But though the first man ADAM, was endued with those high prerogatives, he was not destined to attain immediately to the end for which he was created. His activity was to commence in a particular spot, and thence to extend in all directions, until all the earth was subdued and moulded to the will of its Creator. The Almighty, therefore, planted a garden in a region of the East, corresponding probably to the high table-land of the modern Armenia, and watered by four streams. Of two of these, Pison and Gihon, the situation is absolutely unknown, the others were the Tigris and Euphrates. Here, then, in a spot endued with everything pleasant to the sight and good for food, man’s work was to commence. Action and not contemplation only was essential to his nature, hence a charge was given to him to _dress_ and _keep_ the garden. Nor amidst everything to gratify his senses and supply material for his understanding and reflection was he left alone. A responsible being, _bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh_, was created a _help-meet for him_. The Lord _caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam_, and taking one of his ribs, He made thereof a woman, and brought her unto him, and EVE, _the mother of all flesh_, one with himself in nature and in origin, was united to him in holy bonds, which HE, Who thus instituted them in Paradise, afterwards adorned and hallowed with His own presence and first miracle at Cana of Galilee (Joh. ii. 1; Eph. v. 23–33). CHAPTER II. _THE FALL._ GEN. III. B.C. 4004. OF the life of the first human pair in Paradise we are told but little. We know, however, that it was not only a state of innocence, and therefore of happiness, but also, like all human life since, of _probation_. Besides the charge to dress and keep the fair enclosure in which they had been placed, our first parents received but one additional command. It was couched in negative terms, and forbade in the most distinct and solemn manner possible the eating of the fruit of a mysterious tree growing in the midst of the Garden, and called the _tree of knowledge of Good and Evil_. Of the fruit of every other tree they might eat freely, of the fruit of this tree the Almighty said to them, _Ye shall not eat, for in the day ye eat thereof ye shall surely die_. In this single prohibition lay the test of their loyal obedience to their Creator, on it depended their innocence and their happiness temporal and eternal. How long they were faithful and obedient we are not told. But whether the period was long or short, certain it is that it came to a close.