Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/80

 primeval times  were  taller  and  stronger  than  the  men  of  later  ages. They lived  a simple,  temperate  life,  and  therefore  reached  a great  age. This long  life  of  the  patriarchs  was  ordained  by  God  to  serve  several ends. The first  was  that  they  might  have  a great  many  children,  and that the  human  race  might  multiply  and  spread  itself. Another was that the  patriarchs  might  be  able  to  transmit  the  divine  revelation of the  history  of  creation,  of  the  original  state  and  fall  of  man,  the promise of  the  Saviour,  the  story  of  Cain  and  Abel  &amp;c.,  to  later generations, pure  and  unfalsified. Adam himself  was  able  to  teach these truths  to  his  descendants  down  to  the  time  of  Lamech,  who  at the  time  of  Adam’s  death  was  fifty  years  old. Lamech was  the  father of Noe,  and  died  a few  years  before  the  Deluge. He instructed  Noe (who lived  950  years)  and  Sem,  the  son  of  Noe. Sem (who  lived 600  years)  was  able  to  instruct  his  descendants  down  to  the  time of Jacob. Jacob transmitted  the  divine  revelation  to  his  descendants, one of  whom  was  Moses,  who  wrote  the  first  five  books  of  Holy  Scripture, containing  the  revelation  of  God  from  the  Creation  onwards. There was  no  Holy  Scripture  between  the  time  of  Adam  and  that  of Moses; the  faith  being  preserved  and  spread  by  means  of  oral  tradition and living  witnesses.

The Forbearance  of  God. Although  all  men,  with  the  exception of Noe  and  his  family,  had  become  impious  and  vicious,  God  gave them a hundred  and  twenty  years  in  which  to  repent,  before  He  let loose His  wrath  upon  them. We call  God  long-suffering,  because  He waits  such  a long  time  before  He  will  punish  a sinner. Good men often complain  thus: Why  does  God  put  up  so  long  with  impiety ? Why does He  not  punish  the  sinner  who  defies  Him? Almighty God  is patient,  because  He  is  eternal. He waits  for  the  sinner  to  repent;  but if he  will  not  repent,  the  punishment  falls  upon  him  at  last,  if  not  in this  world,  then  in  the  world  to  come.

God's Holiness  and  Justice  shine  forth  most  clearly  in  this  story. The sins  of  men  are  powerless  to  hurt  the  Lord  God,  or  disturb  His infinite peace  and  happiness. Why then  did  He  repent  of  having made man? Because He  is  holy,  and,  sin  being  opposed  to  His  very essence, He  could  no  longer  endure  the  wickedness  of  man. He also wished, by  this  destruction  of  sinful  man,  to  reveal  His  detestation of sin  to  all  future  generations,  and  thereby  to  keep  them  from  sinning. Because God  is  holy,  He  is  also  just,  as  is  shown  by  His  reward of the  righteous  Noe,  and  His  punishment  of  the  wicked.

The Mercy  of  God.  God  reveals  to  us  His  mercy  as  well  as  His justice in  this  story  of  the  Deluge. He did  not  allow  the  Flood  to come  suddenly,  but  by  degrees. When the  rain  began  to  fall,  it  is probable  that  many  believed  in  Noe’s  warnings  of  the  coming  judgment and began  to  pray  and  repent  of  their  sins,  and  cried  to  God  for pardon. Such as  did  this  were  saved,  and  were  not  cast  into  hell,  but sent to  Limbo  (1  Pet.  3,  19).