(1 Chron. xxi. 26.) In that of Solomon at the dedication of the temple; (2 Chr. vii. 1.) and in that of Elijah when Jehovah displayed his superiority over Baal; (1 Kings xviii, 38.)

Let all the self-righteous look at Cain, and behold their character and their doom. The unregenerate, through ignorance, through enmity, and through pride, like him cling to the first covenant; are unwilling to submit to the self-abasing terms of the gospel, and in the character of helpless and polluted sinners to receive salvation as the free gift of God through Christ. So prone is fallen man to rely on that covenant which cannot profit him, that God expelled him from the garden lest he should still seek righteousness and life by that tree appointed as the seal of this covenant, and the sacrament of that life which it promised. But notwithstanding this, notwithstanding cherubim and a flaming sword were placed around it to cut off all our hopes, we still by nature seek righteousness by the works of the law; and when driven from this hold, we as foolishly endeavour to unite the two covenants together. My brethren, unless this temper of Cain, this pharisaical spirit be destroyed; unless we be brought to depend simply and entirely upon the Redeemer, we in vain hope for salvation.

What were the sentiments excited in the bosom of Cain, by the rejection of his sacrifice, and the acceptance of that of Abel? Was he not humbled in the dust at his unworthiness and guilt? Did he not diligently enquire into the cause of the rejection of his offering, that he might in future avoid it?Though his offering was not accepted, yet did he not rejoice at the proof given by the acceptance of his brother's, that God would receive the services of sinners when presented with proper dispositions? Was not his love and esteem for his brother encreased by seeing the superior piety of Abel, and the favour which God bestowed upon him? No: "his eye was evil, because God was good." The graces and the privileges of Abel filled him with envy and discontent; and resentment against his brother and his God agitated his heart and imprinted their traces on his countenance. "He was very wroth and his countenance fell." How opposite is his conduct to that of a believer. There are times when the christian has no tokens of acceptance, and no sensible comfort or joy in the discharge of duty; does he therefore with Cain quarrel with his Maker, and har bour resentment against those who are rejoicing in the assurance of their acceptance, and in the light of God's countenance? Does he with those guilty men described by Isaiah, say to the Almighty, "Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not?" (Is. lviii. 3.) Oh no! With diligence and humility he seeks what has interposed between him Ня

and God; with penitence he cries, "Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me;" with constancy he perseveres, like the Canaanitish woman in the midst of her discouragements, or like Paul when he thrice besought the Lord before he was answered: he besieges the throne of grace with supplications, till he has obtained the blessing.

The Lord exercises towards Cain his patience and long-suffering: instead of immediately punishing, he condescends to expostulate. He points out to Cain the unreasonableness of his anger: he exhorts him to subdue his resentment, and check his criminal passions: he declares that he also shall be accepted, if he exercise the same faith, humility, and sincerity as Abel: that without repentance, his sin must expose him to punishment; and that Abel entertained a cordial affection for him, and in all temporal matters was still his inferior. "And the

Lord said unto Cain, why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted; and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

How hard must have been that heart which this mild remonstrance could not melt: but Cain continued insensible. No motives, however tender, no barriers, however sacred, can restrain the ungodly man when his passions are once excited. Burn

ing with rage, corroded with envy, desirous of ac-. quiring a pre-eminence without any competitor on earth, Cain became the murderer of his brother; of a brother to whom his heart ought to have been open, for whom he ought to have felt the tenderest love, but whom he could not endure, because the holiness of his life was a perpetual reproach to himself, and because he had received special marks of the divine approbation. Then Death secured his. first victim among mortals; then a more painful wound than that of Abel was inflicted on the hearts of our first parents, when they considered that by them death came into the world: then were all those hopes of happiness from Cain which they had so fondly indulged, prostrated in the dust; then 'was the first redeemed sinner admitted into heaven: whilst the everlasting doors were opened and the eternal gates expanded to receive this son of Adam, this first-fruits of the sacrifice of Jesus, this leader of the "noble army of martyrs," new hallelujahs, louder accents of praise, of adoring wonder, and joy, fell from the harps of the heavenly hosts.

Christians, why should we tremble at death; it is converted into a friend, and it came first to visit the favourite of heaven. Believers, let the bleeding body of Abel teach you not to expect your happiness below; you are members of that church whose symbol is the cross; you are followers of that Saviour who was the man of sorrows; you are tend

ing to that world where "those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, have come out of great tribulation." Persecutions you will meet with; be careful that like Abel religion be your only crime. Persecutors of the cause or children of God, whether by open violence, by secret insinuations, by reproaches or by scoffs, behold in Cain your archetype: his mark is fixed upon your forehead, his disposition rankles in

your hearts.

The Lord saw and came to punish this murder: this blood cried to him for vengeance, and its voice was heard. To the question which he proposes to the murderer, "Where is Abel thy brother," Cain, hardened by sin, replies with impiety, with insolence and falsehood. But in vain is the attempt to deceive the Omniscient, and foolish is the expectation of impunity with the holy God, for those sins of which we have not repented. The Lord displays to him the horrour of his crime, and represents all nature as ready to become the instrument of divine vengeance against him. The ground which Cain cultivates is cursed with a new degree of barrenness : he is obliged to depart from the society of his friends and parents, and from the place where God more immediately manifested his presence, and to wander upon the earth, forlorn and detested by men, and abandoned by God. So surely is sin, by the