society; and, in every point of view, meliorates. the condition of humanity.

Of GRATITUDE.

As the patriarch had seen, with sorrow, the destruction of the world, he was preserved, in mercy, to behold the renovation of it. His consecrated ark had floated safely, during the prevalence of the waters; and now, that they were abated, he descended from it, upon the face of nature, smiling, as a bride newly adorned. He received from HIM, who is the Sovereign Disposer of all events, a promise, that the serene sky should lower no more to destroy; and that the hand that ba lanced the poles of heaven, should roll the sea"I will establish my sons round in their order. "covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be "cut off any more by the waters of a flood.” "While the earth remaineth, seed-time and "harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, "and day and night, shall not cease." With the distinction which had been made between himself and his family, and the whole human race, in a moment of punishment so signal, fresh in his memory; and with these words of mercy sounding in his ears; surely, he could not but kneel before his altar with gratitude. It is gratitude which tunes the harps of heaven, and touches them with the finger of harmony. And when gratitude was extinguished in the

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bosoms of "a third part" of the sons of God, the order of heaven was deranged, the harmony of heaven was suspended, the symphonies of heaven were silenced; war first reared his hideous form, hell first received existence, and angels became demons. Nor can this sacred principle be annihilated in any bosom, excepting those over which Satan holds undivided empire. It could not, therefore, be excluded the heart of Noah."

-OF FAITH. There extended the seal of the covenant over the retiring cloud. "He be"lieved; and it was accounted to him for righ"teousness." He saw the fidelity of God, sparkling in the brilliant colours, formed by the rays of the sun, falling upon the descending shower. And did he not look forwards to HIM, who should finally remove the curse, plant " a "rain-bow round about the throne," and "make all things new?" Surely, HE, from whom a new world was to spring, was not suf fered to remain ignorant of the Redeemer of fallen man! He remembered the promise, that "the "seed' of the woman should bruise the "head of the serpent;" and his sacrifice ascend, ed with acceptance, because he beheld in the type, with the eye of faith, Jesus, the great antitype.

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Did Noah find acceptance in raising an altar to God, and in collecting his family around it? Every good man may avail himself of the same privilege, enjoy the same intercourse, and find the same acceptance. Every Christian family will have an altar consecrated to the Deity; before which, they will esteem it their duty, their privilege, and their happiness, to bow; and around which, they will assemble, to present their morning and evening sacrifice of prayer the and thanksgiving. Permit me to press question. Fathers of families! have you a familyaltar? Do you statedly, and constantly, bring your children, and your household, to a throne of grace, and present them before God? Do you mingle your praise, and your supplications, as the morning pours a flood of light upon your habitation, and the evening stretches her shadows over it? No flaming sword, turning

every way," guards, from access, the throne of God: no darkness, and thunder, forbid your hear approach. A voice, from the most excellent glory, proclaims, "Draw near, with *boldness, to the throne of grace; that ye may "obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time "of need." To this invitation, is added a command:" for all these things, I will be entreat"ed." And woe to the man, who lives in the habitual neglect of this command, and keeps

his household back from God: for he will "pour "out his fury upon the nations that worship “him not, and upon the families that call not his name!"

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Noah having built an altar, and gratefully surrounded it with his family, received the divine blessing on himself and his household. Permission was granted to man, for the first time, to eat, not only the produce of the ground, but flesh also. Then also, was impressed upon the brute creation, that fear of him, which the revolution of thousands of years has not been able to efface. "And the fear of you, and the "dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the "earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon "all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all "the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they "delivered." To this hour, there are few among the beasts of prey which roam the forest, that will not avoid the sight of even an unarm→ ed man: unless driven to desperation by hunger, or provoked to madness by pursuit. The noble, majestic lion, loses his native fierceness, in proportion as he dwells near human habitations. The horse, the ox, the elephant, unconscious of their strength, are easily disciplined, and freely lend their powers, to serve their more feeble master. And this impress of God, this fear of man, remains undiminished to the pre

sent moment.

Upon this occasion also, the first denunciation against murder was issued. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall "his blood be shed: for in the image of "God made he man." This solemn institution was confirmed, ratified, and enforced in the laws of Moses: and it has ever formed a fundamental law, in all civilized, and well-regulated

states.

We have long dwelt with pleasure upon Noah's piety: we are now to unveil his weakness. The characters portrayed in this volume are not perfect characters: otherwise they would not be men; neither would the history of their pilgrimage afford any solace to us in this vale of desertion and misery. For, alas! every day too sadly evinces that we are imperfect characters; every day discloses to our astonished eyes, some new trait of ingratitude, of disobedience, of sloth, and of depravity. It would be no consolation to us, to be informed, that God is now preserving their " eyes from tears,” and their "feet from falling," for ever. "Ah, that may "well be true"-would be our answer-for "their faith was always in lively exercise: "their hope was never shaken: their zeal al

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ways burned with inextinguishable purity: "their love never waxed cold. No difficulties "impeded them: no enemies vanquished them: