patriarchs and prophets-第6部分

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disaffection　ripened　into　active　revolt。　It　was　necessary　for　his　plans　to
be　fully　developed；　that　their　true　nature　and　tendency　might　be　seen　by
all。　Lucifer；　as　the　anointed　cherub；　had　been　highly　exalted；　he　was
greatly　loved　by　the　heavenly　beings；　and　his　influence　over　them　was
strong。　God's　government　included　not　only　the　inhabitants　of　heaven；　but　of
all　the　worlds　that　He　had　created；　and　Lucifer　had　concluded　that　if　he
could　carry　the　angels　of　heaven　with　him　in　rebellion；　he　could　carry　also
all　the　worlds。　He　had　artfully　presented　his　side　of　the　question；
employing　sophistry　and　fraud　to　secure　his　objects。　His　power　to　deceive
was　very　great。　By　disguising　himself　in　a　cloak　of　falsehood；　he　had　gained
an　advantage。　All　his　acts　were　so　clothed　with　mystery　that　it　was
difficult　to　disclose　to　the　angels　the　true　nature　of　his　work。　Until　fully
developed；　it　could　not　be　made　to　appear　the　evil　thing　it　was；　his
disaffection　would　not　be　seen　to　be　rebellion。　Even　the　loyal　angels　could
not　fully　discern　his　character　or　see　to　what　his　work　was　leading。

Lucifer　had　at　first　so　conducted　his　temptations　that　he　himself　stood
uncommitted。　The　angels　whom　he　could　not　bring　fully　to　his　side；　he
accused　of　indifference　to　the　interests　of　heavenly　beings。　The　very　work
which　he　himself　was　doing；　he　charged　upon　the　loyal　angels。　It　was　his
policy　to　perplex　with　subtle　arguments　concerning　the　purposes　of　God。
Everything　that　was　simple　he　shrouded　in　mystery；　and　by　artful　perversion
cast　doubt　upon　the　plainest　statements　of　Jehovah。　And　his　high　position；
so　closely　connected　with　the　divine　government；　gave　greater　force　to　his
representations。

42


God　could　employ　only　such　means　as　were　consistent　with　truth　and
righteousness。　Satan　could　use　what　God　could　not　flattery　and　deceit。　He
had　sought　to　falsify　the　word　of　God　and　had　misrepresented　His　plan　of
government；　claiming　that　God　was　not　just　in　imposing　laws　upon　the　angels；
that　in　requiring　submission　and　obedience　from　His　creatures；　He　was
seeking　merely　the　exaltation　of　Himself。　It　was　therefore　necessary　to
demonstrate　before　the　inhabitants　of　heaven；　and　of　all　the　worlds；　that
God's　government　is　just；　His　law　perfect。　Satan　had　made　it　appear　that　he
himself　was　seeking　to　promote　the　good　of　the　universe。　The　true　character
of　the　usurper　and　his　real　object　must　be　understood　by　all。　He　must　have
time　to　manifest　himself　by　his　wicked　works。

The　discord　which　his　own　course　had　caused　in　heaven；　Satan　charged　upon
the　government　of　God。　All　evil　he　declared　to　be　the　result　of　the　divine
administration。　He　claimed　that　it　was　his　own　object　to　improve　upon　the
statutes　of　Jehovah。　Therefore　God　permitted　him　to　demonstrate　the　nature
of　his　claims；　to　show　the　working　out　of　his　proposed　changes　in　the　divine
law。　His　own　work　must　condemn　him。　Satan　had　claimed　from　the　first　that　he
was　not　in　rebellion。　The　whole　universe　must　see　deceiver　unmasked。

Even　when　he　was　cast　out　of　heaven。　Infinite　Wisdom　did　not　destroy　Satan。
Since　only　the　service　of　love　can　be　acceptable　to　God；　the　allegiance　of
His　creatures　must　rest　upon　a　conviction　of　His　justice　and　benevolence。
The　inhabitants　of　heaven　and　of　the　worlds；　being　unprepared　to　comprehend
the　nature　or　consequences　of　sin；　could　not　then　have　seen　the　justice　of
God　in　the　destruction　of　Satan。　Had　he　been　immediately　blotted　out　of
existence；　some　would　have　served　God　from　fear　rather　than　from　love。　The
influence　of　the　deceiver　would　not　have　been　fully　destroyed；　nor　would　be
the　spirit　of　rebellion　have　been　utterly　eradicated。　For　the　good　of　the
entire　universe　through　ceaseless　ages；　he　must　more　fully　developed　his
principles；　that　his　charges　against　the　divine　government　might　be　seen　in
their　true　light　by　all　created　beings；　and　that　the　justice　and　mercy　of
God　and　the　immutability　of　His　law　might　be　forever　placed　beyond　all
question。

Satan's　rebellion　was　to　be　a　lesson　to　the　universe　through　all　coming
agesa　perpetual　testimony　to　the　nature　of　sin　and　its

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terrible　results。　The　working　out　of　Satan's　rule；　its　effects　upon　both　men
and　angels；　would　show　what　must　be　the　fruit　of　setting　aside　the　divine
authority。　It　would　testify　that　with　the　existence　of　God's　government　is
bound　up　the　well…being　of　all　the　creatures　He　has　made。　Thus　the　history
of　this　terrible　experiment　of　rebellion　was　to　be　a　perpetual　safeguard　to
all　holy　beings；　to　prevent　them　from　being　deceived　as　to　the　nature　of
transgression；　to　save　them　from　committing　sin；　and　suffering　its　penalty。

He　that　ruleth　in　the　heavens　is　the　one　who　sees　the　end　from　the
beginningthe　one　before　whom　the　mysteries　of　the　past　and　the　future　are
alike　outspread；　and　who；　beyond　the　woe　and　darkness　and　ruin　that　sin　has
wrought；　beholds　the　accomplishment　of　His　own　purposes　of　love　and
blessing。　Though　〃clouds　and　darkness　are　round　about　Him：　righteousness　and
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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　45

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