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in connection with one of the trees of Eden the explanation of the origin of evil? Far from it. The transaction does no more than bear witness to the fact, that evil was already in the world before Eden had any existence. All that we learn here is, that man, created in the image of his Maker, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, fell under its power. Sin became a reality in man's spiritual nature. It entered into the experience of the whole human race. There is none that sins not. But the question of its origin lies as far out of view

as ever.

We now notice the Land of Eden, and "the garden planted eastward in it" (ver. 8). Have we any reliable information as to their true geographical position? position? "A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted into four heads " (ver. 10). Great attention, as was to be expected, has been bestowed upon this subject. Foreign travel, ingenuity, learning of the most varied and extensive kind have all been turned to it. And when historical criticism has been forced to acknowledge itself at fault, many have given full scope to their imagination in their attempts to fix the position of the garden of Eden. A glance at the multitude of conflicting theories could not fail to teach us how much intellectual power has been spent in vain, how much learning has been wasted, and how much precious time has been squandered in efforts to make good first impressions on this point, and in the hope to enlist the sympathies of biblical scholars on its side. Instead of describing minutely their theories, or attempting to characterize their weak points, it will serve a better purpose simply to mention them in connection with the names of their authors.

Calvin identifies Havilah with a northern portion of Persia; Cush is found by him in Arabia, and the Gihon, he holds, is represented by the western arm of the Euphrates. Grotius finds Cush in the modern Chusistan, and Hottinger holds it equivalent to Susiana. The latter believes the site of Eden to have been at Korna, near the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris. Bochart identifies the river Pison with the western arm of the Shat el Arab, and the Gihon with its eastern branch. Hopkinson is convinced that Eden was near Babylon, that the Nahr Malca is the Pison, the Maarsares the Gihon, Susiana equal to Havilah, and Arabia to Cush. Redslob finds Eden in Central Asia, the Pison he is persuaded is the Indus and Gihon the Upper Nile; while Calmet is as sure that Pison is the Phasis, Gihon the Araxes, Havilah Colchis, and Cush a territory lying to the south-west of the Caspian sea.

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Engraved by W&AK Johnston. Edin

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