patriarchs and prophets-第9节

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the　infinite　Framer　and　Upholder　of　all。　They　held　converse　with　leaf　and
flower　and　tree；　gathering　from　each　the　secrets　of　its　life。　With　every
living　creature；　from　the　mighty　leviathan　that　playeth　among　the　waters　to
the　insect　mote　that　floats　in　the　sunbeam；　Adam　was　familiar。　He　had　given
to　each　its　name；　and　he　was　acquainted　with　the　nature　and　habits　of　all。
God's　glory　in　the　heavens；　the　innumerable　worlds　in　their　orderly
revolutions；　〃the　balancings　of　the　clouds；〃　the　mysteries　of　light　and
sound；　of　day　and　nightall　were　open　to　the　study　of　our　first　parents。　On
every　leaf　of　the　forest　or　stone　of　the　mountains；　in　every　shining　star；
in　earth　and　air　and　sky；　God's　name　was　written。　The　order　and　harmony　of
creation　spoke　to　them　of　infinite　wisdom　and　power。　They　were　ever
discovering　some　attraction　that　filled　their　hearts　with　deeper　love　and
called　forth　fresh　expressions　of　gratitude。

So　long　as　they　remained　loyal　to　the　divine　law；　their　capacity　to　know；　to
enjoy；　and　to　love　would　continually　increase。　They　would　be　constantly
gaining　new　treasures　of　knowledge；　discovering　fresh　springs　of　happiness；
and　obtaining　clearer　and　yet　clearer　conceptions　of　the　immeasurable；
unfailing　love　of　God。





（52）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　3

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Temptation　and　Fall


No　longer　free　to　stir　up　rebellion　in　heaven；　Satan's　enmity　against　God
found　a　new　field　in　plotting　the　ruin　of　the　human　race。　In　the　happiness
and　peace　of　the　holy　pair　in　Eden　he　beheld　a　vision　of　the　bliss　that　to
him　was　forever　lost。　Moved　by　envy；　he　determined　to　incite　them　to
disobedience；　and　bring　upon　them　the　guilt　and　penalty　of　sin。　He　would
change　their　love　to　distrust　and　their　songs　of　praise　to　reproaches
against　their　Maker。　Thus　he　would　not　only　plunge　these　innocent　beings
into　the　same　misery　which　he　was　himself　enduring；　but　would　cast　dishonor
upon　God；　and　cause　grief　in　heaven。

Our　first　parents　were　not　left　without　a　warning　of　the　danger　that
threatened　them。　Heavenly　messengers　opened　to　them　the　history　of　Satan's
fall　and　his　plots　for　their　destruction；　unfolding　more　fully　the　nature　of
the　divine　government；　which　the　prince　of　evil　was　trying　to　overthrow。　It
was　by　disobedience　to　the　just　commands　of　God　that　Satan　and　his　host　had
fallen。　How　important；　then；　that　Adam　and　Eve　should　honor　that　law　by
which　alone　it　was　possible　for　order　and　equity　to　be　maintained。

The　law　of　God　is　as　sacred　as　God　Himself。　It　is　a　revelation　of　His　will；
a　transcript　of　His　character；　the　expression　of　divine　love　and　wisdom。　The
harmony　of　creation　depends　upon　the　perfect　conformity　of　all　beings；　of
everything；　animate　and　inanimate；　to　the　law　of　the　Creator。　God　has
ordained　laws　for　the　government；　not　only　of　living　beings；　but　of　all　the
operations　of　nature。　Everything　is　under　fixed　laws；　which　cannot　be
disregarded。　But　while　everything　in　nature　is　governed　by　natural　laws；　man
alone；　of　all　that　inhabits　the　earth；　is　amenable　to　moral　law。　To　man；　the
crowning　work　of　creation；　God　has　given　power　to　understand　His
requirements；　to　comprehend　the　justice　and　beneficence　of　His　law；　and　its
sacred　claims　upon　him；　and　of　man　unswerving　obedience　is　required。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　53


Like　the　angels；　the　dwellers　in　Eden　had　been　placed　upon　probation；　their
happy　estate　could　be　retained　only　on　condition　of　fidelity　to　the
Creator's　law。　They　could　obey　and　live；　or　disobey　and　perish。　God　had　made
them　the　recipients　of　rich　blessings；　but　should　they　disregard　His　will；
He　who　spared　not　the　angels　that　sinned；　could　not　spare　them；
transgression　would　forfeit　His　gifts　and　bring　upon　them　misery　and　ruin。

The　angels　warned　them　to　be　on　their　guard　against　the　devices　of　Satan；
for　his　efforts　to　ensnare　them　would　be　unwearied。　While　they　were　obedient
to　God　the　evil　one　could　not　harm　them；　for；　if　need　be；　every　angel　in
heaven　would　be　sent　to　their　help。　If　they　steadfastly　repelled　his　first
insinuations；　they　would　be　as　secure　as　the　heavenly　messengers。　But　should
they　once　yield　to　temptation；　their　nature　would　become　so　depraved　that　in
themselves　they　would　have　no　power　and　no　disposition　to　resist　Satan。

The　tree　of　knowledge　had　been　made　a　test　of　their　obedience　and　their　love
to　God。　The　Lord　had　seen　fit　to　lay　upon　them　but　one　prohibition　as　to　the
use　of　all　that　was　in　the　garden；　but　if　they　should　disregard　His　will　in
this　particular；　they　would　incur　the　guilt　of　transgression。　Satan　was　not
to　follow　them　with　continual　temptations；　he　could　have　access　to　them　only
at　the　forbidden　tree。　Should　they　attempt　to　investigate　its　nature；　they
would　be　exposed　to　his　wiles。　They　were　admonished　to　give　careful　heed　to
the　warning　which　God　had　sent　them　and　to　be　content　with　the　instruction
which　He　had　seen　fit　to　impart。

In　order　to　accomplish　his　work　unperceived；　Satan　chose　to　employ　as　his
medium　the　serpenta　disguise　well　adapted　for　his　purpose　of　deception。
The　serpent　was　then　one　of　the　wisest　and　most　beautiful　creatures　on　the
earth。　It　had　wings；　and　while　flying　through　the　air　presented　an
appearance　of　dazzling　brightness；　having　the　color　and　brilliancy　of
burnished　gold。　Resting　in　the　rich…laden　branches　of　the　forbidden　tree　and
regaling　itself　with　the　delicious　fruit；　it　was　an　object　to　arrest　the
attention　and　delight　the　eye　of　the　beholder。　Thus　in　the　garden　of　peace
lurked　the　destroyer；　watching　for　his　prey。

The　angels　had　cautioned　Eve　to　beware　of　separating　herself　from　her
husband　while　occupied　in　their　daily　labor　in　the　garden；　with　him　she
would　be　in　less　danger　from　temptation　than　if　she　were　alone。　But　absorbed
in　her　pleasing　task；　she

54

unconsciously　wandered　from　his　side。　On　perceiving　that　she　was　alone；　she
felt　an　apprehension　of　danger；　but　dismissed　her　fears；　deciding　that　she
had　sufficient　wisdom　and　strength　to　discern　evil　and　to　withstand　it。
Unmindful　of　the　angels'　caution；　she　soon　found　herself　gazing　with　mingled
curiosity　and　admiration　upon　the　forbidden　tree。　The　fruit　was　very
beautiful；　and　she　questioned　with　herself　why　God　had　withheld　it　from
them。　Now　was　the　tempter's　opportunity。　As　if　he　were　able　to　discern　the
workings　of　her　mind；　he　addressed　her：　〃Yea；　hath　God　said；　Ye　shall　not
eat　of　every　tree　of　the　garden？〃　Eve　was　surprised　and　startled　as　she　thus
seemed　to　hear　the　echo　of　her　thoughts。　But　the　serpent　continued；　in　a
musical　voice；　with　subtle　praise　of　her　surpassing　loveliness；　and　his
words　were　not　displeasing。　Instead　of　fleeing　from　the　spot　she　lingered
wonderingly　to　hear　a　serpent　speak。　Had　she　been　addressed　by　a　being　like
the　angels；　her　fears　would　have　been　excited；　but　she　had　no　thought　that
the　fascinating　serpent　could　become　the　medium　of　the　fallen　foe。

To　the　tempter's　ensnaring　question　she　replied：　〃We　may　eat　of　the　fruit　of
the　trees　of　the　garden：　but　of　the　fruit　of　the　tree　which　is　in　the　midst
of　the　garden；　God　hath　said；　Ye　shall　not　eat　of　it；　neither　shall　ye　touch
it；　lest　ye　die。　And　the　serpent　said　unto　the　woman；　Ye　shall　not　surely
die：　for　God　doth　know　that　in　the　day　ye　eat　thereof；　then　your　eyes　shall
be　opened；　and　ye　shall　be　as　gods；　knowing　good　and　evil。〃

By　partaking　of　this　tree；　he　declared；　they　would　attain　to　a　more　exalted
sphere　of　existence　and　enter　a　broader　field　of　knowledge。　He　himself　had
eaten　of　the　forbidden　fruit；　and　as　a　result　had　acquired　the　power　of
speech。　And　he　insinuated　that　the　Lord　jealously　desired　to　withhold　it
from　them；　lest　they　should　be　exalted　to　equality　with　Himself。　It　was
because　of　its　wonderful　properties；　imparting　wisdom　and　power；　that　He　had
prohibited　them　from　tasting　or　even　touching　it。　The　tempter　intimated　that
the　divine　warning　was　not　to　be　actually　fulfilled；　it　was　designed　merely
to　intimidate　them。　How　could　it　be　possible　for　them　to　die？　Had　they　not
eaten　of　the　tree　of　life？　God　had　been　seeking　to　prevent　them　from
reaching　a　nobler　development　and　finding　greater　happiness。

Such　has　been　Satan's　work　from　the　days　of　Adam　to　the　present；　and　he　has
pursued　it　with　great　success。　He　tempts　men　to　distrust　God's　love　and　to
doubt　His　wisdom。　He　is　constantly

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　55

seeking　to　excite　a　spirit　of　irreverent　curiosity；　a　restless；　inquisitive
desire　to　penetrate　the　secrets　of　divine　wisdom　and　power。　In　their　efforts
to　search　out　what　God　has　been　pleased　to　withhold；　multitudes　overlook　the
truths　which　He　has　revealed；　and　which　are　essential　to　salvation。　Satan
tempts　men　to　disobedience　by　leading　them　to　believe　they　are　entering　a
wonderful　field　of　knowledge。　But　this　is　all　a　deception。　Elated　with　their
ideas　of　progression；　they　are；　by　trampling　on　God's　requirements；　setting
their　feet　in　the　path　that　leads　to　degradation　and　death。

Satan　represented　to　the　holy　pair　that　they　would　be　gainers　by　breaking
the　law　of　God。　Do　we　not