to be
carefully taught in the churches, in order that young people may learn
to respect their elders, rulers, and parents. Not on account of Noah,
not on account of Ham, but on account of those to come--on our
account--is this story written, and Ham, with his contempt for God and
father, pictured in most repulsive colors.

171. Also the punishment of this wickedness is carefully set before
us. Noah, looked upon by his son as a foolish, insane, and ridiculous
old man, now steps forth in the majesty of a prophet, to announce to
his son a divine revelation of future events. Truly does Paul declare
that "power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12, 9); for the
certainty characterizing Noah's utterance is proof that he was filled
with the Holy Spirit, notwithstanding that his son had mocked and
despised him as one utterly deserted by the Holy Spirit.

172. I will not attempt here to settle the question above referred to
(ch 5, para 95) concerning the order of the sons of Noah, as to which
of them was the first-born and which the youngest. A point more worthy
of our attention is the fact that the Holy Spirit is so filled with
strong wrath against that disobedient and scornful son that he does
not even choose to call him by his own name, but calls him Canaan
after the name of his son. Some say that, because God had desired to
save Ham in the ark as one under his blessing the same as the others,
he had no wish to curse him, but cursed Canaan instead, a curse which,
nevertheless, could not but recoil upon Ham who had provoked it. Thus
Ham's name perishes here, since the Holy Spirit hates it, whose hatred
is, indeed, a serious hatred. We read in the psalm, "I hate them with
perfect hatred" (Ps 139, 22). When the Holy Spirit exercises his
wrath, eternal death must follow.

173. Although Ham had sinned against his father in many ways, it is
remarkable that the fruit of the first sin and the devil's malice did
not become manifest until the father lay drunk and bare. When, with
this sin, the previous ones had attained to fullness of power and
growth, the Holy Spirit condemned him, and, as a warning to others,
also announced the infliction of impending, endless servitude.

V. 26. _And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; and let
Canaan be his servant._

These are two sublime prophecies, worthy of close attention. They have
significance in our time, though they were grossly garbled by the
Jews. The Jews observe that Ha