785. Verses 17-18. And the flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up from off the earth; and the waters were strengthened, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. By “forty days” is signified the duration of the church called “Noah;” by “the flood” falsities which still inundated it; that “the waters increased and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up from off the earth” signifies that such was its fluctuation; “the waters were strengthened and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark went upon the face of the waters” signifies that its fluctuations thus increased in frequency and strength.