noah, are taught in this lesson. Year of the World. THE CREATION of the Heaven and the Earth, &c. The Fall of Man, and the first Promise of the Saviour. 1 The Birth of Cain PERIOD I. Year Before Christ 4004 4003 395 The Birth of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan 3609 687 The Birth of Methuselah, the son of Enoch 187 years elapse. 874 The Birth of Lamech, the son of Methuselah 56 years elapse. 3382 3317 3130 930 The Death of Adam, at 930 years old 3074 57 years elapse. 987 The Translation of Enoch, at 365 years old 1656 The Death of Methuselah, at 969 years old. THE DELUGE. 2348 2446 2353 EXPLANATIONS. Enoch-dedicated'; his name indicates his peculiar character for sanctity. What a contrast to the sixth of Cain's descendants-Lamech. in descent, &c.-he was born in the line of "the children of God." He foretold the final judgment of God upon the wicked. Jude, verses 14,15. walked, &c.-denoting his behaviour, manner of life, and conversation. This observation implies that religion was on the decline among the sons of Seth. Methuselah-he died in the same year as the flood. Lamech-he died five years before Methuselah; he is the first man on record who died a natural death before his father. Noah-the tenth in descent from Adam. His name means 'rest,' or 'comfort.' shall comfort, &c.-a prophetic allusion to Noah's instrumentality in re-peopling a desolate world. Shem-means name,' or 'reputation,' a designation fully sustained by his Abrahamic descendants, among whom appeared "the plant of renown." Ham-the youngest of the three; his name which means hot,' indicates probably a scornful, reckless, and fiery disposition. Japheth-extension,' or 'persuasion'. the name Japetus, long continued famous among the Greeks, and was also well known to the Romans. wickedness increased, &c.-violence was added to gross sensuality; they did evil deliberately and intentionally. in his generations-in a corrupt age of the world, when every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil. walked with God-as Enoch had done before him. an ark-a large vessel like the hulk of a ship, fitted for floating or sailing on the waters. gopher-wood-it is supposed this was either the cypress or the cedar. Both these woods are durable. The cedar was used by the Assyrians in the construction of ships. The length, &c.-if the cubit be taken at eighteen inches the ark would be nearly as long as St. Paul's Cathedral, and nearly half the size of that immense building. According to Dr. Hales it would be of above 42,000 tons burden, and would hold as much as eighteen large ships of war. This was more than sufficient for all it had to contain. covenant-solemn engagement. The original implies a cutting off,' because solemn agreements were often ratified by a sacrifice; the parties walking between the divided victim. The covenant here spoken of refers to the promise, see 'promised,' Les. 4. all food, &c.-food adapted for himself and his family, and for all the different animals in the ark according to their respective instincts and appetites. warned, &c.-hence, in the New Testament, he is called "apreacher of righteousness." great deep-the vast collection of waters which God divided from the land on the third day of the creation. above, &c.-the rise of the waters would be thirty feet in each hour, if we suppose them to have risen at an equal rate during the whole forty days. QUESTIONS. What is said of Enoch? What was Methuselah's age? What did God communicate to Noah? [ark? Who warned the people, and what is he consequently called? Why might the people have believed him? By what means did God bring a flood upon Who were saved? [the earth? How long were the waters upon the earth? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. The translation of Enoch besides being a reward for his active religious life, was, to the antediluvians, who were then rapidly declining from the knowledge of God a miraculous attestation of the doctrine of a future state. Enoch prophesied of the second coming of Christ, it is natural therefore to believe that he must have known of his first coming. The sentence passed upon Adam, "Unto dust shalt thou return," is the general law of Providence; from this law Enoch was exempt. The tendency of sin to increase in violence; the certain punishment of the wicked, as shown in the history of the flood; and the security of God's faithful followers, as in the case of Noah, are taught in this lesson. PERIOD I. Year of the World. Year Before Christ THE CREATION of the Heaven and the Earth, &c. 4004 129 Cain and Abel offer Sacrifices; Abel is murdered 130 The Birth of Seth 3875 3874 687 The Birth of Methuselah, the son of Enoch 3317 187 years elapse. 874 The Birth of Lamech, the son of Methuselah 3130 987 The Translation of Enoch, at 365 years old 3017 1656 The Death of Methuselah, at 969 years old. THE DELUGE. 2348 2446 2353 |