when God came into the garden, Adam, who was wont before to come
and converse with him, being conscious of his wicked behavior,
went out of the way. This behavior surprised God; and he asked
what was the cause of this his procedure; and why he, that before
delighted in that conversation, did now fly from it, and avoid
it. When he made no reply, as conscious to himself that he had
transgressed the command of God, God said, "I had before
determined about you both, how you might lead a happy life,
without any affliction, and care, and vexation of soul; and that
all things which might contribute to your enjoyment and pleasure
should grow up by my providence, of their own accord, without
your own labor and pains-taking; which state of labor and
pains-taking would soon bring on old age, and death would not be
at any remote distance: but now thou hast abused this my
good-will, and hast disobeyed my commands; for thy silence is not
the sign of thy virtue, but of thy evil conscience." However,
Adam excused his sin, and entreated God not to be angry at him,
and laid the blame of what was done upon his wife; and said that
he was deceived by her, and thence became an offender; while she
again accused the serpent. But God allotted him punishment,
because he weakly submitted to the counsel of his wife; and said
the ground should not henceforth yield its fruits of its own
accord, but that when it should be harassed by their labor, it
should bring forth some of its fruits, and refuse to bring forth
others. He also made Eve liable to the inconveniency of breeding,
and the sharp pains of bringing forth children; and this because
she persuaded Adam with the same arguments wherewith the serpent
had persuaded her, and had thereby brought him into a calamitous
condition. He also deprived the serpent of speech, out of
indignation at his malicious disposition towards Adam. Besides