patriarchs and prophets-第17章
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the disciples of Christ。 But the cruelties heaped upon the follower of Jesus
are instigated by Satan and his hosts because they cannot force him to
submit to their control。 It is the rage of a vanquished foe。 Every martyr of
Jesus has died a conqueror。 Says the prophet； 〃They overcame him ＇〃that old
serpent； called the devil； and Satan〃＇ by the blood of the Lamb； and by the
word of their testimony； and they loved not their lives unto the death。〃
Revelation 12：11； 9。
Cain the murderer was soon called to answer for his crime。 〃The Lord said
unto Cain； Where is Abel thy brother？ And he said； I know not： Am I my
brother's keeper？〃 Cain had gone so far in sin that he had lost a sense of
the continual presence of God and of His greatness and omniscience。 So he
resorted to falsehood to conceal his guilt。
Again the Lord said to Cain； 〃What hast thou done？ The voice of thy
brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground。〃 God had given Cain an
opportunity to confess his sin。 He had had time to reflect。 He knew the
enormity of the deed he had done； and of the falsehood he had uttered to
conceal it； but he was rebellious still； and sentence was no longer
deferred。 The divine voice that had been heard in entreaty and admonition
pronounced the terrible words： 〃And now art thou cursed from the earth；
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand。
When thou tillest the ground； it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her
strength； a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth。〃
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Notwithstanding that Cain had by his crimes merited the sentence of death； a
merciful Creator still spared his life； and granted him opportunity for
repentance。 But Cain lived only to harden his heart； to encourage rebellion
against the divine authority； and to become the head of a line of bold；
abandoned sinners。 This one apostate； led on by Satan； became a tempter to
others； and his example and influence exerted their demoralizing power；
until the earth became so corrupt and filled with violence as to call for
its destruction。
In sparing the life of the first murderer； God presented before the whole
universe a lesson bearing upon the great controversy。 The dark history of
Cain and his descendants was an illustration of what would have been the
result of permitting the sinner to live on forever； to carry out his
rebellion against God。 The forbearance of God only rendered the wicked more
bold and defiant in their iniquity。 Fifteen centuries after the sentence
pronounced upon Cain； the universe witnessed the fruition of his influence
and example； in the crime and pollution that flooded the earth。 It was made
manifest that the sentence of death pronounced upon the fallen race for the
transgression of God's law was both just and merciful。 The longer men lived
in sin； the more abandoned they became。 The divine sentence cutting short a
career of unbridled iniquity； and freeing the world from the influence of
those who had become hardened in rebellion； was a blessing rather than a
curse。
Satan is constantly at work； with intense energy and under a thousand
disguises； to misrepresent the character and government of God。 With
extensive； well…organized plans and marvelous power； he is working to hold
the inhabitants of the world under his deceptions。 God； the One infinite and
all…wise； sees the end from the beginning； and in dealing with evil His
plans were far…reaching and comprehensive。 It was His purpose； not merely to
put down the rebellion； but to demonstrate to all the universe the nature of
the rebellion。 God's plan was unfolding； showing both His justice and His
mercy； and fully vindicating His wisdom and righteousness in His dealings
with evil。
The holy inhabitants of other worlds were watching with the deepest interest
the events taking place on the earth。 In the condition of the world that
existed before the Flood they saw illustrated the results of the
administration which Lucifer had
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endeavored to establish in heaven； in rejecting the authority of Christ and
casting aside the law of God。 In those high…handed sinners of the
antediluvian world they saw the subjects over whom Satan held sway。 The
thoughts of men's hearts were only evil continually。 Genesis 6：5。 Every
emotion； every impulse and imagination； was at war with the divine
principles of purity and peace and love。 It was an example of the awful
depravity resulting from Satan's policy to remove from God's creatures the
restraint of His holy law。
By the facts unfolded in the progress of the great controversy； God will
demonstrate the principles of His rules of government； which have been
falsified by Satan and by all whom he has deceived。 His justice will finally
be acknowledged by the whole world； though the acknowledgment will be made
too late to save the rebellious。 God carries with Him the sympathy and
approval of the whole universe as step by step His great plan advances to
its complete fulfillment。 He will carry it with Him in the final eradication
of rebellion。 It will be seen that all who have forsaken the divine precepts
have placed themselves on the side of Satan； in warfare against Christ。 When
the prince of this world shall be judged； and all who have united with him
shall share his fate； the whole universe as witnesses to the sentence will
declare； 〃Just and true are Thy ways； Thou King of saints。〃 Revelation 15：3。
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Chapter 6
Seth and Enoch
To Adam was given another son； to be the inheritor of the divine promise；
the heir of the spiritual birthright。 The name Seth； given to this son；
signified 〃appointed；〃 or 〃compensation；〃 〃for；〃 said the mother； 〃God hath
appointed me another seed instead of Abel； whom Cain slew。〃 Seth was of more
noble stature than Cain or Abel； and resembled Adam more closely than did
his other sons。 He was a worthy character； following in the steps of Abel。
Yet he inherited no more natural goodness than did Cain。 Concerning the
creation of Adam it is said； 〃In the likeness of God made He him；〃 but man；
after the Fall； 〃begat a son in his own likeness； after his image。〃 While
Adam was created sinless； in the likeness of God； Seth； like Cain； inherited
the fallen nature of his parents。 But he received also the knowledge of the
Redeemer and instruction in righteousness。 By divine grace he served and
honored God； and he labored； as Abel would have done； had he lived； to turn
the minds of sinful men to revere and obey their Creator。
〃To Seth； to him also there was born a son； and he called his name Enos：
then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah。〃 The faithful had worshiped
God before； but as men increased； the distinction between the two classes
became more marked。 There was an open profession of loyalty to God on the
part of one； as there was of contempt and disobedience on the part of the
other。
Before the Fall our first parents had kept the Sabbath； which was instituted
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
