To appreciate the contrast, imagine what a covenant of works ought to look like. Since the tree of life symbolizes the ultimate blessing of the covenant, it should be, as Murray thought, strictly forbidden, for to take of the tree of life before they had been justified would be, in effect, attempting to steal heaven—a characteristic feature of pagan religions. But there is more. All of the trees in the garden were symbols of covenant life and blessing and the garden itself was the place of blessing