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Behold, the people is one. I cannot but think that some petty contentions and animosities happened now and then among these Babel-builders; perhaps about the manner and method of their working, Yet I find no law made that they that did not lay every brick in all points according to the act of uniformity, should not work at all. O that Christians would learn this wisdom; for fas est ab hoste doceri. We should be willing to sacrifice private fancies to public interests; and not thrust all those from the work that are not free to work just in our way. Those that contend hotly for a ceremony, I doubt will contend but coldly for the faith; and then in comes the common enemy. We can never hope to see the building of the gospel Jerusalem go on, while the builders are throwing the bricks at one another's heads, and knocking the trowels out of one another's hands. If that had been the way at the building of Babel, there would have been no need to have confounded the languages: the work would soon have stood still of itself.

But if the people were one in the building of Babel, then I doubt Cardinal Bellarmin was mistaken when, in his enquiry after the true church, he makes this same unity to be one of the infallible marks of it. Unio membrorum inter se, is his seventh note. But if that be so, these Babel-builders may put in

their claim.

The Church of Rome boasts much of

her unity; but it is one mark of the antichristian system: these have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. Rev. xvii. 13. What Paul saith of zeal, (Gal. iv. 18,) may be truly said of unity: It is good to be unanimous always in a good thing. But when I see people one in building Babel, and of one mind in their submission to the beast, though I may commend their policy, I must condemn their design.

They have all one language. Unity in affection is a happiness; but when there is also a unity in expression, the happiness is double. Gospel work will go on apace when God gives, not only one mind, but one mouth; Rom. xv. 6; when we can agree, not only to think alike, but to speak alike. Alas! who shall live when God doeth this? Num. xxiv. 23.

Nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do. They were a stubborn generation, impatient of restraint, children of Belial. The character which Aaron gave the people of Israel agrees with that of these people: they were set on mischief. Exod. xxxii. 22. Ever since our father Adam would not be restrained from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, all his children have been fond of forbidden fruit; and the

restraints of the divine law have been like water to unslaked lime, so much the more inflaming. So

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exceeding sinful is sin as to take occasion by the commandment to work in the soul all manner of concupiscence. Rom. vii. 8.

Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas.-Hor. If the children of men have imagined to build a Babel, God himself shall not prevent them. The banks of a command to the contrary rather make the flood of corrupt nature to swell the higher.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that thay may not understand one another's speech.

God speaks not here to the angels, as some understand, for he was not one of them, neither had he any need of their advice or assistance, they being creatures and he their Creator. But the Father speaks to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 'Tis an expression like that in chap. i. 26, let us make man; and is an excellent proof of the trinity of persons in the unity of the Godhead. They said, go to, let us build; thus exciting one another to this rebellious attempt; and now God saith, go to, let us confound their language. If men will stir up themselves to sin, God will stir up himself to punish; for as he

doth stir up his strength to come and save his people, (Psa. lxxx. 2,) so doth he also stir up his strength to come and destroy his enemies.

One would have thought God would have said, let us go down and consume them in a moment. No: though justice might speak such severe language, yet in the midst of wrath, mercy was remembered. That which was done, was rather to prevent their going further in this attempt, than to punish them for having gone so far. Their sentence is only that their language should be confounded, that they may not understand one another's speech, and so be unable to continue their proceeding.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth and they left off to build the city.

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9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Whereas they all before spoke and understood the same language, they are by a miracle made to for

get their former tongue, and to speak and understand some other only. So that all the original languages that are now in the world,—and perhaps some that are extinct, had their rise from this confusion. There are many derivative languages, as French, Spanish, Italian, English, &c., which have risen from the mixtures and corruptions of other tongues. Indeed, all languages are subject to continual changes and alterations, which is perhaps the effect of this Some have thought it desirable that there should be a universal language, and in order thereunto, a universal character, and have attempted something towards it; but that looks like Cain's building a city, when God had condemned him to be a vagabond; it is thwarting a divine curse, and therefore the attempt will prove ineffectual. But in heaven, where there shall be no more curse, (Rev. xxii. 3,) the saints shall speak one language, and with one mind and one mouth glorify God.

curse.

They left off to build. God can easily cross the likeliest attempts, and blast the fairest designs of wicked men. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when God commandeth not? Lam. iii. 37. How many Ahitophels has infinite wisdom befooled! how many Goliaths has infinite power overturned! and how many Hamans has infinite justice hanged upon the gallows that they had reared for his people!

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