Page:The Garden of Eden (Doughty).djvu/140

134 But in the narrative of Eden we have pure allegory, with little if any historical basis of literal fact. Yet the cherubim here have the same meaning. Their insertion into the divine allegory was for the purpose of shadowing forth the doctrine of an immediate and universal Providence. It was not intended to indicate that any particular race of supernatural beings were detailed, like the picket guards of an army, to protect the natural spot where stood the sacred tree of life. But it was designed to convey the lesson of an ever-watchful Providence. It teaches it on the same principle and after the same manner as did the outspread wings and heavenly countenance which covered over and looked down upon the ark of the covenant. It kept the way of the tree of life by preventing the vicious, the sensual, and the selfish from understanding the doctrine of love, from appreciating the wisdom of a holy life, and from knowing the exquisite nature of Eden's happiness; lest, understanding, appreciating and knowing, they should profane them, and thereby seal for themselves a yet more bitter doom.

And the cherubim still guard the tree of life. It is the same to-day, and so will always be. The profane cannot see God; the earthly have no relish for heavenly joy; the intensely selfish do not believe in disinterestedness; the grossly impure contend that purity of heart does not exist;