patriarchs and prophets-第16部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


constant　and　earnest　were　his　prayers。　He

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　87

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
communion；　until　God　took　him　to　Himself。　He　had　stood　at　the　threshold　of
the　eternal　world；　only　a　step　between　him　and　the　land　of　the　blest；　and
now　the　portals　opened；　the　walk　with　God；　so　long　pursued　on　earth；
continued；　and　he　passed　through　the　gates　of　the　Holy　Citythe　first　from
among　men　to　enter　there。

88


His　loss　was　felt　on　earth。　The　voice　that　had　been　heard　day　after　day　in
warning　and　instruction　was　missed。　There　were　some；　both　of　the　righteous
and　the　wicked；　who　had　witnessed　his　departure；　and　hoping　that　he　might
have　been　conveyed　to　some　one　of　his　places　of　retirement；　those　who　loved
him　made　diligent　search；　as　afterward　the　sons　of　the　prophets　searched　for
Elijah；　but　without　avail。　They　reported　that　he　was　not；　for　God　had　taken
him。

By　the　translation　of　Enoch　the　Lord　designed　to　teach　an　important　lesson。
There　was　danger　that　men　would　yield　to　discouragement；　because　of　the
fearful　results　of　Adam's　sin。　Many　were　ready　to　exclaim；　〃What　profit　is
it　that　we　have　feared　the　Lord　and　have　kept　His　ordinances；　since　a　heavy
curse　is　resting　upon　the　race；　and　death　is　the　portion　of　us　all？〃　But　the
instructions　which　God　gave　to　Adam；　and　which　were　repeated　by　Seth；　and
exemplified　by　Enoch；　swept　away　the　gloom　and　darkness；　and　gave　hope　to
man；　that　as　through　Adam　came　death；　so　through　the　promised　Redeemer　would
come　life　and　immortality。　Satan　was　urging　upon　men　the　belief　that　there
was　no　reward　for　the　righteous　or　punishment　for　the　wicked；　and　that　it
was　impossible　for　men　to　obey　the　divine　statutes。　But　in　the　case　of
Enoch；　God　declares　〃that　He　is；　and　that　He　is　a　rewarder　of　them　that
diligently　seek　Him。〃　Hebrews　11：16。　He　shows　what　He　will　do　for　those　who
keep　His　commandments。　Men　were　taught　that　it　is　possible　to　obey　the　law
of　God；　that　even　while　living　in　the　midst　of　the　sinful　and　corrupt；　they
were　able；　by　the　grace　of　God；　to　resist　temptation；　and　become　pure　and
holy。　They　saw　in　his　example　the　blessedness　of　such　a　life；　and　his
translation　was　an　evidence　of　the　truth　of　his　prophecy　concerning　the
hereafter；　with　its　award　of　joy　and　glory　and　immortal　life　to　the
obedient；　and　of　condemnation；　woe；　and　death　to　the　transgressor。

By　faith　Enoch　〃was　translated　that　he　should　not　see　death；　。　。　。　for
before　his　translation　he　had　this　testimony；　that　he　pleased　God。〃　Hebrews
11：15。　In　the　midst　of　a　world　by　its　iniquity　doomed　to　destruction；　Enoch
lived　a　life　of　such　close　communion　with　God　that　he　was　not　permitted　to
fall　under　the　power　of　death。　The　godly　character　of　this　prophet
represents　the　state　of　holiness　which　must　be　attained　by　those　who　shall
be

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　89

〃redeemed　from　the　earth〃　（Revelation　14：3）　at　the　time　of　Christ's　second
advent。　Then；　as　in　the　world　before　the　Flood；　iniquity　will　prevail。
Following　the　promptings　of　their　corrupt　hearts　and　the　teachings　of　a
deceptive　philosophy；　men　will　rebel　against　the　authority　of　Heaven。　But
like　Enoch；　God's　people　will　seek　for　purity　of　heart　and　conformity　to　His
will；　until　they　shall　reflect　the　likeness　of　Christ。　Like　Enoch；　they　will
warn　the　world　of　the　Lord's　second　coming　and　of　the　judgments　to　be
visited　upon　transgression；　and　by　their　holy　conversation　and　example　they
will　condemn　the　sins　of　the　ungodly。　As　Enoch　was　translated　to　heaven
before　the　destruction　of　the　world　by　water；　so　the　living　righteous　will
be　translated　from　the　earth　before　its　destruction　by　fire。　Says　the
apostle：　〃We　shall　not　all　sleep；　but　we　shall　all　be　changed；　in　a　moment；
in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　at　the　last　trump。〃　〃For　the　Lord　Himself　shall
descend　from　heaven　with　a　shout；　with　the　voice　of　the　Archangel；　and　with
the　trump　of　God；〃　〃the　trumpet　shall　sound；　and　the　dead　shall　be　raised
incorruptible；　and　we　shall　be　changed。〃　〃The　dead　in　Christ　shall　rise
first：　then　we　which　are　alive　and　remain　shall　be　caught　up　together　with
them　in　the　clouds；　to　meet　the　Lord　in　the　air：　and　so　shall　we　ever　be
with　the　Lord。　Wherefore　comfort　one　another　with　these　words。〃　1
Corinthians　15：51；　52；
1　Thessalonians　4：16…18。





（90）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　7

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Flood


In　the　days　of　Noah　a　double　curse　was　resting　upon　the　earth　in　consequence
of　Adam's　transgression　and　of　the　murder　committed　by　Cain。　Yet　this　had
not　greatly　changed　the　face　of　nature。　There　were　evident　tokens　of　decay；
but　the　earth　was　still　rich　and　beautiful　in　the　gifts　of　God's　providence。
The　hills　were　crowned　with　majestic　trees　supporting　the　fruit…laden
branches　of　the　vine。　The　vast；　gardenlike　plains　were　clothed　with　verdure；
and　sweet　with　the　fragrance　of　a　thousand　flowers。　The　fruits　of　the　earth
were　in　great　variety；　and　almost　without　limit。　The　trees　far　surpassed　in
size；　beauty；　and　perfect　proportion　any　now　to　be　found；　their　wood　was　of
fine　grain　and　hard　substance；　closely　resembling　stone；　and　hardly　less
enduring。　Gold；　silver；　and　precious　stones　existed　in　abundance。

The　human　race　yet　retained　much　of　its　early　vigor。　But　a　few　generations
had　passed　since　Adam　had　access　to　the　tree　which　was　to　prolong　life；　and
man's　existence　was　still　measured　by　centuries。　Had　that　long…lived　people；
with　their　rare　powers　to　plan　and　execute；　devoted　themselves　to　the
service　of　God；　they　would　have　made　their　Creator's　name　a　praise　in　the
earth；　and　would　have　answered　the　purpose　for　which　He　gave　them　life。　But
they　failed　to　do　this。　There　were　many　giants；　men　of　great　stature　and
strength；　renowned　for　wisdom；　skillful　in　devising　the　most　cunning　and
wonderful　works；　but　their　guilt　in　giving　loose　rein　to　iniquity　was　in
proportion　to　their　skill　and　mental　ability。

God　bestowed　upon　these　antediluvians　many　and　rich　gifts；　but　they　used　His
bounties　to　glorify　themselves；　and　turned　them　into　a　curse　by　fixing　their
affections　upon　the　gifts　instead　of　the　Giver。　They　employed　the　gold　and
silver；　the　precious　stones　and　the　choice　wood；　in　the　construction　of
habitations　for　themselves；　and　endeavored　to　excel　one　another　in
beautifying　their　dwellings　with　the　most　skillful　workmanship。　They

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　91

sought　only　to　gratify　the　desires　of　their　own　proud　hearts；　and　reveled　in
scenes　of　pleasure　and　wickedness。　Not　desiring　to　retain　God　in　their
knowledge；　they　soon　came　to　deny　His　existence。　They　adored　nature　in　place
of　the　God　of　nature。　They　glorified　human　genius；　worshiped　the　works　of
their　own　hands；　and　taught　their　children　to　bow　down　to　graven　images。

In　the　green　fields　and　under　the　shadow　of　the　goodly　trees　they　set　up　the
altars　of　their　idols。　Extensive　groves；　that　retained　their　foliage
throughout　the　year；　were　dedicated　to　the　worship　of　false　gods。　With　these
groves　were　connected　beautiful　gardens；　their　long；　winding　avenues
overhung　with　fruit…bearing　trees　of　all　descriptions；　adorned　with
statuary；　and　furnished　with　all　that　could　delight　the　senses　or　minister
to　the　voluptuous　desires　of　the　people；　and　thus　allure　them　to　participate
in　the　idolatrous　worship。

Men　put　God　out　of　their　knowledge　and　worshiped　the　creatures　of　their　own
imagination；　and　as　the　result；　they　became　more　and　more　debased。　The
psalmist　describes　the　effect　produced　upon　the　worshiper　by　the　adoration
of　idols。　He　says；　〃They　that　make　them　are　like　unto　them；　so　is　every　one
that　trusteth　in　them。〃　Psalm　115：8。　It　is　a　law　of　the　human　mind　that　by
beholding　we　become　changed。　Man　will　rise　no　higher　than　his　conceptions　of
truth；　purity；　and　holiness。　If　the　mind　is　never　exalted　above　the　level　of
humanity；　if　it　is　not　uplifted　by　faith　to　contemplate　infinite　wisdom　and
love；　the　man　will　be　constantly　sinking　lower　and　lower。　The　worshipers　of
false　gods　clothed　their　deities　with　human　attributes　and　passions；　and
thus　their　standard　of　cha