takes his offering from the firstlings of the flock. A lamb is a more animate form of existence, and more nearly resembles a mind-offering than does Cain's fruit. Jealous of his brother's gift, Cain seeks Abel's life, instead of making his own gift a higher tribute to the Most High.
Genesis iv. 4, 5. And the Lord [Jehovah] had respect
unto Abel, and to his offering: but unto Cain, and to his
offering, He had not respect.
Had God more respect for the homage bestowed through
a gentle animal than for the worship expressed by Cain's
fruit? No; but the lamb was a more spiritual type of
even the human concept of Love than the herbs of the
ground could be.
Genesis iv. 8. Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and
slew him.
The erroneous belief that life, substance, and intelligence
can be material ruptures the life and brotherhood
of man at the very outset.
Genesis iv. 9. And the Lord [Jehovah] said unto Cain,
Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am
I my brother's keeper?
Here the serpentine lie invents new forms. At first it
Brotherhood repudiated
usurps divine power. It is supposed to say
in the first instance, “Ye shall be as gods.”
Now it repudiates even the human duty of man towards
his brother.
Genesis iv. 10, 11. And He [Jehovah] said, . . . The
voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth.
