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.
Going on progressively, and according to due order, in a regular succession of those holy men of old, the Holy Ghost here introduceth to the Church the account of Noah's faith. I beg the Reader to attend to some of the leading features of this great Patriarch's character. He is the first concerning whom grace is recorded. The first time we meet with that blessed word in the Bible, is in the instance of Noah. And this at a time of universal corruption, when God said that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, Genesis 6:5. I desire the Reader to observe this. And I beg of him to observe no less, that Noah was included in the same common corruption. For, when it is added, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, (Genesis 6:8) had that grace been the result of Noah's worth and excellency, grace would have lost its name, and grace, as the Apostle saith, would have been no more grace, Romans 11:6. This is a great point to know. And the faith of Noah is a confirmation of it. And if the Reader will trace the subject down from Noah, to the latest account of the Church, he will find one uniform history on this subject running through all. Observe the expression. Noah found grace. Genesis 6:8. Where? In his own heart? No In the eyes of the Lord, And hence we read what God said to Noah. But with thee will I establish my covenant, Genesis 6:18. So that the very first mention made of grace, or covenant grace as the cause, and the covenant as the effect, are in the instance of Noah. And what is it but the same through all the Bible? Thou hast found grace (said the Lord to Moses in after ages), in my sight, and I know thee by name, Exodus 33:17. Fear not, Mary, (said the Angel to her), for thou hast found favor with God, Luke 1:30. Go thy way, (said the Lord to Ananias concerning Paul), for he is a chosen vessel unto me, Acts 9:15. The whole subject of everything that is blessed turns on this hinge. Well, but say you, was not Noah a preacher of righteousness, 2 Peter 2:5, and eminent by his faith, and by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith? Yes! all these things are true and the whole are so many blessed testimonies to the character of Noah. But then these are all no more than the effects of the first predisposing cause. They are all to be traced to their fountain head and source, the grace Noah found in the eyes of the Lord. This gave the bias to all that followed in the life of the Patriarch. This was the first moving and predisposing spring to all the machine. And which brings forward the Apostle's question, and carries with it, in the very bosom of the question, it own answer, Who hath first given to the Lord, and it shall be recompensed again? Romans 11:35. So universally and individually true is it said, and by the Lord himself, of every child of God, I am found of them that sought me not, Isaiah 65:1. Reader! what is the sweet application of those precious scriptures, as the subject concerns you and me, but that we come boldly, in the name of Jesus, to his mercy-seat, and obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Hebrews 4:16.