It was absolutely necessary for the inspired writers, in describing the nature and dealings and dispensations of God, to have recourse to such terms, as we are in the habit of using towards one another. His constant observance of us is represented by saying, that the _eye_ of God is upon all our ways; His gracious readiness to answer our prayers, is represented by saying, that His _ear_ is ever open: but who ever supposes that eye or ear, or any bodily parts, are possessed by the Godhead? So neither are we to impute to God, who is a pure spirit, any bodily passions; though He is said to love and to hate, to be angry and to be pleased. Of course it only means, that the effect of any particular conduct or transaction of His creatures upon Him, is similar to what it would be upon us, when under the influence of our natural passions; that He rewardeth good, as we do, when we love or are pleased; and punisheth evil, as we do, when we hate or are angry. The text merely intimates the measure, which the Almighty was determined to adopt, in consequence of the great and universal wickedness of mankind; of their having so far fallen from the noble end of their creation. Having tried many gracious methods of indulgence with them, and sought to reclaim them by every probable and possible means, and having found that His goodness and forbearance, instead of “leading them to repentance,” only hardened them in guilt, He now saw fit to change His overtures of mercy into the sentence of condemnation; and to send a deluge for the destruction of that people, who would not “turn and live:” and this is all that can be intended by God’s repentance and grief.