Post-diluvian Reformation

I am finding more and more as I read John Owen's "Biblical Theology" that the man is meticulous and very well read, both within and without the biblical sphere. I am writing here about God's covenant with Noah, and his view of reformation seems to run counter to the typical ideas of reformaiton. Our modern ideas of reformation seem to be all internal, about cleaning up the inside which I do not totally disagree with. Yet I find lots of people want reformaiton of their churches without doing a little bit of house cleaning. Now church discipline is difficult I will admit that, and you might loose a member over it, but it is a regretfull necessity which is healthy to the church and to the individual if indeed he is a true Christian. We also have to keep in mind that the individual who is being disciplined, is not being disciplined for the fun of it, but rather has incured the discipline upon himself. Any ways, let us look and see what it is that John Owen is saying about a post-diluvian reformation.

 First let us look at John Owen's idea of the Church after the flood:

"The revived Church, purified by the flood waters (as to its external proession), passed forty years in purity and acceptance with God by virtue of this theology. We find no record of anything contaminating it to any extent until after the birth of, and some considerable years into the lofe, of Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, when Ham's own incipient wickedness was brought to light. Of what nature that incident was which reveald it, the Holy Spirit declares in Genesis 9:22. (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 218)

Now we can see here the church simply refers to Noah and his family, and the few new descendants in the time of forty years. Here is another quote to help us understand Owens ideas of the church:

"His sin thus struck at the very foundation of the then current theology, that is of the family-church, its obedience and worship." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 219)

Second let us look at what the sin sin was, which has already been alluded too:

"Ham's own incipient wickedness was brought to light. Of what nature that incident was which revealed it, the Holy Spirit declares in Genesis 9:22. Clearly, it was a crime against the dictates of inner reason through which (as Aristotle witnesses) all mankind are prompted to honor and respect their parents." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 218)

But I say that Ham did this - he openly and unambiguously transgressed the law of nature, which is seen clearly by the contrast of the course his brothers took with his own impiety. As Josephus writes, with justice, he showed his brothers the nakedness of their father, and made a jest about it..."

Third is the curse pronounced, which I think it is amazing that John Owen wrestles with the idea of why the curse was pronounced against Canaan, Ham's son:

"However, the curse is clearly uttered against Canaan, either because he was at that time his father's special favorite, being (as I suppose) his youngest son, because he stood with his father in this unspeakable sin and spectacle, because his family, among all the descendants of Ham, would be first to depart from the Church and the true worship of God, or perhaps to encourage the Israelites when about to depart for the promise land by the the knowledge that the people with whom they were about to engage in warfare had been cursed of God, and long since devoted by HIm to slavery and destruction. However this may be, it is quite certain that Ham himself, in the person of his son, was cursed and expelled from the family of God." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 220)

Fourthly it is interesting the sin is manifested and becomes the scandal of the Church:

"This sinful occurrence was the occasion of Ham's long concealed hypocrisy breaking visibly forth and resulting in a great scandal in the Church when when he was cursed by his father, who still presided over the Church with parental authority under God." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 220)

Fifthly comes the final outward expulsion from the church, which leads to reformation:

In Ham's expulsion from the society of the pious, we have another notable example of an ecclesiastical reform, for reformation must always be commenced by an expulsion from the sinners from the midst of those who are worshiping God acceptably and in true faith. We have  seen already a similar example in the Adamic Church after the fall, and later how, when the ranks of the stiff-necked grew apace, reformation was achieved only by the withdrawal of the faithful minority. In this manner, then, was the reformation of the Noahchian Church undertaken. Such is the weakness of all men, and such is the evil of some men, that, from the origin of the world, no Church has ever been able to endure without some notable reformations." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 220 - 221)

Sixthly are the results of the expulsion and reformation:

"Blessings were now bestowed upon this Church,following  its reformation, partly to console its pitifully reduced condition, and partly as an encouragement to more strict obedience and more diligence in God's service. "Blessed be The LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant" (Gen. 9:26-27)" (Book 3, Ch. 1 pg. 221)

Seventhly danger is never that far away:

"We cannot doubt that Ham, driven away from the worship of GOd by his father's solemn judgement, fled away from the habitation of the godly. Still, as the time had not yet come when the human race would be scattered wide across the face of the earth, Ham's settlements would still be in the same tract of country as those of his brethren." (Book 3, Ch. 1, pg. 221)

Eighth is that because danger is never very far away, it will find a way to present itself again:

"This fact led, in time, to a renewed outbreak of evil. The mixing of their descendants caused new sprouts of defection to spring up, and that within a Church having the recent memory of both the flood and of notable reformation"

Owen goes on to show how that by the one-hundred and first year after the flood a mob of people insane with pride are ready to reject the authority, discipline and teaching of Noah. So they rush head long into sin, dismissing divine authority. Which ultimately leads to the larger part of the human race having to follow their own path to destruction. The larger path.