derer, and Despair takes possession of his heart. No sooner is judgment pronounced, than Cain becomes abject, terrified, and haunted with an evil conscience. What a life does he now begin to live, more frightful than ten thousand deaths such as Abel's! For wise reasons the Lord does not immediately destroy Cain; but prolongs his vagabond existence here, sending him to wander over the earth, with a mark set upon him. Thus good men would shudder at the sight of him: and all, even his enemies, would be restrained from molesting him. The blood-stained earth refused his culture; so he gives himself up to a course of reckless desperation. He abandons all family-religion, and the means of grace: (for that must be the meaning of the words, "Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.") He raises a posterity, builds a city, and leaves no further record, than that some of his descendants become ingenious artisans. What trifles are such matters, when we think of the wrath of God resting on the head of the murderer, and of the punishment awaiting him in a future state!

We will add two remarks of a general nature, resulting from this account of the commencement of Adam's family-relations.

First-May it not suggest to Parents the duty of exercising a godly fear in reference to their offspring? When tempted to doat upon a lovely child, they should remember, that none prove eternally blessed, but those whom God loves, and who are taught to love God. Let them not fondly ask,

66 Lord, and what shall this child do?" For God does not reveal the future to us: and, upon the whole, it is a mercy that he does not. But this one thing parents may do, and ought to do; namelyCommend their children to the Lord in prayer! They should also seek special grace for themselves, to assist them in bringing up their offspring for God.

And then, on the other hand-Let children learn, from the story of wicked Cain, to guard against those common evils of the heart—anger, self-will, obstinacy, envy, and dislike of others. How fearful to think, that ill-natured bickerings, quarrels, and fightings, may possibly lead "to murder and to death!" Especially let the Young beware of ridiculing piety or pious persons. Headstrong children are often prone to excuse their own wilfulness, by pointing to the defects which they discern in brothers and sisters, or even in their parents. Faults will inevitably creep into the domestic circle: but there is no greater blessing, no surer safeguard to the rising generation, than Family-Religion.

SECTION V.

ADAM IN HIS FAMILY-ABEL'S CHARACTER.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. (Genesis iv. 4.)

THERE is a bright, as well as a dark side, in the family-picture of our first father Adam. We have

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considered the character of his first-born, Cain, the murderer: let us now view the holy character of his second son, the murdered Abel: or, as he is styled in Scripture, "righteous Abel."

From his bearing this title, and from his possessing a character so widely different from Cain's, some might be ready to imagine that Abel was born with a nature superior to that of Cain. Such, however, is not the doctrine of Scripture. There we learn that all men, without exception, are conceived and born in sin. Cain and Abel both of them inherited a corrupt nature from their fallen parents. The difference in their characters arose from this-that Abel was changed by divine grace, Cain was not. Abel was transformed into the image of God: Cain remained under the power of his natural corruptions, and under the influence of the devil.

If we had only had the history contained in the book of Genesis, we might perhaps not so very clearly have seen this doctrine. But one part of Scripture helps to explain another. St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews (chap. xi. verse 4.), distinctly informs us, that Abel was righteous through his faith. And faith, we know, is the gift of God: believers are not born believers; they are made such by a new birth, through the power of the Holy Ghost. It was the Spirit of God that made Abel what he was.

And what he was, we may learn from the verse already referred to, and which shall be quoted at full length: "By faith Abel offered unto God a

more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

The right way, then, to study Abel's holy character, is, to observe how the divine principle of Faith wrought within him: and this we shall remark in the following particulars.

1. First, it was by faith that he received and obeyed the Command of God, in regard to his offering. God had appointed sacrifices, not mere thank-offerings: Abel complied with this appointment. He was 66 a keeper of sheep ;" and "he brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof."

The command relative to this mode of worshipping God, was most probably conveyed to Abel by his father Adam. Abel having thus received it, no new revelation from God was needed: but it did need the power of God to work in his heart a principle of obedient faith.

2. Secondly, he had faith to discern the Intention of the sacrifice. This firstling of the flock was a type of Jesus, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. A Redeemer had been promised, who was in due time to be manifested in the flesh. Abel believed the promise; and by this sacrifice actually showed forth the Redeemer, almost four thousand years before Christ appeared on earth. Here was faith indeed!

3. Again, Abel's was a faith which led to his Acceptance with God. “The Lord had respect unto

Abel, and to his offering: but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect." In truth, Abel believed in Christ Jesus: and God never fails to accept and bless those, who come unto Him through Jesus the Mediator. St. Paul also says that Abel hereby "obtained witness that he was righteous:" that is, that he was a justified person. Happy Abel, greatly beloved and highly honoured of God! So shall every sinner be justified, and shall have peace with God, who comes simply believing on Christ, the sinner's Friend and Advocate. Jesus himself declares, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."

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5. We notice, further, that the faith of this righteous man, was an Offence to his ungodly, unbelieving brother. As Satan cannot endure the success of the cause of Christ, so neither can he bear that of the children of men should be delivered from sin. He therefore stirs up all his power against those who follow Christ. Persecutors, like Cain, are his agents. Wicked men are instigated to persecute, because they hate the conversation, yea the very sight of holy and believing characters. They would, if possible, sweep all the saints of God from off the face of the earth. "Marvel not (said Jesus to his disciples) if the world hate you."

6. Once more-It is to be remarked, concerning Abel's faith and sacrifice, that it was a Display of Gospel-Truth to all ages. "By it he being dead yet speaketh." His life and death, short as the account is, may be viewed as an epitome of the whole