patriarchs and prophets-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


vain。　Conscience　was　at　last　aroused　to　know　that　there　is　a　God　who　ruleth
in　the　heavens。　They　called　upon　Him　earnestly；　but　His　ear　was　not　open　to
their　cry。　In　that　terrible　hour　they　saw　that　the　transgression　of　God's
law　had　caused　their　ruin。　Yet　while；　through　fear　of　punishment；　they
acknowledged　their　sin；　they　felt　no　true　contrition；　no　abhorrence　of　evil。
They　would　have　returned　to　their　defiance　of　Heaven；　had　the　judgment　been
removed。　So　when　God's　judgments　shall　fall　upon　the　earth　before　its　deluge
by　fire；　the　impenitent　will　know　just　where　and　what　their　sin　isthe
despising　of　His　holy　law。　Yet　they　will　have　no　more　true　repentance　than
did　the　old…world　sinners。

Some　in　their　desperation　endeavored　to　break　into　the　ark；　but　the
firm…made　structure　withstood　their　efforts。　Some　clung　to　the　ark　until
they　were　borne　away　by　the　surging　waters；　or　their　hold　was　broken　by
collision　with　rocks　and　trees。　The　massive　ark　trembled　in　every　fiber　as
it　was　beaten　by　the　merciless　winds　and　flung　from　billow　to　billow。　The
cries　of　the　beasts　within　expressed　their　fear　and　pain。　But　amid　the
warring　elements　it　continued　to　ride　safely。　Angels　that　excel　in　strength
were　commissioned　to　preserve　it。

The　beasts；　exposed　to　the　tempest；　rushed　toward　man；　as　though　expecting
help　from　him。　Some　of　the　people　bound　their　children　and　themselves　upon
powerful　animals；　knowing　that　these　were　tenacious　of　life；　and　would　climb
to　the　highest　points　to　escape　the　rising　waters。　Some　fastened　themselves
to　lofty　trees　on　the　summit　of　hills　or　mountains；　but　the　trees　were
uprooted；　and　with　their　burden　of　living　beings　were　hurled　into　the
seething　billows。　One　spot　after　another　that　promised　safety　was　abandoned。
As　the　waters　rose　higher　and　higher；　the　people　fled　for　refuge　to　the
loftiest　mountains。　Often　man　and　beast　would　struggle　together　for　a
foothold；　until　both　were　swept　away。

From　the　highest　peaks　men　looked　abroad　upon　a　shoreless　ocean。　The　solemn
warnings　of　God's　servant　no　longer　seemed　a　subject　for　ridicule　and
scorning。　How　those　doomed　sinners　longed　for　the　opportunities　which　they
had　slighted！　How　they

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　101

pleaded　for　one　hour's　probation；　one　more　privilege　of　mercy；　one　call　from
the　lips　of　Noah！　But　the　sweet　voice　of　mercy　was　no　more　to　be　heard　by
them。　Love；　no　less　than　justice；　demanded　that　God's　judgments　should　put　a
check　on　sin。　The　avenging　waters　swept　over　the　last　retreat；　and　the
despisers　of　God　perished　in　the　black　depths。

〃By　the　word　of　God　。　。　。　the　world　that　then　was；　being　overflowed　with
water；　perished：　but　the　heavens　and　the　earth；　which　are　now；　by　the　same
word　are　kept　in　store；　reserved　unto　fire　against　the　day　of　judgment　and
perdition　of　ungodly　men。〃
2　Peter　3：5…7。　Another　storm　is　coming。　The　earth　will　again　be
swept　by　the　desolating　wrath　of　God；　and　sin　and　sinners　will　be　destroyed。

The　sins　that　called　for　vengeance　upon　the　antediluvian　world　exist　today。
The　fear　of　God　is　banished　from　the　hearts　of　men；　and　His　law　is　treated
with　indifference　and　contempt。　The　intense　worldliness　of　that　generation
is　equaled　by　that　of　the　generation　now　living。　Said　Christ；　〃As　in　the
days　that　were　before　the　Flood　they　were　eating　and　drinking；　marrying　and
giving　in　marriage；　until　the　day　that　Noah　entered　into　the　ark；　and　knew
not　until　the　Flood　came；　and　took　them　all　away；　so　shall　also　the　coming
of　the　Son　of　man　be。〃　Matthew　24：38；　39。　God　did　not　condemn　the
antediluvians　for　eating　and　drinking；　He　had　given　them　the　fruits　of　the
earth　in　great　abundance　to　supply　their　physical　wants。　Their　sin　consisted
in　taking　these　gifts　without　gratitude　to　the　Giver；　and　debasing
themselves　by　indulging　appetite　without　restraint。　It　was　lawful　for　them
to　marry。　Marriage　was　in　God's　order；　it　was　one　of　the　first　institutions
which　He　established。　He　gave　special　directions　concerning　this　ordinance；
clothing　it　with　sanctity　and　beauty；　but　these　directions　were　forgotten；
and　marriage　was　perverted　and　made　to　minister　to　passion。

A　similar　condition　of　things　exists　now。　That　which　is　lawful　in　itself　is
carried　to　excess。　Appetite　is　indulged　without　restraint。　Professed
followers　of　Christ　are　today　eating　and　drinking　with　the　drunken；　while
their　names　stand　in　honored　church　records。　Intemperance　benumbs　the　moral
and　spiritual　powers　and　prepares　the　way　for　indulgence　of　the　lower
passions。　Multitudes　feel　under　no　moral　obligation　to　curb　their　sensual
desires；　and　they　become　the　slaves　of　lust。　Men　are　living　for　the
pleasures

102

of　sense；　for　this　world　and　this　life　alone。　Extravagance　pervades　all
circles　of　society。　Integrity　is　sacrificed　for　luxury　and　display。　They
that　make　haste　to　be　rich　pervert　justice　and　oppress　the　poor；　and　〃slaves
and　souls　of　men〃　are　still　bought　and　sold。　Fraud　and　bribery　and　theft
stalk　unrebuked　in　high　places　and　in　low。　The　issues　of　the　press　teem　with
records　of　murdercrimes　so　cold…blooded　and　causeless　that　it　seems　as
though　every　instinct　of　humanity　were　blotted　out。　And　these　atrocities
have　become　of　so　common　occurrence　that　they　hardly　elicit　a　comment　or
awaken　surprise。　The　spirit　of　anarchy　is　permeating　all　nations；　and　the
outbreaks　that　from　time　to　time　excite　the　horror　of　the　world　are　but
indications　of　the　pent…up　fires　of　passion　and　lawlessness　that；　having
once　escaped　control；　will　fill　the　earth　with　woe　and　desolation。　The
picture　which　Inspiration　has　given　of　the　antediluvian　world　represents　too
truly　the　condition　to　which　modern　society　is　fast　hastening。　Even　now；　in
the　present　century；　and　in　professedly　Christian　lands；　there　are　crimes
daily　perpetrated　as　black　and　terrible　as　those　for　which　the　old…world
sinners　were　destroyed。

Before　the　Flood　God　sent　Noah　to　warn　the　world；　that　the　people　might　be
led　to　repentance；　and　thus　escape　the　threatened　destruction。　As　the　time
of　Christ's　second　appearing　draws　near；　the　Lord　sends　His　servants　with　a
warning　to　the　world　to　prepare　for　that　great　event。　Multitudes　have　been
living　in　transgression　of　God's　law；　and　now　He　in　mercy　calls　them　to　obey
its　sacred　precepts。　All　who　will　put　away　their　sins　by　repentance　toward
God　and　faith　in　Christ　are　offered　pardon。　But　many　feel　that　it　requires
too　great　a　sacrifice　to　put　away　sin。　Because　their　life　does　not　harmonize
with　the　pure　principles　of　God's　moral　government；　they　reject　His　warnings
and　deny　the　authority　of　His　law。

Of　the　vast　population　of　the　earth　before　the　Flood；　only　eight　souls
believed　and　obeyed　God's　word　through　Noah。　For　a　hundred　and　twenty　years
the　preacher　of　righteousness　warned　the　world　of　the　coming　destruction；
but　his　message　was　rejected　and　despised。　So　it　will　be　now。　Before　the
Lawgiver　shall　come　to　punish　the　disobedient；　transgressors　are　warned　to
repent；　and　return　to　their　allegiance；　but　with　the　majority　these　warnings
will　be　in　vain。　Says　the　apostle　Peter；　〃There　shall　come　in　the　last　days
scoffers；　walking　after　their　own　lusts；　and

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　103

saying；　Where　is　the　promise　of　His　coming？　for　since　the　fathers　fell
asleep；　all　things　continue　as　they　were　from　the　beginning。〃
2　Peter　3：3；　4。　Do　we　not　hear　these　very　words　repeated；　not
merely　by　the　openly　ungodly；　but　by　many　who　occupy　the　pulpits　of　our
land？　〃There　is　no　cause　for　alarm；〃　they　cry。　〃Before　Christ　shall　come；
all　the　world　is　to　be　converted；　and　righteousness　is　to　reign　for　a
thousand　years。　Peace；　peace！　all　things　continue　as　they　were　from　the
beginning。　Let　none　be　disturbed　by　the　exciting　message　of　these
alarmists。〃　But　this　doctrine　of　the　millennium　does　not　harmonize　with　the
teachings　of　Christ　and　His　apostles。　Jesus　asked　the　significant　question；
〃When　the　Son　of　man　cometh；　shall　He　find　faith　on　the　earth？〃　Luke　18：8。
And；　as　we　have　seen；　He　declares　that　the　state　of　the　world　will　be　as　in
the　days　of　Noah。　Paul　warns　us　that　we　may　look　for　wickedness　to　increase
as　the　end　draws　near：　〃The　Spirit　speaketh　expressly；　that　in　the　latter
times　some　shall　depart　from　the　faith；　giving　heed　to　seducing　spirits；　and
doctrines　of　devils。〃　1　Timothy　4：1。　The　apostle　says　that　〃in　the　last　days
perilous　times　shall　come。〃　2　Timothy　3：1。　And　he　gives　a　startling　list　of
sins　that　will　be　found　among　those　who　have　a　form　of　godliness。

As　the　time　of　their　probation　was　closing；　the　antediluvians　gave
themselves　up　to　exciting　amusements　and　festivities。　Those　who　possessed
influence　and　power　were　bent　on　keeping　the　minds　of　the　people　engrossed
with　mirth　and　pleasure；　lest　any　should　be　impressed　by　the　last　solemn
warning。　Do　we　not　see　the　same　repeated　in　our　day？　While　God's　servants
are　giving　the　message　that　the　end　of　all　things　is　at　hand；　the　world　is
absorbed　in　amusements　and　pleasure　seeking。　There　is　a　constant　round　of
excitement　that　causes　indifference　to　God　and　prevents　the　people　from
being　impressed　by　the　truths　which　alone　can　save　them　from　the　coming
destruction。

In　Noah's　day　philosophers　declared　that　it　was　impossible　for　the　world　to
be　destroyed　by　water；　so　now　there　are　men　of　science　who　endeavor　to　show
that　the　world　cannot　be　destroyed　by　firethat　this　would　be　inconsistent
with　the　laws　of　nature。　But　the　God　of　nature；　the　Maker　and　Controller　of
her　laws；　can　use　the　works　of　His　hands　to　serve　His　own　purpose。

When　great　and　wise　men　had　proved　to　their　satisfaction　that　it　was
impossible　for　the　world　to　be　destroyed　by　water；　when

104

the　fears　of　the　people　were　quieted；　when　all　regarded　Noah's　prophecy　as　a
delusion；　and　looked　upon　him　as　a　fanaticthen　it　was　that　God's　time　had
come。　〃The　fountains　of　the　great　deep〃　were　〃broken　up；　and　the　windows　of
heaven　were　opened；〃　and　the　scoffers　were　overwhelmed　in　the　waters　of　the
Flood。　With　all　their　boasted　philosophy；　men　found　too　late　that　their
wisdom　was　foolishness；　that　the　Lawgiver　is　greater　than　the　laws　of
nature；　and　that　Omnipotence　is　at　no　loss　for　means　to　accomplish　His
purposes。　〃As　it　was　in　the　days　of　Noah；〃　〃even　thus　shall　it　be　in　the
days　when　the　Son　of　man　is　revealed。〃　Luke　17：26；　30。　〃The　day　of　the　Lord
will　come　as　a　thief　in　the　night；　in　the　which　the　heavens　shall　pass　away
with　a　great　noise；　and　the　elements　shall　melt　with　fervent　heat；　the　earth
also　and　the　works　that　are　therein　shall　be　burned　up。〃　2　Peter　3：10。　When
the　reasoning　of　philosophy　has　banished　the　fear　of　God's　judgments；　when
religious　teachers　are　pointing　forward　to　long　ages　of　peace　and
prosperity；　and　the　world　are　absorbed　in　their　rounds　of　business　and
pleasure；　planting　and　building；　feasting　and　merrymaking；　rejecting　God's
warnings　and　mocking　His　messengersthen　it　is　that　sudden　destruction
cometh　upon　them；　and　they　shall　not　escape。　1　Thessalonians　5：3。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（105）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　8