Guilt

In Genesis 3:8, 10, we read, they heard the voice of the Lord God; and what took place? Did they run to do Him homage? Nay; but they ran and hid themselves. Oh, how different from chapters 2:19, 20.
There all was peace, joy, and gladness. Here all is fear and terror. Why? Reader, your conscience tells you why, ―they had sinned. They had given up God for the creature. But He will not give them up. He becomes a seeker; man is a hider. God’s “Where art thou?” is answered by Adam in these words, ― “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Surely, if we saw man in all the joy and blessedness of innocence in chapters 2, here we see him in all the helpless, hopeless misery of sin and guilt. And is it not the same to this very hour? Is there any one that man so much dreads to meet as God? Were I asked to prove that man is a sinner, I would put in as conclusive proof, that he is afraid of God. Reader, is your heart at perfect rest as you think of that holy Lord God? Think of it, exposed to death every moment, and afraid to meet God, ― what a condition to be in!
Well now, we have seen man in innocence, and enjoying its blessedness for a little season; and we have seen him in guilt, and dreading its consequences forever. Let me ask you, can you do aught to help yourself in such a case? Man soon began to try and repair the mischief. They made themselves aprons of fig-leaves, and they were satisfied with each other’s doings, like thousands today. But, whenever God’s voice was heard, they forgot all about their aprons, and said they were naked. What! naked with their fig-leaf aprons on? Yes; and it is still true. Thousands are working away at their aprons, ―I am doing my best, I am striving, I am a member of a church, I take the sacrament, I give to the cause of Christ, ―but, in spite of all, when the thought of meeting God comes before them, they are afraid, all their doings give them no comfort. Could you conceive of a sadder picture, than the creature afraid of and hiding from the Creator? What thoughts must have passed through Adam’s mind as he crouched among the trees of the garden What dark forebodings must have been his! And that in the presence of perfect helplessness. Oh, unsaved reader, will you be warned by all this? If, after all the warnings, all the entreaties, all the privileges and opportunities you have had, you meet God in your sins, what misery will be yours, ― what endless remorse!
Now, let us look at what Scripture tells us of man in