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the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering, but unto Cain and his offering He had not respect."

The Apostle informs us, that "by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh." And here let us observe the remarkable nature of this sacrifice of faith; a lamb-the firstling of the flock. A lively type of Him who is called "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; " being, from the beginning to the end of time, the one all-sufficient sacrifice of atonement for sin, by which salvation is bestowed on every repentant and obedient soul.

The offering made by Abel suggests various considerations of deep importance and instruction. It leads us to meditate on the nature of faith, and on the state of mind in which it can become a living and active principle. It implies, in the first place, an implicit belief in all that is revealed to us concerning God, and "His wonderful works," both as they relate to material and to spiritual objects. But there is yet a far more essential principle developed in faith; for a belief in God, and in His mighty acts, is, as we learn from the testimony of an inspired Apostle, entertained even by Devils-but faith implies, in addition to this entire assent of the understanding, a yielding of the heart to the will and guidance of an invisible Being, in whose power and goodness it perfectly confides, and whom it devoutly worships. This faith brings the soul of man into communion with his gracious Creator-into a realization of the favour and love of God;-being "the

substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;" enabling the Lord's regenerate and justified children, not only to hope for the blessing of a better existence, but even to "lay hold on eternal life." This faith is begotten and renewed, in the obedient mind, by the Holy Spirit, which "worketh in us to will and to do of His good pleasure."

CHAP. VI.-How far the "more excellent sacrifice," which "by faith Abel offered unto God," was comprehended by his understanding, we are not informed: but we may clearly perceive that he was guided by the God whom he worshipped. Very different was the state of his brother's heart, and his oblation was not acceptable to the Lord. "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 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? but if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not.-Am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand." Here let us pause, to reflect on this tremendous exhibition of that corruption into which manthe creature that had been made in the image of an all-perfect and holy God-was now plunged. He was

become by nature, the child of wrath-subject to the power of the serpent, who infused into him a spirit of envy, malice, and deceit; dispositions which induced the first-born of the human race to rebel against God, to murder his brother, and then to deny his guilt in the presence of Him, whose eye beholds every atom of His vast created universe; who penetrates the secret recesses of every heart; from whom nothing can be hid; to whom "the darkness and the light are both alike." There is not a thought of the mind, not a word on the tongue, but God knoweth it altogether.— See Psalm cxxxix.

CHAP. VII.-It appears that subsequently to this period, Adam and Eve had a numerous progeny. Of Seth, who was the first-born after the death of Abel, we have the brief record, that "to him also there was born a son, and he called his name Enos." In the line of Seth, the generations of men are very minutely specified, because of his seed, according to the flesh, He was to come who is the Redeemer of the world. Amongst the descendants of Seth, there appears to have been for a long period, some sense of allegiance to the Most High. Of Enoch, we have a remarkable account; "he walked with God, and was not, for God took him;" and an Apostle informs us that "by faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God:" and he adds, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

CHAP. VIII.-As the sacred historian proceeds with his summary recital of the most important circumstances which marked the primeval ages of time, he displays a most affecting picture of the sinfulness of the natural heart. So entirely were the children of men become alienated from their gracious Creator, that "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (or, as the Hebrew implies, every purpose or desire) was only evil continually." And "the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh."

There was, however, one individual of that corrupt generation who "found grace in the eyes of the Lord." This was Noah, who "was a just man, and perfect in his generation. And Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth." "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold I will destroy them with the earth." And Noah was commanded to build an ark for "the saving of his house." And he "did according to all that God commanded him.' "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." And Noah, with his wife, and his sons, and his sons' wives, entered into the ark, with two and two of all flesh: "and the Lord shut him in.”

The ark of safety, in which Noah and his family were thus preserved from destruction, is a type of Christ; in whom alone there is deliverance from the

dreadful consequences of sin-from that perdition which, as an overflowing flood, awaits the wicked.

CHAP. IX.-How tremendously awful was the event that now manifested the infinite power, holiness, and justice of the Almighty Ruler of the universe! Then were "all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened;" "bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;" and "the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all flesh died that moved upon the earth; and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark." In the shelter thus provided for them, by the mercy of Him, who (to use the figurative language of a prophet,) "hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with a span," were these few survivors of a destroyed world safely preserved, until "the waters were abated from off the earth," and "the face of the ground was dry." And when Noah, and his family, and all the creatures that were with him, went forth out of the ark, he "builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar," and it is said, "the Lord smelled a sweet savour." And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons, saying, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you.' seed after you." And the Lord set a "bow in the clouds," as a token of the covenant which He made with "all flesh that is upon the earth."

We have here another remarkable evidence of the institution of sacrifices; and have good ground to be

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