God's admonition to Adam and Eve in
which
he points out how and why they sinned.
Book I. Chapter VI.
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But God looked upon them; for
they had killed themselves through great grief.
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But He would raise them and
comfort them.
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He, therefore, sent His Word
unto them; that they should stand and be raised forthwith.
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And the Lord said unto Adam
and Eve, "You transgressed of your own free will, until you came
out of the garden in which I had placed you.
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"Of your own free will
have you transgressed through your desire for divinity, greatness, and
an exalted state, such as I have; so that I deprived you of the bright
nature in which you then were, and I made you come out of the garden
to this land, rough and full of trouble.
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"If only you had not
transgressed My commandment and had kept My law, and had not eaten of
the fruit of the tree, near which I told you not to come! And
there were fruit trees in the garden better than that one.
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"But the wicked Satan
who continued not in his first estate, nor kept his faith; in whom was
no good intent towards Me, and who though I had created him, yet set
Me at naught, and sought the Godhead, so that I hurled him down from
heaven,—he it is who made the tree appear pleasant in your eyes,
until you ate of it, by hearkening to him.
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"Thus have you
transgressed My commandment, and therefore have I brought upon you all
these sorrows.
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"For I am God the
Creator, who, when I created My creatures, did not intend to destroy
them. But after they had sorely roused My anger, I punished them with
grievous plagues, until they repent.
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"But, if on the
contrary, they still continue hardened in their transgression, they
shall be under a curse for ever."
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