This was a singular example of virtue: 1to wit, that all the world being plunged in pleasures, and making themselves believe they should escape unpunished, as if there had been no judgment of God to come upon them, §1that Noah alone should set before his eyes the divine vengeance, §2although it were yet to be deferred for a long time: besides, he travelled wonderfully for the space of six score years to build an Ark: §3he also continued firm and constant in the middest of so many mocks of the wicked. And, in the destruction of the whole world, he doubted not but he should be saved; nay which more is, he assured himself of life even in the very grave, that is to say, in the Ark. I do but lightly touch these things: every one may better consider of further circumstances by himself. The Apostle attributes the praise of these so excellent and rare virtues unto faith. Hitherto he hath entreated of the faith of the Fathers which lived under the first age of the world. But this was as a second birth of mankind, when both Moab, and his family escaped the flood. Hence it followeth, that in what time soever men lived, yet they were no otherwise approved of God, neither did they ever any work that was worthy of praise, but by faith. Let us now see what the Apostle setteth before us in the example of Noah to consider of: first, §1that he being warned of God of the things which were yet not seen, §2feared. Secondly, that he built an Ark: thirdly, §3that he condemned the world by this building: lastly, that ⟨p. 251⟩he was made heir of the righteousness which is by faith. §4The first thing which I noted, doth greatly express the virtue of faith. For it always brings us back to this principle, that faith is the evidence of things not seen. And in very deed the nature and property of it is to behold in Gods word the things which are hidden, 2and are far distant from our sight. When he was admonished that the flood should come after an hundred and twenty years; first of all the length of time might have taken all fear away from him, and the thing it self also was incredible: In the mean time also he saw the wicked give themselves over to all manner of pleasures without any care of God at all: In a word, a man might have thought that this terrible news of the flood was nothing else but a vain scar-crow.
THis was a singular example of vertue: 1to wit, that all the world beeing plunged in pleasures, and making themselues beleeue they should escape vnpunished, as if there had beene no iudgment of God to come vpon them, §1that Noah alone should set before his eies the diuine vengeance, §2although it were yet to be deferred for a long time: besides, he trauelled wonderfully for the space of sixe score yeares to build an Arke: §3he also continued firme and constant in the middest of so many mockes of the wicked. And, in the destruction of the whole world, hee doubted not but he should be saued; nay which more is, he assured himselfe of life euen in the very graue, that is to say, in the Arke. I do but lightly touch these things: euery one may better consider of further circumstances by himselfe. The Apostle attributes the praise of these so excellent and rare vertues vnto faith. Hitherto hee hath intreated of the faith of the Fathers which liued vnder the first age of the world. But this was as a second birth of mankinde, when both Moah, and his familie exscaped the flood. Hence it followeth, that in what time soeuer men liued, yet they were no otherwise approoued of God, neither did they euer any worke that was worthy of praise, but by faith. Let vs now see what the Apostle setteth before vs in the example of Noah to consider of: first, §1that he beeing warned of God of the things which were yet not seene, §2feared. Secondly, that he built an Arke: thirdly, §3that he condemned the world by this building: lastly, that ⟨p. 251⟩he was made heire of the righteousnes which is by faith. §4The first thing which I noted, doth greatly expresse the vertue of faith. For it alwaies brings vs backe to this principle, that faith is the euidence of things not seene. And in very deede the nature and propertie of it is to behold in Gods word the things which are hidden, 2and are farre distant from our sight. When he was admonished that the flood should come after an hundred and twentie yeeres; first of all the length of time might haue taken all feare away from him, and the thing it selfe also was incredible: In the meane time also he saw the wicked giue themselues ouer to all manner of pleasures without any care of God at al: In a word, a man might haue thought that this terrible newes of the flood was nothing else but a vaine scarre-crow.
- 1Noah.
- 2The nature of faith.
