434 A TREATISE AGAINST NOV ATI AN. wickednessesof men were overflowingupon the earth,and thatallofthem were remembering forevilfrom thebeginning of theirdays; and He said,I willdestroyman whom I have made from off the face of the earth,from man even unto cattle,and from the creepingthing even unto the fowlsof the air."1 Therefore in the time of the floodthe doveis sent forth from the ark, when the waters were violently rushing with alltheirforceupon the earth. 5. That ark bore the figureof the church,as we havesaid above,which was strickenhitherand thithertosuch a degree by the tumultuous waters. Therefore that deluge which happened under Noah showed forththefigureof the persecu tionwhich now latelywas poured forthover the wholeworld. Moreover, by the waters,the cataractsbroken forth meeting togetheron allsides,and growing,were signifiedthepeoples which grew up for the desolationof the church; asthe Apocalypse teaches,saying," The waterswhich thou sawest are peoples,and nations,and kingdoms."2 Moreover,the dove which could not find restfor itsfeet,bore the likeness of the lapsed,who, forgetfulof the divineannouncements, eitherin simplicityignorant,or in audacityfeigning,fell,of whom the Lord had intimatedthe future destructionin the Gospel in these words,saying," He who heareth my words and doeth them not,I willlikenhim to a foolishman, who builthis house upon the sand : the tempestscame and beat upon thathouse,and itfell; and greatwas itsdestruction."' And lestwe should seem to have made the comparisonin consideratelyof that dove bearing the image of thelapsed, the prophetrebukesthe cityas a dove,that is,the character of the lapsed,saying," The dove hearkensnot to thevoice; thatis,theillustriousand redeemed cityreceivesnot teaching, and trustednot in the Lord."4 6. Moreover, that that dove could not find restforher feet,as we have said above, this signifiedthe footstepsof those who deny, that is,those who sacrifice,wounded by the poisonof the shiningserpent,turned towards theirfall, 1Gen.vi.6-7. 3 Rev.xvii.15. 8 Matt.vii.26,27. * Zeph.iii.1,2,8,LXX