patriarchs and prophets-第9章
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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
the garden； was a safeguard against temptation and a source of happiness。
Those who regard work as a curse； attended though it be with weariness and
pain； are cherishing an error。 The rich often look down with contempt upon
the working classes； but this is wholly at variance with God's purpose in
creating man。 What are the possessions of even the most wealthy in
comparison with the heritage given to the lordly Adam？ Yet Adam was not to
be idle。 Our Creator； who understands what is for man's happiness； appointed
Adam his work。 The true joy of life is found only by the working men and
women。 The angels are diligent workers； they are the ministers of God to the
children of men。 The Creator has prepared no place for the stagnating
practice of indolence。
While they remained true to God； Adam and his companion were to bear rule
over the earth。 Unlimited control was given them over every living thing。
The lion and the lamb sported peacefully around them or lay down together at
their feet。 The happy birds flitted about them without fear； and as their
glad songs ascended to the praise of their Creator； Adam and Eve united with
them in thanksgiving to the Father and the Son。
The holy pair were not only children under the fatherly care of God but
students receiving instruction from the all…wise Creator。 They were visited
by angels； and were granted communion with their Maker； with no obscuring
veil between。 They were full of the vigor imparted by the tree of life； and
their intellectual power was but little less than that of the angels。 The
mysteries of the visible universe〃the wondrous works of Him which is
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perfect in knowledge〃 （Job 37：16）afforded them an exhaustless source of
instruction and delight。 The laws and operations of nature； which have
engaged men's study for six thousand years； were opened to their minds by
the infinite Framer and Upholder of all。 They held converse with leaf and
flower and tr
