The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-01-24

The next picture flashed upon
the inimitable canvas of Genesis
shows the seed of God and the
seed of the serpent in that mortal
combat which had just been fore
told. 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, foaming
out its own shame, sending forth
its ominous detonations, falling at
length with a Niagara roar into
the abyss of hell. The smaller
stream has gentle flow. Heaven
is mirrored on its surface. 1t emp
ties 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 permanent theophany,
a pre- Mosaic shekinah. flaming
from between the sentinel cheru-
bin. They build their respective
affairs; it is possibly the very first
instance of sacrifice.
Cain, in his perversity, chose to
make a eucharistic offering, an OBJ
lation signifying 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,
contrition, or faith. The only
motive was to keep on good terms
with Cod" Cain was the
progenitor of the long line of Phar-
isees, unhappily not yet extinct,
who go to the temple to make an
exhibition of themselves and their
good works.
Abel made piacular sacrifice,
as we'll as a eucharistic one. That
he offered both is sufficiently indi-
Gated by the expression in He
brews, God testifying of his gifts.
But the expiatory offering is the
more conspicuous, 1t was choice;
the latest of the frstlings. In it
there was a confession of sin. an
expression of faith. Abel is first
of the long line of publicans who
have since gone down to their
homes justified after having laid
all their deadly doing down, and
cried, God be merciful to me
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 worshiper's heart,
The form and quality of the gift
was the material and objective ex-
preston of this. Abels offering
complied exactly with the form no
doubt explicitly prescribed. 1t
was therefore all expression of
obedience. So by faith Abel offer
ed greater Qiterally) sacrifice
than Cain. God turned the light
of his countenance upon Abel's
lamb with its ensanguined fleece,
and set it on fire.
That moment another. hateful
flame, sprung up in Gains heart
malicious envy! murderous ieal-
ousyl His lofty pride in himself
and the fruits of his industry was
cut to the quick. l have never
seen it limited anywhere, but why
should it be thought improbable
that this whole scene, evidently
exemplary and educative, should
have transpired in full view of a
large congregation? That there
was already considerable popula-
ton is indicated in this very chap
ter. This affords additional ex-
PLANTATION of the superlative degree
ofCain's disappointment and anger.
The long-suffering patience of
God! He is not willing that any
shall perish. To the disappointed
man standing beside his Aameless
altar and rejected offering, himself
all aflame with murderous passion,
his downcast face indicating that
he was brooding deed never done
before, God spoke from the sheki-
nah rerSuociyatv b,,+ E,,,1,,, tGTf