The seeds of cruelty, that since have swell'd
To such gigantic and enormous growth,

Were sown in human nature's fruitful soil."

Nor did these alone feel the sad effects of our first parent's transgression; even the inanimate part of the creation suffered by it. The earth was doomed to lose much of its natural fertility, and condemned to final destruction; thorns and thistles sprang up abundantly, and its primitive beauty and fruitfulness was wofully degenerated. The serenity of the air was also changed; the elements began to jar, the seasons were intemperate, and storms and tempests ravaged the fair face of nature.

"The sun

Had its first precept so to move, so shine,
As might affect the earth with cold and heat
Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call
Decrepid winter; from the south to bring
Solstitial summer's heat."

Adam was now compelled by assiduous care and labour to cultivate the ground; he was no more a stranger to toil and weariness, to misery and affliction, but by the sweat of his brow and by the mortification of his body he had to earn an existence, which, by contrast with his former blissful state, might be termed truly miserable. Yet, as we have observed in regard to the chastisement of Eve, the severity of God's displeasure was extenuated by gleams of mercy. The express declaration

of God's holy word had been, "The soul that sinneth shall die;" therefore death was irremediable, and the wages of sin certain; from the ground was the body taken, and to dust it must inevitably return. In the sweat of his face it was decreed that he should eat bread; but his toil was to be rewarded by rest, his sorrow assuaged by joy, his body strengthened by the bread of industry, and his grave sanctified by peace. But as in this state they were incapable of either effecting their own salvation, or of gaining a respite for their unhappy posterity, the just, the all-righteous God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, was graciously pleased to solace them under their heavy affliction, by intimating that he would give them a seed that should bruise the serpent's head, whom in future time he would manifest in the flesh as a ransom for their sin, and which should arise in the human birth of his only Son, Jesus Christ, as the Saviour, Mediator, and Redeemer of the fallen world. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

With this immortal ray of consolation to appease the misery of our first parents, they were expelled from the blissful abode of their terrestrial Paradise. "Behold, saith the Lord God, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil;" words of awful import, which awakened them

to a fresh sense of their sad experience and folly. As they had profanely eaten of the tree of knowledge, though strictly prohibited, they were now reminded by shame and disgrace of their unworthiness to partake of the tree of life; and lest such a sacrilegious attempt should be made by them in order to regain their innocence, they were warned by their final exclusion from Paradise of so fatal an error. Discarded from the holy presence of God, and for ever banished from the enjoyment of heavenly communion, they were driven out of the garden of Eden by a host of cherubim, who, armed with irresistible power, were stationed there as sentinels, to represent God's anger by flaming swords, which turned on every side, to keep sacred and unpolluted the way of the tree of life. They were driven into an unknown land, where they were obliged to labour for their support, until, worn out by old age and infirmities, they at last expired under the penalty of their fatal transgression. If, then, we can sympathize with the Hebrew exiles who sat down, yea, who wept over the remembrance of Sion, how much more reason have we to weep over the lamentable fate of Eden. Like Adam and Eve we hourly and unguardedly fall into those snares which Satan sets in the path of life. Our utmost splendour is at best but like a flower,

which opens its petals to the morning sun, and before it sets has wasted all its fragrance. To be happy, we must be resigned to Providence, and not wedded to the world; regardful of a future state; and mindful of our duties here; kind, charitable, loving, merciful; and "having food and clothing, therewith be content." There is still a heavenly Paradise before us. He that came to be a light to the world and the glory of his people, has bequeathed to us a new covenant, and has planted himself within our reach as a tree of life, whereof we may spiritually feast, and become wise unto salvation. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

Yes; the Mighty Deliverer of mankind has triumphed over the king of terrors; he has commanded the dark and silent grave to obey the summons; to listen to the voice of the archangel; and to release all the prisoners of hope. Let us then pray that we enter not into temptation, and reject not the Holy Spirit; lest we be doomed to regions of despair, where rest, and peace, and hope are unknown; where misery has no intermission, where sorrow knows no end. With all humility, but with earnestness, let us unceasingly exert our utmost endeavours to imitate the exam.

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ple of our blessed Saviour, and, with the aid of divine grace, to obtain the pledge of everlasting happiness. Blessed are they "who defile not their garments; they shall be adorned with white robes and palms, and the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne will feed them, and lead them to 'living fountains.""