For the glory of God's justice, and for warning to a wicked world,
before the history of the ruin of the old world, we have a full account
of its degeneracy, its apostasy from God and rebellion against him. The
destroying of it was an act, not of an absolute sovereignty, but of
necessary justice, for the maintaining of the honour of God's
government. Now here we have an account of two things which occasioned
the wickedness of the old world:--1. The increase of mankind: Men began
to multiply upon the face of the earth. This was the effect of the
blessing (ch. i. 28), and yet man's corruption so abused and perverted
this blessing that it was turned into a curse. Thus sin takes occasion
by the mercies of God to be the more exceedingly sinful. Prov. xxix.
16, When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth. The more
sinners the more sin; and the multitude of offenders emboldens men.
Infectious diseases are most destructive in populous cities; and sin is
a spreading leprosy. Thus in the New-Testament church, when the number
of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring (Acts vi. 1),
and we read of a nation that was multiplied, not to the increase of
their joy, Isa. ix. 3. Numerous families need to be well-governed, lest
they become wicked families. 2. Mixed marriages (v. 2): The sons of God
(that is, the professors of religion, who were called by the name of
the Lord, and called upon that name), married the daughters of men,
that is, those that were profane, and strangers to God and godliness.
The posterity of Seth did not keep by themselves, as they ought to have
done, both for the preservation of their own purity and in detestation
of the apostasy. They intermingled themselves with the excommunicated
race of Cain: They took them wives of all that they chose. But what was
amiss in these marriages? (1.) They chose only by the eye: They saw
that they were fair, which was all they looked at. (2.) They followed
the choice which their own corrupt affections made: they took all that
they chose, without advice and consideration. But, (3.) That which
proved of such bad consequence to them was that they married strange
wives, were unequally yoked with unbelievers, 2 Cor. vi. 14. This was
forbidden to Israel, Deut. vii. 3, 4. It was the unhappy occasion of
Solomon's apostasy (1 Kings xi. 1-4), and was of bad consequence to the
Jews after their return out of Babylon, Ezra ix. 1, 2. Note, professors
of religion, in marrying both themselves and their children, should
make conscience of keeping within the bounds of profession. The bad
will sooner debauch the good than the good reform the bad. Those that
profess themselves the children of God must not marry without his
consent, which they have not if they join in affinity with his enemies.