Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/86

 Intemperance. Noe’s drunkenness  was  excusable,  because  he  was ignorant of  the  strength  of  wine. This is  now  known  to  everybody, so that  it  is  a great  sin  to  drink  enough  to  obscure  the  senses  and reason. Drunkenness leads  to  many  other  sins,  such  as  quarrelling, fighting, swearing  &amp;c.,  and  is,  therefore,  one  of  the  capital  sins. Man may drink  wine  &amp;c. in moderation,  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  and strengthening himself. But children  should  never  drink  wine,  still  less, spirits. Such drink  is  unwholesome  for  children,  and  those  who  indulge in it  are  pale  and  sickly,  and  often  stupid  and  stunted  in  their  growth. But milk  and  bread  make  rosy  cheeks!

Cham’s sin. What  Commandments  did  Cham  sin  against? Firstly, against the  sixth  Commandment,  by  his  immodesty. Secondly, against the fourth  Commandment. Cham scoffed  at,  and  failed  in  respect  to his  father,  and  spoke  evil  of  him,  by  needlessly  repeating  to  his  brothers what he  had  seen. What ought  Cham  to  have  done  when  he  accidentally found  his  father  in  that  state? He ought  to  have  turned  away his eyes,  covered  up  his  father,  and  not  told  any  one  about  it.

The blessing  and  curse  of  parents. When  Noe  learnt  about  Cham’s conduct, he  pronounced  a curse  on  him  and  his  descendants, and promised a blessing  to  Sem  and  Japhet. He foresaw,  by  the  inspiration of the  Holy  Spirit,  that  Cham’s  descendants  would,  like  those  of  Cain, turn away  from  God,  and  be  punished  by  Him. The African  negroes are descended  from  him,  and  they  are  to  this  day  sunk  in  the  lowest state of  superstition,  governed  by  cruel  tyrants,  treated  as  slaves,  and often bought  and  sold  as  such. Their way  of  living  is  very  barbarous, and they  are  very  hard  to  convert  to  Christianity. The blessing  on Sem  and  Japhet  and  their  children  has  been  fulfilled  as  completely  as has  been  the  curse  on  Cham. Sem was  the  heir  of  the  divine  promise, for the  chosen  people  of  God  sprang  from  him,  and  of  his  race  was born the  Messias. The children  of  Japhet  formed  great  and  powerful nations, and  were  early  converted  to  Christianity,  some  of  them  even in the  time  of  the  apostles. You can  see  by  this  story  that  children who are  wanting  in  respect  to  their  parents,  are  punished  by  God, but that  those  who  love  and  honour  them,  are  blessed  and  rewarded by Him.

Detraction. Just  as  Sem  and  Japhet  covered  their  father’s  nakedness with  a cloak,  so  ought  we  to  cover  the  faults  of  our  fellow-men with the  mantle  of  charity,  and  never  reveal  them  except  in  case  of necessity. You commit  the  sin  of  detraction,  if  you  reveal  the  sins  of others  without  necessity.

Noe, the third  type  of  Jesus  Christ.  Noe  was  the  only  just  man in a sinful  world:  Jesus  Christ  is  alone,  and  of  and  by  Himself,  most just, most  holy. Noe built  the  ark  for  the  saving  of  the  human  race: Jesus Christ  founded  the  Church  in  order  that  in  her  men  might  find salvation. Noe preached  penance  and  foretold  the  Deluge: our  Lord