adityawarman
2007-05-31 18:43:59 UTC
The Eden School
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The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a
model for man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles
a model school was established in Eden, the home of our first parents. The
Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the lesson book, the Creator
Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were the
students.
Created to be "the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11:7), Adam and
Eve had received endowments not unworthy of their high destiny. Graceful and
symmetrical in form, regular and beautiful in feature, their countenances
glowing with the tint of health and the light of joy and hope, they bore in
outward resemblance the likeness of their Maker. Nor was this likeness
manifest in the physical nature only. Every faculty of mind and soul
reflected the Creator's glory. Endowed with high mental and spiritual gifts,
Adam and Eve were made but "little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:7),
that they might not only discern the wonders of the visible universe, but
comprehend moral responsibilities and obligations.
"The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man
whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every
21
tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also
in the midst of the garden." Genesis 2:8,9. Here, amidst the beautiful
scenes of nature untouched by sin, our first parents were to receive their
education.
In His interest for His children, our heavenly Father personally directed
their education. Often they were visited by His messengers, the holy angels,
and from them received counsel and instruction. Often as they walked in the
garden in the cool of the day they heard the voice of God, and face to face
held communion with the Eternal. His thoughts toward them were "thoughts of
peace, and not of evil." Jeremiah 29:11. His every purpose was their highest
good.
To Adam and Eve was committed the care of the garden, "to dress it and to
keep it." Genesis 2:15. Though rich in all that the Owner of the universe
could supply, they were not to be idle. Useful occupation was appointed them
as a blessing, to strengthen the body, to expand the mind, and to develop
the character.
The book of nature, which spread its living lessons before them, afforded an
exhaustless source of instruction and delight. On every leaf of the forest
and stone of the mountains, in every shining star, in earth and sea and sky,
God's name was written. With both the animate and the inanimate
creation--with leaf and flower and tree, and with every living creature,
from the leviathan of the waters to the mote in the sunbeam--the dwellers in
Eden held converse, gathering from each the secrets of its life. God's glory
in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, "the
balancings of the clouds" (Job 37:16), the mysteries of light and sound, of
day and night--all were objects of study by the pupils of earth's first
school.
22
The laws and operations of nature, and the great principles of truth that
govern the spiritual universe, were opened to their minds by the infinite
Author of all. In "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" (2
Corinthians 4:6), their mental and spiritual powers developed, and they
realized the highest pleasures of their holy existence.
As it came from the Creator's hand, not only the Garden of Eden but the
whole earth was exceedingly beautiful. No taint of sin, or shadow of death,
marred the fair creation. God's glory "covered the heavens, and the earth
was full of His praise." "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons
of God shouted for joy." Habakkuk 3:3; Job 38:7. Thus was the earth a fit
emblem of Him who is "abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6); a fit
study for those who were made in His image. The Garden of Eden was a
representation of what God desired the whole earth to become, and it was His
purpose that, as the human family increased in numbers, they should
establish other homes and schools like the one He had given. Thus in course
of time the whole earth might be occupied with homes and schools where the
words and the works of God should be studied, and where the students should
thus be fitted more and more fully to reflect, throughout endless ages, the
light of the knowledge of His glory.
<< Previous Chapter << >> Next Chapter >>
[Return to the Table of Contents]
[Return to Online Books Menu]
[Return to the Homepage]
The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a
model for man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles
a model school was established in Eden, the home of our first parents. The
Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the lesson book, the Creator
Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were the
students.
Created to be "the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11:7), Adam and
Eve had received endowments not unworthy of their high destiny. Graceful and
symmetrical in form, regular and beautiful in feature, their countenances
glowing with the tint of health and the light of joy and hope, they bore in
outward resemblance the likeness of their Maker. Nor was this likeness
manifest in the physical nature only. Every faculty of mind and soul
reflected the Creator's glory. Endowed with high mental and spiritual gifts,
Adam and Eve were made but "little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:7),
that they might not only discern the wonders of the visible universe, but
comprehend moral responsibilities and obligations.
"The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man
whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every
21
tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also
in the midst of the garden." Genesis 2:8,9. Here, amidst the beautiful
scenes of nature untouched by sin, our first parents were to receive their
education.
In His interest for His children, our heavenly Father personally directed
their education. Often they were visited by His messengers, the holy angels,
and from them received counsel and instruction. Often as they walked in the
garden in the cool of the day they heard the voice of God, and face to face
held communion with the Eternal. His thoughts toward them were "thoughts of
peace, and not of evil." Jeremiah 29:11. His every purpose was their highest
good.
To Adam and Eve was committed the care of the garden, "to dress it and to
keep it." Genesis 2:15. Though rich in all that the Owner of the universe
could supply, they were not to be idle. Useful occupation was appointed them
as a blessing, to strengthen the body, to expand the mind, and to develop
the character.
The book of nature, which spread its living lessons before them, afforded an
exhaustless source of instruction and delight. On every leaf of the forest
and stone of the mountains, in every shining star, in earth and sea and sky,
God's name was written. With both the animate and the inanimate
creation--with leaf and flower and tree, and with every living creature,
from the leviathan of the waters to the mote in the sunbeam--the dwellers in
Eden held converse, gathering from each the secrets of its life. God's glory
in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, "the
balancings of the clouds" (Job 37:16), the mysteries of light and sound, of
day and night--all were objects of study by the pupils of earth's first
school.
22
The laws and operations of nature, and the great principles of truth that
govern the spiritual universe, were opened to their minds by the infinite
Author of all. In "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" (2
Corinthians 4:6), their mental and spiritual powers developed, and they
realized the highest pleasures of their holy existence.
As it came from the Creator's hand, not only the Garden of Eden but the
whole earth was exceedingly beautiful. No taint of sin, or shadow of death,
marred the fair creation. God's glory "covered the heavens, and the earth
was full of His praise." "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons
of God shouted for joy." Habakkuk 3:3; Job 38:7. Thus was the earth a fit
emblem of Him who is "abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6); a fit
study for those who were made in His image. The Garden of Eden was a
representation of what God desired the whole earth to become, and it was His
purpose that, as the human family increased in numbers, they should
establish other homes and schools like the one He had given. Thus in course
of time the whole earth might be occupied with homes and schools where the
words and the works of God should be studied, and where the students should
thus be fitted more and more fully to reflect, throughout endless ages, the
light of the knowledge of His glory.