Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/77

 But among  these  wicked  men  there  was  one  just  and  virtuous man, who  was  called  Noe. Noe found  favour  with  the  Lord, and the  Lord  said  to  him:  “Make  thee  an  ark  of  timber-planks; thou shalt  make  little  rooms  in  the  ark,  and  .thou  shalt  pitch  it within  and  without  with  bitumen. The length  of  the  ark  shall  be three  hundred  cubits,  and  the  breadth  of  it  fifty  cubits,  and  the height of  it  thirty  cubits. Thou shalt  make  a window  in  the ark, and  a door  in  its  side;  and  thou  shalt  divide  the  ark  into lower, middle,  and  third stories. Behold, I will  bring  the  waters of a great  flood  upon  the  earth,  to  destroy  all  flesh  wherein  is the  breath  of  life. But I will  establish  my  covenant  with  thee. Thou shalt  enter  into  the  ark,  thou  and  thy  sons,  and  thy  wife and the  wives  of  thy  sons  with  thee. And of  every  living  creature, of  all  flesh,  thou  shalt  bring  two  of  a sort  into  the  ark that they  may  live  with  thee. Thou shalt  take  unto  thee  of  all food which  may  be  eaten,  and  thou  shalt  lay  it  up  with  thee.”

Noe did  all  that  the  Lord  had  commanded  him  to  do. He spent a hundred  years  in  building  the  ark  (Fig.  2),  during  which time he  preached  penance  to  the  people. But men  heeded  not the warning. They ate,  drank,  and  were  married  just  as  before, without a thought  of  the  terrible  punishment  that  was  to  come upon them. Then the  Lord  said  to  Noe:  “Go  in,  thou  and  all