Prototypes, Example 6
THE SIXTH EXAMPLE.
OF NOAH.
ONe godly man is worth a whole million of ſinners, as appeareth in that the Lord made more reckoning of one Noah then of all the world of the ungodly. Having laid before you the bad Example of that moſt wicked generation which lived before the floud, I will now ſpeake of one godly man which lived in the ſame times with them, and ſaw them all ſwept away with the beſome of deſtruction. His name was Noah, the word ſignifieth reſt, and we have a reaſon given us of impoſing that name by his Father,Noah what it ſignifieth. Gen. 5.29. This ſame ſhall comfort us concerning our worke and the toyle of our hands, becauſe of the ground which the Lord hath curſed. It is ſomewhat doubtfull how Noah was a comforter to the godly Patriarckes In reſpect of their troubles of all kinds, both thoſe they tooke in ſtriving againſt the bad men of their times, and the common labours of life in regard of the curſe that was gon out againſt mans ſinne. The moſt probable opinion is as I thinke, that becauſe he was a Preacher of righteouſneſſe, and did more largely and plainely denounce Gods wrath againſt ſinners, and his bleſſing to the godly (for a Preacher of righteouſneſſe muſt needs doe both theſe things) therefore he gave much refreſhing to the ſoules of the godly, and made all their labours eaſie. Even as now if Gods people have a painefull Miniſter amongſt them, that ceaſeth not to acquaint them with Gods mercy and juſtice, and to revive the remembrance of Heaven and all the Promiſes in their hearts, they live much more comfortably, then any outward thing without this helpe could make them to live. So it was in thoſe times alſo with thoſe godly Patriarkes. Againe, as it would be a great comfort to good men now, if any man were ſent by God to aſſure them of the laſt day of judgement, for they would even lift up their heads and rejoyce: ſo Noah in telling of the floud which to that world was a kinde of judgement-day did greatly ſolace the ſpirits of the good againſt all their ſorrowes.
His Birth.Now this Noah was the ſonne of Lamech the ſonne of Methuſelah in the 1056. yeare of the world. He was the tenth after Adam incluſively, borne after. Adams and Seths death, and Henochs tranſlation, and lived to ſee the death of Enos, Kainan, Mahalaleel, Iared, Methuſelah and Lamech. This is all we have to ſay of his Birth or entrance into the world.
His life.Now concerning his life I pray you conſider foure things, 1. His goodneſſe. 2. His bad deeds. 3. The ſorrowes and miſeries he met with. 4. The benefits God gave him. And let us make uſe of all as we goe along and ſo come to his death laſt of all.
In which 1. His vertues. 1. In generall. Was a perfect man and walked with God. Gen. 5 22. Heb. 11.4.Firſt for his goodneſſe, it is ſet forth in the Scripture generally and particularly. In generall theſe three things are affirmed of him, Gen. 6.9. He was a juſt man and upright, or perfect, and walked with God. Before it is affirmed of Henoch that hee walked with God, and the Scripture told us alſo of Abel, that hee obtained a divine teſtimony that hee alſo was juſt, and Iob is ſaid to have beene a perfect man, yea it is added by way of amplification to his goodneſſe that hee was a juſt man and perfect in his generations, that is, in his owne time, in thoſe moſt ſinfull daies when all were naught. Noah was good when all had corrupted their waies, he was ſincere and upright in his waies. For this is the trueſt commendation of vertue, when it keepes a man unſpotted of thoſe evils which are every where practiſed in the world.
Let us now requeſt you to conſider of your ſelves every man whether he be a Noah. Surely none but Noahs ſhall be admitted into the Arke, and eſcape the waves of deſtruction: none but Noahs ſhall finde favour with God, and be delivered from eternall death. Whoſoever cannot approve himſelfe to be ſuch a one as this good man, let him never dreame of comming to Heaven.
But who is a juſt man? who a perfect? who walketh with God?
Who is a juſt or righteous man.I anſwer, A juſt man is firſt he that renounceth his owne juſtice which is of the Law and imbraceth the righteouſneſſe of faith, even the righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith, relying wholy upon the merits of Chriſt and Gods mercy in Chriſt, for pardon of his offences and acceptation of himſelfe and his indeavours to ſalvation. The Scripture witneſſeth that Noah was an heire of this righteouſneſſe, Heb. 11.7. And this is that that muſt be firſt found in every man. He muſt ſee and confeſſe his owne unrighteouſneſſe, and utterly diſclaime his owne righteouſneſſe as knowing that it is no better then a menſtruous rag, in reſpect of his juſtification. Doe you this my Brethren? Are you made to ſee your ſelves grievous ſinners, ſuch as in your ſelves muſt needs be damned, and cannot poſſibly bee ſaved by the worth and merit of your owne goodneſſe.
Secondly, a righteous man muſt ſtay, reſt, depend on, beleeve in the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt, labouring to build up in his own heart a particular perſwaſion and aſſurance, that the Lord of Heaven will accept him as perfectly righteous in the name and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt his Sonne, and that alone,Rom 4. for ſo was Abraham made partaker of that bleſſedneſſe, which ſtood in the imputing unto him of righteouſneſſe without workes, and Abraham is the Father of the faithfull, as he was juſtified ſo muſt all we be juſtified, and no otherwiſe. See into your ſelves, doe you rely upon our bleſſed Saviour the Lord Jeſus for pardon of your ſinnes? or doe you waver from him or ſtay upon any other beſides him?
Laſtly, a righteous man muſt himſelfe alſo worke righteouſneſſe, and give himſelfe to be a ſervant of righteouſneſſe, that is to ſay, he muſt reſolve and indeavour to leave every ſinne by Gods Word condemned, and to doe every duty by Gods Word commanded, and that alſo for Gods ſake with reference to him, and out of a deſire to pleaſe him, that is, to keepe his favour. This is a righteous man. He ſtrives in all things to pleaſe God according to his Word, but finding his defects bewailes them, and reſteth alone on Gods goodneſſe in Chriſt for pardon and ſalvation. If you be ſuch, then are you Noahs indeed and ſhall ſurely bee ſaved, if not you bee but diſſemblers, and no ſhew of religion ſhall ſave you from deſtruction.
Therefore all of you that are not ſuch, I pray you feele your unhappineſſe, you are not good enough to goe to Heaven yet, whatſoever you have imagined of your ſelves. Therefore alſo now ſeeke to be ſuch, begin with lamenting your unrighteouſneſſe before God and craving pardon and helpe, and ſo proceed to pray for and indeavour after all the things before preſcribed. Be the better for Noahs example. Let not this ſtory be preached unto you in vaine: you know Noah was one whom God loved, whom God hath ſaved, ſtudy to be ſuch as Noah. What riches he had, the Scripture takes no notice of, but righteous he was, ſtudie you to be ſuch and be happier then all riches can make you.
And eſpecially I pray you labour to follow Noah in this onething, to be good in your generations, in thoſe things I meane wherein your preſent times take generall liberty to be nought, that ſo you as Noah may at once glorifie God and condemne the world. What evill things all doe commit thoſe doe you forbeare, what good things all doe neglect, thoſe be you more carefull to performe. Many things are growne into common faſhion, ſwearing, pride in apparell, formality in religion, covetouſneſſe, monſtrous faſhions, miſhapen long haire, O be yee in theſe things carefull to avoid the corruption which is in the world. Many good things are growne quite out of all faſhion almoſt, conſtant reading Gods Word, holy conference, keeping a treaſure or purſe for God in your houſes, meditation of Gods Word, and carefull ſanctifying of the Lords day. O ſtrive to performe theſe duties. He that is good alone according to the common ſtreyne is hollowly good, wee muſt be pure of thoſe faults which are allowed almoſt of all.
2. His vertues in particular. 1. Was a Preacher of righteouſneſſe. 2 Pet. 2.5.But let us conſider the particular good things noted of Noah. Firſt, S. Peter teſtifies of him, that hee was a Preacher of righteouſneſſe, meaning of that righteouſneſſe whereof hee was alſo an heire and practiſer. All you cannot be Preachers of righteouſneſſe by ſpeciall office as Noah was, this belongs alone to us Miniſters, and O that we could learne to be like Noah in our places, continuing faithfully to teach men the will of God and call them to repentance, and to true righteouſneſſe in Chriſt and good life in themſelves. Surely Noah had ſlender encouragement,Iſa. 49 4. for we doe not reade of any one man that heeded his Preaching, he if any other might complaine that his labour was in vaine, and that his time and ſtrength were ſpent to no purpoſe. We that are Preachers muſt imitate him in a patient diſcharge of our duties, what if God doe not vouchſafe to work with our labours? to bring men to righteouſneſſe, ſhall we be diſheartned? No no, but following this good man, continuing to doe Gods worke and looke for our reward from him.
And againe, I call upon you for great thankfullneſſe to God, for that he hath ſet many Preachers of righteouſneſſe amongſt you in this Kingdome, and hath vouchſafed to hold mee in this office amongſt you for theſe thirty yeares or thereabouts, I have Preached righteouſneſſe among you according to that meaſure of knowledge and utterance that God hath vouchſafed mee. O let mee have ſome better encouragement from you then Noah had from the old world, and indeed I have had, and I bleſſe God, and I bleſſe thoſe among you from whom I have had it. Some of you have beene carefull hearers to the preaching of righteouſneſſe, and have turned your feete into the paths of righteouſneſſe. The Lord ſtabliſh you in thoſe happy waies for ever. And one thing now I beſeech of you, that you be ſuitors unto God to raiſe up to all the places that have not Preachers, and to continue to them that have ſuch as Noah was, Preachers of righteouſneſſe, which themſelves alſo will practiſe; eſpecially, I require you not to forget your ſelves in this towne, but make it one part of your daily ſupplications to God, to grant you a ſucceſſion of Preachers of righteouſneſſe when my ſelfe muſt leave you, God knowes when, O Lord let there never want ſo long as this Towne and Church ſtandeth, a faithfull Preacher of righteouſneſſe to ſupply this roome in which I now ſtand amongſt you this day.
But ſecondly, Noah is commended for his faith.2. Had faith Heb. 11.7. By faith Noah (ſaith the Author to the Hebrewes) did, &c. you muſt all labour to get this ſame faith. This is the grace of graces commended in Abel, in Henoch before named, and now in Noah, without which we cannot poſſibly pleaſe God.
But what is this faith you will aske mee?
I anſwer, I will ſhew the nature of faith unto you:What faith is. It is that grace by which a man aſſents to all that God ſpeaketh for the authority ſake of the ſpeaker. This is the nature of faith in generall. Under it is comprehended that which is called juſtifying faith, being an aſſent to the Promiſes of the Goſpell, or of the new Covenant upon the ſame ground. This aſſent is double, firſt generall to the word generally ſpoken, and particular to a particular concluſion duely deducted thence concerning ones ſelfe. And whoſoever doth truly aſſent to the generall, muſt needs aſſent to every particular concluded under the generall, becauſe the contradiction of an univerſall propoſition is made by a particular contrary to it, and the generall is accounted falſe if it may be denied or be denied of any particular, for Example, if I ſay all the twelve Apoſtles were godly men, and another ſay one of them as Iudas, was not a godly man, though a eleven were good, yet becauſe this one was not ſo, he hath ſhewed that propoſition to be falſe. Now then, marke that faith yeelds a double aſſent: Firſt, to the thing generally ſpoken: Secondly, to the particular concluſion contained therein and thence deduced, and this aſſent muſt be grounded upon the bare authority of God the ſpeaker in reſpect of his perfect and infallible truth, becauſe it judgeth him faithfull, therefore it eſteemes his words true, not becauſe it can ſee reaſon for things in his owne diſcourſe and underſtanding. This is faith, for example, God ſaid to Noah there ſhall be a floud to drowne all the world, there was no reaſon to thinke it ſhould be ſo,Heb. 11.7. but God ſaid ſo (warning Noah of things not ſeene as yet, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes) and therefore Noah was verily perſwaded, that there ſhould come ſuch a floud to deſtroy all mankinde. Againe, God promiſed Noah that if hee would build an Arke, God would ſave him and all his family, and all that would come with him into the Arke, There was no naturall likelihood for this neither, for in ſuch a floud an Arke or the beſt ſhip in the world could not keepe men ſafe, but that with the furie of the waters they would have beene daſhed againſt ſome rocke or other, and wracked, yet God ſaid ſo to Noah and he beleeved it for himſelfe and his family. This you ſee was Noah his faith. And I call upon you to conſider, whether you have this faith or not. Doe you aſſent to all the narratiions, promiſes, threats of Gods Word, even becauſe God the Author of it is true and doe you aſſent to the particular concluſion concerning your ſelves in that generall contained. The Lord threateneth in his Word,Gal. 3.10. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things, doe you beleeve this generall, and the particular that will follow from it, but I have not continued, &c. therefore I am curſed. Againe, the Goſpell ſaith, all that doe not repent and beleeve ſhall be damned. Doe you beleeve this? and doe you beleeve the particular contained under this? I doe not repent and beleeve the Goſpell, therefore I ſhall be damned, or contrarily I doe repent and beleeve, therefore I ſhall be ſaved. Search what authority Gods Word hath with you, if you deduct the particular from the generall in every point, then you doe beleeve the generall, els you do not.
And alas how manifeſt is it that moſt men have no faith but alone ſay they have as S. Iames ſpeaketh, and beguile their owne ſelves. The threats of Gods Word and his promiſes are of no value with moſt men, they doe not perſwade themſelves, that any of thoſe evills ſhall be performed againſt them which the Scripture denounceth againſt ſuch ſinners as they be, nor that any of the promiſes ſhall be performed to thoſe that performe the things contained in the promiſes. If they ſee naturall likelihood of any good or evill they can be perſwaded it will come, but if there be no proofe but a bare promiſe or threat out of the Bible, they make no reckoning that that good or evill will come ever a whit the ſooner.
Now I pray you ſee and lament your unbeleefe, it is the roote of all ſinne, neither can any ſinne be found to rule farther then this ruleth, and I pray you cry to God to worke faith in you by the Word you reade and heare, for no good at all can it doe you if it be not mixed with faith. And if any man have ſuch faith in Gods Word indeed and not alone in profeſſion and ſhew, happy is that man, for hee ſhall be ſure to find the like acceptance of God that Noah, hee that hath this faith muſt needs be in Chriſt and Chriſt in him; for where Gods Word dwells, there himſelfe dwels, and the Word of God dwells in men by faith.
3. He was moved with feare. Heb. 11.7.A third thing in Noah is noted by the Author to the Hebrewes, that he was moved with feare, you ſee he feared Gods threats, he was afraid leaſt he ſhould be drowned with his family among the reſt, if he did not obey God and live vertuouſly and build the Arke at Gods Commandement, and indeed if he had not done ſo he ſhould have periſhed with the world: as whoſoever lives wickedly ſhall be damned, this is a threat, he that hath true faith will not deceive himſelfe with vaine words, and ſay, I am elected, I am a beleever, I ſhall be ſaved though I take liberty to ſinne, but he will feare and depart from evill, and uſe thoſe meanes of eſcaping deſtruction which God hath appointed. So true faith will undoubtedly worke ſuch a feare of Gods threat, as will make a man depart from evill, becauſe it brings a lively apprehenſion of danger and much evill before his eyes if he ſinne, and therefore cannot but worke feare, I meane a feare of caution as they call it, whereby a man is made warie to ſhunne and eſcape the evill. There is a paſſionate feare whereby the heart is perplexed, the joynts ſhake, and ſuch naturall bodily accidents doe follow it. This feare ariſeth from the bodily preſence or imminent danger of ſome ſenſible evill, and Noah did not ſo feare the floud.A double feare There is another rationall feare as I may well name it, by which a man apprehends an evill thing to come, ſo as he is made carefull to ſhunne, prevent, and dares not bring it upon himſelfe. And this feare lookes on things a great way off, long before they offer themſelves to the ſences, and ſuch was Noahs feare. And ſuch a feare faith will evermore bring with it. It will cauſe that a man ſhall not dare to doe the things forbidden out of an apprehenſion of the greatneſſe and extremity of the danger that will ariſe.
Now looke to your ſelves my Brethren, doe you feare Gods threats, doe you feare the curſe of the Law, the wrath of God, hell fire, damnation, with ſuch a feare as makes you uſe the meanes to eſcape theſe evills, and makes that you cannot be bold to doe the things againſt which the Lord ſpeaketh theſe things. If you brag of faith in Gods promiſes and have not faith in his threats, your faith is a vaine fancie, and a meere painted or dead faith, for no man can credit any thing which God ſpeaketh if he doe not credit all ſo farre as he knowes and conſiders it, becauſe God cannot be deceived in any thing. And if you ſay you beleeve Gods threats and doe not feare, I ſay againe, be not moved through feare to doe the things by which you might eſcape thoſe evills threatned, even to forſake the ſinne and repent, certainely you deceive your ſelves and doe not beleeve. Now it is moſt evident, that moſt men entertaine Gods threats without any feare. They are not affected at all with the heare-ſay of theſe evills, therefore it is ſure they have no faith. See your want of faith by the abſence of this never failing effect thereof, and couſen your ſelves with a ſhadow of faith no longer. And now pray God to plant in your hearts ſuch a feare of his threats as hath beene ſaid. It is a moſt wholeſome thing to have the ſoule overawed with apprehenſion of the evills which God denounceth againſt evill-doing, and to be thereby kept downe, ſo that it hath no courage to lift it ſelfe up to naughty deeds. Bleſſed is he that thus feareth alwaies, O that you would worke out your ſalvation in this feare and trembling, O that the ſame minde might be in you that was in godly Iob! who ſaid that terrour from God did keepe him from doing any wrong to his ſervant, and that of the holy Apoſtle S. Paul, 2 Cor. 5.11.who ſaid that knowing this terrour, he did perſwade men and was made manifeſt to God. Let thoſe threats, if you live after the fleſh you ſhall die, Rom. 8.13.and thoſe that doe ſuch things ſhall not inherit the kingdome of God, 1 Cor. 6.9. Col. 3.6.and for theſe things ſake the wrath of God comes on the children of diſobedience, and many the like be often in your mindes, let them awe you and hold under the ſtrength of your corruptions, cauſing you to denie your ſelves all unlawfull profits, pleaſures and effects of ſinne, and to croſſe your owne wills, and to ſet your ſelves to do the things that are moſt contrary to fleſh and bloud.Prov. 8.13. The feare of the Lord is to depart from evill, this feare of the Lord is the beginning of true ſaving wiſdome, to them that thus feare are all the promiſes of the Goſpell made,Pſal. 34.9. yea it is in one word ſaid, thoſe that feare the Lord ſhall want nothing. Never thinke that your faith is right and good if it do not produce this feare, for faith muſt acknowledge God to be faithfull in all his words, threats as well as promiſes, and this grace is that which being planted in the heart of man, doth keepe him from falling away from faith, doth preſerve the ſoule to ſalvation, by working in it this good and vertuous feare of damnation: as faith kept Noah from drowning by making him holily to feare drowning.
4. He built an Arke as God bad him.Now the laſt vertue of Noah is, that he built an Arke as God bad him, and furniſhed it with all foode, and went into it at the time appointed, and received in with himſelfe and family all manner of Beaſts and Birds that could not live but on drie ground: two and two, male and female of the uncleane that were not fit for foode and Sacrifice, and 7. and 7. of thoſe that were cleane, that is fit for foode and Sacrifice, at leaſt for the laſt.
Here is his faith which brought forth obedience to the word of God, in ſuch things which ſeemed ridiculous to the world, and made him a laughing ſtocke unto all the world almoſt: Noah forſooth the youngeſt of the Patriarkes, hee will needes be thought to have better acquaintance with God, then either Henoch or Methuſelah or Lamech or any of his Grandfathers that have lived or do live. None of them could ſee a floud comming, none of them had a fancy of the worlds being drowned, none of them bethought himſelfe of making an Arke, but this fellow hath gotten ſome new revelation, and hee is a building a huge thing like a Cheſt almoſt ſo long, &c. So you think the man is not in his right wittes! Bretheren you eaſily perſwade your ſelves, that this good man was laden with theſe ſcoffes, and the like behind his backe, and like alſo before his face, and to his very teeth. For wicked wittes will never ceaſe gybing at thoſe good things that croſſe their ſence and reaſon, Yet Noah obeyed, went on, built the Arke, that is, was obedient to God in a thing that made him ridiculous to the world. So will true Faith do, it will make a man obey the Lord in thoſe actions by which hee ſhall make himſelfe a deriſion to all men almoſt, and more then a deriſion, a prey and ſpoile too. The Obedience of Faith is ſuch an Obedience as will make all men to be at Gods becke in acts of that nature as will cauſe him to be blamed and deſpiſed of all the world, as we ſee in Abraham, in Moſes, and in all thoſe almoſt that are reckoned up in the 11. of the Heb. Becauſe it makes a man firmely and ſtedfaſtly to apprehend greater good things and greater evill then thoſe that are ſeene, and ſo thoſe viſible ones do not ſway him and rule on him; for hee that ſees a greater danger or evill, will eaſily caſt himſelfe upon a farre leſſe to ſhun the greater, ſo contrarily a good thing. And ſo much for Noahs goodneſſe before the floud.
Now ſee in and after the floud how he carried himſelfe.Noahs goodneſſe in the floud. Hee entred into the Arke as God bad him, and committed himſelfe to Gods protection truſting on him for ſafety. Here was no maſt, oare, rudder, canvaſſe or marriners to ſteere and guide this veſſell, a wonder it was that the billowes did not caſt it over and over, that they did not breake the barres by their continued rage, and that it had not periſhed with all its burden. But in went Noah taking all the Beaſts with him, aſſuring himſelfe to be ſafe, for ſo God had told. Here is an excellent act of faith, even to uſe Gods meanes of attaining the good things promiſed, and there reſt himſelfe without any further carking and perplexity of mind. This was the act of Noahs faith all the floud time, hee heard it raine as if Heaven and Earth would come together, he perceived the cloudes to be in a fury with the ſonnes of men, the waters raged and roared, and through the windowes hee might ſee how all was changed into a Sea, yet there he kept himſelfe quiet, and made account, that himſelfe and his houſhold ſhould do well enough in all this confuſion of nature. Hee had Beares, Lions, Tigers, Wolves and all manner of devouring beaſts within the Arke, hee was never a whit afraid of ſuch neighbours, but reſted himſelfe peaceably upon Gods promiſes. O Beloved that we could do ſo for our ſoules, for our eſtates, for every thing, uſe Gods meanes, and then promiſe our ſelves the wiſhed effect, and trouble our ſelves with no further feare and diſmayedneſſe as S. Peter ſaith,1 Pet. 3.6. doing well and not being diſmayed with any feare. O how happy would our lives be in the midſt of a deluge of dangers, if we could thus enter into our cloſets as it were, and ſhut the doore: I meane uſe Gods meanes and reſt on him.
Againe, Noah continued in the Arke till God bad him come out, hee perceived the waters to ceaſe raging, hee diſcovered the tops of the mountaines: hee ſends out the diſcoverers, the Raven and the Dove, and learnes by them great abatement, and he ſees with his eyes all day when he had removed the top of the Arke, yet hee ſtirres not out till God bad him goe out, who had bidden him goe in. So muſt you do my Bretheren, you muſt tarry in the Arke as it were ſo long as God ſees fit and not make haſt out of it of your owne heads. Be ſo long in affliction as God will have you, goe not out till hee leade you out, you may wiſh the time of deliverance, and ſend out the Raven and the Dove, uſe the beſt meanes you can to helpe your ſelves, eſpecially by prayers to God, and you may remove the covering of the Arke, you may looke round about by faith, and with joy ſee your deliverance comming forward, but keepe this as a certaine concluſion, not to ſtirre out of any eſtate though never ſo troubleſome, till you have good warrant from God going before and guiding you.
Now at laſt ſee what good Noah did after the floud,Noahs goodneſſe after the floud. hee built an Altar to God and offered ſacrifice in thankes for his deliverance, and in a deſire to frame his houſhold to true piety, and to eſtabliſh the worſhip of God amongſt them. O let each of us learne carefully to acknowledge Gods goodneſſe in great deliverances, and to offer him the ſacrifice of praiſe, if hee have ſafe guarded us from the raging flouds of adverſity and calamity. And let us be carefull to eſtabliſh and ſet up the worſhip of God in our families, and amongſt our people publikely and privately every way. Build Gods altar, offer Gods ſacrifices, I meane exerciſe Gods religious worſhip, pray, heare, read, meditate, come to the Sacraments: ſet not Gods ordinances at variance. Doe not picke quarrells with anyone of them, exalt not one to depreſſe another, let them all goe together in their times, and eſpecially performe the true meaning of theſe ſacrifices. Offer up the ſacrifice of Chriſt in a perpetuall renewing of the memoriall thereof in your ſoules to God and renewing of your faith in it, offer up the ſacrifice of a contrite ſpirit and broken heart, ſighing daily for daily ſinnes and infirmities, offer the ſacrifice of earneſt prayers for all good things, and of hearty praiſes for what wee have received already, and offer up your ſelves to God by him to be ſanctified to doe him faithfull ſervice in all holy obedience to all his holy lawes. Be truely, heartily, uprightly religious and devoute in your whole lives.
But next, Noah planted a vineyard, hee fell to husbandry, for my part J doubt not but that God had made vines from the firſt, and that though wee heare of no vineyard, yet there might have beene ſtore of them. But howſoever Noah ſet himſelfe to his calling, to husbandry. O let us every man follow him and give himſelfe to his husbandry and his vineyard, the tradeſmans trade is his vineyard, every mans calling is his vineyard, be like Noah fall to planting and dreſſing this vine. Abhorre idleneſſe, have ſome vineyard, O how miſerable is hee that hath nothing to do? O how unhappy a thing is it to be in the world as a cipher in Arithmeticke.
But laſtly, Noah is a faithfull Prophet, and pronounceth Gods curſe even againſt his owne ſonnes, herein he becomes to us a patterne of fidelity in the calling of a Miniſter, even to denounce all things that God puts into our mouthes againſt all perſons, how neere and deare ſoever they be, and ſo of all Governours, to puniſh their inferiours without partiality, whatſoever their offences be.
Noahs ſinnes.And thus you have Noahs goodneſſe, of his badneſſe we have ſomething related too.
1. Hee was drunke.Firſt, that hee dranke of the wine which he had planted ſo over-liberally, as that hee was drunken, in his drunkenneſſe diſcovered his nakedneſſe, being beſides himſelfe with exceſſe of wine, he had not care to keepe thoſe parts covered which nature would have to be concealed. So his Sonne Cham finding him lying in this immodeſt faſhion, was ſcandolized and drawne into a great offence.
Here we learne to take heed of drunkenneſſe, and of all immodeſt carriage, which being bad in caſe of drunkenneſſe, muſt needs be worſe when a man is ſober and hath ability to conſider better what he doth, and to refraine from ſuch unſeemely deeds. Brethren, if any of you have beene drunken, if any have in his drinke or otherwiſe perpetrated immodeſt and leud acts, I beſeech you learne of Noah to repent of it, and be aſſured that upon your repentance you ſhall finde pardon. And I pray make not your ſoules bolder to perſiſt in drunkenneſſe, by abuſing Noahs example, for he offended but once this way, and through weakeneſſe it may ſeeme, in that being deſirous to refreſh himſelfe after ſo long penſiveneſſe in the floud, he was freer then was fit. Let not his once offending out of weakneſſe make you bold to doe the ſame ſinne 100 and 100 times, yea be you more carefull to avoid that treſpaſſe which ſped ſo ill with Noah. Drunkenneſſe will make every man diſcover his nakedneſſe, if not of body yet of minde. There is no crime ſo notorious, but the drunken man will caſt himſelfe into it, if occaſion offer it ſelfe, as we may ſee alſo in Lot. Wherefore know yee that a good man may be overtaken through infirmity with ſome ſuch groſſe ſinne, but he will not wallow in this mire, he will not allow himſelfe in the practiſe of it, and give over himſelfe to be drunk day by day, weeke by weeke. And as for theſe groſſe externall acts of evill, you are to be ſo much more carefull to avoid them, by how much God hath given you more power to forbeare them, for a man hath power if he will to forbeare drinking, and therefore if he doe not leave this fault, it is becauſe hee will not, and the cuſtome of ſinning doth make the will ſo inthralled to evill that a man will needs doe it, not needs muſt doe it, whither he will or no, which is ſo farre from excuſing the fault, that it aggravates it exceedingly.
Yea beloved take heed of all immodeſt and undecent carriages, by diſcovering the ſhamefull parts: for if this were a ſinne in a drunken man, that had not underſtanding to know he did amiſſe, how much more in a man that is ſober which knowes he doth evill and will doe it.
Now you have Noahs faults and his vertues. Looke upon his croſſes and his benefits.
His croſſes were beſides the common miſeries of mans life which he ſuffered together with others, Firſt,Noahs croſſes 1 No man regarded his preaching. he ſpent his time in vaine Preaching and no man regarding it.
Secondly, he lived to ſee all mankinde deſtroyed and to behold a fearefull deluge,2 Hee lived to ſee all mankind deſtroyed and for a whole yeere and more (for the floud began on the ſecond monethmonth and ſeventh day of his 600 yeere, and he came not out of the Arke till the twenty ſeven day of the ſecond monethmonth of his 601, yeare) he was as it were impriſoned in the Arke, ſhut up amongſt the beaſts and other creatures.
Thirdly,3 Hee had a wicked ſon. he had a graceleſſe wicked ſonne and was put himſelfe to pronounce a curſe againſt him with his owne mouth in the name of God, for he did it not out of anger or diſtemper, but as a Prophet in the Name of God and by his inſtigation and authority.
4. Lived to ſee his ofspring naught.Laſtly hee lived to ſee his ofspring after the floud grow very naught and ſuffer fearefull puniſhments. Hee ſaw the building of the tower of Babel, the diſperſion of men from Babel, the halving and quartering of mens ages, the univerſall overſpreading of idolatry, in ſo much that Abrahams father Nahor and Terah did not eſcape it.Joſh. 24 2. Theſe croſſes did Noah ſuffer.
Buckle your ſelves to croſſes, and be thankfull if you have not felt ſo grievous evills and univerſall as thoſe of Noah. Wee ſhould make our owne miſeries more tollerable by comparing them with the greater miſeries of better men then ourſelves, that have gone before us in the like and worſe. Have you lead children? ſo had Noah. Doe you labour in vaine in your places? ſo did Noah. Doth the world run all to wickedneſſe? ſo did it in Noahs dayes.
Againe let us feare to fall into thoſe ſinnes of his which did bring upon him great miſerie. Be not drunke leaſt you become a ſcandall to many through your evill carriage, and leaſt God ſet you to ſome worke as contrary to your good like as it was to Noah, when hee was faine to pronounce a curſe againſt his owne child. Now goe and thinke of the croſſes of Noah to fright thy ſelfe from ſin.
His benefits. 1 He found favour with God.And laſt of all conſider his benefits, 1. Hee found favour with God, that is, God made knowne his love and kindeneſſe to him, made him know that he loved, liked and accepted him to life, ſo it is teſtified of divers others. Now labour to be good, incourage your ſelves in piety, with God you ſhall find favour, hee will make manifeſt his love and kindeneſſe to you though men ſeeme to disfavour you, and the love of God is a thing ſo pretious and comfortable, that it may well overweigh all the anger wrath and diſpleaſure of men. Jf God favour you no matter who hateth you, and this all Gods people may be ſaid to find, by walking in the wayes of righteouſneſſe with Noah, for God is not an accepter of perſons.
2. Hee was directed by God to a way of ſaving himſelfe from the floud with his familyAgaine Noah was directed by God to a courſe of ſaving himſelfe from the floud with his family and many other creatures, and accordingly did eſcape the common deſtruction. This is a ſpeciall favour of God to deliver his people from common calamities, eſpecially that eternall deſtruction of hell fire that muſt overwhelme the world. This benefit God will give to all his Saints, and ſafety alſo from common calamities when the time ſerves, and ſo farre as is fit, if they ſtrive againſt the common ſinnes by mourning and oppoſe the ſame. God will be an arke unto them in the midſt of a deluge, and they may triumph as David, Pſal. 46.2, 3.I will not feare though the waters rage, and though the mountaines he caſt into the midſt of the ſea, as then they were. Let all Gods people ſet themſelves reſolutely againſt common ſinnes, and God will preſerve them from common judgements.
3 The Lord accepted his ſacrifice.Thirdly, The Lord accepted his ſacrifice, and reſolved hee would not drowne the world anymore, and made a covenant with Noah and all creatures, confirming it by the raine-bow, as a ſigne thereof. So God did ſhew his goodneſſe to Noah, and gave him dominion over all creatures, and power to eate fleſh, which before God had given them no warrant to doe, and therefore I ſuppoſe the godly did not uſually unleſſe in ſacrifice if then. And herein the Lord was gratious to Noah, that for his ſake he made a covenant. And he was a figure of Chriſt in whom the Lord did make a covenant with all mankind, then the ſecond time, not to deſtroy them with eternall deſtruction, if they would truſt in his mercy, and repent of their ſinnes. For this temporall covenant was a ſhadow of that eternall, into which all mankind was againe admitted through Chriſt that was to come. But they did ſoone caſt of this covenant in running to other gods, which may ſeeme to be the onelyonly ſinne that then did caſt the committers quite out of the covenant, other ſinnes did keepe them from injoying the good things of the covenant; but this did caſt them out of it altogether, ſo that having runne into that they were no longer in the covenant. Now ſee Gods grace more fully to us, that hath renewed this covenant which is in Chriſt more evidently, and take we heede of caſting our ſelves out of it againe, by following ſtrange Mediators and Jeſuſſes, as I thinke the Papiſts doe. Whoſoever doth ſeeke to any other merits but only thoſe of Chriſt, thruſts himſelfe out of the covenant of grace, and Chriſt is become of none effect unto him.
Laſtly, Noah had two Godly ſonnes,4. He had two godly ſonnes. and this is a ſingular favour to give a man a Sem and Iaphet, if he have a Cam, and that all his ſonnes be not diſcoverers of their Fathers ſhame.
Laſtly after 950. yeares Noah died,Noahs death. and ſo muſt we all after not ſo long a life, O therefore prepare wee for the comming of death, that it may not take us away in the midſt of our impenitency. (*⁎*)