The Glory of Eden

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 4, 1876

The Glory of Eden.

The glory of Eden—what was it? Fresh life everywhere bursting into activity and filling the young world with myriad emotions, forms and colors? No. Was it the joy and perfection of that animal existence which formed a part of the landscape? No. Was it the waving grass and hills with waving life? No. Was it the stars of gold in fields of blue above? No. Was it those green woodland retreats where angels and men walked and talked with Adam? No. Is it that river of crystal flowing through the land of gold and bdellium and onyx? No. Is it the tree of life? No. Was it Adam? No. Eve? No. Was it angels who from older worlds of light thither went to congratulate the new-made ones upon existence? No. God was there; but was he the glory of it? But, when he was there, the Sabbath pointed to his throne, where he sat and ruled myriad worlds with mighty power and mighty love. Then it was the glory. And if it was the glory of Eden, must it not now be the glory of earth?

That fresh life is gone from every form of nature. Earth's face is marred by sin, old and deep. Stars and skies are overcast by cold and sullen clouds. The forests are dwarfed and mangled. Rivers are dull and murky; the tree of life is removed; Adam dead five thousand years and Eve as long. God no longer walks with man; and angels find but few whom they do not repel. Still, there is a badge of Eden left—the Sabbath day. It brought the glory of earth and the glory of Heaven together every seventh day. It has outlived the sins and crimes and woes of man to point them back to Eden, and up to God. God would not forsake the world, nor would he have the world forsake him. So he keeps the standard of Deity aloft for men to rally.