1 Name, So- called because man was tested to see if he would obey his own conscience regarding right and wrong (6:1-7; Rom. 2:12-16). There were no written laws. The ten- commandment law had not been given to Adam in the previous dispensation. His only law was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; and after being driven out of the garden he did not even have that law(Rom.5:12-14) This dispensation could be called the age of freedom, for man was free to do as he pleased until it became necessary for God to interfere.

Length- 1,656 years, from Adam’s fall to 600th year of Noah (5:1-29;7:6, 11) Favorable beginning—a new beginning altogether, with inhabitants having a knowledge of God (3:14-4:26) Test, Obedience to the dictates of conscience as to right and wrong (3:22; 4:7, 15; 6:1-7) Purpose of God. His purpose now, since man knew good and evil, was to guide him in the proper exercise of his conscience to do the right and refuse the wrong; to teach fallen man that only by obedience to God and His will he could be restored to his original dominion and get rid of the curse and to test man under freedom of conscience and without restraint or compulsion to see if he would voluntarily choose right from wrong, and give service to Him instead of Satan.