"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." Genesis 2: 15. Man was not to live in idleness, but must care for the beautiful home which God had prepared for him. After all was completed the Lord gave to man the earth and all that was in it. David said, "The earth hath He given to the children of men." Psalms 115:16. Man was also to be ruler of all that was on the earth. For the Lord said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and _subdue_ it; and _have dominion_ over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:28. Even the beasts loved man and delighted to obey him. There was no fear in that wonderful home. All was love, and happiness, and peace. Christ and the beautiful angels from Heaven often visited the happy pair in Eden. These heavenly visitors taught them about God and His love, and gave them such instruction as would help them to take proper care of their earthly home. Before Satan could reach them with his temptations, angels were sent from Heaven to warn them of his fall, and of his desire to bring ruin upon then, as he had already done upon the angels who sinned with him. In this the loving, tender care of God for His creatures was manifested. [Illustration: Satan Entering Eden.] God is love. He did not wish sin to enter the world; yet He made man free so that he could choose wrong doing if he preferred it to God's way, after knowing of the dreadful results of sin. [Illustration] The Dominion Lost. THE love and obedience of every intelligent being must be tested. Tests make character. If we obey God's laws and walk in His ways, we become in character like God and sinless angels. We must have a good character before we are fit to enjoy the beautiful home Christ is preparing for those who are faithful. God will give us a good character, and help us to obey, if we ask Him. If we refuse to let God help us do right, we are out of harmony, or at war with Him and Heaven. We then come into harmony, or union, with Satan and his angels, and when sin is destroyed we must perish with it. Sin makes people unhappy, and God hates it because He loves everybody. Happiness can be found only in obedience, or doing right. Before sin reached Eden, Adam and Eve knew nothing of evil. So their only test was in regard to one special tree planted in the garden. It was called the "tree of knowledge of good and evil." God said of the fruit of this tree, "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." Genesis 3:3. If they kept away from this tree they would never know evil. At that tree was the only place where Satan could meet them to tempt them. One day the curiosity of Eve led her to come near the forbidden tree. By so doing she placed herself where Satan could tempt her, and he was there to meet her as he always meets us when we go in the way of temptation.