The Tupelo journal., 1905-02-03
handle this matter. AS an angel of light


with unanimous cry they endorsed
Satan's counsel, and declared that of all
the hosts se, as their chief, should pro-
coed with the business in hand. This
being determined on, Satan at once pre-
pared to carry out his plans.
Now of all the beasts of the field the
serpent was the most beautiful and
curse upon him he stood erect like man,
and was the favorite companion of Adam
and the gentle Eve, and they taught him
to speak their language and to con-
verse with them. The keen eye of Satan
noted all this as he cast about for some
medium by which he might approach
Adam and Eve and gain their confidence
and their ear.
Flattery, that base imp of hell, has
wrought untold woe anG sin throughout
the ages, and first in the garden he cap
tivated the graceful, beautiful serpent.
and made him theinstrument of Satan's
wles. Thus came it to pass that day,
as Eve strolled through the garden, she
came again to that forbidden tree, and
would have turned away as on former
occasions, when she spied the serpent,
and as he called to her, she came near
and stood under the shade of the for
hidden tree.
Yea. hath God said, We shall not eat
of every tree of the garden?" said the
serpent, so graciously that she did not
sense the unholy taunt, although it
pierced her heart like poison dart.
I'VE may eat of the fruit OF the trees
of the garden" Eve quickly replied, a
note of apology sounding in her voice.
But of the fruit of the tree which is in
the midst of the garden, God hath said,
We shall not eat Of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest We die.
All. soul. why linger in debate over
the command which God has given YOU
Here was where the downfall of man
began. and it has ever proved the begin
ming of transgression of Gods laws.
With incredulous smile, the serpent
spoke in confident and positive tones:
I've shall not surely die"
And Eve recalled her questionings as
to what death meant. But why had
| God spoken of death if there was no
death? In reply to her questioning look,
the serpent continued: For God doth
know that in the day We eat thereof then
your eyes shall be opened; and We shall
be as gods, knowing good and evil
With downcast eyes Eve listened to
the words of the serpent, which brought
to her heart the first doubts she had had
of God and the desire to examine more
closely the fruit of this tree took pos
session of her. Never before had she
come so near to the tree; never before
had she allowed her eyes to rest in Ques-
tioning or longing upon its fruit, but
now with it hanging so temptingly near
| she looked. and as she looked she saw
| that it was good for food" How true
| it is, as James says. that man is tempted
when he is drawn away by his own lust
and enticed" How pleasant the fruit
appeared to her eyes now. Surely it was
ito be desired to make one wise" How
! foolish and unreasonable the prohibition
Of God appeared. Reaching up, she took
great. luscious cluster of the fruit
| in her hand and did eat. and gave also
| to her husband who had joined her
while she was yet talking the serpent.
And the eyes of them both were
opened. What an awakening that was.
| In fear and confusion they fled from the
| place, and hid in that part Of the garden
where the trees were the thickest and
| the shadows the darkest. for sin loveth
darkness, and the evil doer cometh not
to the light. The covering of Gods
righteousness had been torn from them.
and they realized that they were naked.
Naked before God! Fearing His appear
ance! With feverish haste and trem-
bling hands they sewed fig leaves to-
| gether and made them aprons, and hard
| ly had they completed their task before
| they heard the voice of the Lord God
walking in the garden.
Where art thou, ADAM" God called.
The call which heretofore had been
such sweet music to the souls of Adam
and Eve, and been listened for with
such joyful longing, now came with
piercing conviction to their hearts, and
they were filled with an awful dread.
With trembling voice Adam replied:
Il heard Thy voice in the garden, and
| was afraid, because | was naked; and
| l hid myself"
who told thee that thou vast naked?
| Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof
| | commanded thee that thou shouldest
not eat?" the voice of God asked.
| Oh. the anguish OF that moment, as the
souls of this guilty pair were brought
face to face with their sin and realized
| their first separation from God, and felt
His sore displeasure. The tragedy OF
| the garden has rung down through the
| ages, and in it's train has stalked hid
| eous sin and grim death. The Divine
| judgments were spoken, and lest the
man and the woman should partake of
| the tree of life and live forever there
| fore the Lord God sent them forth from
| the Garden of Eden" But ere they go
He must clothe their nakedness, for no
| covering which man may provide for
| himself will suffice to make him present
! able to God. From Adams gentle flock
of sheep, the Lord selects two precious
| lambs, type of the lamb from Heaven
which God in the fullness of time was to
provide for sinful man, that man might
| be cleansed from sin and clothed upon
| with the righteousness of God.
Who can know the feelings of that
sinful pair, as they beheld the hand of
| God slay the lambs and take from them