The Disobedience of our First Parents, and its Results.
In the Bible it is said that Adam was formed before Eve, and that they were both placed in Eden, where there was one tree of which God said they might not eat. It is also said that Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was first in the transgression (1 Tim. ii. 13, 14).
Probably the woman was by herself when the tempter came to her in the likeness of a serpent, and told her that she would not die if she partook of the fruit which God had commanded her not to eat; but if they took of it they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. With this saying the tempter succeeded in getting the woman to take the fruit of the tree of which God told her not to eat, for she looked upon it as "a tree good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise" (Gen. iii. 6), and she wanted to be as God. All this was instilled into the heart of the woman by the tempter, and God being left out of her thoughts, she now takes of the fruit of the tree, eats of it, and gives to her husband, and he also eats of it.
Such was the fact of disobedience, which was most heinous in the sight of God. Thus they both fell from that happy state by this one act of disobedience, and were no longer allowed to remain in paradise. Their life was forfeited. Man became dead in sin, and was placed at a great distance from God, no more in paradise, but under the power of the prince and ruler of this world. The result of this act of disobedience has filled the earth with pride, self-will, and violence; for all the vice and misery that have ever been known in this world, have been the result of disobedience. All that descend from Adam are born in his fallen image, are sinners against God, and judgment has come upon all men to condemnation. But "where sin abounded, grace has much more abounded," since Christ, the Seed of the woman, has come, as God said, and has bruised the serpent's head, that as "sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. v. 20, 21), who hath abolished death, and "brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel" (2 Tim. i. 10); and by His act of obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, believers are made righteous in Him—"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ" (Rom. v. 17).
James Herbert Collins
(Aged 11 years).
Commissariat Office, Cork.
[Very good Essays have also been received from Ada Cannings, Leonard Lucock, Bessie Hills, E. B. Knocker, W. E. Cray, W. A. Tooke, and R. A. Stevens.]
[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Loss of All Things for Christ."
The subject for February will be, "Why was Saul Rejected of God?" and the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of "The Life of John Newton." All competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their own composition, or the papers will be passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the first of January.]
IF aught good thou canst not say
Of thy brother, foe, or friend,
Take thou, then, the silent way,
Lest in word thou shouldst offend.