smelled] This is a sigurative spech, whereby that is applyed unto God, which in proprietie of phrase is not found in him, but in man, and the other creatures; for this smelling is the exercise of a sense which requires a materiall organ or instrument, which cannot be in God who is a pure spirit; yet for mans instruction the expressions of God are thus brought down to his capacitie. See Annot. on Chap. 6. vers. 6. sweet savour] So Exodus 29:18. The savour of broyled or burned flesh and fat is not very sweet in it selfe; and so this seemeth to be as the Commination of the Prophet, Esa. 3. 24. a stink for a perfume; but the ordinances of God are not to be censured by carnall sense, for so circumcision would be rather a contemptible then an honourable seale of mans Covenant with God; nor would the Sacraments of the New Testament be much set by, if we should value them by what our senses discerne of them; for, for the one, what is more common or more weake then water? for the other, how little worth is a bit of bread or a sip of wine, if our sight or tast be Judges of them? but yet as the ordinances of God, and the representations of the grace and vertue of Christ, and our reconciliation with God thereby, they are sweet and savoury not only to men, but to God himselfe, for in him he is well pleased, Matthew 3:17. Isaiah 42:1. and in him, and for his sake is the sacrifice of a very sweet savour, Ephesians 5:2. though in it selfe it were never so unsavoury to humane sense: in Hebrew, it is a savour of rest, for that which affecteth with much delight stayeth and setleth the minde and heart upon it, and if there were any offensive agitations before, it quiets them and makes them to rest and cease. said in his heart] This is also spoken siguratively, as before: see Annot. on the word smelled. The meaning is, that God had decreed and resolved with himselfe that he will not again curse the ground, &c. and this he said heartily and sincerely, for all the sayings of God are heartie, none faigned or hypocriticall, for such are abominable to God in men, and so impossile to be in God towards men, 1 Samuel 15:29. Or, the words may be rendred God said to his heart, that is, God spake this comfort to the heart of Noah by his spirit, to incourage him in his godly course. curse the ground no more] He doth not here cancell the generall curse inflicted for the sinne of man, Genesis 3:17. nor give securitie against burning of the world, whereof Saint Peter prophecieth, 2 Peter 3:10-11. nor promise that particular places shall not be drowned, but that there shall be no such generall flood as this was any more. for the imagination] The like reason is rendered why God will bring a flood upon the earth, Genesis 6. vers. 5, 6. here why he will not: if we read the words, though the imagination (as the Originall will beare) &c. there is no appearance of repugnancie that is not easily answered; and if we read for the imagination, there is so much difference betwixt the reason, as it is rendred there, and here, as excludeth contradiction; for there he is moved to wrath by a generall aggravation of sinne in all persons, parts, and faculties, vers. 5. 12. and by some hainous sinnes of particular kinds, as Apostasie in the families of the godly, lustfull affecting of marriages with the wicked, Chap. 6. vers. 2. and horrible crueltie wherewith the earth was filled, vers. 11. and all this with a Giantlike and sturdy contempt of God, which was a just ground for a generall Judgement, there being so many who did evill with both hands earnestly, Micah 7:3. but here God moveth himselfe to mercy by consideration of mans native corruption even from his childhood, as Psal. 103. 5: 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that feare him; and in his next words, he knoweth our frame and remembreth that we are but dust, vers. 14. So he knoweth that even the best are shapen in iniquitie an conceived in sinne, Psalms 51:5. And hence he will take occasion to shew mercy to mankinde; for if he should send generall Judgements whensoever there is a generalitie of sinne, he should doe nothing but marre what he hath made; and yet as the wicked shall deserve, and his wisedome thinke meet, he will have wayes enough to be meet with them: Besides, now his justice being glorified in the destruction of the old world, his mercy in regard of mans nature and unavoydable corruption was seasonably promised especially being now reconciled to the new world by the sacrifice of Noah, which moves him to bring in that as a motive of mercy, which in Justice he might aggravate to severitie: see the like pleading, Isaiah 48:8-9. while the earth remaineth] Heb. all the dayes of the earth. It is a question whether the substance of the earth shall not remaine when the use of seed-time and harvest is ceased, which will be at the end of the world when Saint Peters fiery Prophecie is come to passe, 2 Peter 3:10. yet God makes it certaine by his Decree, that while he is pleased to continue man-kind and earth together, there shall be such difference of seasons as are after mentioned. seed-time and harvest] God maketh this Decree for the generall, but not so but that he may curse some places in particular; so that there be neither seed-time nor harvest in their season; as in 1 Kings 17:1. day, and night] The meaning is not that there was not day and night during the flood, for it appeareth there was, by Noahs numbring of the dayes, vers. 10. but that both in the preparation of the flood by darke black clouds, as 1 Kings 18:45. Joe 2:2. Zephaniah 1:15. and stormy weather, Acts 27:20. and by continuall raine the day was darkned, and Noah shut up, and suspended from the workes both appertaining to the unreasonable creatures, and to humane commerce was as it were benighted; for when night cometh no man can work, John 9:4. such and so long darknesse, and cessation from their labours of the day by such a restraint by black clouds, long raine, and a deepe and generall flood for so long a time shall be no more.