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reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in
accordance with God's plan。 In their efforts to reach positions for which He
has not fitted them； many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a
blessing。 In their desire for a higher sphere； many have sacrificed true
womanly dignity and nobility of character； and have left undone the very
work that Heaven appointed them。
To Adam the Lord declared： 〃Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of
thy wife； and hast eaten of the tree； of which I commanded thee； saying；
Thou shalt not eat of it： cursed is the ground for thy sake； in sorrow shalt
thou eat of it all the days of thy life； thorns also and thistles shall it
bring forth to thee； and thou shalt eat the herb of the field； in the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread； till thou return unto the ground； for out
of it was thou taken： for dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou return。〃
It was not the will of God that the sinless pair should know aught of evil。
He had freely given them the good； and had withheld the evil。 But； contrary
to His command； they had eaten of the forbidden tree； and now they would
continue to eat of it they would have the knowledge of evilall the days
of their life。 From that time the race would be afflicted by Satan's
temptations。 Instead of the happy labor heretofore appointed them； anxiety
and toil were to be their lot。 They would be subject to disappointment；
grief； and pain； and finally to death。
Under the curse of sin all nature was to witness to man of the character and
results of rebellion against God。 When God made man He made him rule over
the earth and all living creatures。 So long as Adam remained loyal to
Heaven； all nature was in subjection to him。 But when he rebelled against
the divine law； the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule。
Thus the
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Lord； in His great mercy； would show men the sacredness of His law； and lead
them； by their own experience； to see the danger of setting it aside； even
in the slightest degree。
And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be man's lot was
appointed in love。 It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin； to place
a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion； to develop habits of
self…control。 It was a part of God's great plan of man's recovery from the
ruin and degradation of sin。
The warning given to our first parents〃In the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die〃 （Genesis 2：17）did not imply that they were to die
on the very day when they partook of the forbidden fruit。 But on the day the
irrevocable sentence would be pronounced。 Immortality was promised them on
condition of obedience； by transgression they would forfeit eternal life。
That very day would be doomed to death。
In order to possess an endless existence； man must continue to partake of
the tree of life。 Deprived of this； his vitality would gradually diminish
until life should become extinct。 It was Satan's plan that Adam and Eve
should by disobedience incur God's displeasure； and then； if they failed to
obtain forgiveness； he hoped that they would eat of the tree of life； and
thus perpetuate an existence of sin and misery。 But after man's fall； holy
angels were immediately commissioned to guard the tree of life。 Around these
angels flashed beams of light having the appearance of a glittering sword。
None of the family of Adam were permitted to pass the barrier to partake of
the life…giving fruit； hence there is not an immortal sinner。
The tide of woe that flowed from the transgression of our first parents is
regarded by many as too awful a consequence for so small a sin； and they
impeach the wisdom and justice of God in His dealings with man。 But if they
would look more deeply into this question； they might discern their error。
God created man after His own likeness； free from sin。 The earth was to be
peopled with beings only a little lower than the angels； but their obedience
must be tested； for God would not permit the world to be filled with those
who would disregard His law。 Yet； in His great mercy； He appointed Adam no
severe test。 And the very lightness of the prohibition made the sin
exceedingly great。 If Adam could not bear the smallest of tests； he could
not have
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endured a greater trail had he been entrusted with higher responsibilities。
Had some great test been appointed Adam； then those whose hearts incline to
evil would have excused themselves by saying； 〃This is a trivial matter； and
God is not so particular about little things。〃 And there would be continual
transgression in things looked upon as small； and which pass unrebuked among
men。 But the Lord has made it evident that sin in any degree is offensive to
Him。
To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the
forbidden tree； and to tempt her husband also to transgress； but their sin
opened the floodgates of woe upon the world。 Who can know； in the moment of
temptation； the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step？
Many who teach that the law of God is not binding upon man； urge that it is
impossible for him to obey its precepts。 But if this were true； why did Adam
suffer the penalty of transgression？ The sin of our first parents brought
guilt and sorrow upon the world； and had it not been for the goodness and
mercy of God； would have plunged the race into hopeless despair。 Let none
deceive themselves。 〃The wages of sin is death。〃 Romans 6：23。 The law of God
can no more be transgressed with impunity now than when sentence was
pronounced upon the father of mankind。
After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden。 They earnestly
entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy。
They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode； but
pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God。 But they
were told that their nature had become depraved by sin； they had lessened
their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more
ready access to them。 In their innocence they had yielded to temptation； and
now； in a state of conscious guilt； they would have less power to maintain
their integrity。
In humility and unutterable sadness they bade farewell to their beautiful
home and went forth to dwell upon the earth； where rested the curse of sin。
The atmosphere； once so mild and uniform in temperature； was now subject to
marked changes； and the Lord mercifully provided them with a garment of
skins as a protection from the extremes of heat and cold。
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As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of
decay； Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over
their dead。 The death of the frail； delicate flowers was indeed a cause of
sorrow； but when the goodly trees cast off their leaves； the scene brought
vividly to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living
thing。
The Garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an
outcast from its pleasan