| 672 When we speak of the restoration of the earth, or in a word the great restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, we mean to be understood that wherein the earth has been changed in the least from its primeval state, it will be restored, and the curse taken away; and in a word any derangement, or degenerated condition of the works of God, which will add to his glory and to the happiness of the saints by being restored, will be. In order to come at the object that we have in view, which is to show the precise manner that the Millennium will be brought in, and the saints made to enjoy that which is promised, it is necessary to take a retrospective view of the earth, and all things upon it in the morning of creation, and the various changes that it together with man and beast have since undergone.
At the time this earth rolled from the hand of its Maker, there was no curse to inflict the tedious manuel [manual] labor, no thorns to infest the ground, no sweat of the brow was required, no pain nor death was there, no ravenous beast that sought for prey; but all was peace and quietude. Our first parents were placed in the metropolis of this lower creation, and power was given them to have dominion over the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air; they also could converse with God face to face as we converse with our friends; no intervening veil of unbelief was there. While in this state of innocency, Adam gave names to all the beasts of the forest, fowls of the air, and creeping things upon the earth. There was no devouring of a prey; consequently the lion ate vegetable food like the ox, and nothing did hurt nor destroy in all the Lord's holy mountain. The earth yielded fruit in abundance in its time thereof. Man was the noblest work of all the creation; therefore, God created him in his own image, and likeness, and endowed him with superior intellectual powers to any of the animal creation; and while in the garden the seraphs of heaven were his companions.
Thus the whole creation as it rolled from the hand of God was pure. But Oh, how changed the scene satan interposed! spoke through the serpent and disturbed the quiet; and justice demanded that the penalty of the law should be inflicted: hence, the inmates of the garden were forced out, and the seeds of death planted within the human system. The monster sin then commenced his dominion, and awful have been the consequences. The earth no longer retained its standing in the presence of Jehovah; but was hurled into the immensity of space; and there to remain till it has filled up the time of its bondage to sin and satan. It was immediately cursed, and Adam, and Eve were obliged to procure their food and raiment by the sweat of the brow. The beasts became ferocious, and went prowling about the wilderness seeking the inferior animals for a prey.
But says one, wherein did the sin of man affect the whole creation? We answer; that Adam was placed in the garden or capitol of the whole earth, and power was given unto him to sway his sceptre [scepter] over all things upon earth; therefore, when he fell from the presence of the Lord, the whole of his dominions fell also. It is said, that when the Lord made the earth, he pronounced it good, or saw that it was good; but since, it has been cursed, and in many places made barren. It is also said that at the time of the creation, the waters were gathered together into one place; consequently, the land was also in one place; but now it is divided into continents, and islands. How much the flood served to change the face of nature, we are not able to say; but it must have done considerable towards it. We are told, Gen. x. 25, that in the days of Peleg the earth was divided. It is probable that in his day some mighty convulsion of nature took place, which rent the earth asunder, and divided it in into continents. Other changes have been produced by various causes: for instance, the plains of Sodom and Gomorrah that were once so beautiful, and teemed with the voice of merriment; but now stagnant water, and a barren desert only marks the place; also, the land of Palestine that once flowed with milk and honey, and yielded sufficient for the sustenance of several million inhabitants; but now is under a particular curse, and is scarcely capable to sustain a few thousand. If any should ask why all this change? the only cause we could give, is the wickedness of the human family.
Indeed, ever since the fall of man the earth has been undergoing changes.-
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