his heart was only evil continually."[1] Being thus corrupt at the very fountain, it followed as a natural consequence, that "the earth was filled with violence through them."[2] But what was the conduct of God towards that guilty people? He mercifully warned them of the awful consequence of their overgrown wickedness by his servant Noah, who was "a preacher of righteousness" to that devoted people. He strove with them by his Holy Spirit. He bore with their bad manners; he waited for their reformation for the space of one hundred and twenty years, before he performed "his act, his strange act."
3. The same slowness to anger marked the conduct of God towards his chosen people Israel. They were under his special guidance, government and protection: they were favored above all other nations with the means of religious
