A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

Satan seems to have been in a dreadful rage just before the flood, and his rage then doubtless, was, as it always has been, chiefly against the church of God to overthrow it; and he had filled the earth with violence and rage against it. He had drawn over almost all the world to be on his side, and they listed under his banner against Christ and his church. We read, that the earth "was filled with violence;" and doubtless that violence was chiefly against the church, in fulfilment of what was foretold, I will put enmity between thy •eed and her seed. Their enmity and violence was so great, and the enemies of the church so numerous, the whole world being against the church, that it was come to the last extremity. Noah's reproofs, and his preaching of righteousness, were utterly disregarded. God's spirit had striven with them an hundred and twenty years, and all in vain; and the church was almost swallowed up. It seems to have been reduced to so narrow limits, as to be confined to one family. And there was no prospect of any thing else but of their totally swallowing up the church, and that in a very little time; and so wholly destroying that small root that had the blessing in it, or whence the Redeemer was to proceed.

Therefore, God's destroying those enemies of the church by the ••ood, belongs to this affair of redemption: for it was one thing that was done in fulfilment of the covenant of grace, as it was revealed to Adam: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy […]." This destruction was only a destruction of the seed of the serpent in the midst of their violent rage against the seed of the woman, and so delivering the seed of the woman from them, when in utmost peril by them.

Therefore, God's destroying those enemies of the church by the ••ood, belongs to this affair of redemption: for it was one thing that was done in fulfilment of the covenant of grace, as it was revealed to Adam: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy 〈…〉." This destruction was only a destruction of the seed of the serpent in the midst of their violent rage against the seed of the woman, and so delivering the seed of the woman from them, when in utmost peril by them.