Page:The Garden of Eden (Doughty).djvu/117

Rh to the offence to which it is annexed. The child, weak and ignorant, overcome by curiosity and overpersuaded by foolish advisers, is led to believe that his father did not really mean what he said, and eats of the tree of which he is forbidden to eat. Then the parent, entirely forgetful of the penalty he had imposed for disobedience, does not cause the child to die, but banishes him from his presence forever, to get his education and his living as best he may. He is to receive no more love, no more sympathy, no sign or shadow of mercy, from him who too severely tested him, and who was bound by every human consideration to lead him with a loving hand into wiser ways, instead of casting him off in his weakness, ignorance and error.

What would we think of such a father? Would we not consider him unjust, inhuman, heartless? Even the law which is supposed to be devoid of sympathy and untempered by mercy, would compel the parent to step in and take his child in charge again. But the Lord is better than man, infinitely more kind, tender and loving. Would it be possible for Him to act toward his child in the way the letter of Genesis appears to teach? How could He who, in the tender language of the Psalmist, is described as "a God full of compassion and gracious, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth," who is represented in the