The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-01-17
Mans Sin and Gods Promise.

OeneSlS L Miro Is target ldlI-
ly shot through, not only with the
darts of vulgar infidelity, but the
well-aimed arrows of scholarly
criticism. But after all, the chapter
is unframed. It stands alone in
literature. 1t is helpful toward
the solution of an occult problem
the origin of evil. By some it is
accepted as literal history; by
others as vivid pictorial and
poetical description of mans early
struggle with evil.
Under either Interpretation,
Adam and Eve are represented as
nobly endowed. They had hap
by 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 was
simple, but adequate, and exactly
suited to their estate. Ofthe fruit
of one attractive and conspicuous
ly-located tree they were forbid
den. The prohibition was so ex-
plicit, peremptory, and oft,repeat-
ed that inadvertence 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 10y
atty to 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
continued. The true idea of
Adams state is probably that
which places him midway between
the savage and the sage. He was
a laborer, suffered not the exces-
sive WEAKNESS and vexation Incl
dent 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 impossible, he enjoyed I'M
mediate communion with his Gre
atOr, who corrected his mistakes
and inspired him with new courage
and love.
At length, at some period when
mans tutelage was far enough ,ad-
vanced to make his chances for en-
during the ordeal most favorable,
crucial test was permitted. The
outcome of the ordeal was not pre-
destinated 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 over
mastering examples of Gods good
ness, constancy, wisdom, love.
He ought to have been loyal.
An overwhelming vanity deter
mines man to lift himself in the
scales 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 pleasurable entertainment of
the suggestion Of doing it. Flesh
and eye had already lusted, and
pride had put the finishing touch.
The manual act of reaching, touch
ing, plucking, was only the objec-
tive complement of the mental de-
termination, 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 plain of their Maker, but fall
Ell infinitely below the plane on
which they were standing before.
"The normal relation between
soul and body was DESTROYED, so