was an addition to the Adamic curfe: This promife was a fecurity against any fuch addition for the future; but it does not import a removal of that curfe which was inflicted prior to the flood. This promife, then, is a limitation of divine fovereignty, in refpect of punishment: For, though man would ftill deferve, yet God would not inflict it; feeing the finner could never be mended thereby. Hence, the reafon of the fupreme judge, affigned by himfelf, is, "For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." A ftrange, a God-like reafon for averting the curfe! The reafon why God brought on the flood was, "because every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." This was fufficient to vindicate his juftice and holinefs: But now he defigns to difplay the glory of his mercy; and the inveterate depravity of mankind afforded him a notable opportunity for that manifeftation. As the ftain of fin was, by far, too deep to be washed away by the waters of a flood, fo God fecured themr against it.

2. GOD promised, "not to finite "not to finite every living thing, any more, as he had done." The beafts fuffered greatly, in the old world, for man's fin; being made for man, they were a bufed by him, and destroyed with him. This promife was a fecurity to the life of the brute creation And it was neceffary for the fervice of God in that ftate of the Church; flain fa

:

crifice being a part of his folemn worship. Their life must be spared from the ravage of a flood, that it may be offered to God, to make atonement for the foul, as well as for the conveniencies of men.

3. HE Covenants, that "all flesh shall not be cut off any more, by the waters of a flood: Neither fhall there be any more a flood to deftroy the earth." The Church was but just recovered from the horrors of a flood of water, which figured out to her a still more dreadful flood of wrath. Now, this article of the Covenant being intended to comfort her against that terror, it cannot imply lefs than deliverance from the vengeance of Almighty God; and, of confequence, nothing less than a title to eternal life. As the flood figured out eternal wrath, fo fecurity from eternal wrath must include in it eternal life.

4. HE Covenants, "That, while the earth remaineth, feed-time and harveft, cold and heat, fummer and winter, day and night, fhall not ceafe*." The facred hiftorian mentions this promife only as a purpose, indeed; or, what God faid in his heart: But, from this particular promife, Jeremiah ftyles the whole tranfaction, "The covenant of the day, and the covenant of the night †." From hence

* Gen. viii. 21, 22.

Jer. xxxiii. 20, and 25.

we

we may reasonably conclude, that it bore a part in the covenant. The revolutions of the year, and of the day, were greatly changed for the fpace of time that Noah was pent up in the ark; then, the world wore the gloom of a long and wearifome night: But, by this promife, the Church is aflured, that fuch a night fhall never again fit down on the univerfe, till the glafs of time be finished, and for ever run.

II. SHOULD it be enquired, What reference did thefe promifes bear unto former divine grants? It may be answered, That they are a renovation and confirmation of them; as appears,- -From the occafion on which they were given. God gave them unto Noah immediately after he had been employed in facrificing unto him, as an evidence that his facri-, fice was of a sweet-fmelling favour unto `the Lord. This facrifice was the feal of a preceding promife, and offered in the faith of it. This occafion ftrongly infinuates, that this covenant was a profecution of that promife. While Noah improved fuch a promise as the Church previously enjoyed, God was graciouf ly pleafed to confirm the word on which he had caufed him to hope; and this is agreeable to his ufual method of dealing with his people. The Defcription of the Covenanters ftrongly infinuates, that this covenant was an advancement of a fabric already begun.

There

There is a manifeft refemblance between the defcription of perfons specified in the promise, and the parties of this covenant. 'The former are ftyled THY SEED, meaning the feed of the woman; the latter YOUR SEED. The chief feed intended in both promifes is the Meffiah. By this covenant-name, the covenanters were bound to bear a part among the fpiritual feed of the woman alfo (that is genuine faints, in oppofition to the feed of the ferpent. Hence, they were bound to profecute the ends of that covenant which God made with Adam immediately after the fall; and this transaction was a prosecution of that grand defign.The Matter of this Covenant evidently contains a renovation of the former

and their promifes feem to be engroffed into it. Both this and the laft tranfaction fecured the Church from a deluge, though in different ways; in the former, God granted fafety in danger; in the latter, exemption from that species of danger.—The Manner in which this deed was executed is evidently expreffive of its relation to an antecedent tranfaction. Said the great author of it, "And I, behold I ESTABLISH my covenant with you." He did not then firft give being to this.covenant; but confirmed that which was previously made *.

*See Part First.

III. IF

III. IF it be enquired, How far these promifes are for our direction and comfort? I fhall only answer, We ought to compare them with the following revelations of God's will, which tend to illuftrate them; and to receive, by faith, that fpiritual falvation they exhibit in a figure. We ought to rejoice in that love and care which God expreffed to the Church in her infant ftate; and reft affured, seeing he did fo great things for her at that time, that he will encreafe her ay more and more; he will do better things unto her than at her beginning. This tranfaction gives us the greatest encouragement to depend on our Heavenly Father; both as a God of promife, and as a God of providence. In the greatest convulfions and emotions of this world, we may reft, with fafety, on God's unchangeable covenant: "For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have fworn, that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over the earth; fo have I fworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed: but my loving kindness fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the Covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy upon thee *."

THE DUTIES which Noah and his Sons reftipulated are mentioned prior to the pro

* If. liv. 9, 10..