46
From Eternity Past
The antediluvian age was not, as has often been supposed, an era
of ignorance and barbarism. The people possessed great physical and
mental strength, and their advantages were unrivaled. Their mental
powers were early developed, and those who cherished the fear of
God continued to increase in knowledge and wisdom throughout their
life. Illustrious scholars of our time 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.
It is true that the people of modern times have the benefit of the
attainments of their predecessors. Men of masterly minds have left
their work for those who follow. But how much greater the advantages
of the men of that time! They had among them for hundreds of years
him who was formed in God’s image. Adam had learned from the
Creator the history of creation; he himself witnessed the events of
nine centuries. The antediluvians had strong memories to retain that
which was communicated to them and to transmit it unimpaired to
their posterity. For hundreds of years there were seven generations
living upon the earth contemporaneously, profiting by the knowledge
[46]
and experience of all.
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 many centuries remained among men. Eden stood
just in sight, its entrance barred by watching angels. The object of the
garden, the history of its two trees, were undisputed facts. And the
existence and supreme authority of God were truths which men were
slow to question while Adam was among them.
Notwithstanding the prevailing iniquity, a line of holy men lived
as in the companionship of heaven—men of massive intellect, of won-
derful attainments. They had a great mission—to develop a character
of righteousness, to teach a lesson of godliness, not only to men of
their time, but for future generations. Only a few are mentioned in
the Scriptures, but all through the ages God had faithful witnesses,
true-hearted worshipers.