think that these Cherubims were also placed to keep and preserve the way of the Tree of Life, to show that the way of salvation was still open. Also that God's Presence was here shown forth, just as in after years it was between the Cherubim, in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple, and that here Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, went to worship before the Lord.

And here, dear friends, we must leave our miserable first parents for a while to their wretchedness and sadness, only rejoicing, that in their woe the way of salvation was pointed out to them, and that while the gates of the earthly Paradise were for ever closed to them, Christ opened the 'kingdom of Heaven to all believers,' from their time until this day. And if the way to Heaven was open to Adam and Eve, is it less so now that Jesus has died and risen again? Nay, 'Whosoever cometh unto Him He will in no wise cast out.' Hear His own sweet words thus speaking, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' But do not forget the next words, 'Take my yoke upon you.' It is through giving up ourselves to obey Him, that we obtain this rest. Without humble and hearty obedience to His will-doing only what He likeswe cannot have that 'rest.'

Let us each one ask herself to-day these solemn questions: Have I come to Jesus, — in repentance for my sins, for pardon and for peace?

Is the Saviour my Saviour? Do I earnestly desire to turn to Him, with all my heart, not keeping anything back? And let me assure you each one, that never did a true penitent go to Christ in vain. No, He will graciously receive you and pardon you, will give you a new heart, and changed desires and wishes, will help you to be holy, will bless you now, and keep you for ever.

15

EVE THE FALLEN.

COLLECT.

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping of Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gen. iv. 1-16.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And Cain was And the Lord

said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy

countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper? And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

WE left Adam and Eve, you will all remember, in sadness, driven out of the Garden of Eden to toil for their daily bread. I must now ask you to think of Eve as a mother, the first mother, 'the mother of all living.'

Try, dear friends, for one moment to imagine all that she must have gone through in mind and in body, both beforehand and at the birth of her firstborn babe, ere she had the joy of motherhood.

From our beloved Queen upon her throne down to the very humblest peasant in the lowliest, poorest cottage in her dominions, all who have the blessing of children must know the sufferings of Eve's fall, and the punishment which came through that fall. All must endure, to some degree, the perils and the pains of Nature's worst trial.

But Eve had more to endure than any woman could have had to bear since her time.

She was

alone in her suffering, inasmuch as no kind woman's voice was near to cheer and to aid her, to help her to bear hopefully the new and alarming anguish. No kind doctor's ever-welcome words, assuring her that all would be well with her speedily. No friendly neighbour to take, at its entrance into life, the little, helpless babe in her great weakness and exhaustion, to clothe it and place it gently on the thankful, happy mother's arm, to nestle at her side.

Adam was her only stay in this trying hour; and however kind and willing he might be, he Icould not have been of all the assistance to her which she so sorely needed. But doubtless, when folding in her fond, maternal embrace, her firstborn treasure, her darling son, she 'remembered'

C