Expositions of Holy Scripture | Page 8

in making the ground of
righteousness prominent, when it ascribes the acceptableness of Abel's
offering to faith. Both these passages are founded on the narrative, and
we need not seek farther for the reason of the different reception of the
two offerings. Character, then, or, more truly, faith, which is the
foundation of a righteous character, determines the acceptableness of
worship. Cain's offering had no sense of dependence, no outgoing of
love and trust, no adoration,--though it may have had fear,--and no
moral element. So it had no sweet odour for God. Abel's was sprinkled
with some drops of the incense of lowly trust, and came from a heart
which fain would be pure; therefore it was a joy to God. So we are
taught at the very beginning, that, as is the man, so is his sacrifice; that
the prayer of the wicked is an abomination. Plenty of worship
nowadays is Cain worship. Many reputable professing Christians bring
just such sacrifices. The prayers of such never reach higher than the
church ceiling. Of course, the lesson of the story is not that a man must
be pure before his sacrifice is accepted. Of course, the faintest cry of
trust is heard, and a contrite heart, however sinful, is always welcome.
But we are taught that our acts of worship must have our hearts in them,
and that it is vain to pray and to love evil. Sin has the awful power of
blocking our way to God.
3. Note in one word that we have here at the beginning of human
history the solemn distinction which runs through it all. These two, so
near in blood, so separate in spirit, head the two classes into which
Scripture decisively parts men, especially men who have heard the
gospel. It is unfashionable now to draw that broad line between the

righteous and the wicked, believers and unbelievers. Sheep and goats
are all one. Modern liberal sentiment--so-called--will not consent to
such narrowness as the old-fashioned classification. There are none of
us black, and none white; we are all different shades of grey. But facts
do not quite bear out such amiable views. Perhaps it is not less
charitable, and a great deal truer, to draw the line broad and plain, on
one side of which is peace and safety, and on the other trouble and
death, if only we make it plain that no man need stop one minute on the
dark side.
4. The solemn divine voice reads the lesson of the power of sin, when
once done, over the sinner. Like a wild beast, it crouches in ambush at
his door, ready to spring and devour. The evil deed once committed
takes shape, as it were, and waits to seize the doer. Remorse, inward
disturbance, and above all, the fatal inclination to repeat sin till it
becomes a habit, are set forth with terrible force in these grim figures.
What a menagerie of ravenous beasts some of us have at the doors of
our hearts! With what murderous longing they glare at us, seeking to
fascinate us, and make us their prey! When we sin, we cannot escape
the issues; and every wrong thing we do has a kind of horrible life
given it, and sits henceforth there, beside us, ready to rend us. The
tempting, seducing power of our own evils was never put in more
startling and solemnly true words, on which the bitter experience of
many a poor victim of his own past is a commentary. The eternal duty
of resistance is farther taught by the words. Hope of victory,
encouragement to struggle, the assurance that even these savage beasts
may be subdued, and the lion and adder (the hidden and the glaring
evils--those which wound unseen, and which spring with a roar) may
be overcome, led in a silken leash or charmed into harmlessness, are
given in the command, which is also a promise, 'Rule thou over it.'
5. The deadly fruit of hate is taught us in the brief account of the actual
murder. Notice the impressive plainness and fewness of the words.
'Cain rose up against his brother, and slew him.' A kind of horror-struck
awe of the crime is audible. Observe the emphasis with which 'his
brother' is repeated in the verse and throughout. Observe, also, the vivid
light thrown by the story on the rise and progress of the sin. It begins
with envy and jealousy. Cain was not wroth because his offering was
rejected. What did he care for that? But what angered him was that his

brother had what he had not. So selfishness was at the bottom, and that
led on to envy, and that to hatred. Then comes a pause, in which God
speaks remonstrances,--as God's voice--conscience--does now to us