The Secret of the Creation | Page 7

the decree. But
when Eve was grown the servant walked to and fro beyond the templed
paradise, and sat with Satan by a pool. And Satan taught the servant
how that it could become free from its masters. Then she hastened back
and came again into the vineyard. And Eve stood by the tree of death
admiring its beauty. And the servant came and said to her, "has Jehovah
said that you shall not eat of every tree in this garden?" And Eve said,
"we may eat of the fruit of every tree but this tree, which stands in the
midst of the garden we shall not eat of it, neither shall we touch it lest
we die." And the servant said, "you shall not surely die,--For the
Creator he knows that in the day you eat of the fruit of this tree your
eyes shall be open and you shall become wise like before the fall--as
gods knowing the effect of good and evil."
And when she saw that the tree was good for food and excellent in
beauty, she commanded the servant and she brought to her the fruit and
she ate of it. Then she was enlightened and was as another woman.
Then she with her own hands brought of the fruit to Adam, and when
he saw its power upon her he also ate of the fruit, and the mind of them
both were enlightened, and the mist was removed from over their souls;

and they knew that they were not as the beast, but were naked. And
they sewed leaves together for clothes and dwelt in great fear.
And it was so that in the evening time of a day they heard the voice of
Jehovah as he walked through the garden. And they fled from their
temple and hid themselves from his presence among the trees, and were
not where they were wanted to be found. And Jehovah called unto
Adam and said, "where are you Adam?" And Adam said I heard you
talking in the garden and I was afraid, and I hid myself because I was
naked.
And Jehovah said who told you that you was naked? Have you eaten of
the tree which I commanded thee not to eat? And he said the woman
which you gave me she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat.
And Jehovah said unto Eve, what have you done. And she said the
serpent bewitched me and I did eat. And Jehovah said to the serpent,
because you have done this thing you are cursed beyond everything
which I have created. Upon your belly you shall travel, and you shall
not henceforth eat. In this, that you have caused my children to sin in
the process of eating.
The dust shall be your food, and I shall put envy between your race and
the race of the woman. And she shall bruise your head, and you shall
bruise her heel. And the serpent fell upon the earth before Jehovah, and
her arms and legs became into one straight body. And he took her teeth
out of her mouth so that she should not masticate food. But he left in
her mouth the imprints of her teeth, which is yet to be seen in the
mouth of the serpent. And he placed great crooked fangs in her mouth
and filled them with poison. If she should masticate food her own
poison would destroy her life.
But she was given power to reach forth and to inject the poison of her
fangs into the flesh of man and other living things--to destroy their
lives. Then he parted her tongue in two parts, and upon the end of each
probescue he tied a small round knot, that is the knot which is yet to be
seen on the ends of the serpent's tongue unto this day.
And according to the decree were all the serpents changed, in the

process of nature. That they should not again speak with the voice of
man. But their knowledge was not veiled. And while they cannot speak
to man; yet while in contact they show their tongues and say with
unmistakable signs "by my speech I cause thee to fall." This is the life
of the serpent who through envy was finally bound in hell. And to Eve,
he said, "I will greatly multiply sorrow upon thee. With your children
you shall be distressed. And man shall set thee at naught, and curse his
days--defying and bearing rule over thee. And your desire shall be to
your man."
And unto Adam he said "because you have eaten of the tree which I
commanded thee not to eat, cursed is the fruit of the ground for your
sake. They shall