"What is his beauty that
you should have followed him?"
Book I. Chapter LI.
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When Adam heard these words
from God, he took Eve and removed from the northern end of the garden
to the south of it, by the river of water, where they once fasted.
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But as they were going in the
way, and before they reached that place, Satan, the wicked one, had
heard the Word of God communing with Adam respecting his covering.
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It grieved him, and he
hastened to the place where the sheep-skins were, with the intention
of taking them and throwing them into the sea, or of burning them with
fire, that Adam and Eve should not find them.
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But as he was about to take
them, the Word of God came from heaven, and bound him by the side of
those skins until Adam and Eve came near him. But as they neared
him they were afraid of him, and of his hideous look.
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Then came the Word of God to
Adam and Eve, and said to them, "This is he who was hidden in the
serpent, and who deceived you, and stripped you of the garment of
light and glory in which you were.
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"This is he who promised
you majesty and divinity. Where, then, is the beauty that was on
him? Where is his divinity? Where is his light?
Where is the glory that rested on him?
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"Now his figure is
hideous; he is become abominable among angels; and he has come to be
called Satan.
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"O Adam, he wished to
take from you this earthly garment of sheep-skins, and to destroy it,
and not let you be covered with it.
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"What, then, is his
beauty that you should have followed him? And what have you
gained by hearkening to him? See his evil works and then look at
Me; at Me, your Creator, and at the good deeds I do you.
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"See, I bound him until
you came and saw him and beheld his weakness, that no power is left
with him."
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And God released him from his
bonds.
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