64 
EARLY TIMES. 
With elevated head and outstretched hand, the 
father of mankind implored from the Creator the 
choicest blessing of temporal gifts and spiritual 
guidance. He prayed for peace, and love, and 
issue; and as he lifted his soul in prayer, the rays 
of the setting sun played in golden radiance round 
his head, and seemed a crown dropped there by 
the hand of some ministering ansrel. 
Adam paused, and there was silence: the high 
communion of his heart could not brook a sudden 
transfer to human colloquy, but mingling the love 
of God with parental affection, he at length ad¬ 
dressed his waiting children ; and while he com¬ 
mended to them that gentle forbearance which is 
the child of love, and parent of desirable peace, he 
absolved them both from all duty of special obedi¬ 
ence, and gave to them the right to rank with him 
in the race of families, but below him in patri¬ 
archal and political authority. 
“ Go, my son, and be master of thy tent and 
thy flock : no more can I exact obedience from 
thee; no more need thy conscience*excite in thee 
to award me more than filial reverence. Go, be 
the head of thine house, and may God bless thee 
and thine, as he has blessed me in thee.” 
The nuptial benediction of Eve was breathed 
almost in silence over her daughter, whom she 
kissed with maternal fondness, and lifted up her 
voice and wept. 
The sacrificial flame ascended from the altar, 
