Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-16
THE TEMPTATION.
BY FANNIE.


Why is it that sorrow, sadness and death. are
seen among men, when they are surrounded
with SO many beauties calculated to make them
happy2 But these beauties last only for a sea-
son; fade and disappear, and every source ofen-
loyment is coupled with its disadvantages
What has caused the world to be thus stamped
with change and mortality? Let us go back
lew thousand years:
Upon the beautiful banks of the Euphrates is
a scene which surpasses description; the tongue
Is stlled with wonder and admiration, and the
pen refuses to attemptto to portray its magnif-
cent beauty. 1t is a garden-howers of the
most lovely hues delight the eye; stream with
its crystal waves, meander through the grounds
atording life to the lovely trees that deck its
BANKS; In which birds of the most beautiful pIu
mage are sporting, and filling the air with Soft
music. On the banks is tree more lovely
than the rest-it is the "Tree of Knowlege, -
whose spreading branches entice the lordlv
Lion, the graceful Leopard, the magnificent
Tiger, the gentle Lamb and timid Roe; and all
together, reclne there in brother by hormony.
But these beauties must be enioyed by some
intelligent being; so God created Man: and
made HIM sole Lord of this delightful abode: but
notwithstanding he was surrounded by iuyuri
! ance, and every thing to cause happiness vet he
, was t0nety-no being with whom to converse:
none to cheer his silent hours. God perceiving
his loneliness, created a helpmeet, whose pres
ence would give zest to his enjoyment, and be-
guile the hours of their tedium What exuuis-
lite happiness now reigns in this delightful re-
treat Can any mlshap ever occur to mar this
felicity? it did. Within, the subtle serpent
| was spirit, desiring the downfall of man: and
knowing that, if they violated Gods commands.
they would be driven from the beautiful garden
he resolved that they should partake of the fruit
of the tree of knowledge, which God had forbid
den. With his willy tongue he continued to
! tempt the gentle being whom God had given to
Adam, knowing that if he could win her from
the path of duty, her companion would also fol-
low filling her ear with falSehoods;
''She plucked, she ate;
Earth felt the wound, and nature from her seat,
Signing thro all her works, gave signs of woe,
That all was lost'
Despair settled like dark pail upon earth;
all things were changed by that fatal stroke; all
appeared lost! But HoPE-bright Angel fman
came from her abode of light, to cheer his
sinking heart-while MERCY kneelng at the
the throne Of JUSTICE, continued, in pleading
accents, to crave pardon for guilty man. But
Justice said, let my sword have its way; let him
be cut down, for he is unworthy ofthe smallest
blessing. But Mercy still plead on, unheeding
l-repulses.
From whence do those heavenly rays arise,
piercing the night that, as dark as Erebus had
settled down on the world. See! it is glorious
orb; what radiant light Gently rising, it grad
ually dispels the dark curtain. 1t is the san OF
Righteousness Man, guilty man, is pardoned;
the way is opened up which he can gain eternal
bliss; bis pathway illumined by the. .soul-cheer-
ing rays of that heavenly orb, that has risen to
guide him from Earth to Heaven Its rays still
continue to point the way to the weary traveller,
as he journeys from Time to Eternity; and will,
until the decree goes forth that "TIME shall be
no moren