Having thus traced the river, from Genesis to Revelation, we shall briefly look at Adam's position in Eden. We have seen him as a type of Christ; but he is not merely to be viewed typically, but personally; not merely as absolutely shadowing forth "the second man, the Lord from heaven," but also as standing in the place of personal responsibility. In the midst of the fair scene of creation, the Lord God set up a testimony, and this testimony was also a test for the creature. It spoke of _death_ in the midst of _life_. "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Strange, solemn sound! Yet, it was a needed sound. Adam's life was suspended upon his strict obedience. The link which connected him with the Lord God[5] was obedience, based on implicit confidence in the One who had set him in his position of dignity--confidence in his truth--confidence in his love. He could obey only while he confided. We shall see the truth and force of this more fully when we come to examine the next chapter. I would here suggest to my reader the remarkable contrast between the testimony set up in Eden, and that which is set up now. Then, when all around was _life_, God spoke of _death_; now, on the contrary, when all around is death, God speaks of life: then the word was, "in the day thou eatest thou shalt _die_;" now the word is, "believe and _live_." And, as in Eden, the enemy sought to make void God's testimony, as to the result of eating the fruit, so now, he seeks to make void God's testimony as to the result of believing the gospel. God had said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely _die_." But the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely _die_." And now, when God's word plainly declares that "he that believeth on the Son _hath_ everlasting _life_," (John iii. 36,) the same serpent seeks to persuade people that they have _not_ everlasting _life_, nor should they presume to think of such a thing, until they have, first, _done_, _felt_, and _experienced_ all manner of things. My beloved reader, if you have not yet heartily believed the divine record, let me beseech you to allow "the voice of the Lord" to prevail above the hiss of the serpent. "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John v. 24.) FOOTNOTES: