MAN'S EDEN HOME by Augusta W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

MAN'S EDEN HOME.

By Augusta W. Heald

“In the beginning.” These words of inspiration transport us back through the ages of this world’s history to that far-distant time when “the earth was without form, and void” (Gen. 1:2), a confused mass of elements, and darkness covered the abyss. But the Spirit of God brooded upon the face of the waters, and the “Word,” by whom all things were made, acting in union with God the Father, created the light and the firmament. The waters were gathered together, and the dry land appeared; then at God’s command appeared also the tender grass, the herb yielding seed, and the tree yielding fruit, each after its kind, and, hanging in the blue firmament, the sun shone forth to rule the day, and the moon and stars, the night.

Then appeared, by the will of the great Creator, the marvelous production of animal life, the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, the beasts, “and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Ps. 50:10. Lastly, as God’s masterpiece, framed in his own image, man stands forth with powers and capabilities fitting him to become the companion and friend of the divine Creator. “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1:31.

Thus have passed the six days of creation’s week, and on the seventh day God rested from his work. He ceased from creating; “and God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work.” Gen. 2:3.

We next read that God planted a garden, and there placed the man whom he had created; this garden was called Eden, or “Delight,” and here, amid bowers of beauty, dwelt our first parents; their office was to dress the garden and keep it. Here grew every tree pleasant to the sight; every leaf and bud was perfection, fresh from the Master’s hand, while man, in the image of the Creator, had God’s law written in his heart, and was by nature inclined to that love of God and his creatures which “is the fulfilling of the law.”

Here, amid his handiwork, God was accustomed to manifest to his children the tokens of his divine presence; their hearts had known no sin; they had no conception of pain, or sorrow, or death. O, blessed estate of man in his innocence! Our present fallen nature can not comprehend its fulness, but our thoughts love to linger with our first parents in the “garden of delight.”

“The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue, eternal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, The great Original proclaim.”

AUGUSTA W. HEALD.