The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-26
The International
Sunday School Lesson
First Quarter Lesson Nv. Genesis ".
ats. january 81, 1907.
THE STORY OF CAIN AMp AeEI

seed OF God and the seed OF the serpent
in that mortal combat which had Just
been foretold. The tragic scene holds
the eye. The stream Of human life
seems there to part On the one hand
it flows in larger volume. casting up
mire and dirt, foarning out Its own
shame, sending forth its ominous de-
donations, falling at length with
niagara roar into tho abyss of hell.
The smaller stream has n gentle flow.
Heaven Is mrrored on its surface. 1t
cmpties at length into the sea of glass
before the throne
The eldest brothers of the race, at the
close of heptade, approach the gate
of the lost paradise, where there was n
permanent theophany, q pre-Mosaic She
kinah, flaming from between the sentinel
cherubim They build their respective
affairs; 1t Is possibly the very first in
stance OF sacrifice.
Cain. in his perversity. chose to make
a eucharistic Offering, an obation sig
nifying only gratitude. He was not even
particular that his fruits should be the
first OF their kind. He presented his own
works. There was no confession, con-
triton or faith. The only motive was
to keep on good terms with God" Cain
was the progenitor of the long line of
Pharisees, unhappily not yet extinct, who
go to the temple to make an exhibition
of themselves and their good works.
Abel makes a piacular sacrifice, as well
as a eucharistc one. That he offered
both Is sufficiently indicated by the ex-
preston in Hebrews, God testifying of
his gifts. But the expiatory offering is
the more conspicuous. 1t was choice;
the latest of the hrstlings. In it there
was q confession of sin. an expression
of faith. Abel is first of the long line
of publicans who have since gone down
20 their homes justified after having laid
all their deadly doing down, and cried,
God be merciful to me, IL sinner
There was no arbitrary election Of
Abel, or reprobation, or even preterition,
Of Cain. The case was decided by the
subjective state and intent of the wor-
shippers heart The form and quality
OF the gift was the material and objec-
tive expression of this. Abel's offering
complied exactly with the form no doubt
explicitly prescribed. 1t was, therefore,
an expression of obedience. So by faith
Abel offered greater literally sacrifice
than Cain. God turned the light of his
countenance upon Abels lamb, with its
ensanguined fleece, and set it on fire
That moment another hateful flame,
sprung up in Gains heart-mallcious
envy! murderous jealousy! His lofty
pride in himself and the fruits of his
industry was cut to the quick. / have
never seen it limited anywhere, but why
should 1t be thought improbable that
and educatve. should have transpired
in full view of large congregation?
That there was already a considerable
population is indicae~l in this very chap
ter. This affords additional explanation
of the superlative degree of Gains dis
appointment and anger.
The long-sutering patience of God!
He is not willirlg that any shall perish.
To the disappointed man, standing be-
aide his fameless altar and rejected Of
fering. himself all aflame with murderous
passion, his downcast face indicating
that he was brooding a deed never done
before, God spoke from the shekinah,
persuaslvely. but firmly: IF you had
brought the prescribed offering and in
the right spirit yours would have been
as certainly accepted as your brothers.
1t is not too late for you yet to go and
get lamb, a sin offering. 1t is just to
your hand. You have not quite lost your
right of primogeniture. Your brother
will eiill submit to your rule" But Cain
is obdurate. To all intents he is damned
before he is dead.
He beguiles his brother into the open.
He mocklnglY breaches to him there.
He blasphemously rails against Gods
impartiality until his fiery speech, like
Intoxicating liquor, has nerved him to
his deed He strikes the fratricidal
blow
How soon, at best Judgment and retri-
(, button follow the sinner! There is
| neither escape nor appeal from the Great
| White Throne. The cumulative and de-
| faint power of sin manifests Itself.
| Adam fled, Cain dared approach the
| Theophany after his deed. Adam con-
fessed. Cain denied, with insolent add-
tons.
Gains repentance was judicial. 1t was
| the groan of the villain who feels the
halter draw. Like all murderers, "he
sees the earth full of avengers" and is
| in terror.
In the first great contest between the
| serpent seed and the seed of God, the
| latter, as In many a subsequent encoun-
/ ter, seems to be in defeat. But, after
all, it is only the heel that is wounded
J Abel survives in those who initiate him.
Though dead he speaks. Jesus ranks
him head Of all the holy martyrs.
ANALYSIS AND KEY.
1. Seed of God and Devil in conflict.
>. Gains unacceptable Offering
Oblation not sacrifice.
3. Abels In contrast.
What made it acceptable?
4. Gains jealousy.
Source and nature OF 1t.
S. The first murder.
Adam and Cain in contrast.
G. Abels survival.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
SINS hideous features stand out II
BLACKLIST Silhouette in this paragraph
Adam and Eve realize the hatotu
stream Of hereditary influences thei
sin has started down the ages, How
poignant the first mothers disappoint
ment when she discovers that he
whom with 'womanly prec!pitancy
she had called the Gotten One" turned
out to be not "crusher OF the ser
pent," but one of the serpents seed
that motherly foreboding which let
her to name her second son swift
disappearing breath OF life had
terrible realization. Well may Schille
sing;
THAT evil deeds avonging curse it i
That evil evermore 1t shall begets'
Tlsnse lessons reveal God as direct
interested and watchful IN The mora
"