A beautiful prophecy of eternal
life and joy (v. 15). The fall of night.
Book I. Chapter XXVI.
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Then Adam took Eve, and they
began to return to the Cave of Treasures where they dwelt. But
when they neared it and saw it from afar, heavy sorrow fell upon Adam
and Eve when they looked at it.
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Then Adam said to Eve,
"When we were on the mountain we were comforted by the Word of
God that conversed with us; and the light that came from the east,
shone over us.
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"But now the Word of God
is hidden from us; and the light that shone over us is so changed as
to disappear, and let darkness and sorrow come upon us.
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"And we are forced to
enter this cave which is like a prison, wherein darkness covers us, so
that we are parted from each other; and thou canst not see me, neither
can I see thee."
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When Adam had said these
words, they wept and spread their hands before God; for they were full
of sorrow.
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And they entreated God to
bring the sun to them, to shine on them, so that darkness return not
upon them, and they come not again under this covering of rock.
And they wished to die rather than se the darkness.
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Then God looked upon Adam and
Eve and upon their great sorrow, and upon all they had done with a
fervent heart, on account of all the trouble they were in, instead of
their former well-being, and on account of all the misery that came
upon them in a strange land.
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Therefore God was not wroth
with them; nor impatient with them; but He was long-suffering and
forbearing towards them, as towards the children He had created.
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Then came the Word of God to
Adam, and said unto him, "Adam, as for the sun, if I were to take
it and bring it to thee, days, hours, years and months would all come
to naught, and the covenant I have made with thee, would never be
fulfilled.
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"But thou shouldest then
be turned and left in a long plague, and no salvation would be left to
thee for ever.
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"Yea, rather, bear long
and calm thy soul while thou abidest night and day; until the
fulfillment of the days, and the time of My covenant is come.
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"Then shall I come and
save thee, O Adam, for I do not wish that thou be afflicted.
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"And when I look at all
the good things in which thou didst live, and why thou camest out of
them, then would I willingly show thee mercy.
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"But I cannot alter the
covenant that has gone out of My mouth; else would I have brought thee
back into the garden.
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"When, however, the
covenant is fulfilled, then shall I show thee and thy seed mercy, and
bring thee into a land of gladness, where there is neither sorrow nor
suffering; but abiding joy and gladness, and light that never fails,
and praises that never cease; and a beautiful garden that shall never
pass away."
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And God said again unto Adam,
"Be long-suffering and enter the cave, for the darkness, of which
thou wast afraid, shall only be twelve hours long; and when ended,
light shall arise."
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Then when Adam heard these
words from God, he and Eve worshiped before Him, and their hearts were
comforted. They returned into the cave after their custom, while
tears flowed from their eyes, sorrow and wailing came from their
hearts, and they wished their soul would leave their body.
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And Adam and Eve stood
praying, until the darkness of night came upon them, and Adam was hid
from Eve, and she from him.
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And they remained standing in
prayer.
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