Temptation and Fall
31
The angels feared that they would put forth the hand, and eat of the
tree of life, and thus perpetuate a life of sin.
It had been Satan’s plan to lead Adam and Eve to disobey God,
receive his frown, hoping that they then would eat of the tree of life,
and live in sin. But God said he would drive the transgressors from
the garden. Angels were immediately commissioned to guard the way
of the tree of life, that they might gain no access to it. As Adam and
[45]
Eve hear the sound of God’s majestic approach, they seek to hide
themselves from his inspection, whom they delighted while in their
innocence and holiness, to meet.
God cursed the ground because of their sin in eating of the tree of
knowledge, and declared, “In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days
of thy life.” He had apportioned them the good, but withheld the evil.
Now God declares that they shall eat of it, that is, should be acquainted
with evil all the days of their life.
The race from that time forward was to be afflicted by Satan’s
temptations. A life of perpetual toil and anxiety was appointed unto
Adam, instead of the happy, cheerful labor that he had hitherto enjoyed.
He told Adam, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee;
and thou shalt eat of 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 wast thou
taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” God again
sets the penalty of death before them, and declares they must suffer
it. Holy angels were sent to drive out the disobedient pair from the
garden, while other angels guarded the way to the tree of life. Each
one of these mighty angels had in his right hand a glittering sword.
Adam was driven out from that beautiful garden to till the earth
from whence he came. And God guarded the tree of life with flaming
[46]
swords which turned every way, lest man should eat of it and perpetuate
a life of sin.
In humility and inexpressible sadness Adam and Eve left the lovely
garden wherein they had been so happy until they disobeyed the com-
mand of God. The atmosphere was changed, and it was no longer
unvarying as before the transgression. God clothed them with coats of
skins to protect them from the sense of chilliness and then of heat to
which they are exposed.
All Heaven mourned on account of the disobedience and fall of
Adam and Eve, which brought the wrath of God upon the whole human