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I. THE WARNING THAT NOAH RECEIVED.

1. Only one received it. Noah found grace, favour.

2. To him a most unprecedented and unlikely thing. Beyond that vision, what was there to strengthen his faith? While the evidence to him was so slight, the proofs to us are numerous.

3. Imagine Noah after receiving this warning, with what different feelings he would regard the world, etc.

II. THE PREPARATION THAT NOAH MADE. By faith. He believed God more than nature, which preached stability; or than men, who must soon have begun to argue thus —

1. Who is Noah that he should have this warning?

2. But where is the promise or sign of this flood? Nature does not change.

3. The old man will never live to complete his task.

4. If he does, how are the animals, etc., to be collected?

5. Even if they are, is it likely that so cumbrous a vessel will float?

6. But where will all the water come from? To such men, Noah's ark would be Noah's folly. (Christ, our Ark, is a folly to many, 1 Corinthians 1:23).

7. If the worst comes to the worst, we will fly to the hills. Faith overcomes all arguments. 480 years of age when he began, he toiled on for 120 years. While others were growing rich or spending their time in pleasure and sin, he spent his substance about the ark.

III. THE DELIVERANCE THAT NOAH EXPERIENCED.

1. The ark finished. The world comes to look, and wonder, and laugh. Science and selfishness have furnished their arguments, and begin to launch them. On a huge platform of timber stands the ark.

2. Noah examines his work, and compares it with the plan. He has done his part and enters.

3. God now collects the animals, etc. The astonishment of the world at that strange sight. Misgivings. Noah, a wise man after all.

4. Seven days' pause. Time yet for repentance. Mercy in the midst of wrath.

5. Noah shut in, and the world shut out.

6. The flood.

7. The waters rising.The ark swings round from its resting place, and floats out on the bosom of the great waste of waters. LEARN —

1. To take heed to the warning and invitation that we have had.

2. To work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

3. Noah made the ark to save his life; what are we doing to save our souls?

4. Let us fly for refuge to the hope set before us.

(J. C. Gray.)

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KJV: Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

WEB: Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.