Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother… I. THE HISTORY OF HIS CRIME. II. THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADMONITIONS WHICH THE HISTORY OF HIS CRIME SUGGESTS. 1. The history affords a melancholy instance of the disappointment which sometimes follows parental hopes. 2. The history teaches that no professions of religion are acceptable to God if they be unaccompanied with faith. 3. We learn from the history, the rapid and extensive progress which sin is capable of making. 4. The history suggests to us the awful criminality which is connected with the murder of a soul! — the infusion of a deadly poison, or the infliction of a deadly blow on the character, and happiness, and hopes of an immortal spirit! — the perdition of a soul by our influence and by our instrumentality! Oh! this is a solemn thought for the minister, and for the parent, and for everyone who possesses any degree of influence in society. "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God." 5. You also perceive from the history, that the sinner who is bold in crime becomes a coward in the presence of punishment. This was strikingly exemplified in the case of Cain. In the field he was courageous — brave enough to shed a brother's blood! But how he fled trembling when the deed was done. How he endeavoured to persuade Jehovah that he had not been guilty of the crime. And though his punishment was mild and merciful for such a monster of iniquity, yet when it is pronounced he faints, and cries, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." Nor is there in punishment alone, anything that is calculated to soften the heart or to reform the character. 6. Again, the history is connected with the gospel truth that "the blood of sprinkling speaketh better things than the blood of Abel." Both of these are represented in the Scriptures as endowed with speech. The blood of Abel was not sacrificial; the blood of sprinkling is the propitiation for our sins. The blood of Abel proclaims the depravity and malevolence of man; the blood of sprinkling proclaims the purity and the love of God. The blood of Abel cried for punishment on the murderer; the blood of sprinkling cries for pardon and salvation. The blood of Abel produced wretchedness and terror in the mind of Cain; the blood of sprinkling produces joy unspeakable and full of glory. 7. The history teaches that the death of a believer, under whatever circumstances it occurs, is always safe and happy. Such was the death of Abel. (J. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. |
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