The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Quarter; Lesson III: Sin and Re-
ACCOMPLISHMENTS iii, 1-15.

Genesis Third is a target fairly SHOT
through. not only with the darts Of a vulgar in
fidelity. but the well-aimed arrows Of a scholarly
criticism. But. after all. the chapter is un-
harmed. 1t stands alone in literature. II is
helpful toward the solution OF an occult problem
the origin OF evil. BY some IL is accepted as a
literal history; by others as a vivid pictorial
and poetical description of mans early struggle
with evil. Under either Interpretation.
Adam and Eve are represented as nobly en-
dowed. They had> a happy environment. and
were under the direct and daily tutelage of their
maker. But they were on probation. In Eden
the problem was solving whether they would
persist in choosing to obey God or not. A test
was given. 1t vas simple. but adequate. and
exactly suited 10 their estate. OF the fruit or
one attractive and conspicuously located tree
they were forbidden. The prohibition was so
explicit, ~peremptory and oft repeated that in
advertence was out of the question. Thou
shalt not.' was fairly written upon the leaves
Of the tree. Persistent abstinence was a visible
and potent sign to God and angels, good and
evil, Of their conscious and voluntary loyalty 10
God. Under this Adamic covenant God stood
ready for His part to supply grace sufficient;
but Adam, on his side, must choose to keep
obeying God. We have no means OF
knowing how long the happy Eden life con-
tinued. The true idea OF Adams state is prob
ably that which places him midway between the
11 NC S1o1" ~ was a "a
suffered not the excessive WEAKNESS and vexa-
ton incident to labor now. He was busy getting
dominion" ~subduing the triple kingdoms
earth, air, water; vegetable. animal. mineral.
In the evening hour. when activities cease and
the human heart is ever most impressible. he
enjoyed immediate communion with his creator,
who corrected his mistakes and inspired him
with new courage and love. " At length.
at some period when mans tutelage was Ear
enough advanced 10 make his chances for en-
during the ordeal most favorable, a crucial test
was permitted. The outcome OF the ordeal was
not predestinated defeat. Adam had a good
fighting chance. He might have persisted in his
love. trust, obedience toward God. He ought to
have. The odds were not against him. He had
had overmastering examples Of Gods goodness,
constancy. wisdom. love. He ought to have been
loyal. An oyerweening vanity deter
mined man to lift himself in the scale OF being.
even if he must needs make the staircase out OF
the broken commandments Of a loving heavenly
father. . . . The deed was done already in
subjective intent, in the deliberate and pleasur-
able entertainment Of the suggestion OF doing IL.
Flesh and eye had already lusted. and pride had
put the finishing touch. The manual act of
| reaching. touching. ~plucking. was only the OBJ
jective complement Of the mental determination.
the other hemisphere of the full, black orb Of
sin which rolled on Adam with its crushing
weight. Their eyes were opened. but not
to see themselves exalted to the lofty plane OF
their maker. but fallen infinitely below the plane
on which they were standing before. The
normal relation between the soul and body was
destroyed, so that the body ceased 10 be any
longer a pure instrument OF the spirit" So they
were overwhelmed with their first sense of
shame, and ceased to be like unconscious, un-
embarrassed children" . . . Out Of the shad-
ows of Eden. in which, with a silly. ostrich
like instinct, they sought to hide themselves
from the omniscience OF their maker, God called
them. 1t was a fearful meeting. The reality of
mans fall is evidenced by his changed bearing
Their frankness of innocence is gone. When
fairly cornered by his omniscient prosecutor,
with the historic cowardic- OF sin, ne seeks 10
cast the blame directly upon the companion
whom. up to that moment, he had loved de-
votedly and sheltered courageously. and indirect
ly upon the benifcent being who had given her
TO him. > Across the densest gloom OF this
shattered paradise God let one ray Of heavenly
hope fall aslant: The seed of the woman shall
bruise the ~serpent's head" The age-long strife
just then beginning, with its varying fortunes.
between the good and the evil seed. shall