patriarchs and prophets-第12部分

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abode　of　the　redeemed。　〃The　righteous　shall　inherit　the　land；　and　dwell
therein　forever。〃　〃And　there　shall　be　no　more　curse：　but　the　throne　of　God
and　of　the　Lamb　shall　be　in　it；　and　His　servants　shall　serve　Him。〃　Psalm
37：29；　Revelation　22：3。

Adam；　in　his　innocence；　had　enjoyed　open　communion　with　his　Maker；　but　sin
brought　separation　between　God　and　man；　and　the　atonement　of　Christ　alone
could　span　the　abyss　and　make　possible　the　communication　of　blessing　or
salvation　from　heaven　to　earth。　Man　was　still　cut　off　from　direct　approach
to　his　Creator；　but　God　would　communicate　with　him　through　Christ　and
angels。

Thus　were　revealed　to　Adam　important　events　in　the　history　of　mankind；　from
the　time　when　the　divine　sentence　was　pronounced　in　Eden；　to　the　Flood；　and
onward　to　the　first　advent　of　the　Son　of　God。　He　was　shown　that　while　the
sacrifice　of　Christ　would　be　of　sufficient　value　to　save　the　whole　world；
many　would　choose　a　life　of　sin　rather　than　of　repentance　and　obedience。

68

Crime　would　increase　through　successive　generations；　and　the　curse　of　sin
would　rest　more　and　more　heavily　upon　the　human　race；　upon　the　beasts；　and
upon　the　earth。　The　days　of　man　would　be　shortened　by　his　own　course　of　sin；
he　would　deteriorate　in　physical　stature　and　endurance　and　in　moral　and
intellectual　power；　until　the　world　would　be　filled　with　misery　of　every
type。　Through　the　indulgence　of　appetite　and　passion　men　would　become
incapable　of　appreciating　the　great　truths　of　the　plan　of　redemption。　Yet
Christ；　true　to　the　purpose　for　which　He　left　heaven；　would　continue　His
interest　in　men；　and　still　invite　them　to　hide　their　weakness　and
deficiencies　in　Him。　He　would　supply　the　needs　of　all　who　would　come　unto
Him　in　faith。　And　there　would　ever　be　a　few　who　would　preserve　the　knowledge
of　God　and　would　remain　unsullied　amid　the　prevailing　iniquity。

The　sacrificial　offerings　were　ordained　by　God　to　be　to　man　a　perpetual
reminder　and　a　penitential　acknowledgment　of　his　sin　and　a　confession　of　his
faith　in　the　promised　Redeemer。　They　were　intended　to　impress　upon　the
fallen　race　the　solemn　truth　that　it　was　sin　that　caused　death。　To　Adam；　the
offering　of　the　first　sacrifice　was　a　most　painful　ceremony。　His　hand　must
be　raised　to　take　life；　which　only　God　could　give。　It　was　the　first　time　he
had　ever　witnessed　death；　and　he　knew　that　had　he　been　obedient　to　God；
there　would　have　been　no　death　of　man　or　beast。　As　he　slew　the　innocent
victim；　he　trembled　at　the　thought　that　his　sin　must　shed　the　blood　of　the
spotless　Lamb　of　God。　This　scene　gave　him　a　deeper　and　more　vivid　sense　of
the　greatness　of　his　transgression；　which　nothing　but　the　death　of　God's
dear　Son　could　expiate。　And　he　marveled　at　the　infinite　goodness　that　would
give　such　a　ransom　to　save　the　guilty。　A　star　of　hope　illumined　the　dark　and
terrible　future　and　relieved　it　of　its　utter　desolation。

But　the　plan　of　redemption　had　a　yet　broader　and　deeper　purpose　than　the
salvation　of　man。　It　was　not　for　this　alone　that　Christ　came　to　the　earth；
it　was　not　merely　that　the　inhabitants　of　this　little　world　might　regard　the
law　of　God　as　it　should　be　regarded；　but　it　was　to　vindicate　the　character
of　God　before　the　universe。　To　this　result　of　His　great　sacrificeits
influence　upon　the　intelligences　of　other　worlds；　as　well　as　upon　manthe
Saviour　looked　forward　when　just　before　His　crucifixion　He　said：　〃Now　is　the
judgment　of　this　world：　now　shall　the　prince　of　this　world　be　cast　out。　And
I；　if　I　be　lifted　up　from　the　earth；　will　draw　all　unto

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　69

Me。〃　John　12：31；　32。　The　act　of　Christ　in　dying　for　the　salvation　of　man
would　not　only　make　heaven　accessible　to　men；　but　before　all　the　universe　it
would　justify　God　and　His　Son　in　their　dealing　with　the　rebellion　of　Satan。
It　would　establish　the　perpetuity　of　the　law　of　God　and　would　reveal　the
nature　and　the　results　of　sin。

From　the　first　the　great　controversy　had　been　upon　the　law　of　God。　Satan　had
sought　to　prove　that　God　was　unjust；　that　His　law　was　faulty；　and　that　the
good　of　the　universe　required　it　to　be　changed。　In　attacking　the　law　he
aimed　to　overthrow　the　authority　of　its　Author。　In　the　controversy　it　was　to
be　shown　whether　the　divine　statutes　were　defective　and　subject　to　change；
or　perfect　and　immutable。

When　Satan　was　thrust　out　of　heaven；　he　determined　to　make　the　earth　his
kingdom。　When　he　tempted　and　overcame　Adam　and　Eve；　he　thought　that　he　had
gained　possession　of　this　world；　〃because；〃　said　he；　〃they　have　chosen　me　as
their　ruler。〃　He　claimed　that　it　was　impossible　that　forgiveness　should　be
granted　to　the　sinner；　and　therefore　the　fallen　race　were　his　rightful
subjects；　and　the　world　was　his。　But　God　gave　His　own　dear　Son　one　equal
with　Himselfto　bear　the　penalty　of　transgression；　and　thus　He　provided　a
way　by　which　they　might　be　restored　to　His　favor；　and　brought　back　to　their
Eden　home。　Christ　undertook　to　redeem　man　and　to　rescue　the　world　from　the
grasp　of　Satan。　The　great　controversy　begun　in　heaven　was　to　be　decided　in
the　very　world；　on　the　very　same　field；　that　Satan　claimed　as　his。

It　was　the　marvel　of　all　the　universe　that　Christ　should　humble　Himself　to
save　fallen　man。　That　He　who　had　passed　from　star　to　star；　from　world　to
world；　superintending　all；　by　His　providence　supplying　the　needs　of　every
order　of　being　in　His　vast　creationthat　He　should　consent　to　leave　His
glory　and　take　upon　Himself　human　nature；　was　a　mystery　which　the　sinless
intelligences　of　other　worlds　desired　to　understand。　When　Christ　came　to　our
world　in　the　form　of　humanity；　all　were　intensely　interested　in　following
Him　as　He　traversed；　step　by　step；　the　bloodstained　path　from　the　manger　to
Calvary。　Heaven　marked　the　insult　and　mockery　that　He　received；　and　knew
that　it　was　at　Satan's　instigation。　They　marked　the　work　of　counteragencies
going　forward；　Satan　constantly　pressing　darkness；　sorrow；　and　suffering
upon　the　race；　and　Christ　counteracting　it。　They　watched　the　battle　between
light　and　darkness　as　it　waxed　stronger。　And　as　Christ

70

in　His　expiring　agony　upon　the　cross　cried　out；　〃It　is　finished〃　（John
19：30）；　a　shout　of　triumph　rang　through　every　world　and　through　heaven
itself。　The　great　contest　that　had　been　so　long　in　progress　in　this　world
was　now　decided；　and　Christ　was　conqueror。　His　death　had　answered　the
question　whether　the　Father　and　the　Son　had　sufficient　love　for　man　to
exercise　self…denial　and　a　spirit　of　sacrifice。　Satan　had　revealed　his　true
character　as　a　liar　and　a　murderer。　It　was　seen　that　the　very　same　spirit
with　which　he　had　ruled　the　children　of　men　who　were　under　his　power；　he
would　have　manifested　if　permitted　to　control　the　intelligences　of　heaven。
With　one　voice　the　loyal　universe　united　in　extolling　the　divine
administration。

If　the　law　could　be　changed；　man　might　have　been　saved　without　the　sacrifice
of　Christ；　but　the　fact　that　it　was　necessary　for　Christ　to　give　His　life
for　the　fallen　race；　proves　that　the　law　of　God　will　not　release　the　sinner
from　its　claims　upon　him。　It　is　demonstrated　that　the　wages　of　sin　is　death。
When　Christ　died；　the　destruction　of　Satan　was　made　certain。　But　if　the　law
was　abolished　at　the　cross；　as　many　claim；　then　the　agony　and　death　of　God's
dear　Son　were　endured　only　to　give　to　Satan　just　what　he　asked；　then　the
prince　of　evil　triumphed；　his　charges　against　the　divine　government　were
sustained。　The　very　fact　that　Christ　bore　the　penalty　of　man's　transgression
is　a　mighty　argument　to　all　created　intelligences　that　the　law　is
changeless；　that　God　is　righteous；　merciful；　and　self…denying；　and　that
infinite　justice　and　mercy　unite　in　the　administration　of　His　government。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　5

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cain　and　Abel　Tested


Cain　and　Abel；　the　sons　of　Adam；　differed　widely　in　character。　Abel　had　a
spirit　of　loyalty　to　God；　he　saw　justice　and　mercy　in　the　Creator's　dealings
with　the　fallen　race；　and　gratefully　accepted　the　hope　of　redemption。　But
Cain　cherished　feelings　of　rebellion；　and　murmured　against　God　because　of
the　curse　pronounced　upon　the　earth　and　upon　the　human　race　for　Adam's　sin。
He　permitted　his　mind　to　run　in　the　same　channel　that　led　to　Satan's
fallindulging　the　desire　for　self…exaltation　and　questioning　the　divine
justice　and　authority。

These　brothers　were　tested；　as　Adam　had　been　tested　before　them；　to　prove
whether　they　would　believe　and　obey　the　word　of　God。　They　were　acquainted
with　the　provision　made　for　the　salvation　of　man；　and　understood　the　system
of　offerings　which　God　had　ordained。　They　knew　that　in　these　offerings　they
were　to　express　faith　in　the　Saviour　whom　the　offerings　typified；　and　at　the
same　time　to　acknowledge　their　total　dependence　on　Him　for　pardon；　and　they
knew　that　by　thus　conforming　to　the　divine　plan　for　their　redemption；　they
were　giving　proof　of　their　obedience　to　the　will　of　God。　Without　the
shedding　of　blood　there　could　be　no　remission　of　sin；　and　they　were　to　show
their　faith　in　the　blood　of　Christ　as　the　promised　atonement　by　offering　the
firstlings　of　the　flock　in　sacrifice。　Besides　this；　the　first　fruits　of　the
earth　were　to　be　presented　before　the　Lord　as　a　thank　offering。

The　two　brothers　erected　their　altars　alike；　and　each　brought　an　offering。
Abel　presented　a　sacrifice　from　the　flock；　in　accordance　with　the　Lord's
directions。　〃And　the　Lord　had　respect　unto　Abel　and　to　his　offering。〃　Fire
flashed　from　heaven　and　consumed　the　sacrifice。　But　Cain；　disregarding　the
Lord's　direct　and　explicit　command；　presented　only　an　offering　of　fruit。
There　was　no　token　from　heaven　to　show　that　it　was　accepted。　Abel　pleaded
with　his

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brother　to　approach　God　in　the　divinely　prescribed　way；　but　his　entreaties
only　made　Cain　the　more　determined　to　follow　his　own　will。　As　the　eldest；　he
felt　above　being　admonished　by　his　brother；　and　despised　his　counsel。

Cain　came　before　God　with　murmuring　and　infidelity　in　his　heart　in　regard　to
the　promised　sacrifice　and　the　necessity　of　the　sacrifici