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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11268 ***
+
+OLD TESTAMENT SCENES AND NARRATIVES.
+
+HISTORY OF THE FLOOD.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+[Illustration: Noah's Sacrifice.]
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+OLD TESTAMENT SCENES AND NARRATIVES.
+
+BEING A SECOND SERIES OF
+THE GOOD CHILD'S LIBRARY,
+
+
+THE FLOOD.
+
+
+PHILADELPHIA,
+
+HOGAN, PERKINS & CO.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by HOGAN,
+PERKINS & CO., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United
+States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.
+
+
+In the advertisement prefixed to the series of volumes already
+published, under the title of the "GOOD CHILD'S LIBRARY," the publishers
+gave notice of their intention to issue another series, similar in
+character and design, to be devoted to subjects from the Old Testament,
+as the other had been to the New. In fulfilment of this notice they have
+issued the present series, embellished like the Good Child's Library,
+with an entire new set of Illustrations, executed in Oil Colors, in the
+best manner. The additional attraction given thereby will, they trust,
+obtain for it the same favor as has already been bestowed upon the
+former series.
+
+The volumes composing the SCENES AND NARRATIVES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT,
+are separate and distinct from each other, having no other connection
+than similarity of form and style. The following are the titles of the
+different works.
+
+THE GARDEN OF EDEN,
+THE FLOOD,
+DISPERSION OF MANKIND,
+DEPARTURE OF THE ISRAELITES,
+HISTORY OF ABRAHAM,
+HISTORY OF ISAAC,
+HISTORY OF JACOB,
+HISTORY OF JOSEPH,
+HISTORY OF MOSES,
+HISTORY OF JOSHUA,
+HISTORY OF SAMUEL,
+HISTORY OF DAVID.
+
+The above series in connection with the volumes of the "Good Child's
+Library," constitute a choice and attractive Scriptural Library for
+Children.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE FLOOD
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+        I. The Wickedness of Man
+       II. God is provoked
+      III. Noah and his family
+       IV. Noah commanded to make an Ark
+        V. Noah Preaches
+       VI. Noah enters the Ark
+      VII. The windows of Heaven are opened
+     VIII. The fountains of the deep are broken up
+       IX. The floating Ark
+        X. The drowning World
+       XI. The Ark rests on Ararat
+      XII. Noah sends forth the Raven and the Dove
+     XIII. Noah comes forth from the Ark
+      XIV. Noah sacrifices to the Lord
+       XV. The Bow in the clouds
+
+
+
+
+
+THE FLOOD.
+
+
+
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+GOD IS PROVOKED.
+
+
+    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.
+
+    So He would not destroy this man
+      Who walk'd with Him in love,
+    But promised him that He would give
+      Protection from above.
+
+    Then Noah's fervent heart was fill'd
+      With grief for sinful men;
+    Yet though God's judgment was severe,
+      He could not once complain.
+
+    He pitied the sad state of those
+      Who had despised the Lord;
+    He saw that God would punish them,
+      According to His word.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+NOAH COMMANDED TO MAKE AN ARK.
+
+
+    Jehovah unto Noah said:--
+      "I will destroy the earth,
+    For violence is in the land,
+      And wickedness and mirth.
+
+    "Men's hearts are full of laughter wild,
+      Their lives are full of sin;
+    And I will send destruction swift,
+      And show my power divine.
+
+    "I'll rain upon the earth a flood,
+      And drown men in the storm,
+    And they shall find no arm to save,
+      Amid their fearful gloom.
+
+    "But thee I have found true and good,
+      A follower of my ways;
+    And I will save thee from the flood,
+      And lengthen out thy days.
+
+    "Now therefore build thyself an ark,
+      According to my word;
+    To save thyself and family,
+      For ye have fear'd the Lord.
+
+    "For every thing that now has life,
+      And all things that have breath,
+    Even for the wickedness of man,
+      I do devote to death.
+
+    "I am the Lord, the mighty one,
+      I, even I, do speak;
+    The flood upon the earth I'll bring,
+      And nought my word shall break."
+
+    Noah prepared to build the ark,
+     The tidings did him grieve;
+    Yet it was just, and every word
+      He did at once believe.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+NOAH PREACHES.
+
+
+    While Noah built for six score years
+      The ark to ride the flood,
+    He preach'd unto the people round
+      The dreadful word of God.
+
+    He show'd to them their heinous sins,
+      He told them God was just,
+    That He would surely punish them
+      Unto the uttermost.
+
+    Not only did they break God's law
+      But they despised His grace;
+    That they had most ungrateful proved,
+      A hard, rebellious race.
+
+    And though the Lord had suffer'd long,
+      Nor seem'd to notice them,
+    Yet soon He would arise in might,
+      And loud His wrath proclaim.
+
+    He told them of the impending flood,
+      The threatening of the Lord;
+    And that His counsel sure would stand,
+      And ever true His word.
+
+    But if they would repent, perhaps
+      The Lord would turn away
+    His anger from the earth and thus
+      Avert the dreadful day.
+
+    But if they should persist in sin
+      And folly to the last;
+    Then God in wrath would visit them,--
+      Their day of grace be past.
+
+    He there fore bade them all repent,
+      And turn from all their sin,
+    And humbly to Jehovah pray,
+      To stay His wrath divine.
+
+    The time wore on, the ark progress'd,
+      And Noah grew more bold;
+    And to the people day by day,
+      God's threatened judgment told.
+
+    They heeded not his solemn words,
+      Nor mark'd his tearful eye;
+    But still continued in their sin
+      Against the Lord most high.
+
+    They mock'd him with their taunting speech,
+      And call'd him foolish, vain,
+    To think that God would drown the earth
+      And men in floods of rain.
+
+    They look'd up to the heavens above,
+      No threatening clouds were there;
+    They laugh'd, they sang, they danced in pride,
+      Nor thought of God, or prayer.
+
+    All things remained the same to them,
+      For nearly six score years;
+    Why should they have distress of mind,
+      Or yield their soul to fears?
+
+    Still, Noah, faithful to his trust,
+      His solemn warnings gave;
+    And patiently prepared the ark,
+      His family to save
+
+    And still the people wagg'd their heads,
+      As they were passing by,
+    And look'd first on his monster ark,
+      Then upward to the sky;--
+
+    Then smiled in scorn, and went their way,
+      To sin and folly prone;
+    Not dreaming, though the skies look'd fair,
+      They'd soon be left alone.
+
+    Amid the angry storms of Heaven,
+      And rising waves around
+    Overflowing all the fields of earth,
+      And all the highest ground.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+NOAH ENTERS THE ARK.
+
+
+    And now the ark was built; the day
+      Of wrath was drawing near;
+    Yet still no cloud was in the sky;
+      And in men's hearts no fear.
+
+    No doubt they wonder'd much what now
+      This foolish man would do;
+    And thought that they would surely prove,
+      His prophecy untrue.
+
+    But soon he heard Jehovah's voice;--
+      These words he heard Him say,--
+    "Come thou into the ark at once,
+      With all thy family."
+
+    So Noah enter'd in the ark,
+      He and his children too,
+    And beasts and birds of every kind,
+      Did enter two by two.
+
+    The lives of these Jehovah spared,
+      To fill the earth again,
+    When He should cause the ark to rest,
+      And should the flood restrain.
+
+    And when they all were in the ark,
+      The just and mighty God,
+    Prepared to bring upon the earth
+      The waters of the flood.
+
+    The day of grace was fully past,
+      No voice should now proclaim,
+    To sinful, faithless, scoffing men,
+      Jehovah's gracious name.
+
+    The righteous in God's care were safe,
+      From every fear of harm;
+    But wicked men would be o'erwhelm'd
+      With terrible alarm.
+
+[Illustration: Babylon.]
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN ARE OPENED.
+
+
+    Ah! where shall now the sinner hide--
+      what power the storm can stay?
+    What pleasing charm can he call up
+      To drive his fears away?
+
+    Who can withstand the wrath of God!
+      He with a single breath,
+    Could vanquish all our boasted strength,
+      And visit us with death.
+
+    He gathers now His angry clouds,
+      And thick they quickly come;
+    Bearing along the teeming rains
+      And the devouring storm.
+
+    The beauteous sky is overcast.
+      And darkness fills the air;
+    And lightnings flash, and thunders roll;
+      No ray of hope is there.
+
+    As if the clouds are not enough,
+      Heaven's windows open wide,
+    To pour upon the startled earth
+      The overflowing tide.
+
+    The clouds come down almost to earth,
+      And seem to bend with rain;
+    And men look up with fearful gaze,
+      Nor can their fear restrain.
+
+    Oh! fearful and majestic scene;
+      Jehovah's awful frown
+    Seems o'er the sinfulness of earth,
+      In anger bending down.
+
+    No sun now cheers, no light of star
+      To those shall ever come,
+    Who by their long continued crimes,
+      Provoked this awful doom.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+THE FOUNTAINS OF THE DEEP ARE BROKEN UP.
+
+
+    Not only did the clouds come up,--
+      Heaven's windows open wide;--
+    The fountains of the deep were stirr'd,
+      And raged on every side.
+
+    The clouds pour'd down their treasures vast,
+      The deeps yield up their store,
+    The proudest trembles at the form
+      Of God's almighty power.
+
+    The seas are swelling up in wrath,
+      And break the appointed bound--
+    Their waters overflow the shore
+      And fiercely rage around.
+
+    The rivers rise to fearful height,
+      And roll their torrents on,
+    Until their highest banks are lost
+      From sight, deep overflown.
+
+    The fountains too and hidden springs,
+      Seem bursting everywhere;
+    Their waters flow on every side,
+      The common rage to share.
+
+    Now wave meets wave, and swells the flood
+      In fury o'er the land,
+    Fulfilling all the will of God,
+      Obeying His command.
+
+    O God! the power is thine alone,
+      To punish and create;
+    We would with reverence bow to Thee,
+      And worship might so great
+
+    And may we never dare provoke
+      That high Almighty Power,
+    Which once awaked against our sins,
+      Could blast us in an hour.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+THE FLOATING ARK.
+
+
+    The waters lifted up the ark,
+      Majestic it did ride
+    Above the swelling, surging waves,
+      Along the rolling tide.
+
+    The freight of life it bore along,
+      Secure from every harm;
+    And though the tempest raged without,
+      Their hearts knew no alarm.
+
+    To God in humble earnest prayer,
+      They sent their feeble cry,
+    And He with power and love did look,
+      Down from His throne on high.
+
+    And while the raging waves did roar,
+      And swift destruction bring,
+    Jehovah sheltered them beneath
+      The shadow of His wing.
+
+    The ark Jehovah guided through
+      The vast unmeasured deep;
+    And all the life therein reposed
+      He did in safety keep.
+
+    It floated o'er the valleys low,
+      And o'er the highest hill,
+    For high the waters rose, and thus
+      Obey'd the Almighty Will.
+
+    How strong that hand that can protect,
+      When danger rages round;
+    The mercy of our Father God,
+      Doth every where abound.
+
+    And those who put their trust in Him,
+      And to Him ever pray,
+    Will find it is the safest thing
+      His counsel to obey.
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+THE DROWNING WORLD.
+
+
+    Now let us for awhile return
+      And see the startled world,
+    With all its pride and all its sin
+      Swift into ruin hurl'd.
+
+    The waters now are rising fast,
+      And men are in despair;
+    They can themselves no succur find,
+      No ear now hears their prayer.
+
+    They once derided him who preached
+      To them the coming wo,
+    But now no voice cries out, Repent;
+      Ah! whither shall they go?
+
+    The ark to them is firmly closed,
+      They cannot enter in;
+    They see the flood is rising round;
+      They perish in their sin.
+
+    Not highest trees can shelter them,
+      Nor mountain caverns hide,
+    For caves and heights are fill'd and lost,
+      As onward sweeps the tide.
+
+    Ah! would that they had heard the word
+      That faithful Noah preach'd;
+    Accepted of Jehovah's grace
+      Which he to them out-reach'd.
+
+    But now, alas! it is too late;
+      No human power can save
+    A single soul from perishing,
+      Beneath the flooding wave.
+
+    Oh! let us not provoke our God;
+      But of His grace partake;
+    And feel our sins are blotted out
+      For His own mercy's sake.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+THE ARK RESTS ON ARARAT.
+
+
+    For forty days and forty nights,
+      The waters of the flood
+    Prevail'd o'er all the face of earth,
+      Obedient to the word.
+
+    Which God the great Jehovah spake,
+      To drown it for its sin;
+    His word is holy, just and right
+      Forever sure, divine.
+
+    The earth was drown'd; all living things
+      Had perish'd from its face,
+    Save Noah and his family,
+      Protected by God's grace.
+
+    The ark rode onward with the flood;
+      The hand of God did guide
+    The vessel with its freight of life,
+      O'er all the swelling tide.
+
+    The clouds do now withdraw aside;
+      The deepest fountains cease,
+    To pour their treasures forth on earth;
+      The waters slow decrease.
+
+    The ark moves on to Ararat,
+      And rests upon its height;
+    While Noah and his family,
+      Are fill'd with great delight.
+
+    They long to see the earth again,
+      Cleansed by Jehovah's hand;
+    They long to see the sun, great orb,
+      Shine brightly o'er the land.
+
+    They long to see the trees put forth,
+      And beauteous flowers spring,--
+    The fields with verdure clothed, and hear
+      The birds of morning sing.
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+NOAH SENDS FORTH THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE.
+
+
+    Then Noah sent a raven forth,
+      Out of a window high,
+    To wander here and there, until
+      the waters should be dry.
+
+    And then again he sent a dove
+      That he might something learn,
+    But she could find no resting-place,
+      And did to him return.
+
+    The waters still spread o'er the earth,
+      And slowly did abate;
+    For seven days more within the ark,
+      He patiently did wait.
+
+[Illustration: The River Nile by Moonlight.]
+
+    And then he sent her forth again,
+      And back she came at eve,
+    And bearing in her mouth she brought
+      To him an olive-leaf.
+
+    This token told him that the flood
+      Was drying fast away;
+    But Noah still within the ark
+      For seven days more did stay.
+
+    He now the third time sent the dove,
+      Nor did he send in vain,
+    The waters of the flood were dry;--
+      She ne'er returned again.
+
+    She found a resting-place on earth,
+      Beneath a sunny sky,
+    And with a gladsome, joyous heart,
+      She round about did fly.
+
+    Then Noah look'd forth from the ark,
+      And lifted up to God,
+    His thankfulness for keeping him,
+      According to His word.
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+NOAH COMES FORTH FROM THE ARK.
+
+
+    And now the Lord to Noah spake,
+      And bade him from the ark
+    Go forth, and stand upon the earth,
+      And all his family take.
+
+    The waters from the earth had fled,
+      The ground was clean and dry,
+    No threatening billows form'd around,
+      No clouds were in the sky.
+
+    So Noah left the ark, and came
+      Forth to the open air,
+    And all the beasts and creeping things,
+      And fowls, were with him there.
+
+    He brought them out to fill the earth.
+      To multiply and live;
+    That they might magnify His name,
+      Who every good doth give.
+
+    Behold the wondrous hand of God,
+      How matchless is His skill,
+    Who works in heaven and on the earth,
+      The counsel of His will.
+
+    How great, how awful, and how just
+      Was that Almighty word,
+    Which, for the sinfulness of men,
+      Did call the dreadful flood.
+
+    And while the world was perishing,
+      'Tis pleasing to observe,
+    The loving-kindness of the Lord,
+      Who did the good preserve.
+
+    He saved them in the ark, while fell
+      The overflowing rain;
+    And when the flood was dried away,
+      He brought them forth again.
+
+
+
+
+XIV.
+
+NOAH SACRIFICES TO THE LORD.
+
+
+    When Noah came forth from the ark,
+      His heart was filled with praise;
+    He worshipp'd God with thankful voice,
+      For His abounding grace.
+
+    He rear'd to God an altar there,
+      And offer'd sacrifice,
+    And kneeling with his family,
+      To heaven did lift his eyes.
+
+    And God was pleased with Noah's praise,
+      And witnessed from above
+    The offering which in faith he made,
+      And blest him with His love.
+
+    Jehovah said--"I will no more,
+      Destroy or curse the ground,
+    But will display my love and grace,
+      Wherever life is found."
+
+    How tender, loving is the Lord,
+      Whose anger does not burn
+    Forever 'gainst the sons of men,
+      But calls them to return.
+
+    He says to men--"Repent and live,
+      And all my law obey,
+    And I your strength and hope shall be,
+      Through all life's devious way."
+
+    O! sacrifice to God in faith,
+      And all your sins confess,
+    And with the riches of His love,
+      He will your spirits bless.
+
+    For blood of bulls, or lambs or goats,
+      Jehovah does not care,
+    But bring the offering of your hearts,
+      With humble earnest prayer.
+
+
+
+
+XV.
+
+THE BOW IN THE CLOUDS.
+
+
+    Jehovah now a covenant made,
+      That He would bring no more
+    A flood of water o'er the earth,
+      As He had done before.
+
+    The nations now should prove His love,
+      His truth and power divine;
+    His attributes o'er all the earth,
+      With glory bright do shine.
+
+    His mercy hath no bound but truth,
+      And all His works do prove,
+    Unto the sons of men abroad,
+      His constant, perfect love.
+
+    He set the beauteous Bow on high
+      With many colours bright,
+    To show His covenant with men,
+      Was faithful, gracious, right.
+
+    It hung in heaven, upheld by God,
+      And arch'd the distant gloom,
+    And bent on either side to earth,
+      In bright and graceful form.
+
+    This covenant Jehovah keeps,
+      Forever faithful, true;
+    For when the rains are o'er, then high
+      The rainbow comes in view.
+
+    Whene'er we gaze upon its form,
+      And note its colours fair;
+    Our hearts should be inspired toward God,
+      With love and praise and prayer.
+
+    He gives the sun to warm the earth;
+      He sends the healthful shower,
+    And saves us always, through His grace,
+      By His almighty power.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+PHILADELPHIA:
+
+HOGAN, PERKINS &, CO.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Flood, by Anonymous
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+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11268 ***