February Seventh
CAIN'S REJECTED OFFERING.
"But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect."—Gen, iv. 5.
THE historical account of Cain and Abel, from their birth to the time of bringing their offerings, is so short, that it only states the fact of their birth, and that Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. Many pious minds have been at a loss to assign any reason why the offering of Abel was received, and that of Cain rejected. The history simply states, that "In process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Gen, iv. 3-5.)
The Lord God is no respecter of persons, but judges of the actions from the heart. Human judgment is from outward actions to inward motives, but the perfect judgment of God is from inward motives to outward actions. The Lord's goodness is alike over all, and his love the same to all and in all. He, therefore, could not respect Abel's offering and reject Cain's, from any arbitrary principle, but from a knowledge of the secrets of the heart. Reader! the inward or secret truth, which shews why the offering of Cain was rejected, is of vast importance to be known. Cain and Abel are names expressive of the qualities of the
