FOUR WONDERFUL GARDENS by A. F. Schauffler, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1887

FOUR WONDERFUL GARDENS.

By A. F. Schauffler, D. D.

THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

Two things had their beginning in that garden, man and sin. Eden speaks to us of the creation of man in the image of God, pure and holy. For him that garden was prepared, and there he might have remained had he obeyed God's commands. There he held free communion with his heavenly Father, and the glory of his future on earth, had he remained loyal to God, none can well depict. But Eden also speaks to us of sin. Unbelief came in, and with it disobedience; and following that came death. Were this all of which Eden reminds us, it would be a dark story without any single ray of light. But Eden speaks also of God's mercy; for in Eden there came the first promise that foreshadowed redemption. Before they were cast out God gave them that promise in which they and we discern, dimly it may be, but none the less truly, a coming Deliverer. Thus Eden speaks of three things to us, man, man's fall, God's promise.

All the ground between the first and second garden is filled with the manifold story of man's sins and God's favor. The plan of God's salvation grows clearer, and yet more clear, as the centuries roll by. From the darkness of the fall and the midnight of the flood the light slowly breaks until we reach

THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.

Had there been no expulsion from Eden, Christ would never have been forced into Gethsemane. The one made the other necessary, unless man was to be hopelessly lost. In Gethsemane we see a partial fulfillment of the Eden prophecy. It may stand as the symbol of atonement; for the agony of the cross began there. In Eden, we see man's downward plunge; in Gethsemane, we see the downward plunge of the divine Saviour, in his effort to save his lost creatures. It was to recover the ground lost in Eden that the Master endured all that Gethsemane speaks to us of. Sorrow, pain, anguish of soul, the cross,—all this may be included in this one word. Not until we can understand all the sacrifice of Christ in its fullness, can we rightly estimate the sufferings of which that garden reminds us. Then there is

THE GARDEN OF JOSEPH.

Until that glad morning when the angel descended, Joseph's garden spoke only of defeat and death. The friends of Christ could get no comfort in that garden, but his enemies thought with joy of that tomb. But with the coming of the angel all this was changed. And from that moment until this day that garden speaks to us of triumph and glad victory. No such victory over the grave had ever been gained before. Christ is the first-fruits of those that slept. From Gethsemane he went forth to death, but from Joseph's garden he came forth to everlasting life. "The conflict at that tomb settled the question for all graveyards for all time;" for Christ rose not for himself, but for his people. As in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive. Resurrection there means resurrection everywhere. His resurrection means my resurrection, and that without fail. Wonderful garden! Finally, we come to

THE GARDEN OF PARADISE.

Revelation speaks of this. It is Eden, but improved. All that was beautiful in Eden is there, and more. All that was found in the earthly Paradise, of holiness and of communion with God is there, and more. Sin did indeed abound after Eden, but grace has much more abounded. Joseph's garden may speak to us of the Saviour's victory, but Paradise speaks to us of the fruits of this victory enjoyed by the ransomed and redeemed of the Lord. The groaning and travailing of creation there ceases, and the redemption of body and soul are complete. There God's plans of love and mercy are fulfilled, and thus we see man as perfect as God meant he should be, forever engaged in his service.

What a sweep from Eden to Paradise! Human failure, divine favor; human need, divine help; Paradise lost, Paradise regained,—this is the whole purport of the Bible. Its history, prophecy, poetry, epistle, are all only links in the golden chain by which God attaches humanity to himself. And can it be, when scholars have studied in detail this "wonderful story," that they still treat it with indifference! To angels, it must seem the miracle of miracles that this should ever be.—A. F. Schauffler, D. D.