Cain and Abel
Essex Remembrancer
Genesis 4:1-16
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.…


I. THEIR DIFFERENT WORSHIP.

1. Cain's was no more than a mere thank offering, and such, probably, as Adam himself might have offered in a state of innocence: it implied not any confession of guilt, or any application to the Redeemer.

2. Abel's offering was a sacrifice presented in faith, not only with respect to the appointment of God, who had ordained sacrifices in representation of that method of redemption by which He would deliver man, but also with dependence on "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," who in the fulness of time "by the sacrifice of Himself should take away the sins of the world." Abel's offering, therefore, is to be considered as a type of Christ.

II. THEIR DIFFERENT MORAL CHARACTER.

III. THEIR DIFFERENT END. Lessons:

1. Let us examine what is the worship we are offering to God. It is not enough that we are attentive to religious ordinances; but are we, like Abel, worshipping by faith?

2. Let us inquire, Are none among us discovering the temper of Cain? Are there none who, like him, are persecutors of God's people?

3. Let us bless God that the blood of Jesus Christ "speaketh better things than that of Abel" (see Hebrews 12:24).

(Essex Remembrancer.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

WEB: The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help."




Cain and Abel
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