It follows hence, that _Self-denial was a Duty in Paradise_. _Adam_ was not an absolute Sovereign to do what he pleased, but what his Almighty Creator and Patron prescribed; tho’ endowed with Reason, yet was he to govern himself by the Will of another, that is, of him who was the Donor. His Reason was a bright, but borrowed Light, borrowed from the uncreated Sun, therefore ought to move by its Direction. Thus we see that Restraints on the human Nature, were necessary even in Man’s Paradisaical State: To deny Self, was one of the Precepts of Religion in the Garden of Innocence; nor is this strange, if we consider, that for any rational Creature to live according to his own Will, is to make a _God_ of his _Will_. Why did God forbid the Fruit of one Tree? This might be to signify _Adam_’s Dependance upon his Maker, and that he had no Claim to any thing without his Leave: The sovereign Lord of the Creation made over to _Adam_ large Dominions, and the Mannour of Paradise for the Seat of his Empire, reserving nothing to himself but a small Rent of Acknowledgment, which was only the Fruit of one Tree. The Exemption of this Tree from human Use, notify’d Man’s Subjection, and God’s supreme Dominion. By this Reservation he tried their Obedience, whether they would be content with all the Earth, and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, one Tree only excepted. _N. B._ This forbidden Tree might have something of a natural Tendency to corrupt the animal Juices, and introduce Diseases and Death into the human Nature. If the Tree of Life could immortalize our Existence in Happiness, is it not equally rational to suppose the Tree of Knowledge ... would destroy it? III. _THE Laws of Paradise were inforced by a very awful Sanction_, viz. _Life and Death_: The one expressing something most terrible, the other implying somewhat vastly delightful. Threatnings were necessary Cautions in Paradise: How surprizing this! The first day of Man’s Life, Man was put in mind of Death, of which the Tree of Life was a Memento. If you eat the Fruit of it, you forfeit your Life, _die you must_ without Remedy. This Menace of Death, in the Design of it, was to guard against Sin, as that which only could be the Cause of Death. _IN the day thou eatest thereof_, dying thou shalt die; or, die the Death. Behold here! as in a Cloud, the first Alarm of Mortality, the first Institution of Funerals, and the melancholy Office of Grave-diggers. Bells from the Pinnacle of the Temple, proclaim it aloud to Man, _Dust thou art, and unto Dust thou shalt return_. In this paradisaical Scheme of Government, we find Death to be a near Neighbour to Life: Both the Trees grew near to one another.