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patriarchs and prophets-µÚ16½Ú

С˵£º patriarchs and prophets ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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in¡¡Eden£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡their¡¡expulsion¡¡from¡¡Paradise¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡its
observance¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡tasted¡¡the¡¡bitter¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡disobedience£»¡¡and¡¡had
learned¡¡what¡¡every¡¡one¡¡that¡¡tramples¡¡upon¡¡God's¡¡commandments¡¡will¡¡sooner¡¡or
later¡¡learnthat¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡precepts¡¡are¡¡sacred¡¡and¡¡immutable£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the
penalty¡¡of¡¡transgression¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡be¡¡inflicted¡£¡¡The¡¡Sabbath¡¡was¡¡honored
by

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all¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Adam¡¡that¡¡remained¡¡loyal¡¡to¡¡God¡£¡¡But¡¡Cain¡¡and¡¡his
descendants¡¡did¡¡not¡¡respect¡¡the¡¡day¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡God¡¡had¡¡rested¡£¡¡They¡¡chose
their¡¡own¡¡time¡¡for¡¡labor¡¡and¡¡for¡¡rest£»¡¡regardless¡¡of¡¡Jehovah's¡¡express
command¡£

Upon¡¡receiving¡¡the¡¡curse¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡Cain¡¡had¡¡withdrawn¡¡from¡¡his¡¡father's
household¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡first¡¡chosen¡¡his¡¡occupation¡¡as¡¡a¡¡tiller¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soil£»¡¡and
he¡¡now¡¡founded¡¡a¡¡city£»¡¡calling¡¡it¡¡after¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eldest¡¡son¡£¡¡He¡¡had
gone¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡cast¡¡away¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡the
restored¡¡Eden£»¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡his¡¡possessions¡¡and¡¡enjoyment¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡under¡¡the
curse¡¡of¡¡sin£»¡¡thus¡¡standing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡that¡¡great¡¡class¡¡of¡¡men¡¡who
worship¡¡the¡¡god¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡which¡¡pertains¡¡to¡¡mere¡¡earthly¡¡and
material¡¡progress£»¡¡his¡¡descendants¡¡became¡¡distinguished¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were
regardless¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡opposition¡¡to¡¡His¡¡purposes¡¡for¡¡man¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡crime
of¡¡murder£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Cain¡¡had¡¡led¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡Lamech£»¡¡the¡¡fifth¡¡in¡¡descent£»
added¡¡polygamy£»¡¡and£»¡¡boastfully¡¡defiant£»¡¡he¡¡acknowledged¡¡God£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡draw
from¡¡the¡¡avenging¡¡of¡¡Cain¡¡an¡¡assurance¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡safety¡£¡¡Abel¡¡had¡¡led¡¡a
pastoral¡¡life£»¡¡dwelling¡¡in¡¡tents¡¡or¡¡booths£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡descendants¡¡of¡¡Seth
followed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡course£»¡¡counting¡¡themselves¡¡¡¨strangers¡¡and¡¡pilgrims¡¡on¡¡the
earth£»¡¨¡¡seeking¡¡¡¨a¡¡better¡¡country£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡an¡¡heavenly¡£¡¨¡¡Hebrews¡¡11£º13£»¡¡16¡£

For¡¡some¡¡time¡¡the¡¡two¡¡classes¡¡remained¡¡separate¡£¡¡The¡¡race¡¡of¡¡Cain£»¡¡spreading
from¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡their¡¡first¡¡settlement£»¡¡dispersed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plains¡¡and
valleys¡¡where¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Seth¡¡had¡¡dwelt£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡latter£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to
escape¡¡from¡¡their¡¡contaminating¡¡influence£»¡¡withdrew¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡and
there¡¡made¡¡their¡¡home¡£¡¡So¡¡long¡¡as¡¡this¡¡separation¡¡continued£»¡¡they¡¡maintained
the¡¡worship¡¡of¡¡God¡¡in¡¡its¡¡purity¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lapse¡¡of¡¡time¡¡they¡¡ventured£»
little¡¡by¡¡little£»¡¡to¡¡mingle¡¡with¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valleys¡£¡¡This
association¡¡was¡¡productive¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡results¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡God¡¡saw¡¡the
daughters¡¡of¡¡men¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡fair¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Seth£»¡¡attracted¡¡by
the¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡daughters¡¡of¡¡Cain's¡¡descendants£»¡¡displeased¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡by
intermarrying¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worshipers¡¡of¡¡God¡¡were¡¡beguiled¡¡into
sin¡¡by¡¡the¡¡allurements¡¡that¡¡were¡¡now¡¡constantly¡¡before¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡lost
their¡¡peculiar£»¡¡holy¡¡character¡£¡¡Mingling¡¡with¡¡the¡¡depraved£»¡¡they¡¡became¡¡like
them¡¡in¡¡spirit¡¡and¡¡in¡¡deeds£»¡¡the¡¡restrictions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡commandment
were¡¡disregarded£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡they¡¡took¡¡them¡¡wives¡¡of¡¡all¡¡which¡¡they¡¡chose¡£¡¨¡¡The
children¡¡of¡¡Seth¡¡went

82

¡¨in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Cain¡¨¡¡£¨Jude¡¡11£©£»¡¡they¡¡fixed¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡upon¡¡worldly
prosperity¡¡and¡¡enjoyment¡¡and¡¡neglected¡¡the¡¡commandments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡£¡¡Men
¡¨did¡¡not¡¡like¡¡to¡¡retain¡¡God¡¡in¡¡their¡¡knowledge£»¡¨¡¡they¡¡¡¨became¡¡vain¡¡in¡¡their
imaginations£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡foolish¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡darkened¡£¡¨¡¡Romans¡¡1£º21¡£¡¡Therefore
¡¨God¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡over¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡void¡¡of¡¡judgment¡£¡¨¡¡Verse¡¡28£»¡¡margin¡£¡¡Sin
spread¡¡abroad¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡like¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡leprosy¡£

For¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡Adam¡¡lived¡¡among¡¡men£»¡¡a¡¡witness¡¡to¡¡the¡¡results
of¡¡sin¡£¡¡Faithfully¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡stem¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡evil¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡commanded
to¡¡instruct¡¡his¡¡posterity¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡carefully¡¡treasured
what¡¡God¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡repeated¡¡it¡¡to¡¡succeeding¡¡generations¡£¡¡To
his¡¡children¡¡and¡¡children's¡¡children£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ninth¡¡generation£»¡¡he¡¡described
man's¡¡holy¡¡and¡¡happy¡¡estate¡¡in¡¡Paradise£»¡¡and¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡his
fall£»¡¡telling¡¡them¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sufferings¡¡by¡¡which¡¡God¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡the
necessity¡¡of¡¡strict¡¡adherence¡¡to¡¡His¡¡law£»¡¡and¡¡explaining¡¡to¡¡them¡¡the
merciful¡¡provisions¡¡for¡¡their¡¡salvation¡£¡¡Yet¡¡there¡¡were¡¡but¡¡few¡¡who¡¡gave
heed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡words¡£¡¡Often¡¡he¡¡was¡¡met¡¡with¡¡bitter¡¡reproaches¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sin¡¡that
had¡¡brought¡¡such¡¡woe¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡posterity¡£

Adam's¡¡life¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡sorrow£»¡¡humility£»¡¡and¡¡contrition¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡left¡¡Eden£»
the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡die¡¡thrilled¡¡him¡¡with¡¡horror¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡first¡¡made
acquainted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡reality¡¡of¡¡death¡¡in¡¡the¡¡human¡¡family¡¡when¡¡Cain£»¡¡his
first¡­born¡¡son£»¡¡became¡¡the¡¡murderer¡¡of¡¡his¡¡brother¡£¡¡Filled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡keenest
remorse¡¡for¡¡his¡¡own¡¡sin£»¡¡and¡¡doubly¡¡bereaved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Abel¡¡and¡¡the
rejection¡¡of¡¡Cain£»¡¡Adam¡¡was¡¡bowed¡¡down¡¡with¡¡anguish¡£¡¡He¡¡witnessed¡¡the
wide¡­spreading¡¡corruption¡¡that¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡the
world¡¡by¡¡a¡¡flood£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡the¡¡sentence¡¡of¡¡death¡¡pronounced¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡by
His¡¡Maker¡¡had¡¡at¡¡first¡¡appeared¡¡terrible£»¡¡yet¡¡after¡¡beholding¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡a
thousand¡¡years¡¡the¡¡results¡¡of¡¡sin£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡merciful¡¡in¡¡God¡¡to
bring¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡sorrow¡£

Notwithstanding¡¡the¡¡wickedness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡antediluvian¡¡world£»¡¡that¡¡age¡¡was¡¡not£»
as¡¡has¡¡often¡¡been¡¡supposed£»¡¡an¡¡era¡¡of¡¡ignorance¡¡and¡¡barbarism¡£¡¡The¡¡people
were¡¡granted¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡reaching¡¡a¡¡high¡¡standard¡¡of¡¡moral¡¡and
intellectual¡¡attainment¡£¡¡They¡¡possessed¡¡great¡¡physical¡¡and¡¡mental¡¡strength£»
and¡¡their¡¡advantages¡¡for¡¡acquiring¡¡both¡¡religious¡¡and¡¡scientific¡¡knowledge
were¡¡unrivaled¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mistake¡¡to¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡because¡¡they¡¡lived

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡83

to¡¡a¡¡great¡¡age¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡matured¡¡late£»¡¡their¡¡mental¡¡powers¡¡were¡¡early
developed£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡who¡¡cherished¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡harmony¡¡with
His¡¡will¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡knowledge¡¡and¡¡wisdom¡¡throughout¡¡their
life¡£¡¡Could¡¡illustrious¡¡scholars¡¡of¡¡our¡¡time¡¡be¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡contrast¡¡with¡¡men
of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡age¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Flood£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡appear¡¡as¡¡greatly
inferior¡¡in¡¡mental¡¡as¡¡in¡¡physical¡¡strength¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡years¡¡of¡¡man¡¡have
decreased£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡physical¡¡strength¡¡has¡¡diminished£»¡¡so¡¡his¡¡mental
capacities¡¡have¡¡lessened¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡men¡¡who¡¡now¡¡apply¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡study
during¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡from¡¡twenty¡¡to¡¡fifty¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world¡¡is¡¡filled¡¡with
admiration¡¡of¡¡their¡¡attainments¡£¡¡But¡¡how¡¡limited¡¡are¡¡these¡¡acquirements¡¡in
comparison¡¡with¡¡those¡¡of¡¡men¡¡whose¡¡mental¡¡and¡¡physical¡¡powers¡¡were
developing¡¡for¡¡centuries£¡

It¡¡is¡¡true¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡times¡¡have¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡the
attainments¡¡of¡¡their¡¡predecessors¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡of¡¡masterly¡¡minds£»¡¡who¡¡planned
and¡¡studied¡¡and¡¡wrote£»¡¡have¡¡left¡¡their¡¡work¡¡for¡¡those¡¡who¡¡follow¡£¡¡But¡¡even
in¡¡this¡¡respect£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡merely¡¡human¡¡knowledge¡¡is¡¡concerned£»¡¡how¡¡much
greater¡¡the¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡that¡¡olden¡¡time£¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡among¡¡them
for¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡years¡¡him¡¡who¡¡was¡¡formed¡¡in¡¡God's¡¡image£»¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡Creator
Himself¡¡pronounced¡¡¡¨good¡¨the¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡God¡¡had¡¡instructed¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡wisdom
pertaining¡¡to¡¡the¡¡material¡¡world¡£¡¡Adam¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡the
history¡¡of¡¡creation£»¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡witnessed¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡nine¡¡centuries£»¡¡and
he¡¡imparted¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡to¡¡his¡¡descendants¡£¡¡The¡¡antediluvians¡¡were¡¡without
books£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡no¡¡written¡¡records£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡their¡¡great¡¡physical¡¡and¡¡mental
vigor£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡strong¡¡memories£»¡¡able¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡and¡¡to¡¡retain¡¡that¡¡which¡¡was
communicated¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡transmit¡¡it¡¡unimpaired¡¡to¡¡their
posterity¡£¡¡And¡¡for¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡years¡¡there¡¡were¡¡seven¡¡generations¡¡living
upon¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡contemporaneously£»¡¡having¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡consulting
together¡¡and¡¡profiting¡¡each¡¡by¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡and¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡all¡£

The¡¡advantages¡¡enjoyed¡¡by¡¡men¡¡of¡¡that¡¡age¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡God¡¡through
His¡¡works¡¡have¡¡never¡¡been¡¡equaled¡¡since¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡far¡¡from¡¡being¡¡an¡¡era¡¡of
religious¡¡darkness£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡an¡¡age¡¡of¡¡great¡¡light¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡world¡¡had
opportunity¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡instruction¡¡from¡¡Adam£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡who¡¡feared¡¡the¡¡Lord
had¡¡also¡¡Christ¡¡and¡¡angels¡¡for¡¡their¡¡teachers¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡had¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡witness
to¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡which¡¡for¡¡so¡¡many¡¡centuries¡¡remained
among¡¡men¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡cherubim¡­guarded¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡Paradise

84

the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡God¡¡was¡¡revealed£»¡¡and¡¡hither¡¡came¡¡the¡¡first¡¡worshipers¡£¡¡Here
their¡¡altars¡¡were¡¡reared£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡offerings¡¡presented¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡here¡¡that
Cain¡¡and¡¡Abel¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡their¡¡sacrifices£»¡¡and¡¡God¡¡had¡¡condescended¡¡to
communicate¡¡with¡¡them¡£

Skepticism¡¡could¡¡not¡¡deny¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡Eden¡¡while¡¡it¡¡stood¡¡just¡¡in
sight£»¡¡its¡¡entrance¡¡barred¡¡by¡¡watching¡¡angels¡£¡¡The¡¡order¡¡of¡¡creation£»¡¡the
object¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡its¡¡two¡¡trees¡¡so¡¡closely¡¡connected¡¡with
man's¡¡destiny£»¡¡were¡¡undisputed¡¡facts¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡and¡¡supreme
authority¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡obligation¡¡of¡¡His¡¡law£»¡¡were¡¡truths¡¡which¡¡men¡¡were¡¡slow
to¡¡question¡¡while¡¡Adam¡¡was¡¡among¡¡them¡£

Notwithstanding¡¡the¡¡prevailing¡¡iniquity£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡line¡¡of¡¡holy¡¡men¡¡who£»
elevated¡¡and¡¡ennobled¡¡by¡¡communion¡¡with¡¡God£»¡¡lived¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡companionship
of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡men¡¡of¡¡massive¡¡intellect£»¡¡of¡¡wonderful¡¡attainments¡£
They¡¡had¡¡a¡¡great¡¡and¡¡holy¡¡missionto¡¡develop¡¡a¡¡character¡¡of¡¡righteousness£»
to¡¡teach¡¡a¡¡lesson¡¡of¡¡godliness£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡their¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡for
future¡¡generations¡£¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡prominent¡¡are¡¡mentioned¡¡in¡¡the
Scriptures£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡through¡¡the¡¡ages¡¡God¡¡had¡¡faithfully¡¡witnesses£»
truehearted¡¡worshipers¡£

Of¡¡Enoch¡¡it¡¡is¡¡written¡¡that¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡sixty¡­five¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡bega

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