Noah had been in the ark just a year and ten days. The earth was dry almost two months before; but God would not let Noah go out then, because though it was free from water, yet it was not ready for his reception. It would have been very unwholesome, and perhaps might have been injurious to the health, if not destructive of the lives, of Noah and his family, to have gone abroad then. God knows what is good for us better than we do ourselves. He knows how long it is convenient that afflictions should last better than we do. We are commonly in haste for mercies, like children crying for fruit before it is ripe; and it is our folly so to be. Noah, though perhaps he might have a mind to go out, yet did not stir till God bid him go forth. He had waited long for deliverance, and it came at last. As divine justice, so divine mercy, though sometimes it comes slowly, yet always comes surely. He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb. x. 37. And therefore though he tarry, that is, though he seem to us to do so, wait for him. Hab. ii. 3. Isa. xxx. 18. As God will be sought unto, so he will be waited upon, for mercy. Psa. xxvii. 14. Lam. iii. 26. Noah had a command to go into the ark, and was resolved to stay for a command to go out of it. Though the ark was a prison to him, and though he saw that the ground was dry, yet he waited the

Lord's leisure.

He would not go out, without a bene discessit from him that put him in. He staid till the same hand that shut the door opened it again. Our comings out of affliction are then sweet indeed, when we can hear the voice of God bidding us come out, or see the hand of God leading us out.

Goforth. God said to Noah, COME in, but Go forth, not COME forth; that would have intimated as if he had not been in the ark with him. God did not only come in with him, but staid in with him all the while, and brought him safe out; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5.

17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:

19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever

creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

The creatures accompanied Noah into the ark, and now they must accompany him out of it. He was to go out first, and they were all to follow him. Here was an epitome of the whole world; all brought into a very little compass. God would have Noah to have the honour of repairing the world, and would thus engage anew the creatures to submit to his dominion. And he did bring them forth accordingly; and did, as it were, present them to God, the great Master. Noah was faithful to the trust reposed in him. He had all the creatures at his mercy, and might have starved them if he would; but he took care of them all.

As Noah did not go forth till God bid him, so when God had bid him, he did not delay a moment. He was not angry and sullen, and because he should not go when he would, would not go at all. He did not stumble at difficulties, but was in all points obedient to the heavenly vision.

20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

This is the first altar that we read of in scripture. 'Tis likely there were altars before, for there were sacrifices. Chap. iv. 3, 4. This altar Noah built without an express, particular command. Hitherto he dad done nothing without special direction from God himself. He staid for a command to go into the ark, and for a command to come out again. But when he was out, he did not stay for a command to be thankful; but immediately falls a rearing an altar and offering burnt offerings; to teach us how forward we should be in our returns of praise for mercies received. He gives twice, we say, that gives quickly. In this matter certainly the sooner the better. While the mercy is fresh, then we shall be the more enlarged in praise. We are very apt to cool by delays. The sense of mercy, as well as the sense of sin, is commonly worn off by time. The Samaritan leper, as soon as ever he saw that he was cleansed, returned to give thanks. Luke xvii. 15. As God prevents us with mercy before we call; (Ps. xxi. 3. Isa. lxv. 24;) so we should prevent him with praise before he calls. Praise waits for thee, O God, in Zion. Psa. lxv. 1. God is greatly pleased with waiting praises. In this, as in other things, he loves a cheerful giver. Noah was come into a dismal, desolate place; and one would have thought he would have begun with a house for himself. No; he begins

with an altar for God; seeking first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; knowing that that was the way to have other things added to him. Matt. vi. 33. He begins well that begins with God.

Noah builded an altar; and was that all? No: that altar was a smoking altar. He took of every clean beast and of every clean fowl; that is, he took those creatures that were appointed for sacrifice. It is not enough that we do that which is appointed; but we must do it in the appointed manner. We must wait upon God, not only in a right ordinance, but in a right order. Noah offered but one of a sort, the odd seventh; but God accepted him, because he offered according to his ability. Christ preferred a mite thrown into the treasury by a poor widow, before pounds offered by rich merchants. Mark xii. 43, 44. God expects from us according to what we have, and not according to what we have not. 2 Cor. viii. 12. Noah might have said, Have I kept the creatures in the ark thus long to preserve seed alive, and must I now kill thus many of them and burn them for sacrifice? Why cannot this be put off till there shall be more plenty of cattle in the world? But to give a signal evidence of the sincerity of his love, and a speedy testimony of the reality of his thankfulness, he doth so far deny his own profit, as when he hath but seven sheep in the world,