orks, pure in worship and
religion, suffering many temptations from the devil, the world, and
himself, all which he overcame triumphantly. Such was Noah before the
flood.

134. Of his life after the flood, Moses tells us very little. But is
it not apparent that so noble a man, living for about 350 years after
the flood, could not be idle, but must have been busy with the
government of the Church, which he alone established and ruled?

135. First of all, then, he performed the duties of a bishop. Beset
with various temptations, his foremost endeavor was to resist the
devil, to console the troubled ones, to bring back the erring to the
true way, to strengthen the doubting, to cheer souls in despair, to
exclude from his Church the impenitent, and to receive back with
fatherly gladness the repentant. For, these are the duties a bishop
must perform through the ministry of the Word.

136. Moreover, he had civil duties in establishing forms of government
and in making laws, without which human passions cannot be held in
check. To this was added the rule of his own household, or the care of
his home.

B. NOAH'S FALL.

1. Why Moses omitted many important things about Noah and related
his fall 137-138.

2. Lyra tries to excuse Noah's fall 139.

3. Noah's fall cannot be excused 140-141.

4. His fall caused a great scandal 142.

5. Ham scandalized himself through it 142-143.

a. Real root of this scandal 144.

b. Thereby Noah greatly sinned 145ff.

* Original sin develops presumptuous people 146-148.

c. This scandal reveals Satan's bitterest enmity against God's
Church 149.

* Papists are Ham's disciples 150.

* David's enemies rejoiced over his fall 151.

6. To what end should Noah's fall serve us 152-154.

* The godless are not worthy to see God's glory in believers 155.

* Why we should not be vexed at the infirmities of believers
156-157.

7. The conduct of Shem and Japheth in this connection 158-173.

a. They still honored their father, though they approved not his
deed 158.

* Origin of outward sin 159.

* How to avoid offense 160-162.

* Luther aware of his own infirmities 163.

* Attitude of the opponents of the Word to true preachers 164.

* Why Moses never mentioned many great events in Noah's life,
and thought of his fall 165-166.