296. Hence, the vital importance of this rule, that we observe not the contents of the command but its author. He who fails to do this will often be offended, as I said, by the insignificance or absurdity of a task. God should receive credit for wisdom and goodness. Assuredly that which he himself enjoins is well and wisely enjoined, though human reason judge differently.

297. From the wisdom of God the Papists detract when they consider divinely enjoined tasks as paltry and attempt to undertake something better or more difficult. God is not propitiated by such works, but rather provoked, as Saul's example shows. As if God were stupid, dastardly, and cruel in that he commanded to destroy the Amalekites and all their belongings, Saul conceived a kinder plan and reserved the cattle for the purpose of sacrifice. What else was such action but to deem himself wise and God foolish.

298. Hence Moses rightly commends in this passage Noah's obedience when he says that he did everything the Lord had enjoined. That means to give God credit for wisdom and goodness. He did not discuss the task, as Adam, Eve and Saul did to their great hurt. He kept his eye on the majesty of him who gave the command. That was enough for him, even though the command be absurd, impossible, inexpedient. All such objections he passes by with closed eyes, as it were, and takes his stand upon the one thing commanded by God. This text therefore is familiar as far as hearing it is concerned, but even as to the performance and practice of it, it is known to very few and is extremely difficult.

CHAPTER VII.

I. NOAH OBEYS COMMAND TO ENTER THE ARK.
1. Noah saw God's favor in his command [1].
* Noah experienced severe temptations and needed comfort [1-2].
2. What God wished to teach Noah by calling him to enter the ark [3].
3. Whether God spoke this commandment directly to Noah [4-5].
* When God speaks to us through men it is to be viewed as God's Word [4-5].
* The thoughts of the Jews on the seven days [6].
* The office of the ministry.
a. Through it God deals with mankind [7].
b. Why we should not despise the office and expect revelations direct from God [8-9].
* God speaks with man in various ways [9].
* Corruption and destruction of the first world.
a. The ruin of the first compared with that of the last world [10-13].
* The need of posterity to pray that they retain pure doctrine [12].
b. Why so few righteous persons were found in Noah's day [12].
* The efforts of the pope and bishops to crush the Gospel [13].
c. First world severely punished, neither old nor young were spared [14-15].
d. Punishment of first world greatly moved Peter when he wrote about it [16-17].
* Peter's record of sermon Christ delivered to the spirits of the first world in prison [16-17].
a. Who are to be understood here by the unbelieving world [18].
b. Peter here shows the wrath and long suffering of God [19].
c. Nature and manner of this sermon [20].
* Apostles had special revelations we cannot grasp [20-21].
4. How Noah was righteous before God [22].
5. How the world laughed at him while executing God's command, God then comforted him [23-24].
6. Greatness of Noah's faith and steadfastness in executing this command [25-26].
* Luther's confession he would have been too weak for such a work [25-26].
* The great firmness of John Huss and Jerome of Prague [27].
* We are to comfort ourselves when all the world forsakes and condemns us [28].
7. God commands Noah to take the animals he names along into the ark [29].
* Why God so often repeats the same thing [29].
a. What is to be understood by Behemoth [30].
b. How many of each kind entered the ark [31].
* The rain at the flood was exceptional [32].
* The flood is a token of God's righteousness and from it we conclude God will punish the sins of the last world [33].
8. By what may we learn Noah's faith and obedience to God [34].
* Why God did not save Noah in some other way [34].

I. NOAH OBEYS COMMAND TO ENTER THE ARK.

V. 2a. And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark.