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sacrifice； thus manifesting his gratitude to God for deliverance and his
faith in Christ； the great sacrifice。 This offering was pleasing to the
Lord； and a blessing resulted； not only to the patriarch and his family； but
to all who should live upon the earth。 〃The Lord smelled a sweet savor； and
the Lord said in His heart； I will not again curse the ground any more for
man's sake。 。 。 。 While the earth remaineth； seedtime and harvest； and cold
and heat； and summer and winter； and day and night shall not cease。〃 Here
was a lesson for all succeeding generations。 Noah had come forth upon a
desolate earth； but before preparing a house for himself he built an altar
to God。 His stock of cattle was small； and had been preserved at great
expense； yet he cheerfully gave a part to the Lord as an acknowledgment that
all was His。 In like manner it should be our first care to render our
freewill offerings to God。 Every manifestation of His mercy and love toward
us should be gratefully acknowledged； both by acts of devotion and by gifts
to His cause。
Lest the gathering clouds and falling rain should fill men with constant
terror； from fear of another flood； the Lord encouraged the family of Noah
by a promise： 〃I will establish My covenant with you； 。 。 。 neither shall
there any more be a flood to destroy the earth。 。 。 。 I do set My bow in the
cloud； and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth。
And it shall come to pass； when I bring a cloud over the earth； that the bow
shall be seen in the cloud。 。 。 。 And I will look upon it； that I may
remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature。〃
How great the condescension of God and His compassion for His erring
creatures in thus placing the beautiful rainbow in the clouds as a token of
His covenant with men！ The Lord declares that when He looks upon the bow； He
will remember His covenant。 This does not imply that He would ever forget；
but He speaks to us in our own language； that we may better understand Him。
It was God's purpose that as the children of after generations should ask
the meaning of the glorious arch which spans the heavens； their parents
should repeat the story of the Flood； and tell them that the Most High had
bended the bow and placed it in the clouds as an assurance that the waters
should never again overflow the earth。 Thus from generation to generation
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it would testify of divine love to man and would strengthen his confidence
in God。
In heaven the semblance of a rainbow encircles the throne and overarches the
head of Christ。 The prophet says； 〃As the appearance of the bow that is in
the cloud in the day of rain； so was the appearance of the brightness round
about ＇the throne＇。 This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of
Jehovah。〃 Ezekiel 1：28。 The revelator declares； 〃Behold； a throne was set in
heaven； and one sat on the throne。 。 。 。 There was a rainbow round about the
throne； in sight like unto an emerald。〃 Revelation 4：2； 3。 When man by his
great wickedness invites the divine judgments； the Saviour； interceding with
the Father in his behalf； points to the bow in the clouds； to the rainbow
around the throne and above His own head； as a token of the mercy of God
toward the repentant sinner。
With the assurance given to Noah concerning the Flood； God Himself has
linked one of the most precious promises of His grace： 〃As I have sworn that
the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth； so have I sworn that I
would not be wroth with thee； nor rebuke thee。 For the mountains shall
depart； and the hills be removed； but My kindness shall not depart from
thee； neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed； saith Jehovah that
hath mercy on thee。〃 Isaiah 54：9； 10。
As Noah looked upon the powerful beasts of prey that came forth with him
from the ark； he feared that his family； numbering only eight persons； would
be destroyed by them。 But the Lord sent an angel to His servant with the
assuring message： 〃The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every
beast of the earth； and upon every fowl of the air； upon all that moveth
upon the earth； and upon all the fishes of the sea； into your hand are they
delivered。 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you； even as the
green herb have I given you all things。〃 Before this time God had given man
no permission to eat animal food； He intended that the race should subsist
wholly upon the productions of the earth； but now that every green thing had
been destroyed。 He allowed them to eat the flesh of the clean beasts that
had been preserved in the ark。
The entire surface of the earth was changed at the Flood。 A third dreadful
curse rested upon it in consequence of sin。 As the water began to subside；
the hills and mountains were surrounded
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by a vast； turbid sea； Everywhere were strewn the dead bodies of men and
beasts。 The Lord would not permit these to remain to decompose and pollute
the air； therefore He made of the earth a vast burial ground。 A violent wind
which was caused to blow for the purpose of drying up the waters； moved them
with great force； in some instances even carrying away the tops of the
mountains and heaping up trees； rocks； and earth above the bodies of the
dead。 By the same means the silver and gold； the choice wood and precious
stones； which had enriched and adorned the world before the Flood； and which
the inhabitants had idolized； were concealed from the sight and search of
men； the violent action of the waters piling earth and rocks upon these
treasures； and in some cases even forming mountains above them。 God saw that
the more He enriched and prospered sinful men； the more they would corrupt
their ways before Him。 The treasures that should have led them to glorify
the bountiful Giver had been worshiped； while God had been dishonored and
despised。
The earth presented an appearance of confusion and desolation impossible to
describe。 The mountains； once so beautiful in their perfect symmetry； had
become broken and irregular。 Stones； ledges； and ragged rocks were now
scattered upon the surface of the earth。 In many places hills and mountains
had disappeared； leaving no trace where they once stood； and plains had
given place to mountain ranges。 These changes were more marked in some
places than in others。 Where once had been earth's richest treasures of
gold； silver； and precious stones； were seen the heaviest marks of the
curse。 And upon countries that were not inhabited； and those where there had
been the least crime； the curse rested more lightly。
At this time immense forests were buried。 These have since been changed to
coal； forming the extensive coal beds that now exist； and also yielding
large quantities of oil。 The coal and oil frequently ignite and burn beneath
the surface of the earth。 Thus rocks are heated； limestone is burned； and
iron ore melted。 The action of the water upon the lime adds fury to the
intense heat； and causes earthquakes； volcanoes； and fiery issues。 As the
fire and water come in contact with ledges of rock and ore； there