patriarchs and prophets-第12章
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now； after his fall； endeavor to make his companion； and even the Creator
Himself； responsible for the transgression。 So terrible is the power of sin。
When the woman was asked； 〃What is this that thou hast done？〃 she answered；
〃The serpent beguiled me； and I did eat。〃 〃Why didst Thou create the
serpent？ Why didst Thou suffer him to enter Eden？〃these were the questions
implied in her excuse for her sin。 Thus； like Adam； she charged God with the
responsibility of their fall。 The spirit of self…justification originated in
the father of lies； it was indulged by our first parents as soon as they
yielded to the influence of Satan； and has been exhibited by all the sons
and daughters of Adam。 Instead of humbly confessing their sins； they try to
shield themselves by casting the blame upon others； upon circumstances； or
upon Godmaking even His blessings an occasion of murmuring against Him。
The Lord then passed sentence upon the serpent： 〃Because thou hast done
this； thou art cursed above all cattle； and above every beast of the field；
upon thy belly shalt thou go； and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy
life。〃 Since it had been employed as Satan's medium； the serpent was to
share the visitation of divine judgment。 From the most beautiful and admired
of the creatures of the field； it was to become the most groveling and
detested of them all； feared and hated by both man and beast。 The words next
addressed to the serpent applied directly to Satan himself； pointing forward
to his ultimate defeat and destruction： 〃I will put enmity between thee and
the woman； and between thy seed and her seed； it shall bruise thy head； and
thou shalt bruise his heel。〃
Eve was told of the sorrow and pain that must henceforth be her portion。 And
the Lord said； 〃Thy desire shall be to thy husband； and he shall rule over
thee。〃 In the creation God had made her the equal of Adam。 Had they remained
obedient to Godin harmony with His great law of lovethey would ever have
been in harmony with each other； but sin had brought discord； and now their
union could be maintained and harmony preserved only by submission on the
part of the one or the other。 Eve had been the first in transgression； and
she had fallen into temptation by separating from her companion； contrary to
the divine direction。 It was by her solicitation that Adam sinned； and she
was now placed in subjection to her husband。 Had the principles
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joined in the law of God been cherished by the fallen race； this sentence；
though growing out of the results of sin； would have proved a blessing to
them； but man's abuse of the supremacy thus given him has too often rendered
the lot of woman very bitter and made her life a burden。
Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband's side in her Eden home； but；
like restless modern Eves； she was flattered with the hope of entering a
higher sphere than that which God had assigned her。 In attempting to rise
above her original position； she fell far below it。 A similar result will be
reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in
accordance with God's plan。 In their efforts to reach positions for which He
has not fitted them； many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a
blessing。 In their desire for a higher sphere； many have sacrificed true
womanly dignity and nobility of character； and have left undone the very
work that Heaven appointed them。
To Adam the Lord declared： 〃Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of
thy wife； and hast eaten of the tree； of which I commanded thee； saying；
Thou shalt not eat of it： cursed is the ground for thy sake； in sorrow shalt
thou eat of it all the days of thy life； thorns also and thistles shall it
bring forth to thee； and thou shalt eat the herb of the field； in the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread； till thou return unto the ground； for out
of it was thou taken： for dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou return。〃
It was not the will of God that the sinless pair should know aught of evil。
He had freely given them the good； and had withheld the evil。 But； contrary
to His command； they had eaten of the forbidden tree； and now they would
continue to eat of it they would have the knowledge of evilall the days
of their life。 From that time the race would be afflicted by Satan's
temptations。 Instead of the happy labor heretofore appointed them； anxiety
and toil were to be their lot。 They would be subject to disappointment；
grief； and pain； and finally to death。
Under the curse of sin all nature was to witness to man of the character and
results of rebellion against God。 When God made man He made him rule over
the earth and all living creatures。 So long as Adam remained loyal to
Heaven； all nature was in subjection to him。 But when he rebelled against
the divine law； the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule。
Thus the
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Lord； in His great mercy； would show men the sacredness of His law； and lead
them； by their own experience； to see the danger of setting it aside； even
in the slightest degree。
And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be man's lot was
appointed in love。 It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin； to place
a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion； to develop habits of
self…control。 It was a part of God's great plan of man's recovery from the
ruin and degradation of sin。
The warning given to our first parents〃In the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die〃 （Genesis 2：17）did not imply that they were to die
on the very day when they partook of the forbidden fruit。 But on the day the
irrevocable sentence would be pronounced。 Immortality was promised them on
condition of obedience； by transgression they would forfeit eternal life。
That very day would be doomed to death。
In order to possess an endless existence； man must continue to partake of
the tree of life。 Deprived of this； his vitality would gradually diminish
until life should become extinct。 It was Satan's plan that Adam and Eve
should by disobedience incur God's displeasure； and then； if they failed to
obtain forgiveness； he hoped that they would eat of the tree of life； and
thus perpetuate an existence of sin and misery。 But after man's fall； holy
angels were immediately commissioned to guard the tree of life。 Around these
angels flashed beams of light having the appearance of a glittering sword。
None of the family of Adam were permitted to pass the barrier to partake of
the life…giving fruit； hence there is not an immortal sinner。
The tide of woe that flowed from the transgression of our first parents is
regarded by many as too awful a consequence for so small a sin； and they
impeach the wisdom and justice of God in His dealings with man。 But if they
would look more deeply into this question； they might discern their error。
God created man after His own likeness； free from sin。 The earth was to be
peopled with beings only a little lower than the angels； but their obedience
must be tested； for God would not permit the world to be filled with those
who would disregard His law。 Yet； in His great mercy； He appointed Adam no
severe test。 And the very lightness of the prohibition made the sin
exceedingly great。 If Adam could not bear the smallest of tests； he could
not have
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endured a greater trail had he been entrusted with higher responsibilities。
Had some great test been appointed Adam； then those whose hearts incline to
evil would have excused themselves by saying； 〃This is a trivial matter； and
God is not so particular about little things。〃 And there would be continual
transgression in things looked upon as small； and which pass unrebuked among
men。 But the Lord has made it evident that sin in any degree is offensive to
Him。
To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the
forbidden tree； and to tempt her husband also to transgress； but their sin
opened the floodgates of woe upon the world。 Who can know； in the moment of
temptation； the terrible consequen
