We appeal next to that period of the church which extended from Noah to Abraham: On which we observe, Whatever benefits and privileges belonged to the former dispensation, continue to flow on to the present, if not _expressly_ repealed; for the change of a dispensation _of itself_, is no adequate cause of their abrogation. That would be as unreasonable as to suppose that the bare change from night to day was, _of itself_, an adequate cause of a man’s being disinherited. Or we may as well say, that the abstract notion of an epoch in chronology has a real influence on the sequence of events. Whatever covenant privileges, therefore, belonged to Noah and his family _before_ the deluge, if not expressly repealed, must belong to them _after_ the deluge. But, So far were these privileges from being abridged at this period, that they were greatly enlarged and confirmed, by additional discoveries. For thus we read, Gen. vi. 18. _But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shall come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee._ Again, chap. vii. 1. _And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou, and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation._ And again, chap. viii. 20. _And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar._ Once more, chap. ix. 8, 9, 12, 13. _And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you. And God said, This is the token of the covenant I do set my bow in the cloud._ Hence we further learn, That the covenant or divine charter, first given to Noah, _included_ the preceding; it was the _same covenant_ with _additional grants_: for the Lord says, “I will _establish_ my covenant.” Lest Noah should infer that the drowning of the world in wrath disannulled the well known covenant, God dissipates his fears, by saying, “I will _establish_ my covenant.” On Noah’s _account_, or _as belonging_ to him, _all his house_ or family was privileged. The privilege is,—“Come thou, and _all thy house_ into the ark.” The ground and reason of that privilege—“_for thee have I seen righteous_.” It is true, the natural dictates of reason and affection, whereby a _father pitieth his children_, and whereby an infidel _careth for his own, especially those of his own house_, would have prompted this righteous person to bring _all his family_, (except any adults _refused_ compliance) into the ark, (_the like figure whereunto is baptism_, as an inspired teacher assures us, 1 Pet. iii. 21.) yet the Lord was pleased to brighten his evidence and strengthen his obligations of duty by express revelation.