The Flood

Excerpt

I.

THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN.

Behold how kind and merciful

Our heavenly Father was,

To bear so long with sinful men,

Who had transgressed His laws.

The hearts of men wax'd worse and worse,

They disobeyed the Lord;

They followed their own thoughts, nor walked

According to His word.

And men were multiplied on earth,

They spread both far and wide;

And there were giants in those days,

Who did God's law deride.

The Lord look'd down from Heaven to see

If there were any good;

Behold they all were turn'd aside,

Sin tainted all their blood.

Yet still the Lord was good to them—

He gave them sun and rain,

And every blessing, yet their hearts

Were foolish, wicked, vain.

There is no sin so base as that

We call ingratitude,

To use those ill, with wicked hearts,

Who seek to do us good.

And when the Great and Holy One

With kindness stoop'd to bless

The sorrows of a sinful world,

And pity their distress;—

'Twas vile ingratitude in them

To act so wickedly,

And spurn the mercy of the Lord,

The great, the good, the high.

God's goodness leads us to repent,

And give our folly o'er;—

And if we use His kindness right,

We'll go and sin no more.

But God is just as well as good,

He will not always strive;

He will assert His sovereign right,

Nor let the sinner live.

He does not seek the death of one

Of all the sinful race,

Yet He will not forever bear

With those who slight His grace.

His mercy is forever sure,

His justice too must stand,

And people must obedient be

To what He does command.

So when the world so wicked proved,

And wander'd from the Lord,

And with most stubborn hearts refused

To hear His sovereign word;—

He bore with patience long and kind,

Their steady wickedness;

But did at last withdraw His grace,

And leave them in distress.

He gave them up to their own hearts,

To work their own desire;

He threatened them with judgment vast,

And kindled was His ire.

"My spirit shall not always strive"—

Jehovah sternly said—

A Flood I'll bring which will destroy

All things that I have made.

"Why should they live in guilt and wo,

And all my words despise;

Their every work, and every thought,

Is loathsome to my eyes."

When God provoked, in anger speaks,

Who can His word withstand?

His heart is full of holiness,

And strong is His right hand.

III.

NOAH AND HIS FAMILY.

One righteous man was found on earth,

And him Jehovah loved;

His thoughts, his words, and all his deeds,

Were by the Lord approved.

He kept himself away from sin,

Nor walk'd with wicked men;

He loved the God who reigns on high,

Nor did he love in vain.

His family he train'd to know,

And love and serve the Lord;

And they were safe in keeping all

The great Jehovah's word.

The Lord remembered Noah's walk,

And did not him condemn,

When, for the wickedness of men,

He did aloud proclaim,—

That He would rain upon the earth

An overwhelming flood;

But choose him and his family—

And firm His counsel stood.

The Lord forever shows regard

To those who love His ways,

They vindicate His righteousness

And ever show His praise....