After Adam had been driven out of the garden, he began to till the earth

22. After Adam had been driven out of the garden, he began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him: and he called upon the name of the Lord, and so did Eve his wife also. And they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the garden of Eden, speaking unto them; and they saw him not, for they were shut out from his presence; and he gave unto them commandments that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
23. And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why do you offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not; but the Lord commanded me to offer sacrifices.
24. And then the angel said unto him, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, who is full of grace and truth. And you shall do all that you do in the name of the Son: and you shall repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forever. And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, and bore record of the Father and the Son.
25. This last quotation, or summary, shows this important fact, that though our first parents were driven out of the garden of Eden, and were even separated from the presence of God, by a vail, they still retained a knowledge of his existence, and that sufficiently to move them to call upon him. And further, that no sooner was the plan of redemption revealed to man, and he began to call upon God, than the Holy Spirit was given, bearing record of the Father and Son.
26. Moses also gives us an account, in the 4th of Genesis, of the transgression of Cain, and the righteousness of Abel, and of the revelations of God to them. He says: In process of time, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, an offering unto the Lord.—And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why are you angry? Why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?—And if you do not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desires to have you; and except you shall hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver you up: and it shall be unto you according to his desire.
27. And Cain went into the field, and talked with his brother Abel. And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and slew him. And Cain gloried in what he had done, saying, I am free; surely the flocks of my brother will now fall into my hands.
28. But the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel, your brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood cries unto me from the ground. And now, you shall be cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto you her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be in the earth.
29. And Cain said unto the Lord, Satan tempted me because of my brother's flocks. And I was angry: for his offering you accepted and mine was not: My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold you have driven me out this day from the face of men, and from your face shall I be hid also; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass that he that findeth me will slay me because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore, whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
30. The object of the foregoing quotations is to show to this class the way by which mankind were first made acquainted with the existence of a God: that it was by a manifestation of God to man, and that God continued, after man's transgression to manifest himself to him and to his posterity; and, notwithstanding they were separated from his immediate presence, that they could not see his face, they continued to hear his voice.
31. Adam thus being made acquainted with God, communicated the knowledge which he had unto his posterity; and it was through this means that the thought was first suggested to their minds that there was a God. Which laid the foundation for the exercise of their faith, through which they could obtain a knowledge of his character and also of his glory.
32. Not only was there a manifestation made unto Adam of the existence of a God, but Moses informs us, as before quoted, that God condescended to talk with Cain after his great transgression, in slaying his brother, and that Cain knew that it was the Lord that was talking with him: so that when he was driven out from the presence of his brethren, he carried with him the knowledge of the existence of a God; and, through this means, doubtless, his posterity became acquainted with the fact that such a being existed.
33. From this we can see that the whole human family, in the early age of their existence, in all their different branches, had this knowledge disseminated among them; so that the existence of God became an object of faith, in the early age of the world. And the evidences which these men had of the existence of a God, was the testimony of their fathers in the first instance.
34. The reason why we have been thus particular on this part of our subject, is that this class may see by what means it was that God became an object of faith among men after the fall; and what it was that stirred up the faith of multitudes to feel after him; to search after a knowledge of his character, perfections and attributes, until they became extensively acquainted with him; and not only commune with him, and behold his glory, but be partakers of his power and stand in his presence.
35. Let this class mark particularly that the testimony which these men had of the existence of a God, was the testimony of man; for previous to the time that any of Adam's posterity had obtained a manifestation of God to themselves, Adam their common father had testified unto them of the existence of God, and of his eternal power and Godhead.
36. For instance, Abel, before he received the assurance from heaven that his offerings were acceptable unto God, had received the important information of his father that such a being did exist, who had created and who did uphold all things. Neither can there be a doubt existing on the mind of any person, that Adam was the first who did communicate the knowledge of the existence of a God, to his posterity; and that the whole faith of the world, from that time down to the present, is in a certain degree, dependent on the knowledge first communicated to them by their common progenitor; and it has been handed down to the day and generation in which we live, as we shall show from the face of the sacred records.
37. First, Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born. Genesis 5:3. And the days of Adam, after he had begotten Seth, were 800 years; making him 930 years old when he died. Genesis 5:4,5. Seth was 105 when Enos was born. 5:6. Enos was 90 when Cainan was born. 5:9. Cainan was 70 when Mahalaleel was born. 5:12. Mahalaleel was 65 when Jared was born. 5:15. Jared was 162 when Enoch was born. 5:18. Enoch was 65 when Methuselah was born. 5:21. Methuselah was 187 when Lamech was born. 5:25. Lamech was 182 when Noah was born. 5:28.
38. From this account it appears that Lamech, the 9th from Adam, and the father of Noah, was 56 years old when Adam died; Methuselah, 243; Enoch, 308; Jared, 470; Mahalaleel, 535; Cainan, 605; Enos, 695; and Seth, 800.
39. So that Lamech the father of Noah; Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos, Seth, and Adam, were all living at the same time, and beyond all controversy, were all preachers of righteousness.
40. Moses further informs us, that Seth lived, after he begat Enos, 807 years, making him 912 years old at his death. Genesis 5:7,8. And Enos lived, after he begat Cainan, 815 years, making him 905 years old when he died. 5:10,11. And Cainan lived, after he begat Mahalaleel, 840 years: making him 910 years old at his death. 5:13,14. And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared, 830 years, making him 895 years old when he died. 5:16,17. And Jared lived after he begat Enoch, 800 years, making him 962 years old at his death. 5:19,20. And Enoch walked with God, after he begat Methuselah 300 years: making him 365 years old when he was translated. 5:22,23. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech, 782 years, making him 969 years old when he died 5:26,27. Lamech lived after he begat Noah, 595 years; making him 777 years old when he died. 5:30,31.
41. Agreeably to this account, Adam died in the 930th year of the world; Enoch was translated in the 987th, Seth died in the 1042nd; Enos in the 1140th; Cainan in the 1235th; Mahalaleel in the 1290th; Jared in the 1422nd; Lamech in the 1651st; and Methuselah in the 1656th, it being the same year in which the flood came.
42. So that Noah was 84 years old when Enos died, 176 when Cainan died, 234 when Mahalaleel died, 366 when Jared died, 595 when Lamech died, and 600 when Methuselah died.
43. We can see from this that Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah, all lived on the earth at the same time; and that Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech, were all acquainted with both Adam and Noah.
44. From the foregoing it is easily to be seen, not only how the knowledge of God came into the world, but upon what principle it was preserved: that from the time it was first communicated, it was retained in the minds of righteous men, who taught, not only their own posterity, but the world; so that there was no need of a new revelation to man, after Adam's creation to Noah, to give them the first idea, or notion of the existence of a God: and not only of a God, but of the true and living God.
45. Having traced the chronology of the world from Adam to Noah, we will now trace it from Noah to Abraham. Noah was 502 years old When Shem was born; 98 years afterwards the flood came, being the 600th year of Noah's age. And Moses informs us that Noah lived after the flood, 350 years, making him 950 years old when he died. Genesis 9:28-29.
46. Shem was 100 years old when Arphaxad was born. Genesis 11:10. Arphaxad was 35 when Salah was born. Gen. 11:12. Salah was 30 when Eber was born. 11:14. Eber was 34 when Peleg was born, in whose days the earth was divided. 11:16. Peleg was 30 when Reu was born. 11:18. Reu was 32 when Serug was born. 11:20. Serug was 30 when Nahor was born. 11:22. Nahor was 29 when Terah was born. 11:24. Terah was 70 when Haran and Abraham were born. 11:26.
47. There is some difficulty in the account given by Moses of Abraham's birth. Some have supposed that Abraham was not born until Terah was 130 years old. This conclusion is drawn from a variety of scriptures, which are not to our purpose at present to quote. Neither is it a matter of any consequence to us whether Abraham was born when Terah was 70 years old, or 130. But in order that there may no doubt exist upon any mind in relation to the object lying immediately before us, in presenting the present chronology we will date the birth of Abraham at the latest period, that is, when Terah was 130 years old. It appears from this account that from the flood to the birth of Abraham, was 352 years.
48. Moses informs us that Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad, 500 years. Gen. 11:11. This added to 100 years, which was his age when Arphaxad was born, makes him 600 years old when he died. Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah, 403 years. 11:13. This added to 35 years, which was his age when Salah was born, makes him 438 years old when he died. Salah lived after he begat Eber, 403 years. 11:15.—This added to 30 years, which was his age when Eber was born, makes him 433 years old when he died.—Eber lived after he begat Peleg, 430 years. 11:17. This added to 34 years, which was his age when Peleg was born, makes him 464 years old. Peleg lived after he begat Reu, 209 years. 11:19. This added to 30 years, which was his age when Reu was born, makes him 239 years old when he died. Reu lived, after he begat Serug, 207 years. Gen. 11:21. This added to 32 years, which was his age when Serug was born, makes him 239 years old when he died. Serug lived after he begat Nahor, 200 years. 11:23. This added to 30 years, which was his age when Nahor was born, makes him 230 years old when he died. Nahor lived after he begat Terah, 119 years. 11:25. This added to 29 years, which was his age when Terah was born, makes him 148 years old when he died. Terah was 130 years old when Abraham was born, and is supposed to have lived 75 years after his birth: making him 205 years old when he died.
49. Agreeable to this last account, Peleg died in the 1996th year of the world, Nahor in the 1997th, and Noah in the 2006th. So that Peleg, in whose days the earth was divided, and Nahor, the grandfather of Abraham, both died before Noah—the former being 239 years old, and the latter 148. And who cannot but see that they must have had a long and intimate acquaintance with Noah?
50. Reu died in the 2026th year of the world, Serug in the 2049th, Terah in the 2083rd, Arphaxad in the 2096th, Salah in the 2126th, Shem in the 2158th, Abraham in the 2183rd, and Eber in the 2187th: which was four years after Abraham's death. And Eber was the fourth from Noah.
51. Nahor, Abraham's brother, was 58 years old when Noah died, Terah 128, Serug 187, Reu 219, Eber 283, Salah 313, Arphaxad 344, and Shem 448.
52. It appears from this account, that Nahor, brother of Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Salah, Arphaxad, Shem, and Noah, all lived on the earth at the same time. And that Abraham was 18 years old when Reu died, 41 when Serug and his brother Nahor died, 75 when Terah died, 88 when Arphaxad died, 118 when Salah died, 150 when Shem died, and that Eber lived 4 years after Abraham's death. And that Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah, and Nahor, the brother of Abraham, and Abraham, lived at the same time.—And that Nahor, brother of Abraham, Terah, Serug, Reu, Eber, Salah, Arphaxad, and Shem, were all acquainted with both Noah and Abraham.
53. We have now traced the chronology of the world agreeable to the account given in our present Bible, from Adam to Abraham, and have clearly determined, beyond the power of controversy, that there was no difficulty in preserving the knowledge of God in the world from the creation of Adam, and the manifestation made to his immediate descendants, as set forth in the former part of this lecture, so that the students in this class need not have any dubiety resting on their minds, on this subject; for they can easily see, that it is impossible for it to be otherwise; but that the knowledge of the existence of a God, must have continued from father to son, as a matter of tradition at least. For we cannot suppose, that a knowledge of this important fact, could have existed in the mind of any of the before—mentioned individuals, without their having made it known to their posterity.
54. We have now shown how it was that the first thought ever existed in the mind of any individual, that there was such a Being as a God, who had created and did uphold all things: that it was by reason of the manifestation which he first made to our father Adam, when he stood in his presence, and conversed with him face to face, at the time of his creation.
55. Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God, who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge, respecting his character and glory, will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until like Enoch the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold him face to face.
56. We have now clearly set forth how it is, and how it was, that God became an object of faith for rational beings; and also, upon what foundation the testimony was based, which excited the inquiry and diligent search of the ancient saints, to seek after and obtain a knowledge of the glory of God; and we have seen that it was human testimony, and human testimony only, that excited this enquiry, in the first instance, in their minds—it was the credence they gave to the testimony of their fathers—this testimony having aroused their minds to inquire after the knowledge of God, the enquiry frequently terminated, indeed always terminated when rightly pursued, in the most glorious discoveries, and eternal certainty.
Question.—Is there a being who has faith in himself, independently?
Answer.—There is. Q. Who is it? A. It is God. Q. How do you prove that God has faith in himself independently?
A. Because he is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; without beginning of days or end of life, and in him all fullness dwells. Eph 1:23: Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Col 1:19. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell. [§ II. ¶ 2.]
Q. Is he the object in whom the faith of all other rational and accountable beings center, for life and salvation?
A. He is.
Q. How do you prove it?
A. Isa. 45:22. Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Romans 11:34,35,36. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Isa. 40: from the 8th to the 18th verses. O Zion that bringest good tidings; [or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion?] get you up into the high mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings; [or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem] lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold the Lord your God will come with strong hand [or, against the strong]; and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. [Or, recompense for his work]. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather his lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor, hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations are before him as nothing, and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. Jer. 11:15, 16: He [the Lord] hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his Wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 1 Cor 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. [§ II. ¶ 2.]
Q. How did men first come to the knowledge of the existence of a God, so as to exercise faith in him?
A. In order to answer this question, it will be necessary to go back and examine man at his creation; the circumstances in which he was placed, and the knowledge which he had of God. [§ II. ¶ 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11.]. First, when man was created he stood in the presence of God. Gen. 1:27,28. From this we earn that man, at his creation, stood in the presence of his God, and had most perfect knowledge of his existence. Secondly, God conversed with him after his transgression. Gen 3: from the 8th to the 22nd. [§ II. ¶ 13,14,15,16,17.] From this we learn that, though man did transgress, he was not deprived of the previous knowledge which he had of the existence of God. [§ II. ¶ 19.] Thirdly, God conversed with man after he cast him out of the garden. [§ II. ¶ 22,23,24,25.] Fourthly, God also conversed with Cain after he had slain Abel. Gen 4: from the 4th to the 6th. [§ II. ¶ 26,27,28,29.]
Q. What is the object of the foregoing quotation?
A. It is that it may be clearly seen how it was that the first thoughts were suggested to the minds of men of the existence of God, and how extensively this knowledge was spread among the immediate descendants of Adam. [§ II. ¶ 30,31,32,33.]
Q. What testimony had the immediate descendants of Adam, in proof of the existence of God?
A. The testimony of their father. And after they were made acquainted with his existence, by the testimony of their father, they were dependent upon the exercise of their own faith, for a knowledge of his character, perfections, and attributes. [§ II. ¶ 23,24,25,26.]
Q. Had any other of the human family, besides Adam, a knowledge of the existence of God, in the first instance, by any other means than human testimony?
A. They had not. For previous to the time that they could have power to obtain a manifestation for themselves, the all-important fact had been communicated to them by their common father: and so from father to child the knowledge was communicated as extensively, as the knowledge of his existence was known; for it was by this means, in the first instance, that men had a knowledge of his existence. [§ II. ¶ 35,36].
Q. How do you know that the knowledge of the existence of God was communicated in this manner, throughout the different ages of the world?
A. By the chronology obtained through the revelations of God.
Q. How would you divide that chronology in order to convey it to the understanding clearly?
A. Into two parts: First, by embracing that period of the world from Adam to Noah; and secondly, from Noah to Abraham: from which period the knowledge of the existence of God has been so general, that it is a matter of no dispute in what manner the idea of his existence has been retained in the world.
Q. How many noted righteous men lived from Adam to Noah?
A. Nine; which includes Abel, who was slain by his brother.
Q. What are their names?
A. Abel, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech.
Q. How old was Adam when Seth was born?
A. One hundred and thirty years. Gen 5:3.
Q. How many years did Adam live after Seth was born?
A. Eight hundred. Gen. 5:4.
Q. How old was Adam when he died?
A. Nine hundred and thirty years. Gen. 5-5.
Q. How old was Seth when Enos was born?
A. One hundred and five years. Gen. 5:6.
Q. How old was Enos when Cainan was born?
A. Ninety years. Gen. 5:9.
Q. How old was Cainan when Mahalaleel was born?
A. Seventy years. Gen. 5:12.
Q. How old was Mahalaleel when Jared was born?
A. Sixty-five years. Gen. 5:15.
Q. How old was Jared when Enoch was born?
A. One hundred and sixty two years. Gen. 5:18.
Q. How old was Enoch when Methuselah was born?
A. Sixty-five years. Gen. 5:21.
Q. How old was Methuselah when Lamech was born?
A. One hundred and eighty seven years. Gen. 5:25.
Q. How old was Lamech when Noah was born?
A. One hundred and eighty-two years. Gen. 5:28. For this chronology, see § II. ¶ 37.
Q. How many years, according to this account, was it from Adam to Noah?
A. One thousand and fifty-six years.
Q. How old was Lamech when Adam died?
A. Lamech, the ninth from Adam (including Abel), and father of Noah, was fifty-six years old when Adam died.
Q. How old was Methuselah?
A. Two hundred and forty-three years.
Q. How old was Enoch?
A. Three hundred and eight years.
Q. How old was Jared?
A. Four hundred and seventy years.
Q. How old was Mahalaleel?
A. Five hundred and thirty-five years.
Q. How old was Cainan?
A. Six hundred and five years.
Q. How old was Enos?
A. Six hundred and ninety-five years.
Q. How old was Seth?
A. Eight hundred. For this item of the account, see section second, paragraph 38.
Q. How many of these noted men were cotemporary with Adam?
A. Nine.
Q. What are their names?
A. Abel, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah and Lamech. [§ II. ¶ 39.]
Q. How long did Seth live after Enos was born?
A. Eight hundred and seven years. Gen. 5:7.
Q. What was Seth's age when he died?
A. Nine hundred and twelve years. Gen. 5:8.
Q. How long did Enos live after Cainan was born?
A. Eight hundred and fifteen years. Gen. 5:10.
Q. What was Enos's age when he died?
A. Nine hundred and five years. Gen. 5:11.
Q. How long did Cainan live after Mahalaleel was born?
A. Eight hundred and forty years. Gen. 5:13.
Q. What was Cainan's age when he died?
A. Nine hundred and ten years. Gen. 5:14.
Q. How long did Mahalaleel live after Jared was born?
A. Eight hundred and thirty years. Gen. 5:16.
Q. What was Mahalaleel's age when he died?
A. Eight hundred and ninety five years. Gen. 5:17.
Q. How long did Jared live after Enoch was born?
A. Eight hundred years. Gen. 5:19.
Q. What was Jared's age when he died?
A. Nine hundred and sixty two years. Gen. 5:20.
Q. How long did Enoch walk with God after Methuselah was born?
A. Three hundred years. Gen. 5:22.
Q. What was Enoch's age when he was translated?
A. Three hundred and sixty five years. Gen. 5:23
Q. How long did Methuselah live after Lamech was born?
A. Seven hundred and eighty two years. Gen. 5:26.
Q. What was Methuselah's age when he died?
A. Nine hundred and sixty nine years. Gen. 5:27.
Q. How long did Lamech live after Noah was born?
A. Five hundred and ninety five years. Gen. 5:30.
Q. What was Lamech's age when he died?
A. Seven hundred and seventy seven years. Gen. 5:31. For the account of the last item see [§ II. ¶ 40.]
Q. In what year of the world did Adam die?
A. In the nine hundred and thirtieth.
Q. In what year was Enoch translated?
A. In the nine hundred and eighty seventh.
Q. In what year did Seth die?
A. In the one thousand and forty second.
Q. In what year did Enos die?
A. In the eleven hundred and fortieth.
Q. In what year did Cainan die?
A. In the twelve hundred and thirty fifth.
Q. In what year did Mahalaleel die?
A. In the twelve hundred and ninetieth.
Q. In what year did Jared die?
A. In the fourteen hundred and twenty second.
Q. In what year did Lamech die?
A. In the sixteen hundred and fifty first.
Q. In what year did Methuselah die?
A. In the sixteen hundred and fifty sixth. For this account see § II. ¶ 41.
Q. How old was Noah when Enos died?
A. Eighty four years.
Q. How old when Cainan died?
A. One hundred and seventy nine years.
Q. How old when Mahalaleel died?
A. Two hundred and thirty four years.
Q. How old when Jared died?
A. Three hundred and sixty six years.
Q. How old when Lamech died?

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