was drunken] Whether through ignorance of the strength of the juyce of the grape, or through weaknesse being accustomed to drinke water before the flood, or whether through intemperance of appetite, or weaknesse of braine, or to cheere up his heart against the sadnesse whereto by the desolate condition of the world he was disposed; what ever the cause was, we are sure of the effect, he was drunke, he who in the midst of a most wicked world was a just and upright man, and walked with God, Chap. 6. 9. (and therefore escaped the flood) is laid along, drowned with wine, and shamefully uncovered; the report hereof is committed to Record not for contempt of Noah, but for Caution to his posteritie, that by his example those that stand may take heed lest they fall, 1 Corinthians 10:12. and for the comfort of those that fall into grosse sinnes, that they may rise againe by repentance and finde acceptance with God, (as Noah did) notwithstanding their fall; and to teach us that the righteousnesse of Noah was not a righteousnesse of works, but of faith; and lastly to note the impartialitie of Scripture story which concealeth not the foulest faults of those it praiseth most, as we may observe in the story of Abraham, Genesis 12:19. & Genesis 20:2. of Moses, Exodus 4:1. 10. 12. Numbers 20:24. & Deuteronomy 32:51. of David, 1 Sam. 11. 2 Samuel 24:10. of Job, Chap. 3. 3, &c. of Jeremy, Chap. 20. 14. of Peter, Matth. 26. 70, 72, 74. and others, which may be warrant for a friendly freedome in reproofe of the faults of the best, and may dispose the best patiently to heare the worst that truly may be objected to them. uncovered] The manner of these times and people haply was, as in after ages, when men as well as women wore long and loose garments without breeches; and so by wind, or carelesse composure of the body, the covering might light besides the place it was to hide; thence might Michal take occasion to deride David when he daunced before the Arke, more cordially and zealously, then curiously or artificially, for so his loose garment by the various and vehement agitation of his body, might leave some places bare which usually were covered, 2 Samuel 6:20. Against the like inconvenience it was ordered by God himself, that the Priests when they were to minister were to put on linnen breeches, Exodus 28:42. Ezekiel 44:18-19. so observant is the Lord of modesty and decency; whereof Noah being not now apprehensive, as at other times, somewhat was undecently discovered, which both pietie and prudence, (had they been awake) would have charily concealed; now though Noah were no drunkard (for one action is not enough to give a denomination to the actor, and he was drunke but once) we may hence be warned against trusting a drunkard with a secret, for a drunkard is as like to tell all when he is awake, as to shew all when he is asleep.