(11) Nakedness. The next particular into which the sacred history leads us, is one which we cannot approach without a painful sense of its dif ficulty and delicacy. It stands thus in the author ized version: 'And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed' (ii :25). The common interpretation is, that, in this respect, the two human beings, the first arid only existing ones, were precisely in the condition of the young est infants, incapable of perceiving any incongruity in the total destitution of artificial clothing. But a little reflection will tell us, and the more care fully that reflection is pursued the more it will appear just, that this supposition is inconsistent with what we have established on solid grounds, the supernatural transmission into the minds of our first parents and into their nervous and mus cular faculties, of the knowledge and practical habits which their descendants have had to acquire by the long process of instruction and example. We have seen the necessity that there must have been communicated to them, by their Creator, no inconsiderable measure of natural knowledge and the methods of applying it, or their lives could not have been secured; and of moral and spiritual 'knowledge, righteousness and true holiness,' such a measure as would belong to the sinless state, and would enable them to render an intelligent and perfect worship to the Glorious Deity.
It seems impossible for that state of mind and habits to exist without a correct sensibility to proprieties and decencies which infant children cannot understand or feel; and the capacities and duties of their conjugal state are implied in the narrative. Further, it cannot be overlooked that, though we are entitled to ascribe to the lo cality of Eden the most bland atmosphere and delightful soil, yet the action of the sun's rays upon the naked skin, the range of temperature through the day and the night, the alternations of dryness and moisture, the various labor among trees and bushes, and exposure to insects. would render some protective clothing quite indispen sable.
From these considerations we feel ourselves obliged to understand the word cram, in that which is its most usual signification in the Hebrew language, as importing not an absolute, but a partial or comparative nudity. It is one of a re markable family of words which ;wear to have branched off in different ways from the same root, originally ar or cr, but assuming several early torms, and producing five or six divergent par ; but they all, and especially this (Iron!, are employed to denote a stripping off of the up per garment, or of some other usual article of dress, when all the habiliments were not laid aside; and this is a more frequent signification than that of entire destitution. If it be asked,
\Vhence did Adam and Eve derive this clothing? we reply, that, as a part of the Divine instruction which we have established, they were taught to take off the inner bark of some trees, which would answer extremely well for this purpose. If an objection be drawn from Gen. iii :7, to, 11, we reply that, in consequence of the transgression, the clothing was disgracefully injured.
(12) Period of Innocence. Another inquiry presents itself. How long did the state of para disiacal innocence and happiness continue? Some have regarded the period as very brief. not more even than a single day; but this manifestly falls short of the time which a reasonable probability requires. The first man was brought into exist ence in the region called Eden. He was introduced into a particular part of it, the garden, replenished with the richest productions of the Creator's bounty for the delight of the eye and the other senses. The most agreeable labor was required 'to dress and to keep it,' implying sonic arts of culture, preservation from iniury, training flow ers and fruits, and knowing the various uses and enjoyments of the produce. He made observations upon the works of God. of which an investigation and designating of animals is expressly specified; nor can we suppose that there was no contempla tion of the magnificent sky and the heavenly bodies; above all, the wondrous communion with the condescending Deity, and probably with cre ated spirits of superior orders, by which the mind would be excited, its capacity enlarged, and its holy felicity continually increased. It is also to be remarked that the narrative (Gen. ii :lg. 2o) conveys the implication that sonic time was al lowed to elapse that Adam might discover and feel his want of a companion of his own species, 'a help correspondent to him.' These considerations impress us with a sense of probability, amounting to a conviction, that a period not very short was requisite for the ex ercise of man's faculties, the disclosures of his happiness, and the service of adoration which he could pay to his Creator. But all these considera tions are strengthened by the recollection that they attach to man's solitary state. and that they all require new and enlarged application when the addition to conjugal life is brought into the ac count. The conclusion appears irresistible that a duration of many days. or rather weeks or months, would be requisite for so many and important pur poses.
Thus divinely honored and happy were the progenitors of mankind in the state of their cre ation.