patriarchs and prophets-第8章

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medium　the　serpenta　disguise　well　adapted　for　his　purpose　of　deception。
The　serpent　was　then　one　of　the　wisest　and　most　beautiful　creatures　on　the
earth。　It　had　wings；　and　while　flying　through　the　air　presented　an
appearance　of　dazzling　brightness；　having　the　color　and　brilliancy　of
burnished　gold。　Resting　in　the　rich…laden　branches　of　the　forbidden　tree　and
regaling　itself　with　the　delicious　fruit；　it　was　an　object　to　arrest　the
attention　and　delight　the　eye　of　the　beholder。　Thus　in　the　garden　of　peace
lurked　the　destroyer；　watching　for　his　prey。

The　angels　had　cautioned　Eve　to　beware　of　separating　herself　from　her
husband　while　occupied　in　their　daily　labor　in　the　garden；　with　him　she
would　be　in　less　danger　from　temptation　than　if　she　were　alone。　But　absorbed
in　her　pleasing　task；　she

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unconsciously　wandered　from　his　side。　On　perceiving　that　she　was　alone；　she
felt　an　apprehension　of　danger；　but　dismissed　her　fears；　deciding　that　she
had　sufficient　wisdom　and　strength　to　discern　evil　and　to　withstand　it。
Unmindful　of　the　angels'　caution；　she　soon　found　herself　gazing　with　mingled
curiosity　and　admiration　upon　the　forbidden　tree。　The　fruit　was　very
beautiful；　and　she　questioned　with　herself　why　God　had　withheld　it　from
them。　Now　was　the　tempter's　opportunity。　As　if　he　were　able　to　discern　the
workings　of　her　mind；　he　addressed　her：　〃Yea；　hath　God　said；　Ye　shall　not
eat　of　every　tree　of　the　garden？〃　Eve　was　surprised　and　startled　as　she　thus
seemed　to　hear　the　echo　of　her　thoughts。　But　the　serpent　continued；　in　a
musical　voice；　with　subtle　praise　of　her　surpassing　loveliness；　and　his
words　were　not　displeasing。　Instead　of　fleeing　from　the　spot　she　lingered
wonderingly　to　hear　a　serpent　speak。　Had　she　been　addressed　by　a　being　like
the　angels；　her　fears　would　have　been　excited；　but　she　had　no　thought　that
the　fascinating　serpent　could　become　the　medium　of　the　fallen　foe。

To　the　tempter's　ensnaring　question　she　replied：　〃We　may　eat　of　the　fruit　of
the　trees　of　the　garden：　but　of　the　fruit　of　the　tree　which　is　in　the　midst
of　the　garden；　God　hath　said；　Ye　shall　not　eat　of　it；　neither　shall　ye　touch
it；　lest　ye　die。　And　the　serpent　said　unto　the　woman；　Ye　shall　not　surely
die：　for　God　doth　know　that　in　the　day　ye　eat　thereof；　then　your　eyes　shall
be　opened；　and　ye　shall　be　as　gods；　knowing　good　and　evil。〃

By　partaking　of　this　tree；　he　declared；　they　would　attain　to　a　more　exalted
sphere　of　existence　and　enter　a　broader　field　of　knowledge。　He　himself　had
eaten　of　the　forbidden　fruit；　and　as　a　result　had　acquired　the　power　of
speech。　And　he　insinuated　that　the　Lord　jealously　desired　to　withhold　it
from　them；　lest　they　should　be　exalted　to　equality　with　Himself。　It　was
because　of　its　wonderful　properties；　imparting　wisdom　and　power；　that　He　had
prohibited　them　from　tasting　or　even　touching　it。　The　tempter　intimated　that
the　divine　warning　was　not　to　be　actually　fulfilled；　it　was　designed　merely
to　intimidate　them。　How　could　it　be　possible　for　them　to　die？　Had　they　not
eaten　of　the　tree　of　life？　God　had　been　seeking　to　prevent　them　from
reaching　a　nobler　development　and　finding　greater　happiness。

Such　has　been　Satan's　work　from　the　days　of　Adam　to　the　present；　and　he　has
pursued　it　with　great　success。　He　tempts　men　to　distrust　God's　love　and　to
doubt　His　wisdom。　He　is　constantly

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seeking　to　excite　a　spirit　of　irreverent　curiosity；　a　restless；　inquisitive
desire　to　penetrate　the　secrets　of　divine　wisdom　and　power。　In　their　efforts
to　search　out　what　God　has　been　pleased　to　withhold；　multitudes　overlook　the
truths　which　He　has　revealed；　and　which　are　essential　to　salvation。　Satan
tempts　men　to　disobedience　by　leading　them　to　believe　they　are　entering　a
wonderful　field　of　knowledge。　But　this　is　all　a　deception。　Elated　with　their
ideas　of　progression；　they　are；　by　trampling　on　God's　requirements；　setting
their　feet　in　the　path　that　leads　to　degradation　and　death。

Satan　represented　to　the　holy　pair　that　they　would　be　gainers　by　breaking
the　law　of　God。　Do　we　not　today　hear　similar　reasoning？　Many　talk　of　the
narrowness　of　those　who　obey　God's　commandments；　while　they　themselves　claim
to　have　broader　ideas　and　to　enjoy　greater　liberty。　What　is　this　but　an　echo
of　the　voice　from　Eden；　〃In　the　day　ye　eat　thereof〃transgress　the　divine
requirement〃ye　shall　be　as　gods〃？　Satan　claimed　to　have　received　great
good　by　eating　of　the　forbidden　fruit；　but　he　did　not　let　it　appear　that　by
transgression　he　had　become　an　outcast　from　heaven。　Though　he　had　found　sin
to　result　in　infinite　loss；　he　concealed　his　own　misery　in　order　to　draw
others　into　the　same　position。　So　now　the　transgressor　seeks　to　disguise　his
true　character；　he　may　claim　to　be　holy；　but　his　exalted　profession　only
makes　him　the　more　dangerous　as　a　deceiver。　He　is　on　the　side　of　Satan；
trampling　upon　the　law　of　God；　and　leading　others　to　do　the　same；　to　their
eternal　ruin。

Eve　really　believed　the　words　of　Satan；　but　her　belief　did　not　save　her　from
the　penalty　of　sin。　She　disbelieved　the　words　of　God；　and　this　was　what　led
to　her　fall。　In　the　judgment　men　will　not　be　condemned　because　they
conscientiously　believed　a　lie；　but　because　they　did　not　believe　the　truth；
because　they　neglected　the　opportunity　of　learning　what　is　truth。
Notwithstanding　the　sophistry　of　Satan　to　the　contrary；　it　is　always
disastrous　to　disobey　God。　We　must　set　our　hearts　to　know　what　is　truth。　All
the　lessons　which　God　has　caused　to　be　placed　on　record　in　His　word　are　for
our　warning　and　instruction。　They　are　given　to　save　us　from　deception。　Their
neglect　will　result　in　ruin　to　ourselves。　Whatever　contradicts　God's　word；
we　may　be　sure　proceeds　from　Satan。

The　serpent　plucked　the　fruit　of　the　forbidden　tree　and　placed　it　in　the
hands　of　the　half…reluctant　Eve。　Then　he　reminded　her

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of　her　own　words；　that　God　had　forbidden　them　to　touch　it；　lest　they　die。
She　would　receive　no　more　harm　from　eating　the　fruit；　he　declared；　than　from
touching　it。　Perceiving　no　evil　results　from　what　she　had　done；　Eve　grew
bolder。　When　she　〃saw　that　the　tree　was　good　for　food；　and　that　it　was
pleasant　to　the　eyes；　and　a　tree　to　be　desired　to　make　one　wise；　she　took　of
the　fruit　thereof；　and　did　eat。〃　It　was　grateful　to　the　taste；　and　as　she
ate；　she　seemed　to　feel　a　vivifying　power；　and　imagined　herself　entering
upon　a　higher　state　of　existence。　Without　a　fear　she　plucked　and　ate。　And
now；　having　herself　transgressed；　she　became　the　agent　of　Satan　in　working
the　ruin　of　her　husband。　In　a　state　of　strange；　unnatural　excitement；　with
her　hands　filled　with　the　forbidden　fruit；　she　sought　his　presence；　and
related　all　that　had　occurred。

An　expression　of　sadness　came　over　the　face　of　Adam。　He　appeared　astonished
and　alarmed。　To　the　words　of　Eve　he　replied　that　this　must　be　the　foe
against　whom　they　had　been　warned；　and　by　the　divine　sentence　she　must　die。
In　answer　she　urged　him　to　eat；　repeating　the　words　of　the　serpent；　that
they　should　not　surely　die。　She　reasoned　that　this　must　be　true；　for　she
felt　no　evidence　of　God's　displeasure；　but　on　the　contrary　realized　a
delicious；　exhilarating　influence；　thrilling　every　faculty　with　new　life；
such；　she　imagined；　as　inspired　the　heavenly　messengers。

Adam　understood　that　his　companion　had　transgressed　the　command　of　God；
disregarded　the　only　prohibition　laid　upon　them　as　a　test　of　their　fidelity
and　love。　There　was　a　terrible　struggle　in　his　mind。　He　mourned　that　he　had
permitted　Eve　to　wander　from　his　side。　But　now　the　deed　was　done；　he　must　be
separated　from　her　whose　society　had　been　his　joy。　How　could　he　have　it
thus？　Adam　had　enjoyed　the　companionship　of　God　and　of　holy　angels。　He　had
looked　upon　the　glory　of　the　Creator。　He　understood　the　high　destiny　opened
to　the　human　race　should　they　remain　faithful　to　God。　Yet　all　these
blessings　were　lost　sight　of　in　the　fear　of　losing　that　one　gift　which　in
his　eyes　outvalued　every　other。　Love；　gratitude；　loyalty　to　the　Creatorall
were　overborne　by　love　to　Eve。　She　was　a　part　of　himself；　and　he　could　not
endure　the　thought　of　separation。　He　did　not　realize　that　the　same　Infinite
Power　who　had　from　the　dust　of　the　earth　created　him；　a　living；　beautiful
form；　and　had　in　love　given　him　a　companion；　could　supply　her　place。　He
resolved　to　share　her　fate；　if　she　must　die；　he　would　die　with　her。　After
all；　he

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reasoned；　might　not　the　words　of　the　wise　serpent　be　true？　Eve　was　before
him；　as　beautiful　and　apparently　as　innocent　as　before　this　act　of
disobedience。　She　expressed　greater　love　for　him　than　before。　No　sign　of
death　appeared　in　her；　and　he　decided　to　brave　the　consequences。　He　seized
the　fruit　and　quickly　ate。

After　his　transgression　Adam　at　first　imagined　himself　entering　upon　a
higher　state　of　existence。　But　soon　the　thought　of　his　sin　filled　him　with
terror。　The　air；　which　had　hitherto　been　of　a　mild　and　uniform　temperature；
seemed　to　chill　the　guilty　pair。　The　love　and　peace　which　had　been　theirs
was　gone；　and　in　its　place　they　felt　a　sense　of　sin；　a　dread　of　the　future；
a　nakedness　of　soul。　The　robe　of　light　which　had　enshrouded　them；　now
disappeared；　and　to　supply　its　place　they　endeavored　to　fashion　for
themselves　a　covering；　for　they　could　not；　while　unclothed；　meet　the　eye　of
God　and　holy　angels。

They　now　began　to　see　the　true　character　of　their　sin。　Adam　reproached　his
companion　for　her　folly　in　leaving　his　side　and　permitting　herself　to　be
deceived　by　the　serpent；　but　they　both　flattered　themselves　that　He　who　had
given　them　so　many　evidences　of　His　love；　would　pardon　this　one
transgression；　or　that　they　would　not　be　subjected　to　so　dire　a　punishment
as　they　had　feared。

Satan　exulted　in　his　success。　He　had　tempted　the　woman　to　distrust　God's
love；　to　doubt　His　wisdom；　and　to　transgress　His　law；　and　through　her　he　had
caused　the　overthrow　of　Adam。

But　the　great　Lawgiver　was　about　to　make　known　to　Adam　and　Eve　the
consequences　of　their　transgression。　The　divine　presence　was　manifested　in
the　garden。　In　their　innocence　and　holiness　they　had　joyfully　welcomed　the
approach　of　their　Creator；　but　now　they　fled　in　terror；　and　sought　to　hide
in　the　deepest　recesses　of　the　garden。　But　〃the　Lord　God　called　unto　Adam；
and　said　unto　him；　Where　art　thou？　And　he　said；　I　heard　Thy　voice　in　the
garden；　and　I　was　afraid；　because　I　was　naked；　and　I　hid　myself。　And　He
said；　Who　told　thee　that　thou　wast　naked？　Hast　thou　eaten　of　the　tree；
whereof　I　commanded　thee　that　thou　shouldest　not　eat？〃

Adam　could　neither　deny　nor　excuse　his　sin；　but　instead　of　manifesting
penitence；　he　endeavored　to　cast　the　blame　upon　his　wife；　and　thus　upon　God
Himself：　〃The　woman　whom　Thou　gavest　to　be　with　me；　she　gave　me　of　the　tree；
and　I　did　eat。〃　He　who；　from　love　to　Eve；　had　deliberately　chosen　to　forfeit
the

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approval　of　God；　his　home　in　Paradise；　and　an　eternal　life　of　joy；　could
now；　after　his　fall；　endeavor　to　make　his　companion；　and　even　the　Creator
Himself；　responsible　for　the　transgression。　So　terrible　is　the　power　of　sin。

When