CREATION OF WOMAN.

3

that, during the interval, the tribes of animals were brought separately under his notice, and thus his mind was employed in the contemplation of their various forms and habits, that he might distinguish them by name. It is intimated by the sacred historian, that there was not found an help meet for him;' the comparative loneliness of Adam was a defect in his condition, and one of which, probably, he was not unconscious. The needful partner of his life and possessions was therefore supplied, as related in the second chapter of Genesis: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.'

WITH

THE FALL.

ITH sad emphasis and truth, we thus designate the first recorded. incident in the lives of our common parents. Man, who had by his Creator been placed at the summit of human happiness

-far above all other earthly things, in nature, authority, and power-suddenly plunged beneath their level, and became a sinner! It is still the chosen office of the Evil One thus to persuade and to deceive. His whispers, and the parleying of a feebly-opposed conscience in the minds of those who are meditating disobedience, very much resemble the case of the wily Serpent and our mother Eve. First comes a sort of question: 'Yea, hath God said that ye shall not?' Then a direct answer of the mind, not yet forgetful of a plain fact: 'God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' Now follows a downright denial of the threatened result, preparatory to the breach of a command: 'Ye shall not surely die.' Once more only is it needful to turn the right side of the temptation to the eye of the waverer, the fruit is plucked and quickly rolled, as a sweet morsel, under the tongue.' We are not told with what degree of relish these parents of disobedience partook of the forbidden fruit; but we are aware that it is no part of the tempter's business to fulfil his promises, or to mitigate the punishment of his victims. His purpose is best answered by causing the most poignant disappointment, and both deep and final ruin.-GEN. iii.

ADAM AND EVE HIDE THEMSELVES.

ND now the happy freedom of innocence was exchanged for the fears and artifices of the guilty mind. The simple narrative of Scripture explains their condition fully. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And 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? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.'-GEN. iii.

T

HE bowers of Eden were now, after a very short

occupancy, as it seems, to be freed absolutely from their guilty tenants. Of the tree of death

they had fully tasted. The tree of life they would no doubt soon have plundered, and thus have grasped an earthly immortality, which they had forfeited by their transgression: but they were not allowed to attempt this. 'And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man: and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.'-GEN. iii.

human transgression recorded in the Scriptures,

it is not to be supposed that the period from the birth of these brothers to their manhood had elapsed without any other suggestions of the tempter, or any further acts of disobedience in man. There were unquestionably previous grounds of the divine displeasure against Cain, though not stated, which made his offering a vain or an offensive oblation. The record omits any intervening particulars, until resentment had ripened into rage and murderous revenge in the bosom of Cain. 'And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.' The deed was done, and the Judge of quick and dead speedily arraigned the culprit. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel