The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-25
THE ANCIENT LIFE BOAT.
Practical Reflections Bearing on The Great
Deluse.
NOAH JUSTIFIED IN HIS CONDUCT.
An Eloquent Sermon Delivered by DIR. W.
=. Tudor Before the District Con-
ference at West Point.

Rev. W. V. Tudor, pastor Of the Broad
street Methodist church, was in attendance
Yesterday at the district conference at West
Point and preached a most eloquent rmo
before that body. His text was Hebrews xi..
r by faith Noah. being warned Of God Of
,h.nrs not seen as yet, moved with fear, pre-
tared an ark % the saving Of his house" Dr.
Tudor. IN part. said:
The purpose is not 20 cuiogize the ancient
mariner Who built the lfe-bcat Of the great
dc'ucc. bat 90 elicit practical reflections bear
nr On cur personal salvation from sin and
everlasting death. Noah illustrated IN hs
l.e. character and conduct Christian faith
and is inheritance. An analogy between ns
rart in the drama. IN which be was thc pronl-
mont actor. and our part towards the gospel
for our salvation, may be instructive.
PREPARED AZ ARK.
His preparation. 'he prepared an ark He
cuts timber from the gopher forest. selects
lis ship-yarl and proceeds 90 build q curious
vessel designed not so much for navigation as
for resting buoyautly upon the face OF the
watcrs. Curious ewes look on. and the IN
uuiry is. What is Noah doing, lie docs not
wait 20 be interrggated: be was a preacher .ol
righteousness 20 'he people 81 lis day ne
said. II an preparing au arkfor The saving oi
my house" What ought 10 be your business
whom / address, The same assliuous ptcpa-
ration.
Noah was saved in his crisis because he was
ready. The crisis Of saved or lost comes TO
us i'm our human destiny. IL is loss eternal
T. meet IL unprepared. As in NOahs day
there was unbeieying inquiry. so in our time
people ask. Why all this TODD about Religion,
this preaching, this call o. repentance TINS
Christian life> What is your answer, Chris
tan. u am preparing an ark % the saving Of
INV house. So II should be your work all. From
the DAVIS of Noah the ark has been tie symbol
OF safety and hope % "a world ready ID perish.
Christ Is the ark of our salvation.
MOVED WITH FEAR.
His motive. moved with fear" We who
preach have u imputed To- us that we try 10
fughten people. or appealtOO strongly % their
fears. We resent and explain. Moved with
tear' means that Noah was actuated 10y q
prudent regard for ms own safety, not that
le was frightened oriscared.
Who is a stranger to fear IN q prudent
sense You lock your doors at night. and are
careful over your health and daily caru-
iugs OF money andsyour credit, through
such prudence. Fear is q salutary instinct IN
lte. Perhaps the antodlluvlan world were
frightened when they found the waters gain
ing on the earth. and perhaps u shall be tlue
enough for YOU to be frightened when God
righteous judgments are revealed. but mean-
while a prudent regard for your safety dc
tates, take 10 the ark while You may.
WARNED or GOD.
The source of Nooh's motive. being
warned Of God of things not seen rs vet
nor would they be seen for one hundred and
twenty wears to come, but they were certun
o. appear. Hear God advising Noah The
end Of all flesh ls come before me. for the
Earth IS filed with Violence through them
eul behold. ] will destroy them with the earth:
make thee an ark of gopher wood. Things
lot seen as yct:' bow full are these words
o.. terrible representation. The drowned
world was once among the things not seen as
set. bat IL came 90 pass. And have We seen
a. We are told of things NOT seen as Vet. of
death personally. and Judgment 10 come AID
o.erla. awards. God "hath appointed day
lu which he Vii Judge the world IN right
eD..less.' We are not without warning, as
wa, bot Noah.
his FAITH.
The principle which nndorlav Noah's a.-
TIN 10y faith.' How strong was the faith
that for over a century kept his energies bear
ing unwaveungly upon the ono thlng-tue
preparation of an ark for the saving of bis
house. IL mattered not TO him bow fools de-
rided and the pr0fane laughed him 10 scorn.
10 mattered not 20 HIM how brightly the sun
shone and nature gaily basked beneath ITS
smile: his clear eve of faith beholi THIS
world like a ship loundeicd at sea.
going down with It's living freight, and
his life-boat alone outridlng the storm. HE
believed and therefore me acted: he believed
and therefore was saved. Put tine telescope
OF faith % your eye and look down the dis
lance of a few years and sec vounseli dying,
dead. IN eternity. i'm heaven or hell. Take
the example furnished vou by Noah and you
are safe. Enter the ark, and M natures last
commissions. like Noah from bis solitary Win
dow. YOU shall see without alarm the heavens
and the earth passing away with great noise.