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were granted the opportunity of reaching a high standard of moral and
intellectual attainment。 They possessed great physical and mental strength；
and their advantages for acquiring both religious and scientific knowledge
were unrivaled。 It is a mistake to suppose that because they lived
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to a great age their minds matured late； their mental powers were early
developed； and those who cherished the fear of God and lived in harmony with
His will continued to increase in knowledge and wisdom throughout their
life。 Could illustrious scholars of our time be placed in contrast with men
of the same age who lived before the Flood； they would appear as greatly
inferior in mental as in physical strength。 As the years of man have
decreased； and his physical strength has diminished； so his mental
capacities have lessened。 There are men who now apply themselves to study
during a period of from twenty to fifty years； and the world is filled with
admiration of their attainments。 But how limited are these acquirements in
comparison with those of men whose mental and physical powers were
developing for centuries！
It is true that the people of modern times have the benefit of the
attainments of their predecessors。 The men of masterly minds； who planned
and studied and wrote； have left their work for those who follow。 But even
in this respect； and so far as merely human knowledge is concerned； how much
greater the advantages of the men of that olden time！ They had among them
for hundreds of years him who was formed in God's image； whom the Creator
Himself pronounced 〃good〃the man whom God had instructed in all the wisdom
pertaining to the material world。 Adam had learned from the Creator the
history of creation； he himself witnessed the events of nine centuries； and
he imparted his knowledge to his descendants。 The antediluvians were without
books； they had no written records； but with their great physical and mental
vigor； they had strong memories； able to grasp and to retain that which was
communicated to them； and in turn to transmit it unimpaired to their
posterity。 And for hundreds of years there were seven generations living
upon the earth contemporaneously； having the opportunity of consulting
together and profiting each by the knowledge and experience of all。
The advantages enjoyed by men of that age to gain a knowledge of God through
His works have never been equaled since。 And so far from being an era of
religious darkness； that was an age of great light。 All the world had
opportunity to receive instruction from Adam； and those who feared the Lord
had also Christ and angels for their teachers。 And they had a silent witness
to the truth； in the garden of God； which for so many centuries remained
among men。 At the cherubim…guarded gate of Paradise
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the glory of God was revealed； and hither came the first worshipers。 Here
their altars were reared； and their offerings presented。 It was here that
Cain and Abel had brought their sacrifices； and God had condescended to
communicate with them。
Skepticism could not deny the existence of Eden while it stood just in
sight； its entrance barred by watching angels。 The order of creation； the
object of the garden； the history of its two trees so closely connected with
man's destiny； were undisputed facts。 And the existence and supreme
authority of God； the obligation of His law； were truths which men were slow
to question while Adam was among them。
Notwithstanding the prevailing iniquity； there was a line of holy men who；
elevated and ennobled by communion with God； lived as in the companionship
of heaven。 They were men of massive intellect； of wonderful attainments。
They had a great and holy missionto develop a character of righteousness；
to teach a lesson of godliness； not only to the men of their time； but for
future generations。 Only a few of the most prominent are mentioned in the
Scriptures； but all through the ages God had faithfully witnesses；
truehearted worshipers。
Of Enoch it is written that he lived sixty…five years； and begat a son。
After that he walked with God three hundred years。 During these earlier
years Enoch had loved and feared God and had kept His commandments。 He was
one of the holy line； the preservers of the true faith； the progenitors of
the promised seed。 From the lips of Adam he had learned the dark story of
the Fall； and the cheering one of God's grace as seen in the promise； and he
relied upon the Redeemer to come。 But after the birth of his first son；
Enoch reached a higher experience； he was drawn into a closer relationship
with God。 He realized more fully his own obligations and responsibility as a
son of God。 And as he saw the child's love for its father； its simple trust
in his protection； as he felt the deep； yearning tenderness of his own heart
for that first…born son； he learned a precious lesson of the wonderful love
of God to men in the gift of His Son； and the confidence which the children
of God may repose in their heavenly Father。 The infinite； unfathomable love
of God through Christ became the subject of his meditations day and night；
and with all the fervor of his soul he sought to reveal that love to the
people among whom he dwelt。
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Enoch's walk with God was not in a trance or vision； but in all the duties
of his daily life。 He did not become a hermit； shutting himself entirely
from the world； for he had a work to do for God in the world。 In the family
and in his intercourse with men； as a husband and father； a friend； a
citizen； he was the steadfast； unwavering servant of the Lord。
His heart was in harmony with God's will； for 〃can two walk together； except
they be agreed？〃 Amos 3：3。 And this holy walk was continued for three
hundred years。 There are few Christians who would not be far more earnest
and devoted if they knew that they had but a short time to live； or that the
coming of Christ was about to take place。 But Enoch's faith waxed the
stronger； his love became more ardent； with the lapse of centuries。
Enoch was a man of strong and highly cultivated mind and extensive
knowledge； he was honored with special revelations from God； yet being in
constant communion with Heaven； with a sense of the divine greatness and
perfection ever before him； he was one of the humblest of men。 The closer
the connection with God； the deeper was the sense of his own weakness and
imperfection。
Distressed by the increasing wickedness of the ungodly； and fearing that
their infidelity might lessen his reverence for God； Enoch avoided constant
association with them； and spent much time in solitude； giving himself to
meditation and prayer。 Thus he waited before the Lord； seeking a clearer
knowledge of His will； that he might perform it。 To him prayer was as the
breath of the soul； he lived in the very atmosphere of heaven。
Through holy angels God revealed to Enoch His purpose to destroy the world
by a flood； and He also opened more fully to him the plan of redemption。 By
the spirit of prophecy He carried h