“只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子必定死”（创2:17）。{FH.140.1}
上帝知道亚当夏娃若不劳动就不快乐，就给了他们修理看守伊甸园的愉快工作。当他们照看周围美好有用之物时，就能在上帝的创造之工上看到祂的良善和荣耀。亚当夏娃在伊甸园中可以思考有关上帝作为的许多题目。伊甸是天国的缩影。上帝造人不仅是让他们思想祂光荣的作为。祂既赐给人心智进行思考，也赐给人双手从事劳动。如果无所事事会给人带来幸福，创造主就不会给他们指定工作了。在默想和劳动之中，亚当和夏娃可以得到幸福。他们可以思索自己是按照上帝的形像造的，要在公义和圣洁上与祂相似。他们的心思可以继续培养发展而成为文雅高贵的；因为有上帝作他们的教师，有天使作他们的同伴。{FH.140.2}
上帝让亚当和夏娃经受试验，使他们为自己的幸福也为他们创造主的荣耀而形成坚定纯正的品格。祂赋予那对圣洁的夫妇优于祂所造其它任何生物的心智能力。他们的智慧只比天使低一点儿。他们能熟悉自然界的庄严和荣耀，在创造之工中明白他们天父的品格。他们的眼目所见，尽是天父慷慨手笔的浩瀚作为，见证祂的慈爱和无限权能。……{FH.140.3}
所赐给亚当夏娃的第一个道德大功课就是舍己。自治的缰绳放在了他们的手中。判断力、理智和良心要起主导的作用。……亚当夏娃可以吃园中所有树上的果子，只有一棵树除外。上帝只给了他们这一道禁令。那棵禁树与园中所有的树一样优美可爱。它被称为分别善恶树，因为他们若吃了上帝所说“你们不可吃” （创2:7）的那树上的果子，就会有罪的知识和不顺从的经验。——《评论与通讯》，1874年2月24日。{FH.140.4}
The Chance to Choose, May 8
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.?Genesis 2:17.?{FH 140.1}[1]
The Lord knew that Adam and Eve could not be happy without labor; therefore He gave them the pleasant employment of dressing the garden. And, as they tended the things of beauty and usefulness around them, they could behold the goodness and glory of God in His created works. Adam and Eve had themes for contemplation in the works of God in Eden, which was heaven in miniature. God did not form them merely to contemplate His glorious works; therefore He gave them hands for labor, as well as minds and hearts for contemplation. If the happiness of His creatures consisted in doing nothing, the Creator would not have given them their appointed work. In labor, Adam and Eve were to find happiness as well as meditation. They could reflect that they were created in the image of God, to be like Him in righteousness and holiness. Their minds were capable of continual cultivation, expansion, refinement, and noble elevation; for God was their teacher, and angels were their companions.?{FH 140.2}[2]
The Lord placed Adam and Eve upon probation, that they might form characters of steadfast integrity for their own happiness and for the glory of their Creator. He had endowed the holy pair with powers of mind superior to any other living creature that He had made. Their mental powers were but little lower than those of the angels. They could become familiar with the sublimity and glory of nature, and understand the character of their heavenly Father in His created works. Everything that their eyes rested upon in the immensity of the Father’s works, provided with a lavish hand, testified of His love and infinite power....?{FH 140.3}[3]
The first great moral lesson given to Adam and Eve was that of self-denial. The reins of self-government were placed in their hands. Judgment, reason, and conscience were to bear sway.... Adam and Eve were permitted to partake of every tree in the garden save one. There was only a single prohibition. The forbidden tree was as attractive and lovely as any of the trees in the garden. It was called the tree of knowledge, because in partaking of that tree, of which God had said, “Thou shalt not eat of it,” they would have a knowledge of sin, an experience in disobedience.—The Review and Herald, February 24, 1874.?{FH 140.4}[4]
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