I. The temptation of our first parents was connected with the two mysterious trees of Paradise. The enemy hastened to induce the first of men to reject the supernatural and choose the natural order, as the first of angels had done; he tempted them to eat of the tree of knowledge so that they might be unfit to eat of the tree of life. He approached the woman as being the weaker, hoping to use her influence to overcome the caution and strength of the man. The first word of temptation was, “Why has God given this prohibition?” It was the suggestion of doubt. To question authority is more than half-way towards setting it aside. Eve should have recognized that God’s commands are not to be questioned, His reasons not to be demanded. If He commands or reveals to us, His word is enough; we should trust Him sufficiently to accept it without explanation. Eve listened and argued. This prepared the way; she was not shocked or indignant when Satan blasphemed against the veracity of God and declared “You shall not die.” He imputes base motives to the All-Holy, the desire to deprive His creatures of their rights, and keep them in undue subjection. He promises great power and happiness as the reward of sin: “You shall be as gods.” These are the ordinary stages of temptation, the ordinary motives placed before men to make temptation seem plausible. Many are deceived. They take one false step, and this originates a long series of evils.
II. Eve listened, parleyed with the tempter, and trusted the bold assertions of this unknown being, instead of the word of God, whom she knew, and whose goodness she had experienced. Gradually faith, trust, love of God, and the power of grace were weakened within her. She doubted God’s goodness, suspected Him of jealousy lest Adam and she should rise to equality with Him. She coveted more than God had given her, desiring forbidden knowledge, a dangerous independence, an impossible dignity. She entertained the suggestions of base ingratitude against her benefactor, of breaking away from His authority and making herself His equal, His rival, His enemy. There was also the sensual desire of the forbidden fruit: “the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold; and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat” (Gen. iii. 6). Thus does sin begin unperceived, develop with rapidity, and culminate in some fatal enormity. Be watchful of its commencements; if you yield a little, you are led on till return becomes almost impossible.
III. Satan did not tempt Adam. A direct assault would probably have failed on account of the greater strength, knowledge and responsibility of Adam. A human instrument was more efficient for evil than the prince of darkness himself. It was enough to have planted the germ of evil in the heart of Eve; its own malefic energy did the rest. The woman approached her husband, and induced him to violate the solemn compact, and revolt against God, by participating in the act which involved the rejection of supernatural life and the choice of the natural alone. Adam may possibly have allowed himself to be entrapped into believing the words of the tempter, or he may have been gained by persuasion, or it may be that, out of fatal affection, he resolved to bear the burthen of sin equally with his spouse. Whatever his motive, the sin was deliberate, it was inexcusable; he had full power to resist; and he accepted the full consequences. Adam’s sin was the Original Sin, and not Eve’s, for he and not she was the source and head of the human race. He chose for his race the state of pure nature without God, but they fell below it. All the natural faculties were injured in the wrench that tore out the all-pervading supernatural life. How much harm may be done by one human agent of Satan! You are the instrument for good or evil of a much greater power than yourself.
II. Eve listened, parleyed with the tempter, and trusted the bold assertions of this unknown being, instead of the word of God, whom she knew, and whose goodness she had experienced. Gradually faith, trust, love of God, and the power of grace were weakened within her. She doubted God’s goodness, suspected Him of jealousy lest Adam and she should rise to equality with Him. She coveted more than God had given her, desiring forbidden knowledge, a dangerous independence, an impossible dignity. She entertained the suggestions of base ingratitude against her benefactor, of breaking away from His authority and making herself His equal, His rival, His enemy. There was also the sensual desire of the forbidden fruit: “the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold; and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat” (Gen. iii. 6). Thus does sin begin unperceived, develop with rapidity, and culminate in some fatal enormity. Be watchful of its commencements; if you yield a little, you are led on till return becomes almost impossible.
III. Satan did not tempt Adam. A direct assault would probably have failed on account of the greater strength, knowledge and responsibility of Adam. A human instrument was more efficient for evil than the prince of darkness himself. It was enough to have planted the germ of evil in the heart of Eve; its own malefic energy did the rest. The woman approached her husband, and induced him to violate the solemn compact, and revolt against God, by participating in the act which involved the rejection of supernatural life and the choice of the natural alone. Adam may possibly have allowed himself to be entrapped into believing the words of the tempter, or he may have been gained by persuasion, or it may be that, out of fatal affection, he resolved to bear the burthen of sin equally with his spouse. Whatever his motive, the sin was deliberate, it was inexcusable; he had full power to resist; and he accepted the full consequences. Adam’s sin was the Original Sin, and not Eve’s, for he and not she was the source and head of the human race. He chose for his race the state of pure nature without God, but they fell below it. All the natural faculties were injured in the wrench that tore out the all-pervading supernatural life. How much harm may be done by one human agent of Satan! You are the instrument for good or evil of a much greater power than yourself.
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