their windows.'

3. But Noah did not leave the ark, though 'the earth was dry.' God
had 'shut him in,' and it must be God who brings him out. We have to
take heed of precipitate departure from the place where He has fixed
us. Like Israel in the desert, it must be 'at the commandment of the
Lord' that we pitch the camp, and at the commandment of the Lord
that we journey. Till He speaks we must remain, and as soon as He
speaks we must remove. 'God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth ...
and Noah went forth.' Thus prompt must be our obedience. A sacrifice
of gratitude is the fit close of each epoch in our lives, and the
fit beginning of each new one. Before he thought of anything else,
Noah built his altar. All our deeds should be set in a golden ring
of thankfulness. So the past is hallowed, and the future secure of
God's protection. It is no unworthy conception of God which
underlies the strongly human expression that he 'smelled the sweet
savour.' He delights in our offerings, and our trustful, grateful
love is 'an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable' to Him.
The pledge that He will not any more curse the ground for man's sake
is occasioned by the sacrifice, but is grounded on what seems, at
first sight, a reason for the very opposite conclusion. Man's evil
heart the reason for God's forbearance? Yes, because it is _'evil
from his youth_.' He deals with men as knowing our frame, the
corruption of our nature, and the need that the tree should be made
good before it can bring forth good fruit. Therefore He will not
smite, but rather seek to draw to repentance by His goodness, and by
the faithful continuance of His beneficence in the steadfast
covenant of revolving seasons, 'filling our hearts with food and
gladness.'