Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-26

INTRODUCTION.-No man lives to
himself. The consequences of his deeds are
seen in the generations following. He who
sins transmits to his children the evil which
he begins and sets in motion a series Of in
fluences that cannot be gathered up or
prevented. He causes suffering and sorrow
after his departure. On the other hand. the
seed Of the righteous is blessed. Goodness
perpetuates itself in posterity. All this Is
illustrated in the lesson before US. When
Adam and Eve violated the command Of
God and ate Of the forbidden fruit they set
in motion those forces that have not yet
ceased to operate. The immediate enects
were witnessed by them in their first sons
It la surprising that these two men should
have been so unlike. 1t only shows what a
mystery hangs about the subject of hered-
ity. how difficult 1t is to determine the law
of transmission.
- OFFERINGS oversees 8 and Ain
process OF Unexpectedly as they came to
responsible manhood and acted for them
selves-Cain and Abel brought an Offering
to the Lord. 1t is possible that Adam had
worshiped by sacrifice and that they learn
ed of him. Both desired to be religious
But their offerings were greatly d1ssimiiar
Cain was a tiller Of the ground and he
came with that which he had raised In the
field. Undoubtedly he presented 1t with
good heart, having sincere purpose to
please COO. But Apel, VINO was shephetu'
brought of the frstlings of his flock. pre-
cisely that which was afterward en5oined
under the Mosaic ritual. (Namb, xviii:!!J
The Narrative assigns no reason LOT the
actions OF these men-wny one onered ! aunt
and the other a lamb 1t is supposed that
the mode of worship had been settled by
the Almighty directly after Adams SINS
Others think this was according to the I'M
instructed prompting of the two men.
APPROVAL oversees s, 6. O.-The Lord
was pleased with the Offering OF Abel, prop
ably because OF its nature. and certainly De-
cause Of the motive that prompted 1t (Heb.
KID. 1t was a sacrifice denot!ng that De
cause of sin man had forfeited life. and
that only by an act of love and mercy can
the Author Of Life restore 1t to the peni,
tent, trusting and loving heart. Abel hao
of the divine mercy to the race and he had
cast himself upon these without reserve
He Stays the animal thereby acknowledging
that his life Is due for sin. Hence, COO
Of worship, and he signifed his pleasure to
Abel But Gains offering omitted the ele-
ment Of sin. 1t merely acknowledged that
the means Of this earthly life are from
God, and that gratitude for these Is due to
Him. Such sacrifice was not pleasing to
God, and his displeasure was made Known
FRATR1CIDE (verse S.-The express
sion of Gods disapproval awakened Cain S
anger and resentment Kindly remon-
STRANGE did not change his attitude and dis
position, although assurances were given
which, if accepted, would have brought to
him honor and authority. Blinded to his
best interests and Indifferent to his serious
blunder, he cherished his i'll will and al
lowed himself to enter into heated dlscus-
sion with his brother The topic of their
conversation is not stated. rerhaps the
good man expostulated with the frritated
man. But all in vain. They walked forth
into the field, and there the first murder
was committed The motives to it were
various. Selfishness, wounded pride, jeal-
n
work Il John, iii:12). The deed was done
and could not be recalled. mans hand
stained with brothers blood.
DISCLAIMER oversees and lO.-We
may safely assume that the murderer as he
looked upon the lifeless form had many
strange and conflicting emotions-a meas
ure of regret and surprise, for death had
not before been witnessed, withal a sense
of shame and fear. But Cain was not to be
left wholly to himself. He had not escaped
from the eye of God, whose voice was
heard a short time after inquiring of him,
Where is thy brother?' Abel did not APP
pear in the places before frequented by him.
What searching question was this? How
calculated to arouse the conscience! Quickly
the answer came disc!aiming all knowledge
and responsibility John viii :44), also reject
ing the assumption that he was keeper of
his brother. 1t was the same spirit of dis
regard fer others. the spirit of selfshness.
But Immediately the divine word came in
forming him that the blood of the brother
was vocal with condemnation (Heb. xii:2D.
PENALTY oversees IL and 1O.-Then
came the punishment melted out by divine
justice. Cain was not slain, as afterward
murderers were put to death Gen. iX:6) He
was suffered to live that problems pertain
ing to evil might be the more readily solved
through his posterity of seventeen centu-
ries Gen. vi:5). But malediction was pro-
nounced upon the spared man. He should
be fugitive upon the earth. continuing to
till the soil which. because of Gods curse,
would not yield it's increase. The very
things he brought IN worship In an attempt
to express gratitude without penitence
should fail. His toll would be unrequited.
Labor without profit would be his portion.
Here is the beginning of the hard lot of
sinner. who even finds that this life is
time of drudgery, that the good things of