BIBLE STORIES FOR THE YOUNG.

STORY I.

ADAM AND EVE IN EDEN-THE PROHIBITION AND THE PENALTY.

THE only true account which we have of the creation of the world is in the Bible. God himself gives it to us. You have often read it, I suppose, in the first chapter of Genesis. It is a wonderful account; how simple, how sublime, how interesting!

Here we find from whom we are all descended, all who now live, or who have ever lived, on the earth, millions of millions of persons, of every age, and country, and condition-all from Adam, the one common father of the human race.

His history is a short one; but we are deeply interested in it. For by nature we

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are like him,—-like him, alas! after he sinned against God, and became exposed to his just and terrible displeasure.

It is a very instructive lesson to learn how Adam thus sinned against God; as it will shew us how we imitate his example, and need continually the aid of the Holy Spirit to deliver us from our wicked thoughts, feelings, and desires, and to lead us to do what is right and pleasing to God.

I think it best, therefore, to begin this book with a short account of the fall of Adam. And I cannot but hope that my young reader will give it an attentive perusal. We shall pass from it to other stories of the Bible history, in some respects, perhaps, more interesting, but to none of greater importance, or more deserving of being well understood, and deeply fixed on your me

mory.

Go back with me, then, to the time-(in less than two centuries, it will be six thousand years ago)-when Adam and Eve, our first parents, were placed by God in the beautiful garden of Eden. He had made it on purpose for them to live in. It was a most delightful spot. Every thing was fitted

to make them happy, and to aid them in being good, and in loving that Being who had surrounded them with so many blessings.

The air was pure, and filled with the balmy fragrance of the numerous budding and blooming trees and flowers. The weather was mild and temperate, neither too warm nor too cold. The songs of the cheerful birds ascending to their Creator in hymns of grateful praise, resounded on every side; while the various animals, gentle and inoffensive, roamed through the groves, or gambolled on the lawns, full of happy life and sportiveness.

The garden was full of every kind of beautiful trees and shrubs, many of which bore the most delicious fruit. Herbs and plants grew in abundance, grateful and nutritious, and all was for the simple, healthgiving food of the two beings on whom such a profusion of bounties was bestowed.Here they were to find whatever was necessary to gratify the appetite, or refresh and invigorate the body; while their drink would be from the pure bubbling fountain, or from the clear stream that wound its course

through the garden in various directions, to water it, and make the trees and plants grow in beauty and luxuriance.

It was in such a place that Adam and Eve lived; both good and happy; loving God and each other, and taking care of the garden.

God gave them permission to eat of the fruit that grew on all the trees, with the exception of one that stood in the middle of the garden. Of the fruit of that tree he commanded them not to eat. He told them that if they did eat of it they should surely die.

This meant a great deal more than that their bodies only should die. What more did it mean? Let me see if I can explain it to you.

When the body dies, it moves and acts no more. The hands can no longer take hold of any thing. The feet can no longer walk from place to place. The eye can see no pleasant sights. The ear can hear no friendly voice, or delightful sounds. The tongue can taste no motionless ; as if it and lifeless marble.

grateful food. All is were a statue of cold Death puts an end to

all the pleasures of the body. It destroys them entirely.

There is a death also, and still a more dreadful one, which puts an end to, and destroys all the happiness of the soul. The Bible often speaks of it. It will have to be endured by all the wicked who keep on sinning against God; and he is now warning and entreating us to escape from it.

When God told Adam and Eve that, if they disobeyed him, they should surely die, he meant that they should not only suffer the death of the body, but also the loss of his friendship and love, and of the happiness which they were enjoying in Eden. He meant that they should meet with a great deal of suffering in this world on account of their sin, and be exposed to endless suffering in the world to come, after their bodies should die.

This would be death indeed, the death, or destruction of all their pure and holy pleasures; which made them so happy while they continued to love and obey God; the bringing upon them trouble and sorrows; the pains, sickness, and death of the body; and, what was worse than all, the misery of