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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 men who
worship the god of this world。 In that which pertains to mere earthly and
material progress； his descendants became distinguished。 But they were
regardless of God； and in opposition to His purposes for man。 To the crime
of murder； in which Cain had led the way； Lamech； the fifth in descent；
added polygamy； and； boastfully defiant； he acknowledged God； only to draw
from the avenging of Cain an assurance of his own safety。 Abel had led a
pastoral life； dwelling in tents or booths； and the descendants of Seth
followed the same course； counting themselves 〃strangers and pilgrims on the
earth；〃 seeking 〃a better country； that is； an heavenly。〃 Hebrews 11：13； 16。
For some time the two classes remained separate。 The race of Cain； spreading
from the place of their first settlement； dispersed over the plains and
valleys where the children of Seth had dwelt； and the latter； in order to
escape from their contaminating influence； withdrew to the mountains； and
there made their home。 So long as this separation continued； they maintained
the worship of God in its purity。 But in the lapse of time they ventured；
little by little； to mingle with the inhabitants of the valleys。 This
association was productive of the worst results。 〃The sons of God saw the
daughters of men that they were fair。〃 The children of Seth； attracted by
the beauty of the daughters of Cain's descendants； displeased the Lord by
intermarrying with them。 Many of the worshipers of God were beguiled into
sin by the allurements that were now constantly before them； and they lost
their peculiar； holy character。 Mingling with the depraved； they became like
them in spirit and in deeds； the restrictions of the seventh commandment
were disregarded； 〃and they took them wives of all which they chose。〃 The
children of Seth went
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〃in the way of Cain〃 （Jude 11）； they fixed their minds upon worldly
prosperity and enjoyment and neglected the commandments of the Lord。 Men
〃did not like to retain God in their knowledge；〃 they 〃became vain in their
imaginations； and their foolish heart was darkened。〃 Romans 1：21。 Therefore
〃God gave them over to a mind void of judgment。〃 Verse 28； margin。 Sin
spread abroad in the earth like a deadly leprosy。
For nearly a thousand years Adam lived among men； a witness to the results
of sin。 Faithfully he sought to stem the tide of evil。 He had been commanded
to instruct his posterity in the way of the Lord； and he carefully treasured
what God had revealed to him； and repeated it to succeeding generations。 To
his children and children's children； to the ninth generation； he described
man's holy and happy estate in Paradise； and repeated the history of his
fall； telling them of the sufferings by which God had taught him the
necessity of strict adherence to His law； and explaining to them the
merciful provisions for their salvation。 Yet there were but few who gave
heed to his words。 Often he was met with bitter reproaches for the sin that
had brought such woe upon his posterity。
Adam's life was one of sorrow； humility； and contrition。 When he left Eden；
the thought that he must die thrilled him with horror。 He was first made
acquainted with the reality of death in the human family when Cain； his
first…born son； became the murderer of his brother。 Filled with the keenest
remorse for his own sin； and doubly bereaved in the death of Abel and the
rejection of Cain； Adam was bowed down with anguish。 He witnessed the
wide…spreading corruption that was finally to cause the destruction of the
world by a flood； and though the sentence of death pronounced upon him by
His Maker had at first appeared terrible； yet after beholding for nearly a
thousand years the results of sin； he felt that it was merciful in God to
bring to an end a life of suffering and sorrow。
Notwithstanding the wickedness of the antediluvian world； that age was not；
as has often been supposed； an era of ignorance and barbarism。 The people
were granted the opportunity of reaching a high stand