The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-19

|
Genesis third" is target fairly
shot through. not only with the darts
| OF vulgar inhdelity. but the welI-aim-
! cd arrows OF a scholarly cri ~icism. But,
| after ali. the chapter is unharmed. 1t
I stands alone In literature. 1t is help
| Iut toward the solution Of an occult
| prooiem-the origin OF evil BY some
! IL IS accepted as literal history. by
! others as a vivid pictorial and pOetical
] DESCRIPTION OF mans early struggle
Under either Interpretation. Adam
anu i've are represented as uobly on
/ lowed They had = happy environment
| and were under the direct and daily
tutelago OF their Maker. But they We're
on on probation In Eden tho problem
was solving whether they would per-
slSt IN choosing 20 obey God or not
> test was given. II was simple. but
aNeQ oate, and exactly suited TO their
estate. OF the fruit OF one attractive
ana conspicuously located tree they
We're forbidden The prohibition was
SO eNpuclL peremptory and oft-repeat-
cd that inadvertence was out of The
question Thou shalt nOtt" was fairly
written upon the leaves OF the tree.
Itrslstent abstinence was visible and
potent sign TO God and angels good
ana eV:I. or their conscious and voIun-
tary loyalty to God. Under this Adarlfc
covenant God stood ready for HIS parf
20 SupplE grace sufficient. but Adam
on ms side, must choose 20 keep obey
We have no means Of knowing how
10hs me happy Eden life continued.
-e true IDEA OF Adams state is prob
hoiy tntt which places him midway be
tween the savage and the sage lie
was a laborer. but suffered not the ex-
cessive wearineEs and vexatfon Incident
20 i@bor now. He was busy getting
dominion" subduinC the triple king
a"tns-earth. air. water; vegetable. ami
when activities cease and the human
heart Is ever most fnnpressibIe. ne on
loved IMMEDIATE communion with his
creator. who corrected his mistakes and
inspired him with new courage and
love.
At length. at some period when mans
t4le ioSe was far enough advanced 70
make his chances FOR enduring tho
ordeal most favorable. a crucial test
was permitted The outcome OF the
ordeal was not predestinated defeat
ADAM mad a good fighting chance. He
might have persisted In his love trust
obedience toward God lie ought to
nave. The odds were not against him
d" mad had overma STEERING examples Of
Gods goodness, constance wisdom
'ote- re ought to have been loyal
An oEerWeening vanity determines
man 90 lift himself IN the scale OF he
Ing, even II he must needs make the
staircase out Of the broken command
mcnts OF a loving Heavenly Father
The deed was done already IN sub
1ectlNe intent, In she deliberate and
gestion OF doing It. Flesh and eve had
already lusted. and pride had put tho
hnishing touch. Tho manual act OF
reaching. touching. plucklng was only
the objective complement OF the mental
determination. the other hemisphere Of
the nun. black orb Of sin which rolled
on Adam with its crushing weight
Their eyes were opened, but not 10
sec themselves exalted 70 the lofty
plain or their Maker. but fallen inf
htely below the plane on which they
were standing before. THE normal re-
latlon between soul and body
was destroyed. so that the body ceased
20 be any longer pure Instrument OF
the spirit So they were overW he'll med
with their first sense OF shame and
ceased - be like unconscious. unem-
barrassed children"
out OF the shadows Of Eden. I'm
which, with silly, ostrich like in-
stinct. they sought TO hide themselves