very living soul, we
recognize that the promise does not relate to the seed but merely, to
this bodily life, enjoyed by man in common with the beasts; this God
will not destroy by another flood.

Vs. 12-16. _And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I
make between me and you and every living creature that is with you,
for the perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it
shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it
shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow
shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is
between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the
waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow
shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember
the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all
flesh that is upon the earth._

49. The term "perpetual generations" deserves particular notice; it
embraces not only man and beast at that time, but all their offspring
down to the end of the world. We learn another thing from this
passage. God usually confirms his promise with an outward sign. In the
third chapter above we read of the coats of skin with which he covered
the nakedness of the first parents as token of his protection and
guardianship.

50. Some offer the following apt allegorical explanation. As the skin
of the dead sheep keeps warm our body, so Christ, having died, keeps
us warm by his Spirit, and will, on the last day, raise us up and give
us life. Others say that the skins were selected as a sign of
mortality. But this seems unnecessary; all our life reminds us of
mortality. More expedient was a token of life, suggesting the blessing
and favor of God. The office of such tokens is to console, not to
terrify. So was the sign of the rainbow given, a supplement of the
promise.

51. In chapter 8, 21-22, God says in his heart that he repents of that
terrible punishment, and promises that he will not repeat it, because
the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. If he should
desire to so punish evil, there would be need of a flood every day.
Here he again sends forth his Word to mankind, through an angel, or
possibly through the mouth of Noah, promising that no flood shall
hereafter come upon the earth. That the promise is repeated so often
is evidence of God's endeavor, in loving kindness, to remove man's
fear of punishment