The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-03
.DR CURRY'S SERMON
 ON GARDEN IF EDEN
Some Practical Lessons from
 Familiar Text
LABOR LAW OF MANS BEING
The Preacher Points Out That Pains of Labor Are Results of Sin, Not Labor Itself = Gods
 Benevolent Purposes.

The Rev. A B. Curry, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church. deliv- cred a sermon yesterday morning on the theme, Lessons from the Garden of Eden" taking as his text Genesis End, and 15' And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it"
 Dr. Curry said
 Volumes have been written on the loca- ton of the garden of Eden. The descrip- tions which the Scripture gives of it were l doubtless sufficient to mark it's location accurately in the days of Moses. It was probably in Asia, about the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. But it's exact location Is unknown to us. and it Is idle and unneces- sary to discuss the question. We draw this morning some practical lessons from the scriptural account of this garden and mans residence In 1t.
 Gods Purpose.
 First. God intended that man should be happy on the earth. The opinion has widely prevailed among men that God wants us to be miserable; that it is dis pleasing to Him if we are bright happy, jubilant. Religion and gloom have been regarded by some as synonymous terms. We see this spirit in the heathern priests of old. cutting themselves in their devo- ton till the blood covered their bodies, in idolaters practicing nameless cruelties and self-torture and all to please God. We see 1t in the Pharises. with his long face and sad countenanee; in the old
 1. s., the monk shut up in his cell. We see 1t in some modem religious orders who re- nounce earths purest joys and go through life clad in the habilments of the grave, fit type of the sad hearts beneath them.
 This is all mistake and springs from the sinners natural but mistaken effort to placate his Maker by mortifying him. self. It is opposed to Gods original pur- pose. The enemies of God may well be unhappy, but not Gods friends and children As we look into ancient Eden we are convinced that God wants man to be happy on the earth
 Love of the Beautiful. We know it from the beauty of this garden. All the earth was during thous- ands of years, in preparation for many shades. But Eden was the garden spot of 1t all We have seen or read of cele- brated gardens or parks as the jardin des plants of Paris, made by the hand of man. and we know how beautiful they are; but Eden was made and arranged by God himself. In 1t was every tree and flower pleasant to the eye. Eden means delight. But why this bright ness and beauty? Why not have made it dull, monotonous plain, or gloomy forest? Because He wanted man to enjoy this beauty and be happy in it. So today, he has implanted in us a love of the beautiful and he ministers to it by plac- ing the beautiful in nature all around us; and he is pleased to have us enjoy the beauty in tree and flower, in mountain and plain, in lake and stream, in earth and sky. We know 1t again from the fruitfulness of this garden. Not only was it beautiful but fertile and fruitful. Ev- cry tree good for food was found there, rich provisions were made for mans wants. But why this abundant provis- ion? Why not have made It a barren 
 only be forced by hard toll? Because he wanted man to be happy, to enjoy this provision free from care. Yet like a low ing earthly parent, our Heavenly Fla ther wants his children to be happy.
 Law of Mans Being.
 Another lesson we learn from Eden Is that God made labor the law of mans
 
 labor is the result of the fall, the curse of sin; had there been no sin. there would have been no toll But this is a great mistake. The pains of labor are the result of sin, but not labor itself; for as we look into Eden perore sin en- tered. we find man at work. God placed him "in the garden to dress it and to keep it,"-i e. to cultivate 1t. The first man as God made him was working man. Adam in his innocence was placed under the law of labor.
 We learn from this that labor is com patible with the highest dignity. Some think it degrading to work. they think and speak of working men and women as the lower classes to be looked down upon. They are not lower because they work, rather are they elevated by labor; for an honest working man is nearer Gods ideal than any idler on earth, whether rich or poor. God himself worked, and still works with ceasless acticity, says Jesus Christ: My Father worketh hitherto and I work" When he came to earth, he came as a working man; Jesus was a carpenter, thus dig
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