patriarchs and prophets-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


they　finally　joined　their　former　associates　in　rejecting　the　solemn　message。
Some　were　deeply　convicted；　and　would　have　heeded　the　words　of　warning；　but
there　were　so　many　to　jest　and　ridicule；　that　they　partook　of　the　same
spirit；　resisted　the　invitations　of　mercy；　and　were　soon　among　the　boldest
and　most　defiant　scoffers；　for　none　are　so　reckless　and　go　to　such　lengths
in　sin　as　do　those　who　have　once　had　light；　but　have　resisted　the　convicting
Spirit　of　God。

The　men　of　that　generation　were　not　all；　in　the　fullest　acceptation　of　the
term；　idolaters。　Many　professed　to　be　worshipers　of

96

God。　They　claimed　that　their　idols　were　representations　of　the　Deity；　and
that　through　them　the　people　could　obtain　a　clearer　conception　of　the　divine
Being。　This　class　were　foremost　in　rejecting　the　preaching　of　Noah。　As　they
endeavored　to　represent　God　by　material　objects；　their　minds　were　blinded　to
His　majesty　and　power；　they　ceased　to　realize　the　holiness　of　His　character；
or　the　sacred；　unchanging　nature　of　His　requirements。　As　sin　became　general；
it　appeared　less　and　less　sinful；　and　they　finally　declared　that　the　divine
law　was　no　longer　in　force；　that　it　was　contrary　to　the　character　of　God　to
punish　transgression；　and　they　denied　that　His　judgments　were　to　be　visited
upon　the　earth。　Had　the　men　of　that　generation　obeyed　the　divine　law；　they
would　have　recognized　the　voice　of　God　in　the　warning　of　His　servant；　but
their　minds　had　become　so　blinded　by　rejection　of　light　that　they　really
believed　Noah's　message　to　be　a　delusion。

It　was　not　multitudes　or　majorities　that　were　on　the　side　of　right。　The
world　was　arrayed　against　God's　justice　and　His　laws；　and　Noah　was　regarded
as　a　fanatic。　Satan；　when　tempting　Eve　to　disobey　God；　said　to　her；　〃Ye
shall　not　surely　die。〃　Genesis　3：4。　Great　men；　worldly；　honored；　and　wise
men；　repeated　the　same。　〃The　threatenings　of　God；〃　they　said；　〃are　for　the
purpose　of　intimidating；　and　will　never　be　verified。　You　need　not　be
alarmed。　Such　an　event　as　the　destruction　of　the　world　by　the　God　who　made
it；　and　the　punishment　of　the　beings　He　has　created；　will　never　take　place。
Be　at　peace；　fear　not。　Noah　is　a　wild　fanatic。〃　The　world　made　merry　at　the
folly　of　the　deluded　old　man。　Instead　of　humbling　the　heart　before　God；　they
continued　their　disobedience　and　wickedness；　the　same　as　though　God　had　not
spoken　to　them　through　His　servant。

But　Noah　stood　like　a　rock　amid　the　tempest。　Surrounded　by　popular　contempt
and　ridicule；　he　distinguished　himself　by　his　holy　integrity　and　unwavering
faithfulness。　A　power　attended　his　words；　for　it　was　the　voice　of　God　to　man
through　His　servant。　Connection　with　God　made　him　strong　in　the　strength　of
infinite　power；　while　for　one　hundred　and　twenty　years　his　solemn　voice　fell
upon　the　ears　of　that　generation　in　regard　to　events；　which；　so　far　as　human
wisdom　could　judge；　were　impossible。

The　world　before　the　Flood　reasoned　that　for　centuries　the　laws　of　nature
had　been　fixed。　The　recurring　seasons　had　come　in　their　order。　Heretofore
rain　had　never　fallen；　the　earth　had　been

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　97

watered　by　a　mist　or　dew。　The　rivers　had　never　yet　passed　their　boundaries；
but　had　borne　their　waters　safely　to　the　sea。　Fixed　decrees　had　kept　the
waters　from　overflowing　their　banks。　But　these　reasoners　did　not　recognize
the　hand　of　Him　who　had　stayed　the　waters；　saying；　〃Hitherto　shalt　thou
come；　but　no　further。〃　Job　38：11。

As　time　passed　on；　with　no　apparent　change　in　nature；　men　whose　hearts　had
at　times　trembled　with　fear；　began　to　be　reassured。　They　reasoned；　as　many
reason　now；　that　nature　is　above　the　God　of　nature；　and　that　her　laws　are　so
firmly　established　that　God　Himself　could　not　change　them。　Reasoning　that　if
the　message　of　Noah　were　correct；　nature　would　be　turned　out　of　her　course；
they　made　that　message；　in　the　minds　of　the　world；　a　delusiona　grand
deception。　They　manifested　their　contempt　for　the　warning　of　God　by　doing
just　as　they　had　done　before　the　warning　was　given。　They　continued　their
festivities　and　their　gluttonous　feasts；　they　ate　and　drank；　planted　and
builded；　laying　their　plans　in　reference　to　advantages　they　hoped　to　gain　in
the　future；　and　they　went　to　greater　lengths　in　wickedness；　and　in　defiant
disregard　of　God's　requirements；　to　testify　that　they　had　no　fear　of　the
Infinite　One。　They　asserted　that　if　there　were　any　truth　in　what　Noah　had
said；　the　men　of　renownthe　wise；　the　prudent；　the　great　menwould
understand　the　matter。

Had　the　antediluvians　believed　the　warning；　and　repented　of　their　evil
deeds；　the　Lord　would　have　turned　aside　His　wrath；　as　He　afterward　did　from
Nineveh。　But　by　their　obstinate　resistance　to　the　reproofs　of　conscience　and
the　warnings　of　God's　prophet；　that　generation　filled　up　the　measure　of
their　iniquity；　and　became　ripe　for　destruction。

The　period　of　their　probation　was　about　to　expire。　Noah　had　faithfully
followed　the　instructions　which　he　had　received　from　God。　The　ark　was
finished　in　every　part　as　the　Lord　had　directed；　and　was　stored　with　food
for　man　and　beast。　And　now　the　servant　of　God　made　his　last　solemn　appeal　to
the　people。　With　an　agony　of　desire　that　words　cannot　express；　he　entreated
them　to　seek　a　refuge　while　it　might　be　found。　Again　they　rejected　his
words；　and　raised　their　voices　in　jest　and　scoffing。　Suddenly　a　silence　fell
upon　the　mocking　throng。　Beasts　of　every　description；　the　fiercest　as　well
as　the　most　gentle；　were　seen　coming　from　mountain　and　forest　and　quietly
making　their　way　toward　the　ark。　A　noise　as　of　a　rushing　wind　was　heard；　and
lo；　birds　were　flocking　from　all

98

directions；　their　numbers　darkening　the　heavens；　and　in　perfect　order　they
passed　to　the　ark。　Animals　obeyed　the　command　of　God；　while　men　were
disobedient。　Guided　by　holy　angels；　they　〃went　in　two　and　two　unto　Noah　into
the　ark；〃　and　the　clean　beasts　by　sevens。　The　world　looked　on　in　wonder；
some　in　fear。　Philosophers　were　called　upon　to　account　for　the　singular
occurrence；　but　in　vain。　It　was　a　mystery　which　they　could　not　fathom。　But
men　had　become　so　hardened　by　their　persistent　rejection　of　light　that　even
this　scene　produced　but　a　momentary　impression。　As　the　doomed　race　beheld
the　sun　shining　in　its　glory；　and　the　earth　clad　in　almost　Eden　beauty；　they
banished　their　rising　fears　by　boisterous　merriment；　and　by　their　deeds　of
violence　they　seemed　to　invite　upon　themselves　the　visitation　of　the　already
awakened　wrath　of　God。

God　commanded　Noah；　〃Come　thou　and　all　thy　house　into　the　ark；　for　thee　have
I　seen　righteous　before　Me　in　this　generation。〃　Noah's　warnings　had　been
rejected　by　the　world；　but　his　influence　and　example　resulted　in　blessings
to　his　family。　As　a　reward　for　his　faithfulness　and　integrity；　God　saved　all
the　members　of　his　family　with　him。　What　encouragement　to　parental　fidelity！

Mercy　had　ceased　its　pleadings　for　the　guilty　race。　The　beasts　of　the　field
and　the　birds　of　the　air　had　entered　the　place　of　refuge。　Noah　and　his
household　were　within　the　ark；　〃and　the　Lord　shut　him　in。〃　A　flash　of
dazzling　light　was　seen；　and　a　cloud　of　glory　more　vivid　than　the　lightning
descended　from　heaven　and　hovered　before　the　entrance　of　the　ark。　The
massive　door；　which　it　was　impossible　for　those　within　to　close；　was　slowly
swung　to　its　place　by　unseen　hands。　Noah　was　shut　in；　and　the　rejecters　of
God's　mercy　were　shut　out。　The　seal　of　Heaven　was　on　that　door；　God　had　shut
it；　and　God　alone　could　open　it。　So　when　Christ　shall　cease　His　intercession
for　guilty　men；　before　His　coming　in　the　clouds　of　heaven；　the　door　of　mercy
will　be　shut。　Then　divine　grace　will　no　longer　restrain　the　wicked；　and
Satan　will　have　full　control　of　those　who　have　rejected　mercy。　They　will
endeavor　to　destroy　God's　people；　but　as　Noah　was　shut　into　the　ark；　so　the
righteous　will　be　shielded　by　divine　power。

For　seven　days　after　Noah　and　his　family　entered　the　ark；　there　appeared　no
sign　of　the　coming　storm。　During　this　period　their　faith　was　tested。　It　was
a　time　of　triumph　to　the　world　without。　The　apparent　delay　confirmed　them　in
the　belief　that　Noah's

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　99

message　was　a　delusion；　and　that　the　Flood　would　never　come。　Notwithstanding
the　solemn　scenes　which　they　had　witnessedthe　beasts　and　birds　entering
the　ark；　and　the　angel　of　God　closing　the　doorthey　still　continued　their
sport　and　revelry；　even　making　a　jest　of　these　signal　manifestations　of
God's　power。　They　gathered　in　crowds　about　the　ark；　deriding　its　inmates
with　a　daring　violence　which　they　had　never　ventured　upon　before。

But　upon　the　eighth　day　dark　clouds　overspread　the　heavens。　There　followed
the　muttering　of　thunder　and　the　flash　of　lightning。　Soon　large　drops　of
rain　began　to　fall。　The　world　had　never　witnessed　anything　like　this；　and
the　hearts　of　men　were　struck　with　fear。　All　were　secretly　inquiring；　〃Can
it　be　that　Noah　was　in　the　right；　and　that　the　world　is　doomed　to
destruction？〃　Darker　and　darker　grew　the　heavens；　and　faster　came　the
falling　rain。　The　beasts　were　roaming　about　in　the　wildest　terror；　and　their
discordant　cries　seemed　to　moan　out　their　own　destiny　and　the　fate　of　man。
Then　〃the　fountains　of　the　great　deep〃　were　〃broken　up；　and　the　windows　of
heaven　were　opened。〃　Water　appeared　to　come　from　the　clouds　in　mighty
cataracts。　Rivers　broke　away　from　their　boundaries；　and　overflowed　the
valleys。　Jets　of　water　burst　from　the　earth　with　indescribable　force；
throwing　massive　rocks　hundreds　of　feet　into　the　air；　and　these；　in　falling；
buried　themselves　deep　in　the　ground。

The　people　first　beheld　the　destruction　of　the　works　of　their　own　hands。
Their　splendid　buildings；　and　the　beautiful　gardens　and　groves　where　they
had　placed　their　idols；　were　destroyed　by　lightning　from　heaven；　and　the
ruins　were　scattered　far　and　wide。　The　altars　on　which　human　sacrifices　had
been　offered　were　torn　down；　and　the　worshipers　were　made　to　tremble　at　the
power　of　the　living　God；　and　to　know　that　it　was　their　corruption　and
idolatry　which　had　called　down　their　destruction。

As　the　violence　of　the　storm　increased；　trees；　buildings；　rocks；　and　earth
were　hurled　in　every　direction。　The　terror　of　man　and　beast　was　beyond
description。　Above　the　roar　of　the　tempest　was　heard　the　wailing　of　a　people
that　had　despised　the　authority　of　God。　Satan　himself；　who　was　compelled　to
remain　in　the　midst　of　the　warring　elements；　feared　for　his　own　existence。
He　had　delighted　to　control　so　powerful　a　race；　and　desired　them　to　live　to
practice　their　abominations　and　continue　their　rebellion　against　the　Ruler
of　heaven。　He　now　uttered　imprecations　against　God；

100

charging　Him　with　injustice　and　cruelty。　Many　of　the　people；　like　Satan；
blasphemed　God；　and　had　they　been　able；　they　would　have　torn　Him　from　the
throne　of　power。　Others　were　frantic　with　fear；　stretching　their　hands
toward　the　ark　and　pleading　for　admittance。　But　their　entreaties　were　in
vain。　Conscience　was　at　last　aroused　to　know　that　there　is　a　God　who　ruleth
in　the　heavens。　They　called　upon　Him　earnestly；　but　His　ear　was　not　open　t