patriarchs and prophets-第21章
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false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions； and
thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful
humanity。 They were defiled in consequence。 〃God saw that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth； and that every imagination of the thoughts of
his heart was only evil continually。 。 。 。 The earth also was corrupt before
God； and the earth was filled with violence。〃 God had given men His
commandments as a rule of life； but His law was transgressed； and every
conceivable sin was the result。 The wickedness of men was open and daring；
justice was trampled in the dust； and the cries of the oppressed reached
unto heaven。
Polygamy had been early introduced； contrary to the divine arrangement at
the beginning。 The Lord gave to Adam one wife；
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showing His order in that respect。 But after the Fall； men chose to follow
their own sinful desires； and as the result； crime and wretchedness rapidly
increased。 Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were
respected。 Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor；
took them by force； and men exulted in their deeds of violence。 They
delighted in destroying the life of animals； and the use of flesh for food
rendered them still more cruel and bloodthirsty； until they came to regard
human life with astonishing indifference。
The world was in its infancy； yet iniquity had become so deep and widespread
that God could no longer bear with it； and He said； 〃I will destroy man whom
I have created from the face of the earth。〃 He declared that His Spirit
should not always strive with the guilty race。 If they did not cease to
pollute with their sins the world and its rich treasures； He would blot them
from His creation； and would destroy the things with which He had delighted
to bless them； He would sweep away the beasts of the field； and the
vegetation which furnished such an abundant supply of food； and would
transform the fair earth into one vast scene of desolation and ruin。
Amid the prevailing corruption； Methuselah； Noah； and many others labored to
keep alive the knowledge of the true God and to stay the tide of moral evil。
A hundred and twenty years before the Flood； the Lord by a holy angel
declared to Noah His purpose； and directed him to build an ark。 While
building the ark he was to preach that God would bring a flood of water upon
the earth to destroy the wicked。 Those who would believe the message； and
would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation； should find
pardon and be saved。 Enoch had repeated to his children what God had shown
him in regard to the Flood； and Methuselah and his sons； who lived to hear
the preaching of Noah； assisted in building the ark。
God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark and explicit directions in
regard to its construction in every particular。 Human wisdom could not have
devised a structure of so great strength and durability。 God was the
designer； and Noah the master builder。 It was constructed like the hull of a
ship； that it might float upon the water； but in some respects it more
nearly resembled a house。 It was three stories high； with but
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one door； which was in the side。 The light was admitted at the top； and the
different apartments were so arranged that all were lighted。 The material
employed in the construction of the ark was the cypress； or gopher wood；
which would be untouched by decay for hundreds of years。 The building of
this immense structure was a slow and laborious process。 On account of the
great size of the trees and the nature of the wood； much more labor was
required then than now to prepare timber； even with the greater strength
which men then possessed。 All that man could do was done to render the work
perfect； yet the ark could not of itself have withstood the storm which was
to come upon the earth。 God alone could preserve His servants upon the
tempestuous waters。
〃By faith Noah； being warned of God of things not seen as yet； moved with
fear； prepared an ark to the saving of his house； by the which he condemned
the world； and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith。〃 Hebrews
11：7。 While Noah was giving his warning message to the world； his works
testified of his sincerity。 It was thus that his faith was perfected and
made evident。 He gave the world an example of believing just what God says。
All that he possessed； he invested in the ark。 As he began to construct that
immense boat on dry ground； multitudes came from every direction to see the
strange sight and to hear the earnest； fervent words of the singular
preacher。 Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the people。
Many at first appeared to receive the warning； yet they did not turn to God
with true repentance。 They were unwilling to renounce their sins。 During the
time that elapsed before the coming of the Flood； their faith was tested；
and they failed to endure the trial。 Overcome by the prevailing unbelief；
they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the solemn message。
Some were deeply convicted； and would have heeded the words of warning； but
there were so many to jest and ridicule； that they partook of the same
spirit； resisted the invitations of mercy； and were soon among the boldest
and most defiant scoffers； for none are so reckless and go to such lengths
in sin as do those who have once had light； but have resisted the convicting
Spirit of God。
The men of that generation were not all； in the fullest acceptation of the
term； idolaters。 Many professed to be worshipers of
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God。 They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity； and
that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine
Being。 This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah。 As they
endeavored to represent God by material objects； their minds were blinded to
His majesty and power； they ceased to realize the holiness of His character；
or the sacred； unchanging nature of His requirements。 As sin became general；
it appeared less and less sinful； and they finally declared that the divine
law was no longer in force； that it was contrary to the character of God to
punish transgression； and they denied that His judgments were to be visited
upon the earth。 Had the men of that generation obeyed the divine law； they
would have recognized the voice of God in the warning of His servant； but
their minds had become so blinded by rejection of light that they really
believed Noah's message to be a delusion。
It was not multitudes or majorities that were on the side of right。 The
world was arrayed against God's justice and His laws； and Noah was regarded
as a fanatic。 Satan； when tempting Eve to disobey God； said to her； 〃Ye
shall not surely die。〃 Genesis 3：4。 Great men； worldly； honored； and wise
men； repeated the same。 〃The threatenings of God；〃 they said； 〃are for the
purpose of intimidating； and will never be verified。 You need not be
alarmed。 Such an event as the destruction of the world by the God who made
it； and the punishment of the beings He has created； will never take place。
Be at peace； fear not。 Noah is a wild fanatic。〃 The world made merry at the
folly of the deluded old man。 Instead of humbling the heart before God； they
continued their disobedience and wickedness； the same as though God had not
spoken to them through His servant。
But Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest。 Surrounded by popular contempt
and ridicule； he distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering
faithfulness。 A power attended his words； for it was the voice of God to man
through His servant。 Connection with God made him strong in the strength of
infinite power； while for one hundred and twenty years his solemn voice fell
upon the ears of that generation in regard to events； which； so far as human
wisdom could judge； were impossible。
The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature
had been fixed。 The recurring seasons had come in their order。 Heretofore
rain had never fallen； the earth had been
