44

A fecond Sacramental Token infiituted.

PART I

mind, and to maintain in him a proper fenfe of God,and of his relation to him. Therefore God foon after the fall, inflituted a fecond SACRAMENTAL SIGN OF TOKEN, for the man, fuited to his then prefent condition. Which Sign or Token was, living creatures flain and offered to God. This was a proper Sign or Token, for the man then to obferve, to excite and maintain in him a proper fenfe of God, and of the man's relation to him. Becaufe, after the fall, the man was in a fate of condemnation, deferving death, and the wrath of God; and in fuch offering, by God's inflituting of it, was fignified on man's part, that he thereby acknowledged, that he deferved death. And on God's part, that be accepted of a commutation of the life of another, inftead of the man; fo that the man might be fpared and faved by the commutation. And at the fame time, that there could be no other way for the man to efcape death. That the man had fo forfeited life, that God could not, confiftent with his perfections, remit or forego the man's life, in any way thort of life. This Sacramental Sign or Token, does not appear to be directly and abfolutely expreffed in the time before the Flood. Yet it is fufficiently evident, that God did make it known to man early after the apoftafy: For we find immediately after the interview in the Garden, calling man to account for his fin: It fays, Gen. iii. 31. That the Lord God made Adam and his Wife, coats of fkins and clothed them. These coats of skins, have perhaps generally been thought to typify the righteousness of Chrift, with which the believer is indued; reckoned to him for juftification; by virtue of Chrift's death. And this conftruction, appears to be juftified by many places of Scripture; fuch as having on the Wedding Gar

43

PART I. SACRAMENTAL TOKEN of Commutation. ment. Arrayed in fine linen, which is the righteoufnafs of the Saints, &c. Which conftruation, of those coats of fkins, will imply, that thofe creatures were flain, and their bodies made an offering to God, as Chrift's body was, or as a type or fhadow of that: And I know not, as we can devile, any other pur. pofe they could be flain for; fince God at that time had not permitted man to eat flefh. Neither will it be rational to fuppofe, that they were fkins of creatures, who died of themfelves; for it is not likely, that any creatures had died of themfelves, by that time; or if they had, it cannot rationally be fuppofed, that God would make ufe of their fkins to clothe the man and his wife; fince, when he entered into particulars, in his laws to his people, he exprefsly forbad their making any ufe of that which died of itself.

Another confideration, which may make it perhaps conclufive, that God did inflitute this Sacramental Token of Commutation, at the interview in the Garden, is, that we may not prefume, that God at any time left the man without a revelation, which believed in, and conformed to, is fufficient for eternal life. And it is amply evident, that there was fuch a revelation in the days of Abel; for he brought fuch an offering, of the firflings of his flock, and of the fat thereof, Gen. iv. 4. And it was an offering made in faith, and accepted by God, Heb. xi. 4. But it could not be an offering of faith, unless there was fuch a revelation of God at that time; because there would have been no object of faith for him to believe..

However, notwithflanding God provided fuch ample means, to maintain a knowledge and fenfe of himself, among mankind, and a fenfe of their relation to him; yet the firft man that ever was

46

Chrift preaching to the Antediluvians.

PART I

born, proved to be an Infidel, a Murderer and a Sectarian; and fet up a party; which was fuch a bane to all religion, and good order, and in time mixing with thofe that had retained regularity, and the worship of God; fo that by the tenth or elev enth generation; the whole human race, were become fo generally corrupt, that when Methuselah died, Noah was the only righteous man upon earth; notwithstanding Chrift had by his fpirit, been preaching to them a hundred and twenty years; in the admonitions, exhortations and conduct of Noah Particularly, by his building the ARK, while that was preparing; for that was a very expreffive vifible token and admonition to them of their danger. But instead of mending their ways, or reforming; the people became highly indignant at Noah for his preaching righteoufnefs to them fo long; as other wicked men have, throughout the Bible, and down to this day hated those that reproved them; they hated Chrift when here in the flesh, because he tellified that their works were evil; and never left, till they murdered him: And this be ing the fpirit of Chrift preaching in Noah, it could not otherwife be; but the wicked people of his day were determined to deftroy him. And they were become fuch a large majority of the fentiment, that it would never be good times; or lib. erty triumph, till all religion was extirpated: They were determined to bear with that intolerance no longer! The Devil too, always going about, feeking whom he may devour, and strialy attentive to all that was going on; doubtless now viewed matters, as brought to a precious crifis, for him to exterminate that divine SEED, the fon of God manifeft in the flesh. He no doubt had an Idea, that he was embarked in the Ark,in the Family of Noah.

PART I. The Devil and the people combined againfi Noah. 47 The Devil therefore, very heartily joined with the people, to urge on the deftruction of Noah, his family and the Ark; as thereby he should not on ly gratify his malice against a good man: But what was fill a much greater object with him; in effecting Noah's deftruction, he thould effectually defeat God, of his fon's coming in the flesh; and fo, by this one froke, decidedly get his cafe, in the contention he had fo long had with God about that

matter.

The Devil and the people thus combined: The people eagerly withing themfelves freed from all further interruption from that man they fo long de. tefted; and fuppofing there was now a fair opportunity, to liberate themfelves forever: The Devil alfo urging it on as fpeedily as poffible; for no doubt he was apprehenfive the flood was at hand; and Noah and his family must be deftroyed, before that came, or all his expectations would be abortive: But if he could have that family deftroyed; and then the flood deftroy all the reft of mankind; it must certainly defeat the fon of God, of ever coming in the flesh. It would be a decifive ftroke; and he fhould without any room for any further controverfy, get his cafe again God. The people collect. Noah and his family in the Ark. No time was to be loft. It did not admit of flow counfels. All this combination of fagacious intelligences, could not be at a lofs what expedient would be the most ready, and effectual to dispatch that noxious family. Nothing could more readily occur, than to collect combuftible materials, and pile them against the Ark, the whole length of it. Thele might readily be procured, where the Ark had been building; not far diftant. Thefe placed; and fire kindled. The Devil exulting in his con

48

The Devil defeated, the people imprisoned. PART I.

queft. The people triumphing in Noah's conflagration; and anticipating their own, uninterrupted liberty! In the precife moment to fave Noah; and the fatal catastrophe of his enemies: The fountains of the great deep were broken up; and the Flood came and deflroyed them all! Luke xvii. 27. So Noah and his family were faved by WATER, as the Scriptures affure us, 1 Pet. iii. 20. The Devil is defeated! No doubt to his confummate mor. tification. He no doubt flattered himself, that he was in the front, and fhould effectually interrupt and baffle the fon of God: But he could do no more than come behind and ftrike at the heel.

The poor people, with all their majority, anticipating their uninterrupted LIBERTY. So near! So certain! Inftead of liberty, were configned to prifon, and held there, certainly till the days of the Apostle Peter; and we find nothing but they are there ftill; and muft always remain there! T

I am fenfible, fome people are in the habit of fuppofing, that the Flood came on gradually by rain. But when we find, that the fountains of the great deep were broken up the fame day that Noah and his family went into the Ark. And before it began to rain, Gen. vii. 1113. And we find alfo, that Chrift compares it to the day of judgment, for fuddennefs: And fays, they knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away, Mat. xxiv. 36, 37, 38, 39. Also in Luke xvii. 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, Chrift not only compares the Flood for fuddennefs, to his fecond coming; but alfo to Lightning fhining from one part under heaven to another, and to the deftruction of Sodom, Thefe things confidered; I fee no room left to fuppofe, that the Flood came on gradually.

The following Hypothefis concerning the Flood, if admitted, may perhaps illuftrate the Idea of its fuddennefs; and how it was effected.

Though there are many Hypothefes about the Flood; yet I shall not attempt to follow, or difprove any of them ;