The Secret of the Creation

by Howard D. Pollyen

And there was a tree which Jehovah had planted in the garden of Eden. As if a hundred feet to the first limb, and the leaves of the tree hung to the ground—touching the ground on all sides, "Broad and strong like rubber, yet with velvet softness. Beneath this tree was the home of Adam and Eve." Beneath the downy fragrant leaves they were shielded from all heat and cold. And the eagles and the fowl of the air run into the branches of the tree in time of storm. Here in this sublimeness Eve grew up with Adam, and the Serpent was their servant.

The Trees of the vineyard brought forth every thing which was good for food. There were trees which bare fruits large and shining as gold, fruits of all manner colors as a field of stars in glory. A river run through the Garden. Crystal waters rifting over fields of beautiful stones. The bedellium and onyx stones and much gold abounding in and about the waters. And on one side of the river stood a tree which bare fruit twelve times in the year, whose substance would cause one to live forever. It was the tree of life. None that eat of its fruit should ever die. From month to month and from year to year it had power to renew life perpetually. And on the other side of the river stood a tree which had power to make one wise. It was a tree of knowledge, one whose fruit would intoxicate and revitalize,—speeding up the action of life, causing one to think rapidly, and to see with a clearer vision. Setting the vitalities in a key where they must wear out, bringing forth the order of death. This tree was called the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, because its power was the division between man and sin. He could eat of the tree of life and realize the power and nature of life in all its glory. But he could not realize the nature and effect of death and sorrow until he should eat of the fruit of the tree of death, and become intoxicated with the mania of its devastating forces. And for this cause Jehovah commanded Adam that he should not eat of the fruit of the tree of death or come near it.

But the command was not given to Eve, for she was but a child—left in Adam's keeping. And they dwelt in glory in their home beneath the wings of the tree in the vineyard. And they were naked 'But knew it not.' Satan was upon earth, and envied them in their salvation, but he could not come near the vineyard, neither could he tempt them to sin. For they were redeemed, and Satan could not break the decree. But when Eve was grown the servant walked to and fro beyond the templed paradise, and sat with Satan by a pool. And Satan taught the servant how that it could become free from its masters. Then she hastened back and came again into the vineyard. And Eve stood by the tree of death admiring its beauty. And the servant came and said to her, "has Jehovah said that you shall not eat of every tree in this garden?" And Eve said, "we may eat of the fruit of every tree but this tree, which stands in the midst of the garden we shall not eat of it, neither shall we touch it lest we die." And the servant said, "you shall not surely die,—For the Creator he knows that in the day you eat of the fruit of this tree your eyes shall be open and you shall become wise like before the fall—as gods knowing the effect of good and evil."

And when she saw that the tree was good for food and excellent in beauty, she commanded the servant and she brought to her the fruit and she ate of it. Then she was enlightened and was as another woman. Then she with her own hands brought of the fruit to Adam, and when he saw its power upon her he also ate of the fruit, and the mind of them both were enlightened, and the mist was removed from over their souls; and they knew that they were not as the beast, but were naked. And they sewed leaves together for clothes and dwelt in great fear.

And it was so that in the evening time of a day they heard the voice of Jehovah as he walked through the garden. And they fled from their temple and hid themselves from his presence among the trees, and were not where they were wanted to be found. And Jehovah called unto Adam and said, "where are you Adam?" And Adam said I heard you talking in the garden and I was afraid, and I hid myself because I was naked.

And Jehovah said who told you that you was naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded thee not to eat? And he said the woman which you gave me she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat. And Jehovah said unto Eve, what have you done. And she said the serpent bewitched me and I did eat. And Jehovah said to the serpent, because you have done this thing you are cursed beyond everything which I have created. Upon your belly you shall travel, and you shall not henceforth eat. In this, that you have caused my children to sin in the process of eating.

The dust shall be your food, and I shall put envy between your race and the race of the woman. And she shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise her heel. And the serpent fell upon the earth before Jehovah, and her arms and legs became into one straight body. And he took her teeth out of her mouth so that she should not masticate food. But he left in her mouth the imprints of her teeth, which is yet to be seen in the mouth of the serpent. And he placed great crooked fangs in her mouth and filled them with poison. If she should masticate food her own poison would destroy her life.

But she was given power to reach forth and to inject the poison of her fangs into the flesh of man and other living things—to destroy their lives. Then he parted her tongue in two parts, and upon the end of each probescue he tied a small round knot, that is the knot which is yet to be seen on the ends of the serpent's tongue unto this day.

And according to the decree were all the serpents changed, in the process of nature. That they should not again speak with the voice of man. But their knowledge was not veiled. And while they cannot speak to man; yet while in contact they show their tongues and say with unmistakable signs "by my speech I cause thee to fall." This is the life of the serpent who through envy was finally bound in hell. And to Eve, he said, "I will greatly multiply sorrow upon thee. With your children you shall be distressed. And man shall set thee at naught, and curse his days—defying and bearing rule over thee. And your desire shall be to your man."

And unto Adam he said "because you have eaten of the tree which I commanded thee not to eat, cursed is the fruit of the ground for your sake. They shall come forth in thistles and thorns before thee. And you shall turn unto the herbs of the field for food, and shall spend your days in toil, eating of the vintage in sorrow, until you return unto the ground from which you was taken. Dust you are and unto the dust you shall return." And he drove Adam and Eve out of paradise, and left an angel to keep the vineyard, from whose sword issued a stream of power like fire as he turned about every way upon the plains.