patriarchs and prophets-第6章

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judgment　are　the　foundation　of　His　throne。〃　Psalm　97：2；　R。V。　And　this　the
inhabitants　of　the　universe；　both　loyal　and　disloyal；　will　one　day
understand。　〃His　work　is　perfect：　for　all　His　ways　are　judgment：　a　God　of
truth　and　without　iniquity；　just　and　right　is　He。〃　Deuteronomy　32：4。





（44）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　2

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Creation


〃By　the　word　of　the　Lord　were　the　heavens　made；　and　all　the　host　of　them　by
the　breath　of　His　mouth。〃　〃For　He　spake；　and　it　was；〃　〃He　commanded；　and　it
stood　fast。〃　Psalm　33：6；9。　He　〃laid　the　foundations　of　the　earth；　that　it
should　not　be　removed　forever。〃　Psalm　104：5。

As　the　earth　came　forth　from　the　hand　of　its　Maker；　it　was　exceedingly
beautiful。　Its　surface　was　diversified　with　mountains；　hills；　and　plains；
interspersed　with　noble　rivers　and　lovely　lakes；　but　the　hills　and　mountains
were　not　abrupt　and　rugged；　abounding　in　terrific　steeps　and　frightful
chasms；　as　they　now　do；　the　sharp；　ragged　edges　of　earth's　rocky　framework
were　buried　beneath　the　fruitful　soil；　which　everywhere　produced　a　luxuriant
growth　of　verdure。　There　were　no　loathsome　swamps　or　barren　deserts。
Graceful　shrubs　and　delicate　flowers　greeted　the　eye　at　every　turn。　The
heights　were　crowned　with　trees　more　majestic　than　any　that　now　exist。　The
air；　untainted　by　foul　miasma；　was　clear　and　healthful。　The　entire　landscape
outvied　in　beauty　the　decorated　grounds　of　the　proudest　palace。　The　angelic
host　viewed　the　scene　with　delight；　and　rejoiced　at　the　wonderful　works　of
God。

After　the　earth　with　its　teeming　animal　and　vegetable　life　had　been　called
into　existence；　man；　the　crowning　work　of　the　Creator；　and　the　one　for　whom
the　beautiful　earth　had　been　fitted　up；　was　brought　upon　the　stage　of
action。　To　him　was　given　dominion　over　all　that　his　eye　could　behold；　for
〃God　said；　Let　Us　make　man　in　Our　image；　after　Our　likeness：　and　let　them
have　dominion　over　。　。　。　all　the　earth。　。　。　。　So　God　created　man　in　His　own
image；　。　。　。　male　and　female　created　He　them。〃　Here　is　clearly　set　forth　the
origin　of　the　human　race；　and　the　divine　record　is　so　plainly　stated　that
there　is　no　occasion　for　erroneous

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conclusions。　God　created　man　in　His　own　image。　Here　is　no　mystery。　There　is
no　ground　for　the　supposition　that　man　was　evolved　by　slow　degrees　of
development　from　the　lower　forms　of　animal　or　vegetable　life。　Such　teaching
lowers　the　great　work　of　the　Creator　to　the　level　of　man's　narrow；　earthly
conceptions。　Men　are　so　intent　upon　excluding　God　from　the　sovereignty　of
the　universe　that　they　degrade　man　and　defraud　him　of　the　dignity　of　his
origin。　He　who　set　the　starry　worlds　on　high　and　tinted　with　delicate　skill
the　flowers　of　the　field；　who　filled　the　earth　and　the　heavens　with　the
wonders　of　His　power；　when　He　came　to　crown　His　glorious　work；　to　place　one
in　the　midst　to　stand　as　ruler　of　the　fair　earth；　did　not　fail　to　create　a
being　worthy　of　the　hand　that　gave　him　life。　The　genealogy　of　our　race；　as
given　by　inspiration；　traces　back　its　origin；　not　to　a　line　of　developing
germs；　mollusks；　and　quadrupeds；　but　to　the　great　Creator。　Though　formed
from　the　dust；　Adam　was　〃the　son　of　God。〃

He　was　placed；　as　God's　representative；　over　the　lower　orders　of　being。　They
cannot　understand　or　acknowledge　the　sovereignty　of　God；　yet　they　were　made
capable　of　loving　and　serving　man。　The　psalmist　says；　〃Thou　madest　him　to
have　dominion　over　the　works　of　Thy　hands；　Thou　hast　put　all　things　under
his　feet：　。　。　。　the　beasts　of　the　field；　the　fowl　of　the　air；　。　。　。　and
whatsoever　passeth　through　the　paths　of　the　seas。〃　Psalm　8：6…8。

Man　was　to　bear　God's　image；　both　in　outward　resemblance　and　in　character。
Christ　alone　is　〃the　express　image〃　（Hebrews　1：3）　of　the　Father；　but　man　was
formed　in　the　likeness　of　God。　His　nature　was　in　harmony　with　the　will　of
God。　His　mind　was　capable　of　comprehending　divine　things。　His　affections
were　pure；　his　appetites　and　passions　were　under　the　control　of　reason。　He
was　holy　and　happy　in　bearing　the　image　of　God　and　in　perfect　obedience　to
His　will。

As　man　came　forth　from　the　hand　of　his　Creator；　he　was　of　lofty　stature　and
perfect　symmetry。　His　countenance　bore　the　ruddy　tint　of　health　and　glowed
with　the　light　of　life　and　joy。　Adam's　height　was　much　greater　than　that　of
men　who　now　inhabit　the　earth。　Eve　was　somewhat　less　in　stature；　yet　her
form　was　noble；　and　full　of　beauty。　The　sinless　pair　wore　no　artificial
garments；　they　were　clothed　with　a　covering　of　light　and　glory；　such　as　the
angels　wear。　So　long　as　they　lived　in　obedience　to　God；　this　robe　of　light
continued　to　enshroud　them。

46


After　the　creation　of　Adam　every　living　creature　was　brought　before　him　to
receive　its　name；　he　saw　that　to　each　had　been　given　a　companion；　but　among
them　〃there　was　not　found　an　help　meet　for　him。〃　Among　all　the　creatures
that　God　had　made　on　the　earth；　there　was　not　one　equal　to　man。　And　God
said；　〃It　is　not　good　that　the　man　should　be　alone；　I　will　make　him　an　help
meet　for　him。〃　Man　was　not　made　to　dwell　in　solitude；　he　was　to　be　a　social
being。　Without　companionship　the　beautiful　scenes　and　delightful　employments
of　Eden　would　have　failed　to　yield　perfect　happiness。　Even　communion　with
angels　could　not　have　satisfied　his　desire　for　sympathy　and　companionship。
There　was　none　of　the　same　nature　to　love　and　to　be　loved。

God　Himself　gave　Adam　a　companion。　He　provided　〃an　help　meet　for　him〃a
helper　corresponding　to　him…one　who　was　fitted　to　be　his　companion；　and　who
could　be　one　with　him　in　love　and　sympathy。　Eve　was　created　from　a　rib　taken
from　the　side　of　Adam；　signifying　that　she　was　not　to　control　him　as　the
head；　nor　to　be　trampled　under　his　feet　as　an　inferior；　but　to　stand　by　his
side　as　an　equal；　to　be　loved　and　protected　by　him。　A　part　of　man；　bone　of
his　bone；　and　flesh　of　his　flesh；　she　was　his　second　self；　showing　the　close
union　and　the　affectionate　attachment　that　should　exist　in　this　relation。
〃For　no　man　ever　yet　hated　his　own　flesh；　but　nourisheth　and　cherisheth　it。〃
Ephesians　5：29。　〃Therefore　shall　a　man　leave　his　father　and　his　mother；　and
shall　cleave　unto　his　wife；　and　they　shall　be　one。〃

God　celebrated　the　first　marriage。　Thus　the　institution　has　for　its
originator　the　Creator　of　the　universe。　〃Marriage　is　honorable〃　（Hebrews
13：4）；　it　was　one　of　the　first　gifts　of　God　to　man；　and　it　is　one　of　the　two
institutions　that；　after　the　Fall；　Adam　brought　with　him　beyond　the　gates　of
Paradise。　When　the　divine　principles　are　recognized　and　obeyed　in　this
relation；　marriage　is　a　blessing；　it　guards　the　purity　and　happiness　of　the
race；　it　provides　for　man's　social　needs；　it　elevates　the　physical；　the
intellectual；　and　the　moral　nature。

〃And　the　Lord　God　planted　a　garden　eastward　in　Eden；　and　there　He　put　the
man　whom　He　had　formed。〃　Everything　that　God　had　made　was　the　perfection　of
beauty；　and　nothing　seemed　wanting　that　could　contribute　to　the　happiness　of
the　holy　pair；

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yet　the　Creator　gave　them　still　another　token　of　His　love；　by　preparing　a
garden　especially　for　their　home。　In　this　garden　were　trees　of　every
variety；　many　of　them　laden　with　fragrant　and　delicious　fruit。　There　were
lovely　vines；　growing　upright；　yet　presenting　a　most　graceful　appearance；
with　their　branches　drooping　under　their　load　of　tempting　fruit　of　the
richest　and　most　varied　hues。　It　was　the　work　of　Adam　and　Eve　to　train　the
branches　of　the　vine　to　form　bowers；　thus　making　for　themselves　a　dwelling
from　living　trees　covered　with　foliage　and　fruit。　There　were　fragrant
flowers　of　every　hue　in　rich　profusion。　In　the　midst　of　the　garden　stood　the
tree　of　life；　surpassing　in　glory　all　other　trees。　Its　fruit　appeared　like
apples　of　gold　and　silver；　and　had　the　power　to　perpetuate　life。

The　creation　was　now　complete。　〃The　heavens　and　the　earth　were　finished；　and
all　the　host　of　them。〃　〃And　God　saw　everything　that　He　had　made；　and；
behold；　it　was　very　good。〃　Eden　bloomed　on　earth。　Adam　and　Eve　had　free
access　to　the　tree　of　life。　No　taint　of　sin　or　shadow　of　death　marred　the
fair　creation。　〃The　morning　stars　sang　together；　and　all　the　sons　of　God
shouted　for　joy。〃　Job　38：7。

The　great　Jehovah　had　laid　the　foundations　of　the　earth；　He　had　dressed　the
whole　world　in　the　garb　of　beauty　and　had　filled　it　with　things　useful　to
man；　He　had　created　all　the　wonders　of　the　land　and　of　the　sea。　In　six　days
the　great　work　of　creation　had　been　accomplished。　And　God　〃rested　on　the
seventh　day　from　all　His　work　which　He　had　made。　And　God　blessed　the　seventh
day；　and　sanctified　it：　because　that　in　it　He　had　rested　from　all　His　work
which　God　created　and　made。〃　God　looked　with　satisfaction　upon　the　work　of
His　hands。　All　was　perfect；　worthy　of　its　divine　Author；　and　He　rested；　not
as　one　weary；　but　as　well　pleased　with　the　fruits　of　His　wisdom　and　goodness
and　the　manifestations　of　His　glory。

After　resting　upon　the　seventh　day；　God　sanctified　it；　or　set　it　apart；　as　a
day　of　rest　for　man。　Following　the　example　of　the　Creator；　man　was　to　rest
upon　this　sacred　day；　that　as　he　should　look　upon　the　heavens　and　the　earth；
he　might　reflect　upon　God's　great　work　of　creation；　and　that　as　he　should
behold　the　evidences　of　God's　wisdom　and　goodness；　his　heart　might　be　filled
with　love　and　reverence　for　his　Maker。

48


In　Eden；　God　set　up　the　memorial　of　His　work　of　creation；　in　placing　His
blessing　upon　the　seventh　day。　The　Sabbath　was　committed　to　Adam；　the　father
and　representative　of　the　whole　human　family。　Its　observance　was　to　be　an
act　of　grateful　acknowledgment；　on　the　part　of　all　who　should　dwell　upon　the
earth；　that　God　was　their　Creator　and　their　rightful　Sovereign；　that　they
were　the　work　of　His　hands　and　the　subjects　of　His　authority。　Thus　the
institution　was　wholly　commemorative；　and　given　to　all　mankind。　There　was
nothing　in　it　shadowy　or　of　restricted　application　to　any　people。

God　saw　that　a　Sabbath　was　essential　for　man；　even　in　Paradise。　He　needed　to
lay　aside　his　own　interests　and　pursuits　for　one　day　of　the　seven；　that　he
might　more　fully　contemplate　the　works　of　God　and　meditate　upon　His　power
and　goodness。　He　needed　a　Sabbath　to　remind　him　more　vividly　of　God　and　to
awaken　gratitude　because　all　that　he　enjoyed　and　possessed　came　from　the
beneficent　hand　of　the　Creator。

God　designs　that　the　Sabbath　shall　direct　the　minds　of　men　to　the
contemplation　of　His　created　works。　Nature　speaks　to　their　senses；　declaring
that　there　is　a　living　God；　the　Creator；　the　Supreme　Ruler　of　all。　〃The
heavens　declare　the　glory　of　God；　and　the　firmament　showeth　His　handiwork。
Day　unto　day　uttereth　speech；　and　night　unto　night　showeth　knowledge。〃　Psalm
19：1；　2。　The　beauty　that　clothes　the　earth　is　token　of　God's　love。　We　may
behold　it　in　the　everlasting　hills；　in　the　lofty　trees；　in　the　opening　buds
and　the　delicate　flowers。　All　speak　to　us　of　God。　The　Sabbath；　ever　pointing
to　Him　who　made　them　all；　bids　men　open　the　great　book　of　nature　and　trace
therein　the　wisdom；　the　power；　and　the　love　of