patriarchs and prophets-第19章
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truehearted worshipers。
Of Enoch it is written that he lived sixty…five years； and begat a son。
After that he walked with God three hundred years。 During these earlier
years Enoch had loved and feared God and had kept His commandments。 He was
one of the holy line； the preservers of the true faith； the progenitors of
the promised seed。 From the lips of Adam he had learned the dark story of
the Fall； and the cheering one of God's grace as seen in the promise； and he
relied upon the Redeemer to come。 But after the birth of his first son；
Enoch reached a higher experience； he was drawn into a closer relationship
with God。 He realized more fully his own obligations and responsibility as a
son of God。 And as he saw the child's love for its father； its simple trust
in his protection； as he felt the deep； yearning tenderness of his own heart
for that first…born son； he learned a precious lesson of the wonderful love
of God to men in the gift of His Son； and the confidence which the children
of God may repose in their heavenly Father。 The infinite； unfathomable love
of God through Christ became the subject of his meditations day and night；
and with all the fervor of his soul he sought to reveal that love to the
people among whom he dwelt。
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Enoch's walk with God was not in a trance or vision； but in all the duties
of his daily life。 He did not become a hermit； shutting himself entirely
from the world； for he had a work to do for God in the world。 In the family
and in his intercourse with men； as a husband and father； a friend； a
citizen； he was the steadfast； unwavering servant of the Lord。
His heart was in harmony with God's will； for 〃can two walk together； except
they be agreed？〃 Amos 3：3。 And this holy walk was continued for three
hundred years。 There are few Christians who would not be far more earnest
and devoted if they knew that they had but a short time to live； or that the
coming of Christ was about to take place。 But Enoch's faith waxed the
stronger； his love became more ardent； with the lapse of centuries。
Enoch was a man of strong and highly cultivated mind and extensive
knowledge； he was honored with special revelations from God； yet being in
constant communion with Heaven； with a sense of the divine greatness and
perfection ever before him； he was one of the humblest of men。 The closer
the connection with God； the deeper was the sense of his own weakness and
imperfection。
Distressed by the increasing wickedness of the ungodly； and fearing that
their infidelity might lessen his reverence for God； Enoch avoided constant
association with them； and spent much time in solitude； giving himself to
meditation and prayer。 Thus he waited before the Lord； seeking a clearer
knowledge of His will； that he might perform it。 To him prayer was as the
breath of the soul； he lived in the very atmosphere of heaven。
Through holy angels God revealed to Enoch His purpose to destroy the world
by a flood； and He also opened more fully to him the plan of redemption。 By
the spirit of prophecy He carried him down through the generations that
should live after the Flood； and showed him the great events connected with
the second coming of Christ and the end of the world。
Enoch had been troubled in regard to the dead。 It had seemed to him that the
righteous and the wicked would go to the dust together； and that this would
be their end。 He could not see the life of the just beyond the grave。 In
prophetic vision he was instructed concerning the death of Christ； and was
shown His coming in glory； attended by all the holy angels； to ransom His
people from the grave。 He also saw the corrupt state of the world
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when Christ should appear the second timethat there would be a boastful；
presumptuous； self…willed generation； denying the only God and the Lord
Jesus Christ； trampling upon the law； and despising the atonement。 He saw
the righteous crowned with glory and honor； and the wicked banished from the
presence of the Lord； and destroyed by fire。
Enoch became a preacher of righteousness； making known to the people what
God had revealed to him。 Those who feared the Lord sought out this holy man；
to share his instruction and his prayers。 He labored publicly also； bearing
God's messages to all who would hear the words or warning。 His labors were
not restricted to the Sethites。 In the land where Cain had sought to flee
from the divine Presence； the prophet of God made known the wonderful scenes
that had passed before his vision。 〃Behold；〃 he declared； 〃the Lord cometh
with ten thousands of His saints； to execute judgment upon all； and to
convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds。〃 Jude
14； 15。
He was a fearless reprover of sin。 While he preached the love of God in
Christ to the people of his time； and pleaded with them to forsake their
evil ways； he rebuked the prevailing iniquity and warned the men of his
generation that judgment would surely be visited upon the transgressor。 It
was the Spirit of Christ that spoke through Enoch； that Spirit is
manifested； not alone in utterances of love； compassion； and entreaty； it is
not smooth things only that are spoken by holy men。 God puts into the heart
and lips of His messengers truths to utter that are keen and cutting as a
two…edged sword。
The power of God that wrought with His servant was felt by those who heard。
Some gave heed to the warning； and renounced their sins； but the multitudes
mocked at the solemn message； and went on more boldly in their evil ways。
The servants of God are to bear a similar message to the world in the last
days； and it will also be received with unbelief and mockery。 The
antediluvian world rejected the warning words of him who walked with God。 So
will the last generation make light of the warnings of the Lord's
messengers。
In the midst of a life of active labor； Enoch steadfastly maintained his
communion with God。 The greater and more pressing his labors； the more
constant and earnest were his prayers。 He
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continued to exclude himself； at certain periods； from all society。 After
remaining for a time among the people； laboring to benefit them by
instruction and example； he would withdraw； to spend a season in solitude；
hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can
impart。 Communing thus with God； Enoch came more and more to reflect the
divine image。 His face was radiant with a holy light； even the light that
shineth in the face of Jesus。 As he came forth from these divine communings；
even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance。
The wickedness of men had reached such a height that destruction was
pronounced against them。 As year after year passed on； deeper and deeper
grew the tide of human guilt； darker and darker gathered the clouds of
divine judgment。 Yet Enoch； the witness of faith； held on his way； warning；
pleading； entreating； striving to turn back the tide of guilt and to stay
the bolts of vengeance。 Though his warnings were disregarded by a sinful；
pleasure…loving people； he had the testimony that God approved； and he
continued to battle faithfully against the prevailing evil； until God
removed him from a world of sin to the pure joys of heaven。
The men of that generation had mocked the folly of him who sought not to
gather gold or silver or to build up possessions here。 But Enoch's heart was
upon eternal treasures。 He had looked upon the celestial city。 He had seen
the King in His glory in the midst of Zion。 His mind； his heart； his
conversation； were in heaven。 The greater the existing iniquity； the more
earnest was his longing for the home of God。 While still on earth； he dwelt；
by faith； in the realms of light。
〃Blessed are the pure in heart： for they shall see God。〃 Matthew 5：8。 For
three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of soul； that he might be
in harmony with Heaven。 For three centuries he had walked with God。 Day by
day he had longed for a closer union； nearer and nearer had grown the
communi
