patriarchs and prophets-第7部分

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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。

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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　the　Creator。

Our　first　parents；　though　created　innocent　and　holy；　were　not　placed　beyond
the　possibility　of　wrongdoing。　God　made　them　free　moral　agents；　capable　of
appreciating　the　wisdom　and　benevolence　of　His　character　and　the　justice　of
His　requirements；　and　with　full　liberty　to　yield　or　to　withhold　obedience。
They　were　to　enjoy　communion　with　God　and　with　holy　angels；　but　before　they
could　be　rendered　eternally　secure；　their　loyalty　must　be　tested。　At　the
very　beginning　of　man's　existence　a　check　was　placed　upon　the　desire　for
self…indulgence；　the　fatal　passion　that　lay　at　the　foundation　of　Satan's
fall。　The　tree　of　knowledge；　which　stood　near　the　tree　of　life　in　the　midst
of　the　garden；　was

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to　be　a　test　of　the　obedience；　faith；　and　love　of　our　parents。　While
permitted　to　eat　freely　of　every　other　tree；　they　were　forbidden　to　taste　of
this；　on　pain　of　death。　They　were　also　to　be　exposed　to　the　temptations　of
Satan；　but　if　they　endured　the　trial；　they　would　finally　be　placed　beyond
his　power；　to　enjoy　perpetual　favor　with　God。

God　placed　man　under　law；　as　an　indispensable　condition　of　his　very
existence。　He　was　a　subject　of　the　divine　government；　and　there　can　be　no
government　without　law。　God　might　have　created　man　without　the　power　to
transgress　His　law；　He　might　have　withheld　the　hand　of　Adam　from　touching
the　forbidden　fruit；　but　in　that　case　man　would　have　been；　not　a　free　moral
agent；　but　a　mere　automaton。　Without　freedom　of　choice；　his　obedience　would
not　have　been　voluntary；　but　forced。　There　could　have　been　no　development　of
character。　Such　a　course　would　have　been　contrary　to　God's　plan　in　dealing
with　the　inhabitants　of　other　worlds。　It　would　have　been　unworthy　of　man　as
an　intelligent　being；　and　would　have　sustained　Satan's　charge　of　God's
arbitrary　rule。

God　made　upright；　He　gave　him　noble　traits　of　character；　with　no　bias　toward
evil。　He　endowed　him　with　high　intellectual　powers；　and　presented　before　him
the　strongest　possible　inducements　to　be　true　to　his　allegiance。　Obedience；
perfect　and　perpetual；　was　the　condition　of　eternal　happiness。　On　this
condition　he　was　to　have　access　to　the　tree　of　life。

The　home　of　our　first　parents　was　to　be　a　pattern　for　other　homes　as　their
children　should　go　forth　to　occupy　the　earth。　That　home；　beautified　by　the
hand　of　God　Himself；　was　not　a　gorgeous　palace。　Men；　in　their　pride；　delight
in　magnificent　and　costly　edifices　and　glory　in　the　works　of　their　own
hands；　but　God　placed　Adam　in　a　garden。　This　was　his　dwelling。　The　blue
heavens　were　its　dome；　the　earth；　with　its　delicate　flowers　and　carpet　of
living　green；　was　its　floor；　and　the　leafy　branches　of　the　goodly　trees　were
its　canopy。　Its　was　walls　were　hung　with　the　most　magnificent　adorningsthe
handiwork　of　the　great　Master　Artist。　In　the　surroundings　of　the　holy　pair
was　a　lesson　for　all　timethat　true　happiness　is　found；　not　in　the
indulgence　of　pride　and　luxury；　but　in　communion　with　God　through　His
created　works。　If　men　would　give　less　attention　to　the　artificial；　and　would
cultivate　greater　simplicity；　they　would　come　far　nearer　to　answering　the

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purpose　of　God　in　their　creation。　Pride　and　ambition　are　never　satisfied；
but　those　who　are　truly　wise　will　find　substantial　and　elevating　pleasure　in
the　sources　of　enjoyment　that　God　has　placed　within　the　reach　of　all。

To　the　dwellers　in　Eden　was　committed　the　care　of　the　garden；　〃to　dress　it
and　to　keep　it。〃　Their　occupation　was　not　wearisome；　but　pleasant　and
invigorating。　God　appointed　labor　as　a　blessing　to　man；　to　occupy　his　mind；
to　strengthen　his　body；　and　to　develop　his　faculties。　In　mental　and　physical
activity　Adam　found　one　of　the　highest　pleasures　of　his　holy　existence。　And
when；　as　a　result　of　his　disobedience；　he　was　driven　from　his　beautiful
home；　and　forced　to　struggle　with　a　stubborn　soil　to　gain　his　daily　bread；
that　very　labor；　although　widely　different　from　his　pleasant　occupation　in